Unit 4: Islam Study Guide
How did the Safavids turn such a Sunni country (Iran) Shia?
They used a carrot and stick method—they would supply only converts and block those who did not convert from resources. They also used a method of force and execution
What are the five pillars of Islam?
Zakat - charity Salah - praying Sawm - fasting Shahada - basic belief Hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca
How and when did Islam originate?
7th century CE- Angel Gabriel appears to Muhammad and tells him to begin reciting the word of God; he becomes the prophet Saudi Arabia
What was the role of women in Muslim culture?
-Shari'a gave Muslim women specific rights concerning marriage, family, and property -More economic + property rights than other women in the time period -expected to submit to men, however they were equal to men in faith -Poor wives worked in the fields with husbands, rich wives supervised servants -all women were responsible for the raising of their children
How did the Iranian Revolution in 1979 create new tensions between IRan and Saudi Arabia and other Sunni countries in the region?
A Shi'a country is the one leading this political movement, and the Shi'as are a minority—it's ironic that they were the ones who succeeded when the Sunnis have been trying to do it for a long time. The Shi'as are now spearheading Islamic politics
Who were the Umayyads?
A family in power who moved the Muslim capital to Damascus and began a new way of life for Muslim leaders, one of wealth and ceremony. They caused the Sunni-Shi'a split.
Define Islam. What does this word translate to in Arabic? Define Muslim.
Abrahamic monotheistic religion founded by Mohammed and centered around belief in Allah Submission to the will of Allah Person who follows Islam
What happened at the Battle of Karbala that marked a turning point in a Islamic History?
Alexander the Great built catapults and arrows so he could reach the top of the mountain. The he climbed up so he could catch hold of the star as a symbol of his power.
Explain the role of the 1979 Iranian revolution of Iran. How have the laws imposed since then by the Iranian government impacted the daily lives of women?
All Iranian women must now wear a mandatory headscarf all the time
What is the written and oral language of the Qur'an?
Arabic
Why do so few people in Pakistan celebrate the birth of a baby girl? What is the attitude of Malala's father toward the birth of his daughter?
Baby girls aren't seen as important because their job is to simply prepare food and give birth to children in the future. Malala's father didn't care about other people's opinions, and continued to care for his daughter. He celebrated the brith as he believed that there was something special about Malala.
Define the four social classes of Muslims.
Baghdad's population, made up of different cultures and social classes, was typ- ical for a large Muslim city in the eighth and ninth centuries. Muslim society was made up of four classes. The upper class included those who were Muslims at birth. Converts to Islam were in the second class. The third class consisted of the "pro- tected people" and included Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians. The lowest class was composed of slaves. Many slaves were prisoners of war, and all were non-Muslim. Slaves most frequently per- formed household work or fought in the military.
Why did calligraphy develop?
Because only Allah can create life, pictures of life were discouraged so artists learned to draw words instead
Why do Hebah and Sarah argue they opt to wear a veil?
Because they feel like it makes them closer to God and helps them live a modest lifestyle They feel like it's liberating because it takes the focus off their appearance
Before she was shots did Malala fear for her own life?
Before she was shot, Malala didnt fear for her own life
What the various religions that have "ruled" the Swat Valley?
Buddhist, muslim, and Hindu are the various religions that have resulted the swat valley
What were some Muslim contributions to art? Why did they develop?
Calligraphy, geometric art patterns, and arabesque Developed because it was viewed as wrong to create art depicting life because only Allah could create life
What are the beliefs on compulsion?
Forcing religion upon someone is not allowed
Who was Ali? What was his role in the spread of Islam?
He was one of the "rightly guided" caliphs, the fourth after Mohammed and last elected one. He continued the spread of Islam and growth of territory begun by Abu-Bakr and Umar
What is a hijab, niqab, burqa?
Hijab- head scarf that hides hair, ears, and neck Niqab- a veil that entirely covers a woman including the mouth and nose, only a small opening for eyes Burqa: covers head and has a grill which hides the eyes
How did Muslim scholars help preserve the knowledge of the ancient Greeks and Romans?
House of Wisdom scholars translated Greek works into Arabic, Muslim philosophers studied them and combined them with their own
What are society's expectations of girls? What are the attitudes of Malala and her father about the roles of girls in society?
In society, women were expected to care for their husband, clean their house, and brith children, During wars, they are expected to tend the wounded and take them water. Malala and her father disliked this idea of these soothes and wanted to fight against it.
What is the impact of developing technology ( satellite dishes,t he Internet, cell phones with cameras, and social media) on the daily life in Saudi Arabia. to what extent is this kind of disruption inevitable for all societies?
Its impact on Saudi Arabia and other insular societies is the culture shock factor and the spread of information that the government may not want its citizens to access; they can see how other peopl in different societies are living and get around censorship pretty easily. That kind of easy spread of information, whether its news or available information about people in other places, can invoke a need for change in people in all societies
Why do you think the KPK is independent? Does this cultural and geographical indolence form the main part of Pakistan mean anything for ther rest of Malala's story?
KPK stayed with Pakistan after British gave the Idea their independence. This cultural and geographical independence from the main part of Pakistan means that Pakistan wouldn't have listened to her complained about education because she is from an independent part of Pakistan.
Who was Khadijah?
Khadijah was first and foremost his employer. She was a wealthy woman who had hired him to sell her belongings in Syria. She wanted him to marry her because of their great friendship and Muhammad accepted although she was 40 and he was 25. They eventually had 4 daughters and 2 sons, but the 2 sons died.
How does the Quran differ from the Hebrew and Christian bible?
Less narrative and a written record of God's word, not divine inspiration
Who was Abu-Bakr? What was his role in the spread of Islam?
Loyal friend of Muhammad who became the first caliph of Islam. He invoked jihad to encourage and justify the expansion of the Islamic Empire The successor of muhammad, first caliph He invoked jihad (as in an armed struggle against unbelievers) and died with Muslims controlling all of Arabia
After whom is Malala named?
Malala is named after the greatest heroine of Afghanistan, Malalai of Maiwand
How were Muslims able to spread their influence throughout the world?
Militarily, and though they didn't force those under their rule to convert, those who did were given incentives like lower taxes if they did.
What are some key themes of the Quran?
Monotheists, purity, kindness, caring for the poor
What was the Hijrah? Why did it take place?
Muhammad left Mecca after some followers were attacked. They moved to yathrib The migration of Mohammed and his followers from Mecca to Yathrib Some of Mohammed's followers were attacked nos he decided to leave Mecca
What important action occurred to Muhammad in 622 CE?
Muhammad's tribe kicked him and his followers out and they all traveled to Medina instead The Quraysh forced Muhammad and followers out of Mecca and to Medina
Define Sunna
Muhammed's example, the best way for proper living
Define caliph
Muslim leaders, meaning "successor" or "deputy"
Who were the Sufis?
Muslim mystics who sought communion with God through meditation, fasting, and other rituals A Muslim group that rejected the luxurious life of the Umayyads and sought a life of poverty and devotion to a spiritual path
Where was al-Andalus? Why was this significant for the spread of Islam?
Muslim-ruled area in southern Spain that was formed after the Battle of Tours A populous city in it called Cordoba attracted poets, philosophers, and scientist and became a center of Muslim culture
Who is required to pray the zakat, and who may receive it?
Muslims who have cash savings must give 2.5% of it, but zakat is calculated differently on land or natural resources Needy or deserving people
What is the relationship of Abraham to the fifth pillar of Islam?
People perform the hajj in honor of Abraham and his family. They visit places where Abraham and his family faced the challenge of their faith. He went there with his mistress Hajar, the pilgrimage and its rites symbolize the trials of the family
Who was Muhammad? What year was he born?
Prophet and messenger of Allah Muhammad was born into the clan of a powerful Meccan family in A.D. 570
Identify and describe the prayers required of Muslims. How do Muslims prepare for prayer?
Salat/salah— pray five times a day-based on the position of the sun/all day, readings from the Qur'an Prepare with simple washing ritual - wudu
What modern day country is Mecca location in? What was the Ka'aba?
Saudi Arabia An ancient shrine in Mecca originally associated with Abraham but eventually filled with idols; even before Islam, people would make religious pilgrimages there to see this shrine
Which of the five pillars is linked to the lunar month of Ramadan? When, why, and how do Muslims fast?
Sawm They fast during one month between dawn and dusk It's linked to the practice of earlier prophets, intended as an exercise in self-restraint
What is the ISlamic statement of belief called?
Shahadah
Explain the difference between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims. Why was there a split?
Shi'a Muslims (the party of Ali) resisted the Umayyads and believed the caliphs needed to be a descendant of the Prophet Sunni Muslims did not outwardly resist the Umayyads' rule and followed Muhammed's example
What is the (Radically over-simplified) divide between the two major sects of Islam?
Sunnis believe Abu-Bakr is the first caliph whereas the Shi'a believe Ali was the rightful caliph
What modern day country is Damascus located in? WHta modern day country is Baghdad located in?
Syria Iraq
Why did the Ottoman Empire collapse? How did Skyes-Picot disrupt the Middle East?
The Allies won WWI It cut arbitrary lines through communities and causing tension
What was Fatimid
The Fatimid (FAT•uh•MIHD) caliphate was formed by Shi'a Muslims who claimed descent from Muhammad's daughter Fatima. The caliphate began in North Africa and spread across the Red Sea to western Arabia and Syria. However, the Fatimids and other smaller states were still connected to the Abbasid caliphate through religion, language, trade, and the economy.
What was the role of the House of Wisdom and Muslim and scholarship.
The House of Wisdom was a combination of a library, academy, and translation center; it was a product of the emphasis on Muslim learning and scholarship. Muslims placed that emphasis on education because the Prophet himself believed strongly in the power of learning
How do these protests correlate with other historical attempts at reform that we have learned about in previous units? Give at least three specific examples.
The Iranian protesters are taking deliberate and public action to raise awareness of injustice, injustice promoted and enforced by authority. Similarly, American women in the early 20th century protested injustice regarding their inability to vote, African Americans in the mid-20th century protested racism in America, which was enforced by white American leaders, and Church reformers in the Middle Ages who protested corruption in Church authority.
How does the Qur'an differ from the Christian Bible?
The Quran is only written in Arabic, whereas the Bible has been translated many times The Bible is more narrative than the Quran The Quran is God's word directly from the angel Gabriel, whereas the Bible was written through divine revelation
How did the Syrian civil war and Isis aggravate the perceived relationship between Sunni and Shia Muslims even more?
The Shi'a leadership painted those who were protesting as a Sunni movement whic sparked tension. Those tensions were escalated by ISIS to a national level
When did the initial protests take place in Iran? What and how were the women who participated protesting?
The first protest in December took place on a Wednesday. They are protesting the Iranian government's restrictions on women's attire.
What is the hajj, and how often must a Muslim perform it? What is the significance of clothing for the hajj?
The hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca. A mUslim must go at least once in their lifetime if they can afford it and their health is good enough. People wear all white tunics to show that the poor and rich are equal. They are also wearing the same clothes from the time of Abraham
Who were the Abbasids?
The most powerful group the of the rebels who overthrew the Abbasids; they took control of the empire
Given that official Saudi code does not prohibit women drivers, why do you think the police chose to incarcerate Manal? What do the distinctions between tradition and the law reveal about the Saudi Arabian criminal justice system and the power of its religious police?
The police chose to incarcerate Manal because they have their own beliefs based on how they interpret the Quran. The police officers chose to oppress women based on their beliefs and make it sort of a custom It reveals that in Saudi Arabia, the Islamic faith is so closely intertwined with their government that to the police officers personally probably considered it a crime
What is the most basic belief for Muslims?
There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God Shahada
What is the belief on Allah?
There is only one God and He is all knowing
In what ways does Islam relate to Judaism and Christianity?
They are all Abrahamic monotheistic religions with similar prophets
How did Muslims blend various traditions with a culture? WHat advantages would this have?
They combined Greek philosophy with the beliefs of Islam. They were both trying to uncover the truth They combined Egyptian ideas as well This would help unify the diverse peoples in the Islamic Empire They studied works from other cultures and appreciated the values of other cultures, drawing upon them for inspiration. This expanded their perspective on life because they were so open to other cultures' ideas of success and helped broaden their ambitions
Why is it significant that Islamic followers spawned an explosion of trade and were keepers of classic texts?
They paved the way for the Renaissance
Define Shari'a
the body of law comprised of the Qur'an's guidance and Sunna
