CHAPTER 13-Islam
During the hajj, Muslims are expected to wear markers of their social and economic status.
FALSE
Islamic law is no longer used in the world today.
FALSE
Jihad means to interpret Islamic law.
FALSE
Most African American Muslims belong to the Nation of Islam.
FALSE
The Qur'an is the sole source of shari'a.
FALSE
The term Sunnah refers to chapters of the Qur'an.
FALSE
The vast majority of Muslims today are Arabs.
FALSE
What are the key religious practices in Islam? How do beliefs relate to religious practice and expression?
Five Pillars of Islam: Shahada (faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawm (fasting), Hajj
Muslims believe that Muhammad was
-the first prophet. -one of many prophets.
Ali (muhammads cousin)
-was 1st male convert to islam after Muhammad wife Khadija -later became Muhammad son-in-law when Ali married Muhammads daughter Fatima
What was the origin of the split between the Sunnis and the Shi'as?
Difference in opinion over who should lead the Muslim community following Muhammad's death
Allah
Arabic term for God
Fasting
During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fast between dawn and sunset. A simple meal is eaten at the end of the day. Fasting serves to remind Muslims that their spiritual needs are greater than their physical needs.
shirk
The sin of idolatry, of worshiping anything other than God, the one unforgivable sin in Islam.
Ashura
The tenth day of the month of Muharram, recognized by Shi'a Muslims as the anniversary of the martyrdom of Husayn (parting of the red sea)
umma
The worldwide Muslim community
Mosque
(mosk; from the Arabic term masjid) Place of Prayer
Islam
"Submission" specifically, the religious tradition based on the revealed Qur'an as Word of God.
jihad
"striving" sometimes the greater jihad is the struggle with ones self to become a better person; the lesser jihad is associated with military conflict in defense of the faith.
shari'a
"the way to the water hole"; specifically, Islamic law.
The Hijra and the Growth of the Muslim Community
- because of the troubles in Mecca, Muhammad encouraged his followers to leave and make new homes in Medina, a small Jewish population welcomed him -they moved to Medina in 622 C.E this migration is called the Hijra -Islamic calendar begins with Hijra -when Muhammad finally left for medina angry Meccans and the Quraysh tribe pursued him, he hid in a cave for 3 days, when they found the cave a spider had spun a web to hid the entrance
Sunnah
-"way of life" or "custom" -Specifically refers to the example of the life of the prophet Muhammad; an important religious source for Muslims. -tradition or way of the life of Muhammad -he is considered ideal human
Abu Bakr
-Early convert to Islam -muhammads father in law -after Muhammads wife died he married Abu's daughter -Abu Bakr was appointed to lead the community after muhammads death -he was the first caliph
The oneness of God
-God cant have family because nothing else could hare his divinity -reject the trinity (suggests other beings share divinity) -Shirk- only unforgivable sin- worshiping anything other than Allah -humans cant comprehend gods essence
When did Islam begin?
-Islam arose in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century when Muslims believe that Muhammad began receiving communication from God. -the Qur'an is the word of god as revealed to Muhammad -Muhammad received a reminder for humanity of what god conveyed to Abraham (Ibrahim)
Hadith
-Literary tradition recording the sayings and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad -most records are from his "companions" -close friends or family -companions passed them on as hadith reports -The hadith consists of two parts- ISNAD- the chain of transmission -names of those who passed hadith from the time of the prophet Aisha- one of the most important transmitters of hadith, she passed on many reports about Muhammads life MATN- the report itself -not all isnad are equal, some are strong in authenticity some are weak.
The Umayyads and the Abbasids
-Mu'awiya claimed the caliphate -he designated his son Yazid as his successor instead of letting the community select a leader this turned the caliphate into a dynasty -the dynasty was discriminatory against non-Arab Muslims -people said Muhammad's blood line should be the caliphs and that Fatima and Alis sons Hasan and Husayn should lead the umma -Husayn was slain when Yazid's armies ambushed them on the plains of Karbala in what is now Iraq -Muslims who opposed the Umayyads became known as Abbasids -the Abbasid revolution succeeded in removing the Umayyads from power
The Story of Islam
-Muhammad was born in the town of Mecca, city in southern Arabian Peninsula - born to tribe called Quraysh, very powerful family -father died before born, mother died when he was young -lived with uncle, sent to live in desert with the Bedouin, considered ideal arab lifestyle -known as hard worker, met first wife (khadija) while working for her in trading caravan, she was a widow and 15 yrs older -after the revelation his teachings weren't welcome in mecca, he ridiculed polytheism and the wealthy treating the poor bad -his own tribe the Quraysh rejected him over this
Major teachings of the Quran
-Oneness of God -The all-powerful nature of God -The day of Judgement -gods guidance for a righteous life (moral behavior)
Which of the following is a teaching of Islam?
-The belief in the oneness of God -The belief in prophecy -The belief in angels
Which of the following is an essential part of Islamic belief?
-The belief in the oneness of God -The belief in the Day of Judgment -The belief in prophets
Hadith Qudsi
-The words in which the prophet Muhammad quotes God, but not from the Qur'an -believed to be words of God
sa'y
-another important rite of hajj -commemorates the story of Hagar (ishmaels mother) -she searched for water in the dessert god made a spring appear -pilgrims walk her path
In the early Muslim community, Muslim women had the right to
-divorce husbands. -inherit property. -refuse a marriage partner.
Crisis of Succession and the Rightly Guided Caliphs
-most believed Abu Bakr should be leader after his death but some wanted Muhammad's cousin Ali to succeed him but he was much younger than Abu. -led to the two major branches of Islam the SUNNI and the SHI'A -Sunni is the majority and Shi'a is the minority -the leaders who came after Muhammad were not known as prophets but caliphs after Muhammad, the caliphs were Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and finally, Ali -during expansion, many non-Arab speakers were muslin and this created discrimination against non-Arab speaking Muslims -during the time of the first 3 caliphs Ali's support grew -Ali took over after rebellions killed Uthman, many people were unhappy Ali never punished Uthman's murderers -This resulted in a battle and Uthman's nephew (Mu'awiya) challenged Ali they came to an agreement some saw it as a surrender and Ali supporters who didn't like that he surrendered formed a group called Kharijites "those who succeeded" and killed Ali.
surah
A chapter of the Qur'an; there are 114 in all, arranged mainly in decreasing order of length except for the first (the Fatihah).
Sufi
A follower of the mystical tradition of Islam, Sufism, which focuses on the believer's personal experience of God and goal of union with God.
In 1979, what major event happened in Iran?
A revolution
Pilgrimage
All Muslims who are physically and financially able perform the hajj at least once. Pilgrims wear identical garments so all stand as equals before Allah. clothing can be referred to as ihram
Umayyad Dynasty
Controversial Muslim dynasty from 661-750 C.E.
Five Pillars of Islam
Declaration of faith, prayer, alms, fasting, and pilgrimage
Husayn
Grandson of Muhammad who was killed while challenging the Umayyads
tafsir
Interpretation of or commentary on the Qur'an. There are several types of tafsir, which aim to explain the meaning of the Qur'an. -early tafsir was only over grammar, language, and inconsistencies -later came speculative tafsir- using own reasoning to interpret meaning -some said speculative tafsir was unnecessary because explanation was already in The Qur'an
Which of the following is not part of Muslim belief?
Jesus as the son of God
Caliph
Leader of the Muslim community after the death of Muhammad
Alms
Muhammad taught that all Muslims have a responsibility to support the less fortunate. Muslims meet the social responsibility by giving alms, or money for the poor, through a special religious tax.
Miraj
Muhammad's Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and from there to heaven, where he met with God
khadija
Muhammad's beloved first wife -a wealthy, successful business woman -considered 1st convert to Islam
Which of the following is false about modest dress?
Muslims are the only women who cover their hair for religious reasons.
Sunni
One of the two main branches of Islam. The Sunnis believed that the Muslim community should decide on a successor to lead after the death of Muhammad.
Shi'a
One of the two major branches of Islam. The Shi'a believed that Ali should have succeeded as leader of the Muslim community after the death of Muhammad. That is, only the family and descendants of the Prophet Muhammad should lead the Muslim community.
How was the Qur'an revealed to Muhammad?
Over the course of many years
Imam
Prayer Leaders; in the Shi'a tradition, one of the leaders of the Muslim community following the death of the Prophet Muhammad.
What is a prophet in the Islamic tradition? How do Muslims know about the life of Muhammad, and how does he differ from other prophets?
Prophets are assigned a special mission by God to guide humanity. They know about the life of Muhammad through the Sunnah. Muhammad is the final prophet that revealed Islam to the people. -Islam recognizes there have been many prophets but Muhammad was the "seal of the prophets" (last one) -some prophets bring "news" from god and some bring major messages like Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad -they consider the Torah and Gospels works of god that were misinterpreted and or forgotten -Some believe humans have free choice and must choose to submit to the will of god -Prophets are not divine
zakat
Regulated almsgiving; one of the five pillars of Islam
Why is Huda Sha'rawi famous?
She removed her headscarf at an Alexandria train station.
Which of the following is false about Shi'a Muslims?
Shi'as believe that the ayatollah is a modern-day prophet.
What are the essential principles of belief in the Islamic religion?
Six Articles of Faith: Allah is the only God worthy of worship, belief in all the angels sent by Allah, belief in all revelations sent by God, belief in all the prophets, belief in the day of judgment, the supremacy of Allah's will
Hijra
Sometimes spelled hegira. The migration of the early Muslim community from Mecca to Medina in 622 C.E.; the Islamic calendar dates from this year.
A key teaching of Islam is the belief in the oneness of God.
TRUE
During the miraj, or Night Journey, Muhammad ascended to heaven and came into the presence of God.
TRUE
In the modern period, Muslim reformers have been concerned about women's status.
TRUE
Muslim reformers in the modern period were concerned about European colonialism.
TRUE
Muslims believe that Islam is the original faith of Abraham.
TRUE
Muslims believe that Muhammad was one of many prophets.
TRUE
Muslims know about the life of Muhammad through the hadith reports.
TRUE
Sunni Muslims are in the majority of Muslims worldwide.
TRUE
Jahiliyya
The "age of ignorance," which refers to the time before the revelation of the Qur'an.
What are the most important sources of spirituality for Muslims?
The Qu'ran and the Sunnah
Which of the following movements became very prominent in Saudi Arabia?
The Wahhabi movement
Hajj
The annual pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the five pillars of Islam
Adhan
The call to prayer -the five daily prayers are announced in the words of the Adhan -usually called in a rhythmic, recitational fashion
Mecca
The city in which Muhammad was born; place of pilgrimage for Muslims.
Medina
The city to which Muhammad and his early followers migrated to escape persecution in Mecca.
salat
The daily prayers, which are one of the pillars of Islam.
shahadah
The declaration of faith: "There is no God but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God"; the first of the five pillars.
Who was Khadija?
The first wife of the prophet Muhammad
Qur'an
The holy text of Muslims; the Word of God as revealed to Muhammad. -received orally and thought orally -the Qur'an was revealed gradually over 20 years -not a narrative text -114 chapters called Surahs consists of many verses -longest to shortest -the first one -titles were not revealed -most well known surah is the first one (Al-Fatihah) "the opening"
Ramadan
The month in which Muslims must fast daily from dawn until dusk; the fast is one of the five pillars of Islam, the month in which the Qur'an is believed to have been revealed to Muhammad
Muhammad
The prophet who received the revelation of the Qur'an from God. The final prophet in a long line of prophets sent by God to humanity. He was a devout monotheist before his revelation Muhammad is Al-Insan Al-kamil= The ideal human when he was 40 (610 C.E) Angel Gabriel (Jibril) came to him while he was praying in a cave outside Mecca and told him to "Recite!" he hesitated 3 times because he feared he couldn't since he was illiterate.
What happened to the muslim community with the move to Medina?
They took on a new political and social form -in mecca Muhammad had just preached but in Medina he took on many roles -the verses of the Qur'an that muslins believe were revealed to Muhammad in Medina concern the regulation of community life -they still had conflicts with mecca and quraysh tribe -in 628 C.E. he attempted to lead muslims back to mecca for pilgrimage to see Ka'ba , meccans proposed treaty bc his numbers and power had grown - in 630 C.E. they returned and mecca surrendered, they allowed them to go free if they converted and they rededicated the Ka'ba to Islam -Muhammad lived for only 2 more years after taking over mecca
What is Sufism, and how is it rooted in the Islamic tradition?
This is when Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. This movement has stemmed from early Islamic asceticism
What is the Night Journey?
When Muhammad traveled to Jerusalem, ascended to heaven, and came into the presence of God
Aisha
a beloved wife of Muhammad who is known for transmitting many hadith
Jamal al-din al-Afghani (1838-1897) was a reformer who
advocated a resistance to European colonialism
Abbasids (750-1258)
an important muslim empire that ruled from 750 to 1258 C.E. -those who opposed the Umayyads -the Abbasid revolution succeeded in removing the Umayyads from power
Assuming one is physically and financially able, a Muslim is expected to make the pilgrimage to Mecca
at least once in a lifetime.
Tawaf
counterclockwise circling of the Ka'bah, completed seven times during Hajj, in worship of Allah performed 3 times during the pilgrimage
The salat is the
five daily prayers Muslims are expected to perform.
Prayer
five times a day, Muslims face toward Mecca to pray. They may assemble at the mosque or wherever they find themselves.
The term "Islam" means
submission
The chapters of the Qur'an are known as
surahs
Ka'ba
the stone cubical structure in the courtyard of the Great Mosque of Mecca, believed to have been built by Abraham and his son Ishmael, regarded by Muslims as the sacred center of the earth
Muslims consider that only the Arabic version of the Qur'an is
the true word of Allah
Faith
to become a Muslim, a person has to testify to the following statement of faith: "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah". This simple statement is heard again and again in Islamic rituals and in Muslim day life.
