Intro to Islam Quiz #1

Islam

submission

When was the prophet born?

571 CE

When did the prophet die?

632 CE

When did the prophet recieve his first revelation?

610 CE

What was the animal of the year the year the prophet was born?

Elephant

What tribe/clan did the Prophet belong to and what was his subclan?

Quraysh tribe of Mecca, Banu Hashim subclan

How was Muhammed realted to Abu Bakr?

Abu Bakr was his father in law, and the first caliph

What caliph among the Rashidun was married to 2 of Muhammed’s daughters?

Uthman ibn Affan

Sunna

The way of life of the prophet since he is considered a perfect model - his actions, teachings, and practices as a blueprint for daily life

hadith

A narrated collection of tradtions that contain the prophet’s sayings and accounts of the Sunna, sometimes compiled into books

sura

a chapter or section of the Qur’an

aya

a verse in the Qur’an, literally means sign, proof, or miracle

Qur’an

recitation

When did the first offical ‘unification’ of the Qur’an occur?

650 CE

Muhammed’s first wife

Khadijah

Ibn Ishaq

A Muslim historian who compiled the earliest biography of Muhammed (known as the Sira)

What century did Ibn Ishaq complete his work of the Sira and who was the editor through whom his work is primarily transmitted?

8th century, transmitted through his student Ibn Hisham

Waraqa Ibn Nawfal

cousin of Khadijah, monk who confirmed Muhammed’s prophecy

When did Muhammed recieve his first revelation according to Ibn Ishaq?

while meditating in the Cave of Hira (on Mount Hira, near Mecca)

What was the first revelation?

Gabriel’s command to Prophet Muhammed (READ!) (Iqra)

Battle of Camel

The forces of Ali fought the Rebel Forces, the forces of Ali won when they cut off the legs of the rebel’s camel

What are the 2 periods the Qur’anic verses and suras are divided into by Islamic tradition?

Meccan and Medinan period, based on whether they were revelaed to Muhammed in Mecca or after his migration to Medina 

Hijra

Islamic migration of Muhammed and his followers from Mecca toMedina in 622 CE, means migration 

When does the Islamic calender start?

the Hijra marks the start, it varies from year to year depending on the moon

Five Pillars

1. Shahada - declaration of faith

2. Salah - five daily prayers 

3. Zakat - almsgiving or charity 

4. Sawm - fasting during Ramadan

5. Hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca

What is professed in the shahada?

Belief in God’s oneness, Muhammed as God’s final messanger (first pillar)

What does fasting during Ramadan entail?

Abstaining from food, drink, and sexual activity from sundown to sunset for a month - spirtual discipline to gain taqwa

variant reading (qira’a)

a different way of reciting the Quran orginating from the variations permitted during Muhammed’s time - variations do not change meaning or message 

tajwid

The rhythmic and melodic recitation of the passages in the Qu'r’an; meant to preserve its’ original form as it was passed from Muhammed

the three dimensions of Islam, as per the hadith of Gabriel

Islam: outward submission, relgious duties (5 pillars)

Iman: inner faith, belief in the 6 articles of faith

Ihsan: highest spiritual level, worshipping God as if you see him

caliph

a successor of Muhammed that serves as a spirtual head of Islam after his death 

fitra

the innate human nature to recognize and submit to God, have a good moral compass, and recognize God’s power

fitna

trial, or test - anything that challenges a person’s faith/ relationship with Allah, first was a civil war

What caused the first (and respectively the second) fitna?

The assasination of the third Caliph, Uthman which led to a power struggle between his successor Ali and a coalition seeking vengeance for Uthman’s death

Which new Muslim group emerged out of the Battle of Siffin?

The Khawarij (or Kharijites)

Which event is being commemorated in Ashura (according to the Shi’ites?

the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Muhammed, who was killed in the Battle of Karbala

the two super-powers (empires) in the North of Arabia  when Muhammed was born

Byzantine Empire (Roman) and Susanian Empire (Persian)

the country with the highest Mulsim population

Indonesia

First Islamic dynasty

Umayyad Dynasty in 661 AD

Second Islamic dynasty

Umayyad Caliphate from 661-750 AD

What was the seat of the first Islamic dynasty?

Damascus, in what is now Syria

subclan the caliphs of the first dynasty belonged to

The Banu Umayya subclan, within the Quraysh tribe of Mecca

Where (in which kingdom) did the early Muslims seek refuge before the hijra to Medina?

The Christian kingdom of Aksum in Abyssinia (modern day Eritrea/ Ethiopia)

ummah

The whole community of Muslims who commonly share their religion

two main branches/ denominations in Islam

Sunni and Shia

Why did the Sunnis and Shi’ites split orginally?

After Muhammed’s death over the question on who should succeed him as leader 

Sunnis thought it should be the most qualified person, while the Shi’ites thought it should remain in Muhammed’s family 

Did the Sunni or Shi’ites hold that Muhammed appointed a successor?

Shi’ties