BG-HIST-1510 / Islam Test

What is Badawah?

Islamic term for nomadic lifestyle and culture, typically associated with Bedouins. Life was BAD, because of resource scarcity.

What is Glazu?

A raid to acquire resources. Accepted as a way of life in times of scarcity, essential to the Badawah economy.  Always avoid killing!

What is Muruwah?

Code of the Arabs. Which highlighted obedience the chief without question, protecting the weak. And above all, being generous with food and livestock.

What us Karim?

Someone who is a generous hero.

What is Hasah?

 Family honor

Who is the Sheikh?

The leader of the tribe.

What is the definition of an Arab?

Nationality of Arabian Peninsula

What is the definition of an Muslim?

People of Islamic Faith

What were the two most important Arab towns during the time of Muhammad?

Medina (Yathirib) and Mecca.

Who was Muhammad?

The founder of Islam and a prophet who received revelations from Allah.

What is the Hijra?

Muhammad’s escape from Mecca to Medina. This is because the Meccan authorities are fearful of Muhammad’s growing influence and the spread of Islam because it is bad for business.

What does Muhammad do once in Medina?

He establishes a Muslim community and gains a reputation for his wisdom, and he banishes the Jews because of their practice of usury as bankers, which goes against islam, he spreads their wealth among his followers.

What is Allah?

Arab word for God

What is Usury?

Charge interest for loans (seen as a  sin in ancient world)

Why did was Muhammad bad for business in Mecca?

1. Taught monotheism in Mecca (he was bad for tourism to Mecca)

2. Taught that relatives were not going to be in heaven together if they did not follow islam

What does Muhammad outlaw?

Female Infanticide

What is the Ka’bah

The central religious site for islam, located in Mecca, Muhammad refurbishes it from an idol worshiping site in an islamic religious site.

What is the Qu’ran?

The holy book of Islam, believed to be the word of Allah as revealed to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. It has military aspects to protect against enemy states of the time.

What are the five pillars of Islam?

The foundational acts of worship in Islam

What is Shehada?

The declaration of faith in Islam that states there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger. It is the first pillar of Islam.

What is Salat?

The ritual prayer in Islam performed five times a day, facing the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. It is the second pillar of Islam.

What is Sawm?

The fasting during Ramadan in Islam that involves abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset. It is the fourth pillar of Islam.

What is Zakat?

The almsgiving or charity in Islam that requires Muslims to give a portion of their wealth to those in need, typically calculated as 2.5% of your salary. It is the third pillar of Islam.

What is Hajj?

The pilgrimage to Mecca in Islam that every Muslim must undertake at least once in their lifetime, provided they are physically and financially able. It is the fifth pillar of Islam.

What is a Caliph?

“God’s deputy,” a political leader or spiritual leader of the Muslim community, a leader of a Caliphate.

Who is Abu-Bakr?

The first Calpih of Islam, he is known for keeping the various tribes in Arabia under Muslim control and won a civil war that arose.

Who is Umar?

The second Caliph of Islam, known for spreads Islam through what is today the Middle East. He conquers the Fertile Crescent, along with Sassanid and Byzantine areas. 

Who is Uthman?

The third Caliph of Islam, known for compiling the Quran into a single book and he appoints deputies based on their family relationship to him (nepotism)

Who was Ali?

The fourth Caliph of Islam, known for not going after the murderers of Uthman.

Who was Mu’awiya?

The first Caliph of the Umayyad dynasty, known for leading the Sunni Muslims.

What are the two types of Muslims following Ali?

Shia: Supporters of Ali (Shia) believe that the caliph should be a descendent of Muhammad’s bloodline.

Sunni: Followers of Mu’awiya (Sunni) believe the caliph should be selected via merit or through evidence of ability as a faithful and practicing Muslim

Who is Khalid inb Walid?

A general under Caliph Umar, AKA “The Sword of Allah". He expands Islam into Byzantine and Persia territories

Why was Umar’s expansion successful?

1. Muslim invaders are tolerant of other monotheistic religions.

2. The Muslims did not rape or pillage, therefore there was no reason not to cooperate with them.

What are Dhimmis?

 Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians (non muslims) tolerated by the Muslim because they are monotheistic in exchange for tax payments (Similar to Federetes)

What is Jizya?

wealth tax on non-Muslims in Muslim controlled territories. 

What is Kharaj?

 land tax on non-Muslims in Muslim controlled territories. 

What characterizes the Umayyad Caliphate?

1. Movement of capital city to Damascus, exposing Greco-Roman influence

2. Use of “Greek Fire”

3. Had complete control over Islam

What characterizes the Abbasid Caliphate?

1. Al Mansur moving the capital to Baghdad & creation of round city

2. Complete control over Islam

3. Education access —> House of Wisdom

What is a Vizier?

A bureaucratic official who administers for the caliph. (Jaffar)

What is a Imam?

title given to one with religious authority.

Who were the ‘Ulama?

religious scholars who decide interpretations of Shari’a law (the law based on Islamic principles and the Qur’an). 

Who is Harun al Rashid?

Abbasid diplomat known for creating the House of Wisdom.

Who is Al Ma’mun?

The last influential Abbasid leader, he  moved from Baghdad to Samarra

Who are the mamluks?

 slaves who convert to Islam and train as professional soldiers who would serve as part of a private army for caliphs. (Praetorian Guard)

What is the Spanish Umayyad Caliphate?

Surviving branch of the Umayyads. The Umayyad prince Abd ar-Rahman had survived and escaped to Spain. Cordoba will become the greatest intellectual city in Europe

What is the Fatimid Caliphate?

Located in North Africa, they claimed descent from Ali and his wife Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad. They seized Egypt, built Cairo as their new capital

What is the Ghaznawid Caliphate?

Set up by arising from mamluks who rose through the military ranks. They are also responsible for the spread of Islam into India,

What is the Saljuqid Caliphate?

Coin the term Sultan: term for leader, derived from word for power

They are nomadic thus causing friction with the settled populations (nomads and their herds vs. farmers and their fields).

What does the collapse of the Saljuqid Caliphate result in?

1. Allows for christians to have successful first crusade 

2. Mongol Expansion

Who was Hulegu Khan?

Grandson of the great Genghis Khan. He was given the task of expanding the Mongol empire into southwest Asia (Middle East)

What are the Il-Khans?

Sucessors of Hulegu Khan in Middle East

Who was Il-Khan Ghazan?"

Converted to Islam and offered his patronage to his Muslim subjects.

Who was Il Khan Oljeytu?

 Ghazan’s brother and successor, he followed much the same religious policy, thus solidifying Islam

What flaws the did the Il-Khans have?

1. Toyed with the idea of allying with the European Christians (enemies of the Muslims )

2. Introduction of paper money (Muslims were not having it)

3. Bubonic Plague outbreaks during the 14th century

4. The Mongols were nomads, they upset the same people the Saljuqids just upset by being nomads (hurt economies)

What is the Egyptian Mamluk Caliphate?

1. The Mamluks defeated the Ayyubid sultan of Egypt

• Successes

1. Fend off from the Crusades

2. Resist the Mongols

• Failures

1. No hereditary leadership / rules for succession

2. Frequent warfare (war exhaustion)

3. Isolation —> No trade —> No money

4. Refuse to innovate warfare tactics

Who is Al Mansur

Caliph of Abbasid Caliphate that moved the capital to Baghdad (round city) & defeated the Ummayads

What is significant about the battle of Badr?

The first instance where the Muslims were outnumbered, and won. Proving God was on their side.