introduction to islam (quiz 1)

What is the literal meaning of Islam?

Submission

When was the Prophet born/became a prophet (first revelation)/passed away?

Born 570 CE, became a prophet (first revelation) in 610 CE, and passed away in 632 CE

After which animal is the year named in which the Prophet was born?

Elephant

To which tribe/clan did the Prophet belong, and what is his specific subclan?

Quraysh, specific subclan was Banu Hashim

In which way(s) was Muhammad related to Abu Bakr?

Abu Bakr is his companion and father-in-law (Muhammed married his daughter Aisha)

Which caliph among the Rashidun was married to two daughters of Muhammad?

Uthman Ibn Affan

What is the Sunna?

The practice and teachings of the prophet Muhammed

What is a hadith?

a report describing the words, actions, or habits of the Prophet.

What is a sura?

A sura is a chapter of the Qur'an

What is an aya?

A verse in the Qur'an

What does the word "Qur'an" mean?

Recitation or reading

According to Islamic sources, when did the first official "unification" of the Qur'an (at least of its rasm) occur?

650 CE under Uthman ibn Affan

What is the name of Muhammad's first wife?

Khadija

Who was the first male Muslim (except the Prophet)?

Abu Bakr

Who is Ibn Ishaq? In which century did he complete his work of the Sira? Who is the editor through whom his work is primarily transmitted?

He is an early Muslim scholar who wrote the Sira which was a biography of the prophet's life. He completed the work of the Sira in the 8th century. Ibn Hisham was the editor through whom his work is primarily transmitted.

Who is Waraqa Ibn Nawfal (per Ibn Ishaq)?

Christian cousin of Muhammed's wife, Khadija

Where did Muhammad receive his first revelation according to Ibn Ishaq?

Hira

What was the first revelation, according to many Muslim traditions?

Gabriel tells Muhammed to read.

Who fought whom in the Battle of the Camel? Who won?

Ali ibn Ali Talib (the fourth Caliph) fought against a rebellion led by Aisha, Talha, and Zubayr. Ali won

What are the two periods into which qur'anic verses and suras are divided by the Islamic tradition?

The Meccan period and the Medinan period.

What is the hijra? When does the Islamic calendar start?

The hijra is Muhammed's migration with his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. The Islamic calendar starts on July 16, 622 CE

Name the five pillars!

Shahada (profession of faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)

What exactly is being professed in the shahada?

The absolute oneness of God (Allah) and the acceptance of Muhammad as His final messenger

What does fasting during Ramadan entail?

It means that you don't eat food or drink anything from sun up to sun down and ignore other physical needs as well.

What is a variant reading (qira'a)?

A distinct method of reciting the Qur'an, encompassing variations in pronunciation, vowels, consonants, word choice, and even minor grammatical structures.

What is tajwid?

A set of rules and principles for reciting the Qur'an with proper pronunciation, articulation, and rhythm

What are the three dimensions of Islam, as per the hadith of Gabriel?

Islam, Iman, and Ihsan

What is a caliph?

The chief Muslim civil and religious ruler

What is fitra?

The innate human nature with a natural inclination to recognize and submit to God

What is fitna?

Unrest or rebellion, especially after against a rightful ruler

What caused the first (and respectively second) fitna?

The first fitna was caused by the assassination of the third caliph (Uthman ibn Affan), the second fitna happened after the death of the first Umayyad caliph, Muawiya I.

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

Kharijites (Khawarij)

Which event is being commemorated in Ashura (according to Shi'ites)?

The martyrdom of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammed

Give the names of the two super - powers (empires) in the North of Arabia at the birth of the prophet Muhammad.

The Byzantine empire and the Sasanian (Persian) empire.

Which country in the world has the highest Muslim population?

Indonesia

What is the name of the first Islamic dynasty? What is the name of the second?

Umayyad Caliphate, the second was Abbasid Caliphate.

Where was the seat of the first Islamic dynasty?

Damascus, Syria

To which subclan did the caliphs of the first Islamic dynasty belong?

Banu Umayya clan of the Quraysh tribe.

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

The Christian Kingdom of Aksum

What is a caliph?

The chief Muslim civil and religious ruler

What is the ummah?

The whole community of Muslims bound together by ties of religion

Which are the two main branches (~ "denominations") in Islam?

Sunni and Shia

Why did Sunnis and Shi'ites split originally? Who held that Muhammad appointed a successor?

Sunnis wanted a community to decide on the new caliph, they wanted Abu Bakr. Shi'ites wanted the caliph to stay within the family, they wanted Ali ibn Abi Talib.