ISLAM QUIZ

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Who are Bedouins?

Herders who lived in tents and moved from place to place in search of food and water.

What are the two types of Bedouins?

1. Those who settled near an oasis.

2. nomads = Constantly moving. Nomadic life was called badawah.

What is badawah?

Grim lifestyle with too many people competing for too few resources. Sounds like Bad oh life.

What is Glazu?

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

Why in Glazu did they avoid killing?

Death led to vendettas. This means if some dies it will lead to repeated cycle of death as revenge for someone dieing.

What is Muruwah?

Code of the Arabs. To preserve honor each tribe member must be willing to leap to kinsmen’s defense and obey chief without question. The most respected values were courage, patience, endurance, avenging wrong doings, protecting the weak. Above all must be generous with food and livestock. Noble Bedouins gave lavish parties to show they valued their kinsmen more then their possessions. These parties to reduce a man to poverty overnight!

What is a Karim?

One who is a generous hero.

What is the hasah?

Each tribe had a special bond of muruwah, passed down from generation to generation called hasah meaning ancestral honor.

Who was the sheikh?

leader of tribe.

What were the Bedouins religious beliefs?

No interest in conventional religion. Life was bleak and grim with no hope for afterlife. Deviation from ancient customs was a great evil. Bedouins had a tragic worldview.

What were the important towns in ARABIA AT THE TIME OF MUHAMMAD?

Medina and Mecca.

Who was MUHAMMAD?

Muhammad was part of the ruling family of Mecca, although his branch of the family was not in power. Muhammad has visions of visits from the archangel Gabriel revealing religious truths different from other contemporary teachings. Muhammad shares his visions with his family – he soon has a group of converts following him. The authorities in Mecca grow fearful of Muhammad’s growing influence, and Muhammad is forced to flee to Medina.

What was Hijra?

Muhammad’s escape from Mecca to Medina. Muhammad arrives in Medina amidst unrest, with disputing parties looking for someone to arbitrate disputes. He fills this role and gains a reputation for wisdom, ultimately becoming the ruler of the city.

What is Islam?

Submission to will of god as explained by Muhammad (the faith).

What is a Muslim?

Is one who has submitted (one who practices the faith).

What is the Ka’bah and what did Muhammad do?

A religious site in Islam. By sanctifying the rock inside the Ka’bah, Muhammad is replacing the pagan center of Arab belief with a monotheistic Islamic belief.

What is the Allah?

Arabic word for god.

What did Muhammad do that got him in trouble?

1. He preached that there is only one god. In Mecca, the main businesses were the polytheistic religion. Store owners would make little sacrifices for the gods. They made trinkets and statues of the gods. He said that they were making sacrifices to fake gods. This resulted in less money being spent in the Market.

2. As he started to share God's word, he said that if you worship the one true god, there is a paradise for you, he then said your dead relatives worshipped the pagan gods so they rejected the one true god and will be in their version of hell.

What is a difference between Jesus and Muhammad?

The biggest difference between Muhammad and Jesus was Muhammad was a political figure, he passed laws, collected taxes, raised an army, passed judgements, led as a general.

What is usury?

The concept of charging interest on a loan

Where is the teachings of Muhammad recorded?

The Qu’ran, written after his death by several of his followers. Some of the writings in the Qu’ran revisit or revise aspects of the Old Testament and New Testament. The Qu’ran accepts Jesus as a messiah, but not as the son of God (Allah).

What are the five pillars of Islam (try and use the professional names as you will have to on quiz day)?

These five duties, the shehada, daily prayer (salat), fasting (sawm), almsgiving (zakat), and Hajj, are collectively known as the Five Pillars of Islam.

What is the pillar of Shehada?

The declaration of faith that every Muslim must pronounce and believe in. It states that there is no God but Allah, and that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was his messenger. Stating and believing in the shehada is the only requirement for becoming a Muslim.

What is the pillar of Prayer?

Prayer/salat is performed the most of any one of the Five Pillars. The purpose of prayer is to renew our commitment of following the path of God at all times, to ask forgiveness for our sins, and to thank God for all that he does for us. The idea is that if God helps us throughout the whole day, we should be able to remember him for a few minutes at least several times a day. There are five obligatory prayers: Fajr (prayed prior to dawn), Duhr (prayed at noon), Asr (prayed in the afternoon), Maghrib (prayed prior to sunset), and Isha (prayed at night). Travelers are allowed to skip prayers on the condition that they make them up afterwards.

What is the pillar of Fasting?

sawm is required only during the month of Ramadan, although it may be done on any other days, with a few exceptions. When fasting, a Muslim abstains from all eating, drinking, smoking, and other worldly pleasures from dawn to dusk. The person also tries to curb bad habits such as using abusive language. Fasting is for the betterment of society, and it also teaches the individual self-control and helps him to empathize with those who are not fortunate enough to have as much food as they need every day. The idea is to take these lessons and try to apply them throughout the whole year. Because it is based on the lunar calendar, fasting is fair for people all over the world. Every year, Ramadan starts about ten days earlier than the previous year, cycling it throughout the solar-based year. In this way, people from one part of the world will not always have to fast during the long summer days, but will also get to fast during the wintertime. Certain groups of people are excluded from fasting, such as the elderly, the sick, pregnant and nursing women, and travelers. However, these people are required to make up any days that they missed as soon as possible. For those people who are terminally ill or for some reason cannot make up their fasts, they are required to feed a poor person every day that they do not fast.

What is the pillar of Almsgiving?

Almsgiving/zakat must be paid by every Muslim who is capable of doing so. It is basically money given to those in need; the amount is 2.5% of the individual's salary. The recipients of this money do not have to be Muslim. The idea behind it is that everything one has is a gift from God, and therefore it should be shared with those who do not have.

What is the pillar of Hajj?

Hajj is required of every person who is able to afford it financially and is physically capable. It is a 5 day pilgrimage to Mecca, and can be broken down into nine necessary steps.

What does Caliph mean?

“God’s deputy,” a political leader or spiritual leader of the Muslim community, the secular head of a religiously defined community. Caliphate is the government under a caliph.

Who is Abu-Bakr?

Muhammad’s father-in-law, the first of Muhammad’s successors as caliph. While only caliph for 2 years, he was successful at keeping the various tribes in Arabia under Muslim control and wins a civil war that arises from infighting amongst different Muslim clans.

Who was Umar?

Also a father-in-law of Muhammad, he replaces Abu Bakr as the second caliph. He spread Islam through what is today the Middle East. He conquers the Fertile Crescent, along with Sassanid and Byzantine areas.

Who is Uthman?

The 3rd caliph. Most notable achievement is that he commissions the writing of the Qu’ran, the Islamic holy book that chronicles Muhammad’s revelations. Uthman appoints deputies based on their family relationship to him (nepotism); rivals that fear such appointments will lead to a caliphate dynasty assassinating him. Uthman is followed by Ali, the 4th caliph

Who is Ali?

He was a son-in-law and an important deputy to Muhammad, but passed over in the first three caliph elections on the belief he is too young to lead. When Ali fails to go after the murderers of Uthman, a civil war within Islam occurs. The Umayyads, the family to which Uthman belonged, rebel against Ali.

What happened after the death of Uthman?

In the faith, Assasination was approved by the gods but murder was not part of gods will. Ali has to decide which one. The iliad says if he was murdered, then someone from his tribe should pick the next Caliph. This results in a civil war between the two families.

What happened during the civil war with Ali?

The Umayyads under Mu’awiya win the war, resulting in a dynasty of Umayyad caliphs and creating a dividing line between two sects of Muslims, the Shia and the Sunni. Mu’awiya was the Umayyad governor of Damascus who leads the civil war against Ali and replaced Ali as caliph.

Why did a split happen between Sunni and Shia Muslims and who supported who?

Supporters of Ali (Shia) believe that the caliph should be a descendent of Muhammad’s bloodline. Followers of Mu’awiya (Sunni) believe the caliph should be selected via merit or through evidence of ability as a faithful and practicing Muslim. Today, roughly 80% of Muslims are Sunni.

Why was the Islamic Empire able to expand into Byzantines and Persia?

In 634, six years after the Byzantines and Persians stop fighting each other, both armies are exhausted. Neither the Byzantines nor Persian Empires are able to stop Muslim invasions of parts of their territories under Umar, the 2nd Caliph. The Islamic army is led by Khalid ibn Walid, who was given the nickname ” The Sword of Allah” .

What is the significance of Battle of Chains against the Persians, Battle of Qadisaya, and Battle of Yarmuk?

1. The Muslims were constantly outnumbered during the battle, but still prevailed.

2. It showed to the Muslims that God was on their side.

Why were the invasions successful for the Muslims (besides Persia and Bystanize being weakend)?

The invasions by Umar are also successful because the Muslim invaders are tolerant of other monotheistic religions. The Muslims did not rape or pillage, therefore there was no reason not to cooperate with them. Followers of other religions were taxed, but not persecuted. Muslims were not required to pay tax, but were required by their faith to provide alms (donations to the poor/those in need).

What was Dhimmis?

Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians tolerated by the Muslim political authority in exchange for tax payments (jizya and kharaj).

What was Jizya?

Wealth tax on non-Muslims in Muslim controlled territories.

What is Kharaj?

land tax on non-Muslims in Muslim controlled territories.

Who was the UMAYYAD CALIPHATE and their significane? (7)

Comes into power after Ali’s death. The move of the political capital to Damascus exposes the caliphate to Greco-Roman influence. Under Abd-al-Malik (685- 705), Muslims replace the dhimmi as the political leaders of newly conquered areas and the religion grows (noticeable in things like the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem). Umayyad Caliphate attacks Constantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire, twice during this period. The Romans hold back the invasions using “Greek Fire,” an incendiary device that was not extinguishable by water. The Umayyad Caliphate changes the landscape of some cities, building sacred Islamic sites on top of the sacred sites of other religions. This shows a changing nature in the relations between Muslim rulers and their non-Muslim subjects.

Why did a rebellion ensure against the Umayyad Caliphate and what started?

Islam gains additional converts in new territories they conquer. As a result, a hierarchy within the religion develops based on when one’s family converted. Descendants of those who followed Muhammad’s flight from Mecca to Medina and descendants of conquers receive privileges (like pensions) denied to recent converts. This produces opposition to the Umayyad Caliphate, and a rebellion ensues. The Umayyads are toppled by the Abbasids under Al Mansur (754-775). Al Mansur’s Baghdad = The Abbasids move the capital to Baghdad and created the round city. Baghdad and other Muslim cities become cultural centers, producing advancements in various sciences such as astronomy.

What did Al Mansur’s Baghdad do?

The Abbasids move the capital to Baghdad and created the round city.

Who are the people in the ABBASID BUREAUCRACY?

Vizier, Imam, Ulama.

What does the Vizier do?

A bureaucratic official who administers for the caliph.

What does the Imam do?

Title given to one with religious authority.

What does the 'Ulama do?

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

Who are Mamluks and what did they do?

Slaves who convert to Islam and train as professional soldiers who would serve as part of a private army for caliphs. Mamluks ultimately gain enough power that Abbasid caliphs must grant their wishes, or the caliph would lose his own power (or life).

Who was Harun al Rashid?

A skilled diplomat and general, this vizier was known to dress up as commoner and walk about the city to observe his subjects. Responsible for creating the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. The House of Wisdom was in fame, status, scope, size, resources, patronage, etc. similar to that of the present day British Library in London or the Nationale Bibliotheque in Paris, in addition to being an Academy for the Arts and the Sciences where scholars came together for dialogue, discussions and discourses.

Who was Al Ma’mun?

Son of Harun al-Rashid, he tries to give the office of caliph religious power. He declares himself an imam and orders an inquisition forcing others to admit to his religious primacy. This results in the ‛ulama asserting their right to interpret the Qur’an and to define the religious law, Shari‛a. The idea of caliph as religious leader does not last long. The Abbasid capital temporarily moved from Baghdad to Samarra. This isolated the caliph from his bureaucracy, leaving him at the mercy of the mamluks.

What happened after the death of Al Ma’mun and decline of the ABBASIDS?

Multiple caliphates emerge after the death of al Ma’mun in 833 AD. While the Abbassids will technically rule until 1258, the caliphates will become fragmented, connected but ruled independently of each other. In many areas, the caliphs are under the control of the military with no religious interest. Islam ceases to operate under a single government or polity.

Who were the UMAYYAD SPAIN and what did they do?

An example of the multiple caliphs that emerge after the death of al Ma’mun, Cordoba (in present day Spain) is ruled by a 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, containing over 70 libraries with over 500,000 manuscripts! It will also be the first European city to have streetlights and paved streets.

Who were the FATIMIDS and what did they do?

The Fatimids in North Africa claimed descent from Ali and his wife Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad. By the end of the 960s they seized Egypt, built Cairo as their new capital (it is still the capital of Egypt today), and pressed on to Palestine, Syria, and parts of Arabia. Cairo will become a center of intellectual growth and commercial trade. This is a period of triumph for the Shi’ites.

Who were the GHAZNAWIDS and what did they do?

The Turks also set up new caliphates arising from mamluks who rose through the military ranks. One example is the Ghaznawids (Ghaz-NAH-weeds) who ruled part of present-day Afghanistan and Iran. The Ghaznawids retain some elements of Persian culture. They are also responsible for the spread of Islam into India, which does not go well initially. The Caliph Mahmoud led an army into India to Somnath, the Hindu holy temple. Hindu is an effront to Muslims because of its idolatry. 50,000 Hindus die defending the temple, touching off 1,000 years of hatred between the Hindu’s and the Muslims.

Who were the SALJUQIDS and what did they do? (4)

The Saljuqids converted to Islam in Central Asia and invaded the Iranian plateau in the 1030s. They defeated the Ghaznawids and other local powers and in the 1050s became the new protectors of the Abbasid caliph. The caliph rewarded their chief leader, Tughrul, with the new title of sultan. Saljuqid Turks were traditionally nomads, thus even if Saljuqid leaders were willing to settle down and adapt to the lifestyle of traditional sedentary Muslim rulers, their nomadic tribal supporters did not always want to give up their own traditions. The Saljuqid Turks also constitute the first major influx of nomads into the Islamic East, causing friction with the settled populations (nomads and their herds vs. farmers and their fields). The nomadic tribesmen initially proved useful in expanding Islamic political control west by taking over Asia Minor after defeating the Eastern Roman Empire. Atabegs were rulers like regents or generals who take charge for maliks or sultans and govern on their behalf.

Why did the SALJUQIDS decline? (2)

Eventually make their offices hereditary and stop paying homage to the Saljuqid rulers, weakening Saljuqid power. Over time, the Saljuqid sultans spread across the Islamic world, decreasing loyalty to a centralized Saljuqid power. By the early 12th century, Saljuqid sultans lose control over junior branches of the family establish in other provinces. These local kings (maliks) ruled with great autonomy, although in many cases their authority was eclipsed by atabegs. Several atabegs eventually overthrow their weak masters and establish their own local dynasties. The Saljuqid Empire was falling apart. The first Crusade arrived and it was the only successful one because all of the Sultans were split apart.

What is a Sultan?

Derived from the Arabic word for “power,” the title was deemed superior to malik (“king”) or amir (“prince”). Created during the SALJUQIDS ruling.

What is an Atabegs?

Were rulers like regents or generals who take charge for maliks or sultans and govern on their behalf.

What happened during the MONGOL INVASIONS?

Hulegu Khan: Hulegu Khan was the grandson of the great Ghengis Khan. He was given the task of expanding the Mongol empire into southwest Asia in 1251, by his brother Mongke, who was the Great Khan at the time. It was said that 2 out of every 10 soldiers in the empire were assigned to Hulegu’s army! The Mongol Hülegü eliminated the radical Shi‛a sect called the Hashshashin, also known as the Assassins, in their mountain fortress of Alamut without a fight. He then took Baghdad in 1258. Hülegü mocked the ‛Abbasid caliph, Mustastim, for hoarding treasure rather than securing better defenses, locking the caliph in a tower with treasure but no food. This effectively ends the ‛Abbasid caliphate, although in fact a series of weak ‛Abbasid caliphs survive in Egypt as puppets of the local sultans until 1517. Hülegu established a Mongol polity in Mesopotamia and the Iranian Plateau, that formed the fourth component of the Mongol World Empire. His line of rulers are called Il-Khans (EEL-Khans).

Who is Hulegu Khan?

Hulegu Khan was the grandson of the great Ghengis Khan. He was given the task of expanding the Mongol empire into southwest Asia in 1251, by his brother Mongke, who was the Great Khan at the time. It was said that 2 out of every 10 soldiers in the empire were assigned to Hulegu’s army!

Who were the IL-KHANS?

In 1295 the Il-Khan Ghazan (Ghaz-AHN) converted to Islam and offered his patronage to his Muslim subjects. Not only were they the vast majority, but they included the learned and talented officials who could help the Il-Khan govern more effectively. One of his viziers, a Persian convert to Islam from Judaism, composed a long history dedicated to Ghazan and his Mongol predecessors. Ghazan’s brother and successor Öljeytü (Ool-JAY- too) followed much the same religious policy: Islam was there to stay. He also built a new palace city appropriately named Sultaniyya, where several monuments including his tomb survive. In spite of conversion to Islam, the Il-Khans were staunch opponents of several neighboring Muslim polities, including their cousins of the “Golden Horde” in the Russian steppes and the Mamluk rulers of Egypt to the west. In fact, the Il-Khans, even after converting to Islam, occasionally toyed with the idea of making an alliance with European Christians against their common enemies. In 1308 Öljeytü dispatched a large military detachment to aid the Eastern Roman Emperor against the Ottoman Turks. Not all of the Il-Khan’s policies worked well. As good Mongols and rulers of an Islamic polity, the Il-Khans tried to encourage and sponsor trade. However, when Ghazan decided to introduce paper money following the example of China (ruled by a cousin), he met with determined opposition from the local population which would have none of that innovation.

Who is Öljeytü (Ool-JAY- too) and what did he do?

Ghazan’s brother and successor Öljeytü (Ool-JAY- too) followed much the same religious policy: Islam was there to stay. He also built a new palace city appropriately named Sultaniyya, where several monuments including his tomb survive. In 1308 Öljeytü dispatched a large military detachment to aid the Eastern Roman Emperor against the Ottoman Turks.

What is a some major problems the IL-KHANS ran into?

However, when Ghazan decided to introduce paper money following the example of China (ruled by a cousin), he met with determined opposition from the local population which would have none of that innovation.

Another problem related to trade was the spread of the Black Death (the Bubonic Plague) across the trade lanes and routes of the East in the 14th century.

Who were the MAMLUKS OF EGYPT and what did they do?

One of the most powerful Islamic polities in the late Middle Ages was the mamluk sultanate in Egypt. This was not the first Muslim polity established by mamluks (we have mentioned the Ghaznawids), but it was the first that did not establish a normal and consistent hereditary succession. The Mamluks defeated the Ayyubid sultan of Egypt and Syria amidst the turmoil of the Crusades in 1250. In 1260 (and in the early 1300s) the mamluks defeated the Mongols, and in 1291 they destroyed the last mainland base of the Crusaders. The religious fervor of the mamluks may be attributed to having been born non-Muslim (as military slaves, the mamluks still had to be “recruited” from the outside). Many mamluk sultans built both fortresses and mosques (usually with attached madrasas: learning centers), thereby supporting defense, religion, and learning.

Why did the MAMLUKS OF EGYPT decline?

The inability to establish a hereditary leadership succession meant mamluk sultans had to constantly guard against usurpers. This process also meant the leadership consisted of experienced military leaders as opposed to young or inexperienced princes. Mamluk sultans were both warlike and strategically capable, helping them effectively oppose Crusaders and Mongols alike. Yet the constant changeover at the top, frequent warfare, and inept economic policies (a disinterest in trade) ultimately led to the fatal weakening of the mamluk regime. mamluks refused to adopt new and more effective methods of warfare, including guns and artillery, because they saw them as inferior methods used by inferior and unskilled troops – when the Ottoman Turks invaded Syria with modern warfare, the mamluk army was crushed. By 1517, the last mamluk sultan was defeated by the Ottoman Turks.

Who were Ali’s two sons?

Hasan and Husayn.

Who was supposed to be the Calipate after Mu’awiya?

It was supposed to be Hasan, but because he died unexpectedly, with some people believing Mu’awiya being responsible, the Calipate was passed on to Husayn.

Why did a battle break out between Husayn and Yazid (Mu’awiya’s son)? Also, who won the battle?

Yazid sent an assignation attempt against Husayn, so Husayn moved to Mecca and raised an army and declared Yazid becoming calipate went against Islamic beliefs. Yazid ended up winning the battle against Husayn as Husayn was severely out numbered.

What happened after Husyan’s death.

The Shia further separated themselves from the Sunni and declared themselves the opposition of them. Eventually, Shia and Persian beliefs would merge into one as the Persians could realte with the Shia in being the underdogs. They would then come and make the Abissad caliphate and drive off the Ummyads