Islamic beliefs

What was Muhammad’s youth?

Muhammad was born in Mecca where the leading classes were rich polytheists. Muhammad’s parents died and he was brought up by his uncles. He became a shepherd and businessman, and married twice.

What was the Night of Power?

The Angel Jibril appeared to Muhammad who was illiterate and revealed the Shahada. Muhammad was a monotheist but not about Allah.

What was the reaction to Muhammad preaching Islam for the first time?

Attacks

Where did Muhammad go on the Night Journey?

Jerusalem and then heaven

After defeating his enemies, what did Muhammad do with the Kaaba?

Smash the idol figures and dedicate it to Allah

How many names does God have in Islam and why?

99, all for one quality each

What is Tawhid?

The belief in oneness of God

What is the shahadah?

The Islamic profession of faith

How do Sunni and Shi’a Islam differ?

In Sunni Islam the next caliph (Islamic leader) is elected while in Shi’a it is believed Ali, Muhammad’s relative, should have been the next caliph

What are angels?

God’s messengers: they have no free will and cannot sin

What do angels do to individuals?

Create a book of deeds about them which will be given to Allah on Judgement Day

What is predestination?

The belief Allah has determined everything that will happen

How do Sunni Muslims view predestination?

Allah has determined all

What about Shi’a Muslims?

God knows all of what will happen but does not decide it

What is free will?

The ability to make our own decisions

What is the problem of free will?

The belief that predestination and free will contradict

What is Akhirah?

Life after death

What happens between death and the Day of Judgement according to Islam?

Two angels question you when you die about faith: if correct, the person sleeps peacefully and is tormented if wrong

How are Jannah (heaven) and Jahannam (hell) described?

Heaven is described as a beautiful place while hell is very vividly described as torment

In Islam, what was Adam created from?

Dust in the ground

Who was Iblis?

Equivalent of Satan in Islam: thrown out of heaven for not bowing to Adam

Who was Ibrahim and what did he do?

A prophet who destroyed idols. When asked what happened, he claimed the biggest one destroyed the smallest one and then said they should ask the statue. The people objected they could not speak and Ibrahim criticised them, so was to be burnt to death. Only his chains burned and he walked out free.

What is a prophet?

A messenger of God

How many prophets were there, how many are named and what are the named ones called?

124,000, 25 are named, the most important are messengers

What were the Days of Ignorance?

The days in Arabia before Islam where people were ignorant to monotheism

What happened to early Muslims?

Many were arrested, starved or beaten

Who was Bilal and what happened to him?

A slave who was taken into the desert and had a massive rock placed on him. A friend of Muhammad, Abu Bakr, bought him and gave him freedom.

What two relatives of Muhammad died in 619 CE?

Khadija: his wife, Abu Talib: his uncle

How did Muhammad conquer Medina?

By 620, he was not convincing people and decided to leave for another city. He met six men who listened to him preaching Islam. These men were trying to sort out internal disputes and decided he was God’s prophet, so Yathrib fell and was renamed Medina (the City of the Prophet).

Why was the Muslim victory at Badr surprising?

They had three hundred men against nine hundred

Why did Mecca agree to peace with Muhammad?

He was outside the city walls unarmed and so they decided it was correct that he did not wish to do harm

In 630, what happened?

Mecca attacked a group of Muslims so 10,000 of Muhammad’s men took over the city and Islam began to grow

What happened in 632?

Muhammad died of pneumonia

What does the word Qur’an mean?

Recitation

Where is the original Qur’an said to be?

Heaven

What are the other holy books?

Tawrat (Torah)

Zabur (Psalms)

Injil (Gospel)

How do Muslims treat the Qur’an?

They wrap it in cloth, wash their hands before touching it and put it as the highest thing in a room