Islam

Question 1

Scene of Pre-Islamic Arabia

Answer 1

• Desert region
• Trade
• Mecca was most important city  presence of Ka’bah and Hajj
• Hanif’s would go reflect and meditate in caves  find purity

Question 2

Who is Muhammad?

Answer 2

• Seal of prophets (last one)
• Founder of Islam  received revelations from God over 23 years (messenger)
• Earned a reputation for being Alamin (trustworthy) and a settler of disputes

Question 3

Why is Muhammad a role model?

Answer 3

• Looked up to as what Muslims should aim to model in order to become good Muslims
• Prime example of one who submits themselves to Allah
• Hadith is used to learn from wisdom and actions of the prophet
• Great, distinguished leader

Question 4

6 Principal beliefs

Answer 4

Tawhid, Maliki (angels), Qur’an, Rusul, Akhira and Al-Qadar

Question 5

Significance of Qur’an

Answer 5

• People of book  revealed sacred word of Allah
• Provided to Muhammad by Angel Gabriel
• Defines belief and conduct
• Contains ultimate guidance for mankind and gives spiritual direction

Question 6

What is the Hadith?

Answer 6

Collection of traditions of the words and deeds of Muhammad – details how to live out the Qur’an.

Question 7

5 Pillars

Answer 7

Shahadah  declaration of faith
Salat  pray 5 times a day
Zakat  give 2.5% of earnings to charity
Sawm  fasting during Ramadan
Hajj  pilgrimage to Mecca

Question 8

Importance of 5 pillars

Answer 8

• 5 pillars unite Muslim community (Ummah)
• Aim of closeness to God
Beliefs are expressed through pillars

Question 9

Belief and Pillar Links

Answer 9

• Tawhid & Shahadah
• Salat & Akira
• Zakat & Al – Qadar
• Sawm & Al- Qadar
• Hajj & Tawhid

Question 10

What is Islamic Jurisprudence?

Answer 10

 Theory of law applied in a particular country

 Comprehensive and covers every area of life

Question 11

Islamic ethics (order of importance)

Answer 11

1. Qur’an
2. Sunna + Hadith
3. Ijma – consensus amongst religious leaders
4. Qiyas – comparison with teachings of Qur’an and Hadith

Question 12

What is Halal?

Answer 12

what is permissible under Islamic Law – largely applies to food, but applies to all aspects of life & behaviour

Question 13

What is Haraam?

Answer 13

what is forbidden by Islamic Law – more often applied to relationships and behaviour that are unacceptable (adultery)

Question 14

What is Tawhid?

Answer 14

• Belief in oneness of Allah

* Marks unity and existence of God

Question 15

What is Maliki?

Answer 15

• Belief in angels
• Angels are conscious beings
• Messengers of God  the channel through which humans become aware of Allah

Question 16

What is the Qur’an?

Answer 16

• Belief in scripture and books of Allah
• Muslims believe the Qu’ran is unchanged and the final book of Allah
• Qu’ran stands apart as the final book as the reliable and complete source of Allah’s revelations.

Question 17

What is Rusul?

Answer 17

• Role models and messengers of God’s word for Muslims (Muhammad + Abraham)
• Muhammad is most important  seal of prophets, founder of Islam

Question 18

What is Akhira?

Answer 18

• Belief in life after death/day of judgment
• Live with an awareness of judgment day and are accountable for their actions
• Allah either punishes people for their sins (Jahannam) or rewards them for their goodness (Jannah) – fate

Question 19

What is Al-Qadar?

Answer 19

• Belief in fate/pre-destination
• Things happen through the plan of Allah and fate is predecided
• Allah gives human’s freewill to choose actions but ultimately their fate is pre-decided

Question 20

What is Shahadah?

Answer 20

• A person becomes a Muslim when they bear testimony to the core creed of Islam – commitment to the path of Islam

Question 21

What is Salat?

Answer 21

Pray 5 times per day
• Direct and personal communication with God in a meditative state
• Chance to break away from daily stresses

Question 22

What is Zakat?

Answer 22

give 2.5% of earnings to charity
• Money is distributed to the poor and needy
• Enables a person to detach from their wealth and develop their compassion
• Bridges gap between rich and poor

Question 23

What is Sawm?

Answer 23

fasting during Ramadan
• Muslims are required to fast consecutively for a whole month once a year
• Fasting is the best form of true thanksgiving
• Muslims go to mosque every night – establish community connection

Question 24

What is Hajj?

Answer 24

• Pilgrimage to holy lands – Ka’bah and Mt Arafat
• Obligatory if you can afford and are healthy – at a certain time in year (July- August)
• Hajj connects individuals to the monotheistic, universal religion (Tawhid)
• About forgiveness of sin
• Ihram clothing – unites Muslim community by disregarding differences (race, gender)

Question 25

Who are the 4 rightly guided Caliphs?

Answer 25

Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali

Question 26

Sunni

Answer 26

- Describes the practices of the Prophet and early Muslims - Represents 80% of Muslims today - Recognise there is nothing special or divine about their leaders except they have necessary skills in religious law

Question 27

Shi'a

Answer 27

- Subscribe to Muhammad appointing Ali as his successor and therefore having centrality of authority over Islam - No great difference in beliefs or practice, though Shi’a stands for ‘Party of Ali’