Guided Reading for The Western Traditions.

Find the answer to each of these questions as it is given in the textbook before moving on to the next question. Some answers, drawn from the textbook alone, will be rather simplistic. They can, and should, be elaborated upon as your knowledge of the subject grows.

Pages 341 - 368:

The symbol (*) after a question indicates that these might be used for longer essays in your quizzes.

The areas of interest here are the “Five Pillars of Islam,” the early history of the faith, and the theological doctrines of Islam.

     

  1. What does the name Islam signify?

    2.  

  2. What is the Qur’an and how does it present Islam?

    3.  

  3. What is the difference between the Islam of inanimate things, animals, and plants and that of humans?

    4.  

  4. What is the shahadah? (*)

    5.  

  5. To whose "pure religion" does Muhammad call his people?

    6.  

  6. What does Allah mean in Arabic?

    7.  

  7. What is the Ka‘bah and who is supposed to have built it? (*)

    8.  

  8. What belief (or lack of one) did the Arabs before Islam share with the ancient Hebrews?

    9.  

  9. What or who were the hanifs?

    10.  

  10. What or who were the Quraysh?

    11.  

  11. When was Muhammad born?

    12.  

  12. Who was Khadijah?

    13.  

  13. What does nabi mean? In what language?

    14.  

  14. What did Muhammad admonish the Makkans (the people of Mecca) to do?

    15.  

  15. Who was the first to accept the new faith of Islam?

    16.  

  16. What lead to the loss of all support and protection for Muhammad?

    17.  

  17. What was the hijrah? What does it mark and when did it occur? (*)

    18.  

  18. What particular Jewish practice did Muhammad adopt?

    19.  

  19. What is the qiblah?

    20.  

  20. What happened at the well of Badr in 624CE?

    21.  

  21. What happened to Muhammad at Mount Uhud?

    22.  

  22. What momentous event for Islam occurred in 630CE? (*)

    23.  

  23. What is the ummah muslimah?

    24.  

  24. What was the extent of the Islamic empire eighty years after the death of the Prophet?

    25.  

  25. What is God’s role in human history according to the Qur’an?

    26.  

  26. How many prophets does the Qur’an mention by name?

    27.  

  27. What distinction does the Qur’an make between Messengers and Prophets of God?

    28.  

  28. Who were the five major prophets of the Qur’an?

    29.  

  29. How does the Qur’an present Jesus? What is his role at the end of time? (*)

    30.  

  30. Who or what is the seal of the prophets?

    31.  

  31. How did the Qur’an come to Muhammad?

    32.  

  32. How is the Qur’an meant to be read?

    33.  

  33. How do the early Makkan surahs (chapters of the Qur’an) differ from later ones?

    34.  

  34. Who wrote the Qur’an?

    35.  

  35. What is the theological parallel between Jesus and the Qur’an? (*)

    36.  

  36. How is the rendering of the Qur’an into any language (other than the original Arabic) considered?

    37.  

  37. Who may have initiated the task of compiling the Qur’an?

    38.  

  38. How are the surahs or chapters of the Qur’an ordered?

    39.  

  39. What is tafsir and how was it transmitted?

    40.  

  40. What is regarded by Muslims as the clearest expression of their faith?

    41.  

  41. What is shirk? (*)

    42.  

  42. What is righteousness as expressed by the Qur’an?

    43.  

  43. What is iman?

    44.  

  44. What is the distinction between Islam and faith?

    45.  

  45. What are the five pillars of Islam? (*)

    46.  

  46. What is the shahadah?

    47.  

  47. What is salat?

    48.  

  48. Are the contents of the daily prayers fixed or changeable?

    49.  

  49. Does Islam have a Sabbath in the sense of a day of rest?

    50.  

  50. Is the word "Mosque" and Arabic word?

    51.  

  51. Is every Muslim obliged to perform the daily prayer under all circumstances?

    52.  

  52. What is "in-sha-Allah?"

    53.  

  53. What is zakat?

    54.  

  54. What is Ramadan?

    55.  

  55. What Jewish observance seems to have influenced the observance of Ramadan?

    56.  

  56. Is every Muslim obliged to observe Ramadan under all circumstances?

    57.  

  57. What is hajj?

    58.  

  58. What is said to be the central rite of the hajj?

    59.  

  59. Do Muslims ever offer blood sacrifices, that is to say, do they practice the ritual killing of animals?

    60.  

  60. What does the Qur’an mean by the phrase, "God shall not charge a soul except to its capacity?"

    61.  

  61. What is jihad? What is the greatest jihad? (*)

 

Additional Notes: