Download Review Questions and Answers on Islam

Review Questions and Answers on Islam
1) In what book were the revelations of Muhammad written down? Where do Muslims believe
these words originally came from? (Qur’an/from Allah)
2) Who do Muslims believe are the “people of the book”? What does this help to explain?
(Christians and Jews/past historical tolerance for peoples of these faiths in Muslim lands).
3) What are the “Five Pillars of Islam”?
1. Faith: believers must make the statement, “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad
is his prophet)
2. Prayer: Five times a day in the direction of Mecca
3. Alms (or Zakat): Muslims must give alms to the poor
4. Fasting: during the holy month of Ramadan
5. Pilgrimage or “Hajj”: all Muslims should perform this once in their lifetime by
travelling to Mecca.
4) Associate each of the following cities that are sacred to Muslims with their description:
a) Muslims pray in the direction of this city where the Kaaba is located: Mecca
b) First location of the Islamic community (ummah) where religious practices were
formally organized: Medina
c) Location of the “Dome of the Rock” from where Muhammad experienced his “Night
Journey” into the presence of Allah”: Jerusalem
5) Why did a religious schism develop in the Islamic community after Muhammad’s death?
What are the names of the two largest sects of Islam? How do these differ? Where are they
located? (Muhammad, who was both spiritual and political leader, did not appoint a
successor. Followers ultimately split into two sects:
Sunni Muslims: They believed that the leader of the Islamic community should be the
successor. They do not have a hierarchical clergy but prayer leaders called imam. Today
the largest sect with over 80% of worldwide Muslims.
Shia Muslims: They believed that the leader must be a blood relative of Muhammad,
beginning with his cousin and son-in-law, Ali. They have a hierarchical clergy. The largest
numbers of Shi’ites are in Iran and Iraq.)