Download About Islam About Mohammed

Study Guide for Quiz on Muhammad and Islam
About Islam
 The 5 Pillars of Islam and what they mean.
 PILGRIMAGE:
 Trip to Mecca made once in a lifetime, called "Hajj" (participate in rituals and retrace the steps of
Muhammad)
 PRAYER:
 5x a day facing Mecca on prayer rug, no shoes bow down to submit to God, wash hands and feet
 ALMS:
 Giving to those less fortunate, may be a percentage of income
 FAITH:
 Creed- "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet"
 FASTING:
 During month of Ramadan, no food or drink from sunrise to sunset; a sacrifice to God
 The Holy cities of Islam and their significance
 Mecca: birthplace of Mohammed; on the edge of the desert that takes up most of the Arabian Peninsula
 Medina: Hegira (Mohammed fled to Medina to avoid being stoned to death), where Mohammed died, where
Islam began
 Jerusalem: Mohammed’s soul ascended to paradise (from the Dome of the Rock)
 Holy books of Islam
 Qu'ran (Koran) is the holy book, the words of Allah, as they were spoken to Mohammed; worship of any idols
is forbidden, no images of Muhammad
 the Hadith is the holy book which has stories from Muhammad’s life that is used by Muslims as
guidance and examples on how to live their own lives
 The Ka’aba?
 Was a polytheistic house of worship until Mohammed had all the statues destroyed
 The most sacred site in Islam…all Muslims face the direction of the Ka’aba when they pray.
About Mohammed
 What tragedies occurred in Muhammad’s early years?
 Childhood tragedies- his father died after he was born, mom died when he was six, his guardian (grandfather)
died soon after.
 What did Muhammad do for a living? What groups did he come in contact with through his work before he
became a prophet?
 His uncle raised him and he grew to become a caravan trader, in this role he met many Jews and Christians
who offered ideas of monotheism (belief in one God)
 Who first came to the cave and spoke to Muhammad?
 The angel Gabriel
 Why did Meccans feel threatened by the word Muhammad was spreading?
 The Meccans were polytheistic and they did not like Muhammad advocating monotheism, telling them that their
beliefs were wrong and that they should change their beliefs.
 Know why Muhammad fled to Medina and what that flight is known as.
 Muhammad fled to Medina, in 622, with his followers to avoid being stoned to death by the Meccans. This flight
is called "Hegira".
 When did Mohammed conquer the Meccans?
 In 630, eight years after he fled from Medina.
 At age 40 Muhammad went to a cave outside of Mecca and was visited by the angel Jibra'eel (Gabriel) who
told him the words of God
 How did Islam spread?
 Through trade & conquering new lands (causing people to convert)
General Knowledge
 Key Terms
 Al Qaeda: a terrorist group focused on destruction of the United States
 Caliph: a Muslim ruler with political and religious duties
 Caravan: . a group of traders traveling together for safety, sometimes by camel
 Mosque: . a place of worship for the religion of Islam
 Muslim: a person who practices the Islamic religion
 Nomads: people who travel from place to place
 Osama bin Laden: one of America’s most wanted terrorists. Currently in hiding
 Know the difference between the words ‘Muslim’ and ‘Islam’.
 Islam is a religion based on the theory that there is only one God. Islam means "surrender to God"
 Muslims are followers of the Islamic religion
 What are polytheism and monotheism?
 Polytheism is the belief in many gods
 Monotheism is the belief in one God (what the followers of Islam, Christianity and Judaism all believe)
 Be familiar with the timeline of Muhammad’s life. Know the order in which key events occurred.
1. Muhammad’s dad dies
2. Muhammad’s mom dies
3. Muhammad’s grandfather dies
4. Muhammad meets Jews and Christians while traveling with his uncle
5. Muhammad becomes a caravan trader
6. Muhammad marries an older woman and they start a family, but only one child lives to adulthood
7. Muhammad sees the Angel Gabriel in a cave who delivers God message to Muhammad
8. Muhammad stoned in Mecca
9. Muhammad flees to Medina
10. Muhammad conquers Mecca
11. The year 800 CE (Common Error…formerly A.D.)
FYI
570 CE - Born in Mecca
576 CE - Orphaned upon death of mother
595 CE - Marries Kadijah - older, wealthy widow
610 CE - Reports first revelations from angel at age of 40
619 CE - Protector uncle dies
622 CE - Emigrates from Mecca to Medina (the Hijra)
630 CE - Conquers Mecca by surprise (along with other tribes)
631 CE - Leads second raid into Christian territory at Tabuk (no battle)
632 CE – Dies
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Pages/History.htm