Rlst 100-Islam-Lecture Notes

Front 1

1) Meaning of Islam

TheArabic word of “islam” means:

Back 1

means “surrender” or “surrendering” to the wishes of the Almighty God, known in Islam as Allah (The GOD

Front 2

1) Meaning of Islam

Islam is an ____________ religion, theyoungest among Judaism and Christianity

Back 2

Abrahamic

Front 3

2) The world of Muhammad

Arabia was surrounded by two empires:

Back 3

the Byzantine in the north west (Syria, Turkey and eastern side of Roman Empire); and Sassanid in the north east (Persia)

Front 4

7) The pillars of faith (arkan)

Muslims globally have common beliefs and praxis; the praxis are known as the Five Pillars. What are the five pillars?

Back 4

First pillar is the Shahadah (witness of one’s belief on the oneness of God and the prophethood of Muhammad)

Second pillar is Salat (prayers) – daily up to 5 times; it has devotional praxis like washing the hands and feet (wudu’) or the entire body (ghusul) before praying;

Third pillar is Zakat (obligatory charity); a percentage of one’s welfare is donated to the over all welfare of the Umma; it is not an income tax but a spiritual obligation to help the poor

Fourth pillar is Sawm (fasting); during the month of Ramadan Muslims fast during daylight and abstain from sexual activities;

Fifth pillar is Pilgrimage (Hajj) to the Ka`ba in Mecca; Ka`ba is Holy Sanctuary, not just a shrine; people do not make hajj in other cities, though there are holy sites in Islamic territories – visitations in such places are known as ziyarat;

Front 5

2) The world of Muhammad

Mecca was the major city in _________,

Later on _________ (________) emerged also as a keyMuslim city relevant to the Prophet

Back 5

Hijaz

Medina (Yathrib)

Front 6

2) The world of Muhammad

Pre-Islamic era had the ________ (Cube lookingshrine) which was sacred place for _________ deities before the advent ofIslam

Back 6

Ka`ba

polytheist

Front 7

2) The world of Muhammad

Meccaas a city is found in the valley of _________.

Back 7

Najd

Front 8

2) The world of Muhammad

The word ___________ means ignorance inreference to monotheism and the oneness of God; it also refers to thepre-Islamic Arabian context which was largely polytheist

Back 8

Jahiliyya

Front 9

2) The world of Muhammad

_________, _________, _________ and _________ wereamong the many other gods and goddesses that traders had access to in theirsupplication at the Ka`ba

Back 9

Hubal, al-Manat, `Uzza & al-Lat

Front 10

2) The world of Muhammad

________, ________ and _________ were belivedto be daughters of Allah – before Muhammad’s message

Back 10

Al`Uzza, al-Manat & al-Lat

Front 11

2) The world of Muhammad

a ________ is a person who was neither aJew, nor a Christian nor a Muslim yet a believer in one God

Back 11

hanif