Islam Test Study Guide

What is an oasis AND why are they important on the Arabian

Peninsula?

An oasis is a fertile area in the middle of the desert.

They are important for traders because they

provide water and farms and helped cities grow.

What is the Ka’aba AND where is it located?

The Ka’aba is a religious shrine that Muslims believe was built by

Abraham and his son Ishmael. The Ka’aba is located in the holy city of

Mecca.

What is Islam’s main teaching?

Islam’s main teaching is that there is only one God.

Why did Muslims call Christians and Jews “people” of the book”?

Jewish people, Christians, and Muslims all use a holy book.

What was the main effect of the growth of trade on the Arabian

Peninsula?

People from distant places came together and exchanged ideas

and cultures

How was the first caliph chosen after Muhammad’s death?

Following Muhammad’s death the people elected a new caliph or

leader.

Why did the first caliphs begin a military conquest of other

regions?

The caliphs wanted to spread the religion of Islam

Why did the Muslim community split?

The Muslim community split when the Umayyad rulers took power and some Muslims refused to

accept the Umayyad rulers as the rightful rulers

How were clans important to Bedouin life on the Arabian

Peninsula?

Clans provided support for Bedouins in the extreme desert

climate

What did Arabs believe about the Ka’aba? (who built it?)

Muslims believe that the Ka’aba was built by Abraham and his son

Ishmael.

Why do you think Muhammad began his teaching in Mecca?

Muhammad was born to a powerful family in the city of Mecca.

What did Muhammad do after God spoke to him?

Muhammad began preaching that there was only one God

What happened to the Muslim community after Muhammad’s

death?

The people elected a leader or caliph to be Muhammad’s

successor

Why were people on the Arabian Peninsula nomads?

The desert climate was not good for farming on the Arabian

Peninsula and people had to move around to find food

Why did the Shiites oppose the Umayyad rule, when they took

over?

The Shiites believed that the caliph should be a direct descendant of

Muhammad’s

Why did Muhammad and his followers migrate to Yathrib

(current day Medina)?

Muhammad and his followers were persecuted (attacked and treated

badly) in Mecca and fled to Yathrib to escape

What made Mecca an important trade center?

Mecca was located on major trade routes between three continents

What do you think was Abu Bakr’s greatest achievement?

He was a powerful military leader

How did the formation of Islam change the lives of the Arab

nomads?

Islam brought order and hope to the lives of nomads; it gave them

a permanent source of faith

How did Muhammad believe that God spoke to him?

Muslims believe that Allah (God) spoke to Muhammad through the

angel Gabriel

What are four things that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have in

common?

• monotheism – all 3 religions believe in one god• Holy book – all 3 religions use a holy book to guide their

faith• Belief in prophets – all 3 religions believe that prophets

have spoken the words of God• House of Worship – all 3 religions use a house of worship-

Jewish people use a synagogue or temple, Christians use some type of church, and Muslims use a mosque

The Five Pillars of Islam

Shahada

• Public profession of faith• There is only one god and Muhammad is

the prophet of God• There have been many prophets, but

Muhammad is the last and final prophet• Shahada is so important, it should be the

first thing a baby hears when they are born and the last thing a Muslim hears before they die

Salat

• Prayer; said five times a day• Before prayer, Muslims must make

sure their body is clean; the wash is known as wudu

• Muslims pray on a prayer mat• Prayer is always said facing the holy

city of Mecca• Prayer is done in a pattern with

different postures

Zakat

• A welfare contribution• Muslims must donate a certain

amount of their income to the needy or less fortunate

• Muslims believe that all possessions really belong to Allah

• Zakat helps distribute wealth in a Muslim society

Sawm

• Muslims fast from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan

• Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar• The sick, elderly, very young, and pregnant women

are excused from the fast• During the fast, Muslims avoid eating, drinking,

smoking or taking anything into the body• Fasting during Ramadan brings Muslims self-

control, discipline, and an awareness of those that are less fortunate

• Muslims believe observing Sawm helps them live their lives according to the will of Allah

Hajj

• A pilgrimage or journey to Mecca• The Hajj should be done once in a

Muslims lifetime• The Hajj occurs during the twelfth month

of the Muslim calendar• The focus and holiest place for Muslims

during the Hajj is the Ka’aba – the cube shaped shrine in the center of Mecca

• Muslims circle the Ka’aba seven times

A Split in Islam

ShiiteShiite Muslims believe that only Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law was a legitimate caliph or ruler

AND

Shiite Muslims believe that only a descendant of Muhammad’s can be a ruler for Islam

SunniSunni Muslims believe

that the first four caliphs after Muhammad were

the rightful rulers of Islam

AND

Sunni Muslims believe that any Muslim who follows Muhammad’s

example may be a ruler

Extra Credit

The test will have 10 extra credit questions. Study the video questions and the Islam: A

History assignment!