Term
| What are the first and last verses of the Koran? |
|
Definition
| Q96:1 and Q9:128, respectively |
|
|
Term
| Who are People of the Book? |
|
Definition
| Jews, Christians and Muslims |
|
|
Term
| What are the 2 defects which Muslims believe the Old and New Testaments contain? |
|
Definition
1) The Old & New Testaments only record portions of the truth and
2) they are partially corrupted in transmission; which explains discrepancies between parallel stories within the Koran and the Bible. |
|
|
Term
| What are the Satanic Verses? |
|
Definition
| The Satanic Verses were a pair of verses which were altered during transmission from Gabriel to Muhammad by Satan (sura 53, verses 19 & 20) which identified 3 Pagan goddesses as legitimate intermediaries between man and God. |
|
|
Term
| Why is the Koran appealing to Muslims? (language, fluidity, translations) |
|
Definition
1) The Arabic language is capable of stirring powerful emotions and when translated do not have this effect.
2) The verses of the Koran were originally orally recited and they are not in a particular order.
3) The importance of the original language of the Koran that the translations of the book are never complete. Translations cannot grasp the correct meaning of the Koran; Arabic fluency is needed to understand. |
|
|
Term
| What is the language of God? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Why is the Koran not like any other religious text? |
|
Definition
1) It doesn't ground its theology in dramatic narratives,
2) it doesn't ground its theology in historical narratives.
3) God is not revealed in human form |
|
|
Term
| What are the differences between the Koran and the Bible as far as doctrine? |
|
Definition
| The Koran is directly doctrinal and indirectly historical, while the Bible is the opposite. The Koran clearly states the rules by which its believers are to live and indirectly involves historic fact as reference points. The Bible is mainly historic references which then can be translated into doctrine. |
|
|
Term
| List the Five Pillars and explain their purpose in the Muslim religion. |
|
Definition
The 5 Pillars are the Islamic Creed, the Canonical Prayer, Charity, Ramadan and Pilgrimage.
Islam is the final monotheistic religion and answers any questions and tells definitively what one must do to worship God. The 5 Pillars are these definitive things. |
|
|
Term
| What are the four steps of the progression of Islam? |
|
Definition
1) God reveals the truth of monotheism through Abraham,
2) 10 Commandments through Moses,
3) the "golden rule" (love thy neighbor...) through Jesus
4) and how to love through Muhammad. |
|
|
Term
| What is Islam's Creed and what is it called? |
|
Definition
| "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet." It is called the Shahadah. |
|
|
Term
| What are the stipulations of the creed? |
|
Definition
| At least once in a Muslim's life, they must say the creed slowly, correctly, thoughtfully, and with full understanding and heartfelt conviction. |
|
|
Term
| How many times is a Muslim required to pray a day (originally and currently)? |
|
Definition
| Originally, a Muslim was to pray 50 times a day. Now, they must pray 5 times a day. |
|
|
Term
| At what times during the day is a Muslim to pray? |
|
Definition
1) When rising in the morning
2) When the sun reaches its zenith/noon
3) In the middle of the sun's decline
4) Sunset
5) Before going to sleep |
|
|
Term
| What is the Muslim holy day of the week? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is the focal point of Muslim prayer and what did it used to be? |
|
Definition
| Originally, Muslims prayed facing Jerusalem. Now, they must pray facing Mecca. |
|
|
Term
| What must a Muslim do preceding prayer? |
|
Definition
| Preceding prayer, a Muslim goes through a process of washing which cleanses the body and symbolically cleanses the soul. |
|
|
Term
| The prayer begins with the person standing and ends with a kowtow. For what 2 reasons is this done? |
|
Definition
1) The kowtow is similar to the fetal position and represents being reborn.
2) When kowtowing, a person takes up very little space. This symbolizes the size of humans in the sight of the Divine. |
|
|
Term
| What are the three main themes of prayer? |
|
Definition
| Praise, Gratitude and Supplication (humility). |
|
|
Term
| What is the Islamic rule for charity and how do they apply it? |
|
Definition
Basically, the rule is for those who have the means to help lift the burden of those who do not.
Muslims have institued a graduated tax in which people pay a small percentage of their total belongings and that money is collected to be given to those in immediate need. |
|
|
Term
| Whom does the Pillar of charity benefit? |
|
Definition
| Slaves buying their freedom, debtors unable to meet obligations, strangers and wayfarers and those who collect and distribute the alms (money given to the poor). |
|
|
Term
| What is Ramadan and what does it commemorate? |
|
Definition
| Ramadan is the Islamic holy month which observes the first time Muhammad received Koranic revelations from Gabriel and when, 10 months later, Muhammad made his pilgrimage from Mecca to Medina. |
|
|
Term
| What are Muslims expected to do during Ramadan? |
|
Definition
| Muslims are expected to fast from sunrise to sunset during the whole month. This is a complete fast which allows no food, no drink and no smoke. When the sun sets, they are allowed to eat in moderation. |
|
|
Term
| Why does this fast occur? |
|
Definition
Muslims fast to
1) promote thinking about one's spirituality
2) teach self-discipline
3) underscore one's dependence on God
4) call one back to one's frailty
5) sensitizes compassion (only those who have been hungry can truly understand what hunger means). |
|
|
Term
| What is the Fifth Pillar and what does it constitute? |
|
Definition
| The 5th Pillar is pilgrimage. At least once in a Muslim's life they are expected to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. Its basic purpose is to heighten their devotion to God. |
|
|
Term
| Why do visitors change clothes when they arrive in Mecca? |
|
Definition
The visitor changes from normal clothes to white 'sheets' to achieve
1) purity (symbolized by white sheets)
2) equality (no social division based on one's appearance) |
|
|
