Early Islamic History
With the death of Imam al-Mustansir bi'llah, the Fatimid Ismailis split into these two branches?
Page 17
The Nizaris and the Musta'lis
Why did Al-Ghazali write "The Revival of the Religious Sciences"?
Pg. 109
He wrote this book because this was the way in which the practice of Islam could lead to the 'true meaning of things'.
Who was the Hujja of the Imam?
Pg. 124
Hasan-i Sabah
What was the name of a great literary work that consisted of 60,000 verses and what was it about?
Pg. 47
Shahnama (Book of Kings). It recounted legends and mythic stories of ancient Persia.
What was the mission and beliefs of Chingiz Khan and the rest of the Mongols?
Pg. 170
Chingiz Khan saw his mission as a 'Heavenly Mandate', or a 'Divine Mission'. They viewed their role as not only rulers of the steppelands, but of the whole world. They considered themselves the 'Power of God on Earth' and the 'Emperors of Mankind'. They viewed themselves as the sole link between the world of man and Heaven.
Who wrote the Safarnama (Travelogue)?
Page 35
Da'i Nasir-i Khusraw
What does fiqh mean and what was it's purpose?
Pg. 104
In Arabic, the word fiqh means 'understanding'. The aim of fiqh was to arrive at a judgement about a specific topic.
Who was the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty?
Pg. 154
Salah al-Din Ayyubi
Who was the Saljuq sultan during their entry into Baghdad?
Pg. 52
Tughril Beg
What happened to the alliance that Imam Ala al-Din Muhammad sought with the Abbasid caliph and European Monarch?
Pg. 198-199
It failed. The Christian rulers did not see it to their advantage to support the Muslims, although parts of Europe were being attacked by the Mongols. The Abbasid caliph also rejected the alliance.
Which capital became the headquarters of the da'wa organization?
Page 30
Cairo
Define Madrasa and what features did they have?
Pg. 98
Madrasas were a place for studying. They included classrooms and a dormotory for students. Most madrasas were devoted to study of a particular madhhab (school of law).
Who was the first Syrian Nizari Da'i and what did he do?
Pg. 142
The first Syrian Nizari Da'i was al-Hakim al-Munajjim. He attempted to establish bases in the high mountains surrounding Aleppo by trying to capture the mountain castle of Afamiya.
What is an important building the Suljuq's created for travelers, what is it for, and where were they built?
Pg. 58
The Suljuq's created Caravanserais which were used as resting places or inns for merchants and other travelers, built along trade routes. They were built every thirty kilometers (one day's journey) along the trade routes.
What happened at Alamut?
Pg. 200
The Mongols plundered the fortress of Alamut. The Persian historian Juwayni recorded that he visited the library at Alamut, salvaging those books he deemed worthy, along with various manuscripts of the Qur'an and astronomical instruments. The rest of the books were then burned. That's why we have a blank period in history.
Name at least four forms of literature that arose during Muslim rule.
Pg. 22
Qasidas, Marthiyas, ghazals, Zajal, Muwashshah, Mathnawi, Ruba'i
What was the importance of the Shia madhhab and were the different madhhabs always accepted by each other?
Pg. 106
The role of the guidance of the Imam in matters of fiqh was it' s central importance. Today, in most places, the madhhabs recognize each other as valid expressions of Islam. However, this acceptance has not always been the case. In the twelfth century Hanafi and Shahf'i supporters engaged in fighting for the control of different cites. They did not consider each other to be valid schools of law.
Besides the fortress of Alamut, what other fortresses were built and what were there strengths?
Pg. 126-127
The fortress of Lamasar was the largest of the fortresses located in the Rudbar district and it's location alsong the Shahrud river valley helped protect the valley of Alamut from attack. It also had a sloping terrain which was used as a water catchment area.
The fortress of Girdkuh was probably the most important one after Alamut. It controlled the Silk Road area. Ismailis were able to build networks of co-operation with various merchants and rulers thanks to the location of the fortress. To fortify Girdukh there were steep slopes on three sides of the mountain that made it impossible for armies to climb up. It was also surrounded by a rig of thirty-five smaller forts, which made it even more difficult to attack. It was heavily defended!
What is the name of the series of wars between the Europeans and the Muslims, why did they start, and who called for the Crusades to begin?
Pg. 76 and 77
The Crusades were a series of wars that began to take control of the "Holy Land:, which was the city of Jerusalem and surrounding lands. Pope Urban II was successful in getting the European rulers to agree to the Crusades.
What was the Sufi understanding and practice of Islam and what were their practices?
Pg. 213
Tasawwuf is the name given to the Sufi understanding and practice of Islam. These practices included the emphasis on spiritual search, scrupulous ethical conduct, prayer and fasting beyond what was required, and constant remembrance (dhikr) of Allah.
In what countries did Da'i Nasir-i Khusraw create Da'wa and what challenges did he have?
Pg. 36 and 37
He created the Da'was in Khurasan and Badakshan. In Khurasan his life and mission became the target for Saljuq authorities and local sunni ulama. So since his life was threatened he had to leave his hometown and migrate to Badakshan.
This book includes stories of past rulers from pre-Islamic Persia, as well as of Muslim caliphs and sultans
Pg. 96
Siyasatnama
What does the fortress of Alamut mean and why was it such a strategic location to be the headquarters of the Ismaili Da'wa?
Pg.118-119
The fortress of Alamut means 'Eagle's Nest'. It was chosen by Hasan-i Sabah to become the centre of the Ismaili Da'wa in this region. The fortress was tucked well into the Alburz mountains and was perched on a high peak. It was also guarded by sheer cliffs, making it very difficult to attack. Hasan-i Sabah made some renovations to increase its defences The walls, entry ways, exits, and approaches had been specially plastered to strengthen them. The defensive walls around the fortress were covered with lead to protect them from volleys of arrows or stones.
During the period of the Crusades were the Muslims divided? And if so what divisions were there?
Pg. 82
During this period the Muslims were divided. The Saljuqs were fighting the Fatimids in Syria. In Anatolia, the Saljuqs of Rum were fighting the Byzantines. The Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad was powerless, and the Muslims were completely unprepared for the Crusaders.
As we all know, the Mongols were known for their brutality and destruction, however they also had significant accomplishments. Name at least 2 accomplishments that the Mongols had.
Pg. 180-185
The Mongols created a vast, transcontinental empire that stretched from China to the Meditarranean. It was the largest land-based empire in history.
They realized the need for a good administrative system, so the Mongols established a group of imperial administrators consisting of both Mongols and non-Mongols.
A method of collecting information was developed, which was an efficient spying system that helped officials at way stations throughout the empire to investigate who was coming, and the reasons for their travel.
Due to the massive land empire of the Mongols they had an effect on energizing trade. It allowed for the movement of goods, ideas, technologies and peoples across a vast area.
Mongols became patrons of the arts and culture. There was a constant flow of ambassadors, interpreters, and merchants across east and west.