Why we Travel?
Name 3 reasons why people travelled in the past?
Exploration, Family, Trade, Pilgrimage, Learning (Knowledge), Searching for Food and Water, Building an empire
What did Travelers and Explorers gain from traveling?
Appreciate Diversity, Gain Knowledge, Be aware of different cultures and languages around the world (cultural globalization),
Travelers took many things on their trip. Some of the things they took were mapmaker's tools, leather water bottles, medicines and ointments, dried fruit and nuts, weapons and many more. However, one crucial item, which had to be taken by travelers, was what?
A letter from the King, which described what the purpose of the visit is for the traveler to foreign officials. This served as a passport/visa in todays time.
Caravansaries played multiple functions. Name some of those functions.
An inn or pit stop that provided accommodations for caravans. A place for storage. Storage of items and animals, which were separately kept. A place to meet fellow travelers, in which you can share your journeys and knowledge. Quarters to stay in for women and men. Cafeteria or a place where food was also given to travelers.
Name some famous Muslims around the world.
Mohammad Ali, Zain Malik, Marsahala Ali, Shaqil O'Neil, Jennet Jackson, Dr. Oz, Malala Yousuf, Ar Rehman, Cat Steven, Farhan Tahir, Irfan Khan and many more...
Maps and Pictures cannot show some important things about human beings. What are some of those things?
Families, Friends, Religions, Cultures, and Traditions.
What is a Caravanserai?
Caravanserai is an inn with a central courtyard for travelers. A site for visitors of different lands for exchange of commodities and information.
What is a Jamatkhana?
Jamatkhana is a place where Ismaili Muslims practice their rituals and come together in congregation to perform ceremonies and prayer.
Name at least 3 instruments used to help measure and navigate
Sundial, Quadrant, Astrolabe, Telescope, Compass, and Kamal
Name at least 4 skills and knowledge learned from different lands.
Paper Making (Developed from the Chinese method), Producing Silk (from China), Use of ink and Paper (India and China), Medicine (Greece), mathematics (Greece and India), Astronomy (Greece, India, and China), Architecture (Romans and Persians), Engineering such as bridges (Romans), Geography and Mapmaking (Mediterranean People).
What are some of the hardships people faced in the past during traveling compared to today?
Safety-traveling in large groups and keeping weapons for safety. Safety from bandits on land and pirates on sea. Bandits and pirates, were thieves of that time, who robbed travelers.
Food and Water- Did not have any restaurants or fast food along the way. Water had to be carried in leather water bottles.
Weather- Did not travel in cars, so they had to take cool clothes for summer and warm clothes and shawls for winter travel.
No Navigation- Had to use old tools to show the way or direction of travel.
Is there a difference between Ribats, Khanaqahs and Tekkes? If so, what is it and if not than what are they?
No difference. Ribats were built as fortress but later used for worship as well. They all are a place of rest and worship for travelers. It was there to show a noble deed by Muslims.
As Muslims around the world and as one ummah, all Muslims believe in what?
La Ila Ha Illalla Muhammadur Rasulallah- Their is no deity except Allah and Prophet Muhammad is the final messenger of Allah.
The concept of there is only One Allah and Prophet Muhammad is the final Prophet of Allah.
The Quranic Ayat
"O Mankind! We have created you as male and female, and made you nations and tribes, so that you may know one another." (49:13)
What do you think this means?
Every interpretation is different. So answer is wrong:
We are all diverse and come from different places. It is important to learn different cultures and languages and respect them as well. We live in a pluralistic society and should appreciate it.
What is Silk Road?
Silk Road is a set of trading routes that were located between China and Rome.
Volunteerism- Time, Knowledge and Money
Diamond Jubileee -- Nazrana (through money as well as time and knowledge.)
Name at least 3 different kinds of maps.
Grid Map, Al-Idrisi Map, Aztec Map, Road Map
In Detail, Who is Ibn Battuta and Ibn Khaldun?
Ibn Battuta, a Muslim scholar and explorer, who widely travelled the medieval murder. He traveled through Central Asia, Southeast Asia, India and China. He was also a trained qadi or judge. At 21 years of age, he went on Hajj.
Ibn Khaldun, a great historian, who asked many questions. He was the first historian to study human societies.
What were some of the greatest cities of learning from our Muslim history and what were they famous for in learning?
Alexandria- located on the coast of North Africa. A great center for science and literature. Alexandrian library and museum attracted scholars from other lands.
Cairo- city in Egypt. An important Muslim capital. Al-Azhar Mosque and Dar-al-Ilm (library) main centers of learning.
Cordoba- city in Spain. Best scholars worked together and taught mathematics, philosophy, and theology in their libraries and colleges.
Khans, were also resting place; however, what other services were provided for travelers?
Tailors, Shoemakers, saddle-makers, blacksmiths, garment-makers, carpet weavers, and jewelers.
Name all 5 Islamic Dynasties and Did they all have a key role in spreading Islam throughout the world?
Umayyad, Abbasid, Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal are Islamic Dynasties and yes they helped spread Islam all over the world.
What should you consider before giving a gift to anyone?
You should take things they like and their background into account. It is important to know that we all have different likes and dislikes as well as come from different cultures when giving a gift.
What is Culture?
Ideas, Customs and Social behavior of a particular people or society.
Who guides us in our secular and spiritual matters? How does he guide us?
Imam of the Time-Mowlana Shah Karim al-Husayni and he guides us through Farmans, Institutions, Speeches, Appointing Mukhi and Kamadia Saheb, Hidayats and many more...
Who is Al-Idrisi? (Answer in Detail)
A geographer and map creator, who created the Al-Idrisi Map. Al-Idrisi Map is a map, which uses symbols to represent locations on the map.
What is the Safarnama, Who wrote it and Name one place in the book it describes.
Dai Nasir-I-Khusraw wrote Safarnama. Safarnama is a book of Travels. Dome of the Rock, which is a Islamic shrine in Jerusalem, is described in the book.
Compare and contrast the tradition of pilgrimage in different religions. Religions are Muslims, Hindus, and Christianity.
Muslims- Hajj at Makkah. A journey or pilgrimage taken from Makkah to Madinah, where they traveled by road and faced many difficulties like hunger, weather, shelter and many more. However, a sacred journey made by pilgrims for holy reasons. City of Makkah played an important role for Muslim Pilgrims.
Hindus- Varanasi, a city which played an important role for Hindu Pilgrims. Varanasi sits between the rivers of Varauna and Asi, where they flow into the major sacred river of Ganges, which is a sacred river in Hinduism. They have crossed this city in their pilgrimage to the sacred Ganges. It is also a great city, which has a center of learning and religious study.Christianity- Santiago de Compostella, city of pilgrimage for Christianity. A miracle was believed to take place at this city. Where a group of shepherds saw a dazzling light shining from the night sky onto a field. Here the found remains of James, one of the most important Christian saints. Here they created a huge yellow stone cathedral, a sacred place for pilgrimage.
Hospitality and generosity to the travelers and guests in their city.
Are Discoveries important in our World? If yes, what do they help us as people realize.
Yes discoveries are very important in our World. They are constant and help us appreciate our history.
What do all Abrahamic faiths teach us and what are those faiths?
Islam, Judaism and Christianity are all Abrahamic faiths. They all teach us the importance of learning and that value of diversity.
What is Pluralism?
Fana Fillah---to become one with god.
Al-Idrisi Map, Grid Map, Aztec Map and Road Map... Describe at least 3 of these in detail.
Al-Idrisi Map is a map, which uses symbols to represent locations on the map.
Grid Map is a map, where horizontal and vertical lines are used to connect one location to another.
Aztec Map is a map, where everything is color coordinated.
Road Map is a map, where they show roads, highways, railroads and etc... like the maps we use today
Name at least 4 travelers or explorers and how did they share their traveling experience?
Marco Polo, Ibn Fadlan, Ibn Battuta, Ibn Khaldun, Christopher Columbus, Alexander the Great, Ibn Sina, Nasir Khusraw
They all shared their traveling experience by writing in diaries or books. They used this platform to explain about their travels, who they met, what they saw, and how things looked.
What are some goods and skills people traded along the Silk Route and how did the routes change the lives of people?
Goods traded- silk, rare woods, precious stones and pearls, plants and animals, cotton, clothing, silver and gold were just few of the items.
Skills traded- Glass making, Paper making, Pottery, Weaving, Architecture, Music, Fashion, Weapons, and Food Making were some of the few skills.
Silk and Spice routes changed the lives of people by making traveling easier. Since empires were able to maintain law and order, merchants could travel longer distances with little trouble. New sea routes were being discovered. More Caravansaries were made along the route, which helped travelers with trading and make traveling easier (food, shelter, and rest).Why are Bukhara and Samarqand important cities in Muslim history?
They both have been important cities along the Silk Route.
Bukhara, Many madrasahs or schools, where children come to study. Biggest Library was also in Bukhara. Also, Ibn Sina also wrote the "Canon of Medicine" in the city of Bukhara. The biggest bazaar, where gems, perfumes, furs, amber necklaces, were all sold.
Samarqand, is the capital of Timur's great empire. The entire city was blue because of the amazing blue tiles on all buildings. Great Mosque of Bibi Khanum is also the biggest building in Samarqand. First city to copy Chinese paper-making.
What is diversity and what does our Imam say about Diversity? Is our Jamat Diverse?
Diversity is the state of being diverse or variety. Our Imam states that Diversity is strength and should be cherished. Yes, our Jamat is very diverse.
What is a pluralist?
Pluralist is a person, who believes that the existence of different types of people, beliefs and opinions within a society is a good thing.
Give 3 examples of Caravanserai?
Aminabad, Bukhara, and Samarqand
Name some forms of Prayer. Can we change these prayers?
Ginan, Dua, Qasidah, Tasbih.....No we can not change these prayers. They have to be changed by our Imam or his guidance because they are congregational prayer.