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The first pillar of Islam is Shahadah. What does that mean?
Shahadah - Profession of faith: reciting their declaration of faith -
In what ways does Islamic law (Sharia) differ from modern secular laws?
Islamic culture varies from place to place.
Siyam is the Fourth Pillar of Islam. What does it mean?
Fasting during Ramadan: not eating from dawn to sunset
Why did Muslims who conquered non-Muslims usually leave them free to practice their own religion?
The Qur'an forbade forcing others to convert.
How was the Arabian Peninsula unified before Islam united it?
They were unified by a common language.
Who set up Christian kingdoms in Palestine and Syria in the early 1100s?
winners of the First Crusade
How did Islamic teachings encourage curiosity and scientific discovery?
By seeking curiosity of the natural world.
Curiosity about nature.
What important events happened in Medina that helped strengthen the Muslim community?
Muhammad lived there and was able to bring more followers/believers to Islam.
What made Muslim hospitals unique compared to other parts of the world during the Middle Ages?
They were made available for anyone to be able to go to.
Hajj is the Fifth Pillar of Islam. What happens during the Hajj pilgrimage, and why is it so significant to Muslims?
It's a pilgrimage to Mecca that millions of Muslims from around the world go to once in their lifetime.
How were Jewish communities affected by the Crusades?
Jews were persecuted throughout Europe.
How did the Abbasid dynasty make Baghdad an important cultural and learning center?
By it being the capital of the Abbasid caliphate.
Salat is the second Pillar of Islam, what does it mean?
Salat : praying 5 times a day
How did Muslim scholars preserve and share the ideas of Greek thinkers like Plato and Aristotle?
They preserved and translated Greek Texts.
How did Muslim rulers treat Jews and Christians differently from Muslims in conquered territories?
Muslims charge them extra taxes.
What actions helped the Umayyad dynasty spread Islam across new lands?
They had conquered new land.
Which empire eventually conquered the Byzantine Empire, and how did that event shift world power?
Ottoman Empire. They did this by expanding their armies and gaining control of trade routes.
How did different groups—Arabs, Persians, and Turks—each shape medieval Islamic culture?
All three were contributors to Medieval Islamic culture
Why was Mecca both a spiritual and economic center for early Muslims?
spiritual: It was the birthplace of Muhammad.
economic: Trade Routes
What took Muhammad to places beyond the Arabian Peninsula?
making caravan trips for trade
How did the Crusades change the power of European kings and nobles?
They took the nobles away to fight.
Why do Muslims view the Qur’an as the most important source of truth and guidance?
It’s the most important source of truth because it is a record of the words of God from the angel Gabriel.
What motivated Christian leaders and soldiers to begin the Crusades? (2 answers)
They could no longer travel safely to the Holy Land.
Christians wanted to gain control of Palestine
Charity, or giving to the needy is an example of the third Pillar of Islam. What is the name of the pillar?
Zakat
Why are Jews and Christians referred to as “People of the Book” in Islam?
They have holy writings given by God.
How did Muhammad’s early life in Mecca influence his role as a prophet?
It helped bring monotheism to Islam.
Islam, Judaism, and Christianity have much in common including...
...the same people in their sacred texts.
What is one example of cultural diffusion in the Islamic Empire?
Muslims spread the Chinese craft of paper making to Europe.
How did the Mughal Empire expand Islam into new regions, such as India?
The empire carried Islam into most of India by military conquests.
What would you most likely see if you went to Mecca during hajj?
millions of Muslims from all around the world