PEOPLE
EVENTS
ISLAM IN THE "MODERN WORLD"
ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT
POTPOURRI
100

This Sunni, much to the dismay of the majority Shiite population of his country, ruled with an "iron fist" until overthrown by the U.S in 2003.

Saddam Hussein

100

Indicative of their  faith, for 1400 years, devout Muslims have expended great effort, time, and in some cases expense, to fulfill this pillar of Islam.

Hajj

100

Some critics have suggested the current state of much of the Islamic world can be attributed to its failure to adopt this "principle" which began to take hold in the West during the Renaissance era.

Secularism

100

Generically speaking, the first people to convert to Islam were these nomadic, and formerly polytheistic, traders of the Arabian Peninsula

Bedouins

100

The world is forever indebted to the Islamic world for its preservation of manuscripts from this great civilization that might have otherwise been lost to history

Greek 

200

Despite having died in the 7th century, to this day, some Shiite's Muslims "demonstrably" mourn this man's death at Karbala in 680 C.E.

Husayn

200

According to the Islamic calendar, it is NOT 2026, but rather 1447, because Muslims use this event as the basis for their calendar. 

The Hijrah

200

For the past ~75 years, perhaps no issue has unified the Islamic world more than its collective support for these people who most Muslims believe are oppressed by the Israelis. 

The Palestinians

200

While "Muhammad" is traditionally thought of as the "father of Islam", perhaps this man could be considered the "grandfather of Islam"

Abraham

200

Despite protests from the supporters of his rival, this man, a close friend and "in law" of Muhammad, became the caliph.

Abu Bakr

300

The first of the 12 Imams was this man who was revered by some Muslims for his "family tree"

Ali

300

It could be said Islam was "born" with this event marking  Muhammad's first visit from Gabriel in the year 610 C.E.

"the Night of Power and Excellence"

300

Despite being an American ally in the 1980s, this country later experienced not one, but two American invasions. 

Iraq

300

Muhammad's life changed for the better when, at the age of 25, he married his first wife, this wealthy 40 year old woman, 

Khadijah

300

Perhaps unknowingly, young people around the world have enjoyed the fruits of one of Islam’s greatest literary achievements when they read (or watched) Aladdin, a spin off from this great piece of literature.

1001 Nights or 1001 Arabian Nights

400

Technically the origins of the "Sunni--Shiite Split" can be traced back to the murder of this man, the 3rd Caliph, and the "accusations" surrounding his death. 

"Uthman"

400

Shiite Muslims mourn the brutal death of Husayn at Karbala by taking part in commemorative events and rituals on this "day"

Ashura

400

Much to the dismay of America, this decades long ally embraced Islamic theocracy and became a decades long adversary down to this second. 

Iran

400

Islam's first large scale adherents hailed from this city, now known as the "City of the Prophet".

Medina (Madinah)

400

Of the following, "minarets", "imams", "arabesques", "images of Muhammad", and "Qurans", which would you NOT find at a mosque?

Images of Muhammad

500

This man is responsible for leading a revolution that led to Iran becoming an Islamic Theocracy--and to 52 Americans being taken hostage.

Ayatollah Khomeini

500

Jerusalem is considered to be the third holiest location in the Islamic religion due to this event that took place in 619.

"The Night Journey"

500

Throughout the early 2010s, numerous Middle Eastern Muslim nations seemed poised to "shake off" their longtime authoritarian governments (alas, few did) during an event that is now known by this term.

The Arab Spring
500

Upon his return to Mecca in 630, Muhammad purged the numerous pre Islamic religious idols  found in this now sacred site/object for Muslims. 

The Kaaba

500

Despite the European world having "lost" this technology for ~1000 years after the Fall of Rome, the Muslim world excelled in constructing these as evidenced by their presence in many mosques.

Domes

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