Arabian Geography
Bedouin Life
Mecca & the Kaaba
Muhammad's Life
The Five Pillars
100

This type of landform covers most of the Arabian Peninsula, making survival a daily challenge.

desert

100

This is the term for the nomadic Arab tribes who herded animals and moved across the desert.

Bedouins

100

Before Islam, this cube-shaped shrine in Mecca housed over 300 idols of Arab gods and goddesses.

Kaaba

100


Muhammad was born in this city around 570 CE.

Mecca

100


This is how many times Muslims are required to pray each day.

five

200

These rare patches of land with underground water became natural stopping points for travelers and traders.

oases

200


Bedouins gave camels this nickname because of their ability to carry heavy loads across vast distances.

ships of the desert

200


This powerful tribe controlled Mecca, its trade routes, and the Kaaba shrine.

Quraysh

200


Before becoming a prophet, Muhammad earned this Arabic nickname meaning "the trustworthy one."

Al-Amin

200

The declaration "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his prophet" is called this.

Shahadah

300


The Hejaz Mountains ran along this edge of the Arabian Peninsula.

Western Edge

300


A Bedouin tribe was led by this type of leader, chosen for wisdom and courage.

sheikh

300


Pilgrims traveling to the Kaaba each year provided Mecca with this economic benefit.

steady revenue (income from trade)

300


This wealthy widow married Muhammad and became his earliest and most devoted supporter — and the first Muslim.

Khadijah

300

This pillar requires Muslims to give a portion of their wealth to those in need.

Zakat (charity)?

400


These two bodies of water bordered the Arabian Peninsula's coastlines, enabling fishing and sea trade.

the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf

400


Because Bedouins had no written records, they preserved their history through this practice.

oral tradition (storytelling and poetry)

400

Arabs on the peninsula were aware of these two monotheistic religions practiced in neighboring lands.

Judaism and Christianity

400


In 610 CE, Muhammad received his first revelation in this location near Mecca.

the Cave of Hira on Mount Nur

400

Muslims fast from sunrise to sundown during this holy month, which ends with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.

Ramadan

500

The fertile land in southern Arabia was nicknamed this, meaning "Happy Arabia."

Arabia Felix

500

A camel can travel up to this many miles in a single day without drinking water.

100 miles

500

During the annual pilgrimage to the Kaaba, this activity was forbidden — even between enemy tribes.

fighting (warfare)

500


Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE is called this, and it marks Year 1 of the Islamic calendar.

The Hijra

500


This pillar requires all Muslims who are physically and financially able to travel to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

The Hajj