Origins
What region was Islam founded in?
Islam was founded in the Arabian Peninsula (modern-day Saudi Arabia)
Who is the founder of Islam
The Prophet Muhammad.
What is a Caliph?
A Caliph is a political and religious leader who succeeds Muhammad.
What is the belief in one God in Islam called?
Tawhid
What is the holy book of Islam?
The Qur’an
What was the name of the society before Islam in Arabia?
Pre-Islamic Arabia (also called Jahiliyyah, meaning “Age of Ignorance”).
In which city was the Prophet Muhammad born?
Mecca
How many Rightly Guided Caliphs were there?
Name TWO articles of faith in Islam.
Tawhid, Angels, Books of Allah, Prophets (Rusul), Akhira, Predestination.
What are the Five Pillars?
The Five Pillars are the core practices of Islam: Shahada (Declaration of Faith), Salat (Praying 5 Times a Day), Zakat (Giving 2.5% of savings to charity), Sawm (Fasting during Ramadan), and Hajj (Going on pilgrimage to Mecca (Holy Sites).
Describe ONE social condition in pre-Islamic Arabia
Society was tribal, with strong loyalty to family and tribe, and frequent conflict between groups.
Outline ONE key event in Muhammad’s life.
The first revelation in the Cave of Hira, where he received the message from Allah through the Angel Gabriel.
Name the Rightly Guided Caliphs in their correct order.
Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (632–634 CE)
Umar ibn al-Khattab (634–644 CE)
Uthman ibn Affan (644–656 CE)
Ali ibn Abi Talib (656–661 CE)
What is meant by Akhira?
Akhira means life after death or the afterlife.
What is the Hadith?
The Hadith are recorded sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad.
Explain how trade influenced pre-Islamic Arabian society.
Trade routes brought wealth, cultural exchange, and religious diversity, especially in cities like Mecca.
Explain why the Hijra was significant.
It marked the beginning of the Muslim community (Ummah) and the Islamic calendar.
Describe ONE achievement of the Rightly Guided Caliphs
They expanded the Islamic empire and preserved the teachings of Islam.
Abu Bakr - Led the Ridda Wars (Wars of Apostasy) to unify Arabia and initiated the compilation of the Quran.
Umar - Conquered Persia, Levant, and Egypt; established administrative systems (treasury, police, army records) and the Islamic calendar.
Uthman - Standardized the text of the Quran and oversaw the expansion of the Navy. He was assassinated, triggering the First Fitna (civil war).
Ali - Moved the capital to Kufa. His reign ended with his assassination by a Kharijite, leading to the establishment of the Umayyad Dynasty
Explain the role of Angels in Islam.
Angels are messengers of Allah who carry out His commands, such as delivering revelations and recording human actions.
Explain ONE source of Islamic law (e.g. ijma or qiyas)
Ijma is the agreement of scholars, while qiyas uses reasoning to apply teachings from the Qur’an and Hadith to new situations.
How did pre-Islamic religious practices influence the development of Islam.
Pre-Islamic polytheism and idol worship led Islam to emphasise Tawhid (belief in one God) and reject idols, shaping its core beliefs.
Evaluate why Prophet Muhammad is considered the final messenger and model for Muslim life.
Muslims believe Muhammad is the last prophet sent by Allah, and his life (Sunna) provides a perfect example of how to live according to God’s will.
What the caused the split between Sunni and Shi’a Islam.
The split occurred due to disagreement over leadership after Muhammad’s death—Sunni supported elected leaders, while Shi’a supported leadership through Muhammad’s family (Ali).
The Sunni-Shia split intensified during Ali’s reign (656–661 CE) due to a power struggle, political instability, and the first civil war (Fitna). It began with disagreements over punishing the murderers of the previous caliph, Uthman.
What are the implications of Tawhid for Muslim belief and practice.
Tawhid influences all aspects of life, requiring Muslims to worship only Allah, follow His guidance, and avoid shirk (associating partners with God).
How does Islamic jurisprudence guide ethical decision-making.
Islamic law uses the Qur’an, Hadith, ijma, and qiyas to provide guidance on moral issues, helping Muslims make decisions that align with Allah’s will.