Origins
Which variant of Islam is bigger: Sunni OR Shi'a?
Sunni: approx. 90% of Muslim population
Shia: approx. 10% of Muslim population.
Name ALL the key principal beliefs we explored as part of the Islam depth study.
Tawhid
Malaikah
Akhirah
Al-Qadr
Rusul
Books of Allah
Define the terms halal and haram
Halal: permissible or lawful
Haram: forbidden or unlawful
What does the term Shar'ia law refer to?
In Islam, Shari'a law is the process of ethical jurisprudence which guides adherents’ daily behaviour, and their treatment of others on a wide variety of issues.
Name all FIVE Pillars of Islam
(provide the Arabic term)
DOUBLE POINTS:
Provide an English translation for each pillar.
Shahada: Profession of Faith
Salat: Prayer
Zakat: Charity/Alms-Giving
Sawm: Fasting
Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca.
Name TWO key events/periods in the life of the Prophet Muhammad
570 - Muhammad’s birth and infancy
575 - Muhammad becomes an orphan
578 - Muhammad in Mecca in care of an uncle
580-594 - Muhammad’s teens
594 - Muhammad’s acts as caravan agent for wealthy trade woman
595-604 - Muhammad’s marriage and family life
610 - Muhammad receives first revelation
613 - Muhammad makes his message public
622 - Muhammad and the Muslims immigrate to Medina
625-628 - The military period
625-638 - The conquest of Mecca
630-632 - Muhammad’s final years
According to Akhirah, Muslisms believe that after being judged by Allah during the Day of Judgement, they will be sent to _____ and ______.
Jahannam (Hell/Eternal Punishment)
Name the two sacred texts and writings we explored as part of the Islam depth study.
DOUBLE POINTS!
provide a short description for each sacred text/writing.
Qur'an: The sacred text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be God's divine words/teachings revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over the course of his life.
Hadith: The words and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
Name TWO key sources of Muslim ethics.
Qur’an: outlines what actions are obligatory, those that are permitted and those that are forbidden.
Hadith and Sunna: of secondary importance to the Qur’an, but still considered important as they are the traditions of the prophet Muhammad.
Shariah law: ethical jurisprudence which guides adherents’ daily behaviour, and their treatment of others on a wide variety of issues.
Fiqh: theory or philosophy of Islamic law.
Explain the Shahada and how it reflects TWO of the principal beliefs in Islam.
The Shahadah is the declaration of faith or the key statement of belief of Muslims. All Muslims know the declaration of faith and it is repeated multiple times during the day.
In total, two key principal beliefs are reflected in the recitation of the Shahada: Tawhid and Rusul.
"There is no god but God. Muhammad is the Messenger of God. I bear witness that there is no god but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God."
Provide 3 key facts about pre-Islamic Arabia
Men and Women:
• Men could have as many wives as they wanted
• Women were property to traded (treated as a
commodity)
• Trade was the most common method of employment
(including spices and herbs)
• Adultery and female infanticide were common
Religion and Spirituality:
• Local religion was typically polytheistic, worshipping aspects of nature. There were small cults
with temples, and the adherents participated in rituals such as human/animal sacrifice.
• The selling of false idols at the Ka’bah was very common. Pilgrims would travel to Mecca and
purchase idols from the local merchants; this was a thriving and successful business for many
Arab business men in the area. These idols were known as the Hubal. There were also some
Jewish and Christian adherents, however they were in the minority.
• The most powerful tribe were the Quraysh, controlling most of the economy in Mecca. The
Quraysh made profits from pilgrims visiting the Ka’bah. They were disliked by other tribes due
to their exploitation of the pilgrims and control over society.
Geography:
Arid desert with minimal vegitation, which mean agriculture was limited. Semi-nomadic groups. Two main cities: Mecca and Medina - trade routes.
What principal belief is reflected in this passage from the Qur'an?
Say O believers, “We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us; and what was revealed to Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq, Yakub, and his descendents; and what was given to Musa, Isa, and other prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them. And to Allah we all submit. (Surah 2:136)
Rusul (Messengers of Allah)
Provide THREE reasons why the sacred texts of Islam are important for Muslism.
1. The Qur'an is accepted to be the divine word of Allah revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
2. Houses the ethical teachings which provide a moral framework for right living.
3. Origins of the significant practices/rituals that are regularly performed by adherents today.
4. Houses and provides insight into the principal beliefs of the Islamic Faith.
Name and explain TWO ethical teachings found within Islam
Submission to Allah: the ultimate goal of the Muslim adherent is to demonstrate belief in Tawhid.
Taqwa: adherents should strive to make all actions and decisions based on the needs of Allah, also known as God-consciousness.
Striving: adherents are called to ‘strive’ for spiritual perfection thereby living an Allah-centred life, responding to Allah’s divine will.
On average, how much of a Muslim's annual salary is dedicated to performing Zakat?
2.8%
Name all Four Rightly Guided Caliphs.
DOUBLE POINTS!
Explain how the succession of the Caliphs led to the Sunni-Shia schism.
Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali
DOUBLE POINTS:
The Sunni-Shia split originated from a dispute over the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad after his death in 632 AD. Sunnis believe the successor should be chosen by the community, while Shia believe the successor should be a direct descendant of Muhammad, specifically his son-in-law Ali. This disagreement led to the formation of two distinct branches within Islam.
Explain the concept of tawhid and why is it central to Islam.
Within Islam, the term tawhid is used to affirm Allah’s indivisible oneness and His position as the one true God.
According to tawhid:
Allah is eternal, all-knowing, and all-powerful.
Allah stands alone, with nothing rivalling Him or being like Him.
Allah was not created and transcendently exists outside of creation.
Allah and His ways cannot be comprehended by humanity.
Tawhid is the single most important concept within Islam; as without it, Islam would not exist. All aspects of the faith serve as a direct recognition and submission to this oneness.
In the following Quranic passage there are four principal beliefs, identify them!
"The Messenger firmly believes in what he has revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They all believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. They proclaim, “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. We seek Your forgiveness our Lord! And to you alone is the final return.” (Surah 2:285)
Angels
Tawhid
Rusul
Books of Allah
Name THREE areas of a Muslim's life where they must discern what is halal and haram.
Speech
Food and Drink
Conduct/Action
Financial Transactions
Relationships
Clothing and Adornments
Acts of Worship
Provide TWO contemporary examples of how we see the Five Pillars being expressed in the world today.
Salat: Every day across the world, the adhan or 'call to prayer' is recited by a muezzin, traditionally from a minaret (tower in mosque) to announce the times for the five daily obligatory prayers.
Sawm: Every year, over 1.8 billion Muslims participated in Ramadan.
Hajj: In 2024, 1.8 million Muslims performed the obligatory pilgrimage to Mecca.
Zakat: The existence of Islamic charitable organisations such as the National Zakat Foundation, Sadaqa Welfare Fund, and Islamic Relief Australia.
Provide 3 reasons as to why the Prophet Muhammad is a model for Muslim life.
1. Knowledge of the Qur’an
2. Embodiment of tawhid
3. Advocate for the marginalised
4. Loyalty and Faithfulness
5. Life of prayer and continual spiritual searching
6. Strong leader and reformer
7. Fair, Lawful, and Justness
Match the Principal Belief to the Surah:
1) "Surely Allah does not forgive that a partner is ascribed to Him, and he forgives anything short of that for whomsoever He wills. Whoever ascribes a partner to Allah commits a terrible sin." (Surah 4:48)
2) "With Him are the keys of the unseen - no one knows them except Him. And He knows what is in the land and sea. Not even a leaf falls without His knowledge, nor a grain in the darkness of the earth or anything - green or dry" (Surah 6:59)
3) "Then, when the Trumpet will be blown, there will be no kinship between them on that Day, nor will they even care to ask about one another. As for those whose scale is heavy with good deeds, it is they who will be successful. But those whose scale is light, they will have doomed themselves, staying in Hell forever. The fire will burn their faces, leaving them deformed." (Surah 35:1)
1) Tawhid
2) Al-Qadr
3) Akhirah
Within Islam, the Sunni and Shi'a variants have their own unique 'Hadith tradition'. These traditions inform what specific hadith each variant recognises as legitimate and sacred.
What is the main difference between the Sunni and Shia hadith traditions?
Shias favour hadiths which come from the family and closest associates of the Prophet Muhammad.
In comparison, Sunnis cast a wider net for their hadiths, and include a wide array of the Prophet Muhammad’s companions.
*Correctly name ALL the steps in Islamic jurisprudence
1. Qur'an - divine revelation
2. Hadith/Sunnah - sayings, teachings, and deeds of Prophet Muhammad
3. Fiqh - analysis of Shariah Law based on the teachings of the sacred texts
4. Qiyas - combines study of the sacred textsand analogy to make a decision
5a. Ijtihad - personal judgement to make a decision
5b. Ijma - judgement by scholars
6. Fatwa - binding decision by an Islamic judge
In the practice of Salat, Muslims must complete five obligatory prayers each day.
Name the FIVE times each day that Muslims must perform these prayers.
Fajr: dawn, before sunrise
Zuhr: mid-day, after the sun passes its highest point.
Asr: the late part of the afternoon
Maghrib: just after sunset
Isha:between sunset and midnight