Introduction
What does the quote “There is no god but God and Muhammad is his messenger” mean?
What do you know about Islam already?
Why is it important to learn about Islam?
Historical Overview
Who was Muhammad? When was he born and when did he die?
What was the Arabian peninsula like when Muhammad was living?
What did Muhammad do when he became an adult? (marriage, job, religion)
When and how did Muhammad receive his first revelation?
What did he do after he received the revelation?
What was the “hijra?” When did it happen, why did it happen, where did the Muslim community go and what happened there?
What happened for the next 8 years in Medina?
When did the Muslim community return to Mecca? What happened when they did?
Did Islam spready quickly or slowly?
Today, about how many Muslims are there in the world?
Myths of Origins
Who are the first two human beings, according to the Quran? What do they do and what happens to them?
According to the Quran, what do humans choose to have at the time of creation that no other aspect of creation wants?
Why is free-will important for the understand of the purpose of life in Islam?
What is the role of a “prophet” in Islam? How many prophets have there been?
How many prophets are mentioned by name in the Quran? Who are some of them?
Why are there so many overlapping stories in the Torah, Bible and Quran?
How does Islam view the Torah and Christian Bible?
What does it mean that Muhammad is the “seal of the prophets?”
What is the connection between Muslims and Abraham?
According to the Quran, what did Abraham and Ishmael build?
Historical Myths
For how long did Muhammad receive the revelations?
What was it like for Muhammad when he received a revelation?
What would happen each time after Muhammad received a revelation?
What does the word “Qur’an” mean? How was the Qur’an formed? What was the process of getting the revelations collected and written down?
What was the Night Journey? What happened during the “isra?” What happened during the “mir’aj?”
When Muhammad died, why was there not a clear successor? And why was one needed?
Who were the two people that various people supported to become Muhammad’s successor? And why did people support them?
How did this division lead to the Muslim denominations of Sunni and Shi’a?
What was the Battle of Kerbala?
Myths of Endings
What do Muslims believe after the afterlife?
What do Muslims believe each person will be judged on after their death?
What is Al-Qiyamah?
What role will Jesus play in the end of the world?
Doctrine
Why is Islam called a “strict monotheism?”
What is “shirk” in Islam?
Who are the People of the Book? Why are they called that?
What does the word “Qur’an” mean? Why is it called that?
What role does hearing the words of the Qur’an recited play in Islam?
Why is the Qur’an called the Word of God? How is it different from the calling the Torah or Bible the “word of God?”
What is the “hadith”? What role does it play in Islam?
Ritual
What are the five pillars in Islam? Please include their English name, Arabic name and a brief description of each:
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5.
How many times do Muslims pray each day? Give a bit of information about the daily prayers.
What is the holy day of the week in Islam and how to Muslims celebrate it?
What are the major holidays in Islam?
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2.
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What occurs at important stages of life in Islam?
Marriage
Death
Ethics
What is Shariah law? Is there one definitive version of Shariah law?
What are the dietary restrictions in Islam?
How do men and women dress modestly in Islam?
Is polygamy acceptable in Islam? What are the restrictions placed on this practice?
What does “jihad” actually mean and what does it refer to (what are the two types of jihad)?
What are some of the main ethical teachings in Islam?
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b.
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d.
Society and Social Justice
What is “sufism?”
How does mosques model ethnic diversity?
Who was Muhammad Ali? Why did he convert to Islam? And how did Islam influence his decision not to fight in the Vietnam War?
What is “Muslim finance?”
Who was Benazir Bhutto?