Islam – the eBook by William Shepard

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Self Test Questions

Self Test Questions refer to specific material in the chapter and can usually be answered fairly briefly.

Chapter:

  1. Chapter 1. Introduction
    1. What are the three senses in which the term “islam” may be used?
    2. When did islam/Islam in each of these senses begin?
    3. What is empathetic understanding? How does it differ from sympathetic understanding?
    4. How does an Islamist different from an Islamicist?
    5. What is the Shahada?
    6. Why has God sent prophets?
    7. Which are the prophets mentioned in this chapter?
    8. What is the Shari‘a?
    9. What are the two main sources for the Shari‘a?
    10. What are the main beliefs of Islam?
    11. What are the Pillars of Islam?
    12. What is the main division among Muslims?
  2. ↑
  3. Chapter 2. On the Eve of Islam
    1. Who were the "superpowers" of the Hellenistic-Iranian world during and before Muhammad's life time?
    2. When and how did the Byzantine empire begin?
    3. What was the role of the shah and the state in Sasanid Zoroastrianism?
    4. How did Sasanid Zoroastrianism conceive the divine?
    5. What are the main doctrines of Orthodox Christianity?
    6. What are the distinctive features Orthodox worship?
    7. How is Orthodox Christianity related to ethnicity?
    8. How do Monophysite and Nestorian Christianity differ from Orthodox Christianity?
    9. Where were the Monophysites and Nestorians mainly found?
    10. Who were the Manicheans and what were their distinctive ideas and practices.
    11. How did the Jewish dispora arise?
    12. What is Torah and how is it related to the hope for a messiah?
    13. Who were the Gnostics and how did their ideas and practices differ from those of (other) Jews and Christians.
    14. What were the main ideas of Plato, Aristotle and Plotinus?
    15. Which of the various groups discussed were more world affirming and which more world denying (i.e. more or less inclined to affirm the value of the material and human world over agaist the transcendent or supernatural world)?
    16. What are the main features of the "Axial Age" and how are they illustrated (or not) by two of the religious or philosophical groups described in this chapter?
  4. ↑
  5. Chapter 3. The Beginnings of Islam
    1. What does the word jahiliyya mean?
    2. What was the jahili attitude toward the tribe?
    3. When and in what circumstances was Muhammad born?
    4. When and in what circumstances did he begin to receive revelation?
    5. What was the hijra and why was it important?
    6. What were the circumstances and significance of the battle of Badr?
    7. What was the Farewell Pilgrimage and what is its significance?
    8. What is the umma?
    9. Who took over the leadership of the umma after Muhammad's death?
    10. What were the fitnas? What were the issues in the first two fitnas?
    11. What did the Umayyads accomplish and why were and are they often criticized?
    12. What sort of scholarly criticisms are made of the traditional accounts of the early period of Islam?
  6. ↑
  7. Chapter 4. Expansion and Flowering of Islam
    1. What did the later Umayyads do to strengthen their state?
    2. What was/is jihad?
    3. When did the Abbasid dynasty begin and when did it end?
    4. At what point did Islamic society and culture become more multiethnic than Arab? What were the main ethnic groups involved”
    5. When was the first major flourishing of Islamic culture and what sorts of activities did it include?
    6. Which was the first dynasty to stimulate a renaissance of Persian literature?
    7. Which were the main Shi‘i groups and states active during the “Shi‘i century”?
    8. What was the historical role of the Saljuk Turks?
    9. What was the significance of the crusades for Muslims?
    10. What was the historical role of the Saljuk Turks.
    11. What were the three great empires of later Muslim history. Mention one distinctive fact about each.
    12. When and how did Islam spread to Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa?
    13. What factors led dhimmis to become Muslims?
  8. ↑
  9. Chapter 5. The Qur'an
    1. Why do Muslims object a claim that the Qur'an is the words of Muhammad?
    2. Was the Qur'an revealed in its present form? If not, how?
    3. How was the Qur'an compiled, according to the best known account?
    4. Why is recitation of the Qur'an important?
    5. Why might some Muslims wear a passage of the Qur'an as an amulet?
    6. What does the Qur'an teach about God?
    7. What does the Qur'an teach about Jesus?
    8. What are the “Satanic verses”?
    9. What does the Qur'an say about the “people of the book”?
    10. What does the Qur'an say about jinn.
    11. How many heavenly maidens (houris) will attend a person in Paradise, according to the Qur'an?
    12. What does the Qur'an teach about tribalism, nobility, generosity and vengeance?
    13. What are the “occasions of revelation” (asbab al-nuzul) and why are they important?
  10. ↑
  11. Chapter 6. The Prophet Muhammad
    1. What is the phrase normally said by Muslims after mentioning the name of Muhammad?
    2. What is the doctrine of ‘isma?
    3. What is the meaning of sunna and hadith and why are they important?
    4. How have traditions sought to authenticate hadiths.
    5. What are the two main collections of Hadith?
    6. What miracles ascribed to Muhammad are mentioned in this chapter?
    7. What were the Night Journey (isra') and Ascent to Heaven (mi‘raj)?
    8. How do modernists relate the Qur'an as Muhammad's miracle to rationalism?
    9. What justifications do they give for Muhammad's violent actions?
    10. What were the circumstances of Muhammad's marriages?
    11. Which writers have explicitly described Muhammad as “hero”?
  12. ↑
  13. Chapter 7. Key Practices: Pillars, Rituals and Celebrations
    1. What are the five Pillars of Islam?
    2. Which Pillar must be done at least once a day?
    3. Which Pillar or Pillars can be done only once a year?
    4. Do women perform the Pillars the same way men do?
    5. Which of the various ceremonies and holidays is most like Christmas?
    6. How does the Hajj contribute to the unity of the umma?
    7. Is the birthday (mulid) of the Prophet Muhammad celebrated by all Muslims?
    8. What are the main halal rules relating to food?
    9. What are the basic elements in a Muslim marriage ceremony?
    10. What are the basic elements in a Muslim funeral?
    11. What is the place of circumcision in Islam?
    12. What is a sibha?
  14. ↑
  15. Chapter 8. Divisions in the Umma and Political Thought
    1. What is the fundamental difference between Sunni and Shi‘i claims about the early history of Islam?
    2. What were the main claims made by the Khariji movements in relation to this history?
    3. What is the “continuing tendency that can be labeled Khariji” mentioned in this chapter?
    4. What are the main differences between the “Fivers”, the “Seveners” and the “Twelvers”?
    5. What is the “Occultation” (ghayba)?
    6. What is taqiya and who uses it?
    7. How has the Isma‘ili movement changed over time?
    8. What are the rituals that go under the name of ta‘ziya?
    9. How long did the true caliphate last, according to Sunni thinking?
    10. What is the caliph's role in relation to the Shari‘a, according to Sunnis?
    11. What qualifications should the caliph have, according to al-Muwardi and al-Ghazali?
    12. What is the type of literature called that draws heavily on the Iranian tradition for political advice?
  16. ↑
  17. Chapter 9. Scholars and Learning
    1. What does the word ‘ulama’ mean?
    2. Can the ‘ulama’ be described as “clergy”?
    3. What are the functions the ‘ulama’ may carry out in a mosque?
    4. Must the imam who leads salat be an ‘alim?
    5. What was/is the role of memorization in the education of the ‘ulama’?
    6. What is a kuttab?
    7. What is a madrasa?
    8. How does a pesantren differ from a madrasa?
    9. To what extent have the ‘ulama’ limited the powers of the rulers?
    10. What are some sayings that reflect some ‘ulama’s' attitudes toward rulers.
    11. What is a waqf and how may the ‘ulama’ benefit from it?
  18. ↑
  19. Chapter 10. To Know God's Will: Islamic Law
    1. Explain briefly the following terms: Shari‘a, fiqh, madhhab.
    2. What are the five Shari‘a valuations (ahkam)?
    3. What is the Sunni understanding of usul al-fiqh (The roots of jurisprudence).
    4. How does the Twelver Shi‘i understanding of usul al-fiqh differ from the Sunni understanding?
    5. What are the four surviving madhhabs of Sunni fiqh?
    6. What are the two forms of Shi‘i fiqh?
    7. Which relies the most on Hadith?
    8. Explain the role of a mufti.
    9. what is the relation between Shari‘a and custom?
  20. ↑
  21. Chapter 11. Theology and Philosophy
    1. What factors played a role in the development of Islamic theology (kalam)?
    2. What did the Mu‘tazili conception of tawhid imply?
    3. What was the significance of the phrase bilā kayf [without [asking] how)?
    4. What was the miḥna? What were the issues and what was the outcome?
    5. What was the Mu‘tazili concept of “justice”?
    6. Why did others oppose it?
    7. Discussion about what issue was stimulated by the Kharijis?
    8. What position did the Mu‘tazila and others take on it.
    9. What is the basic difference between philosophy (falsafah) and kalam?
    10. How did the philosophers see their relationship to the rest of society.
    11. How did the philosophers see the relationship between philosophy and religion.
    12. Who were the most important philosophers.
    13. How is Islamic philosophy related to Ancient Greek philosophy and to modern philosophy and science?
  22. ↑
  23. Chapter 12. The Sufi Path to God
    1. What are two roughly synonymous terms for “Sufi”.
    2. What is the difference between ‘ilm and ma‘rifa, according to the Sufis?
    3. What is dhikr?
    4. What are “stations” (maqamāt) and “states” (aḥwāl)?
    5. Explain the meaning of the term tariqa.
    6. What is the relationship between the spiritual guide (shaykh) and desciple (murīd)?
    7. What is the meaning and importance of the phrase, Ana al-haqq (“I am the Truth”)?
    8. What does “drunkenness” involve?
    9. What is the difference between ‘ishq and hubb?
    10. What are walis and what are their “miracles” called?
    11. Why do people visit the tombs of walis?
    12. What is ‘irfan?
    13. What is “primeordialism”?
  24. ↑
  25. Chapter 13. A Philosopher, a Scholar-mystic and a Reformer
    1. Under what political conditions did Ibn Sina live and work?
    2. What was his understanding of the creation of the world and the resurrection of the dead.
    3. What is the role of intellect/intelligence in his system?
    4. Who was al-Ghazali's patron and what was the significance of this?
    5. What was al-Ghazali's attitude toward theology (kalam)?
    6. What Sufi tariqa was al-Ghazali an adherent of?
    7. What was al-Ghazali's attitude toward music (sama‘)?
    8. What was Ibn Taymiyya's main concern?
    9. What was Ibn Taymiyya's attitude toward Sufism?
    10. Why did Ibn Taymiyya oppose the Mongol?
  26. ↑
  27. Chapter 14. Culture and Counter-Culture
    1. What are the two kinds of Arabesques?
    2. What is Isma‘il Faruqi's argument about Arabesques?
    3. What are the main types of Arabic script?
    4. Why is Qur'anic calligraphy compared to an Orthodox Christian icon?
    5. What did al-Nawawi write about pictures?
    6. In what sorts of pictures might pictures of the Prophet Muhammad done by Muslims appear?
    7. What is a majsid, a jāmi‘ and a muṣallā?
    8. What are the main architectural features common to all, or nearly all, mosques?
    9. How may mosques vary architecturally?
    10. What is the significance of the miḥrāb?
    11. What is the meaning of the term adab?
    12. Who was Abu Nuwas?
    13. What was Omar Khayyam known for in his own lifetime?
    14. What was al-Ghazali's view of music?
    15. Who are the qawwals and the munshidin?
  28. ↑
  29. Chapter 15. Western Imperialism and Muslim Response
    1. When and why did Napoleon invade Egypt? Why is this important?
    2. When was the high point of overt European dominance over the Islamic world.
    3. What is “cultural imperalism”?
    4. What is the relation between the idea of progress and imperialism?
    5. Define “modernization”, “development”, “Westernization” and “secularization”?
    6. What is the effect of modernization on the state?
    7. What is the spiritual and religious challenge of imperialism and modernization for Muslims?
    8. What is the “Wahhabi” movement?
    9. What the basic attitudes of traditionalists, modernists, secularists and Islamists toward the challenge westernisation and modernization?
    10. Was was the contribution of Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan, Jaamal al-Din al-Afghani, Muhammad ‘Abduh and Muhammad Iqbal.
    11. Which country is best known for its secularist reforms and who was its leader?
    12. What are the two main Sunni Islamists movements discussed in this chapter?
    13. About when did the “resurgence” of Islam begin and what sorts of things has it involved?
    14. What was the “great reversal”?
  30. ↑
  31. Chapter 16. Turkey: Secularist Reform
    1. What is sthe significance of the dates 1683 and 1699.
    2. What were the main features of the Tanzimat?
    3. What was the pan-Islamic ideology and was it successful?
    4. What was the Committee of Union and Progress and what were its policies?
    5. In 1924 how did one distinguish a Greek from a Turk?
    6. What is the point of “Happy is he who says, ‘I am Turk.’”?
    7. What is the place of Islam in the Turkish constitution?
    8. Why did Atatürk's government ban the Sufi tariqas?
    9. Did Atatürk separate mosque and state?
    10. How is it possible to be an atheist Muslim in Turkey?
    11. What measures favorable to religion have been put in place since 1945?
    12. Who is Necmettin Erbakan and what have his parties stood for?
    13. Why are secularists suspicious of the Justice and Development Party, the Nurcus and the Gülen movement?
  32. ↑
  33. Chapter 17. Egypt: Between Secularism and Islamism
    1. What did Muhammad Ali seek to accomplish and what did he actually accomplish?
    2. When was legal equality granted to non-Muslims in Egypt?
    3. When were secular legal and penal codes promulgated in Egypt?
    4. What are “personal status” matters?
    5. What were the concerns of Ahmad ‘Urabi and his followers?
    6. What were the main features of Muhammad ‘Abduh's modernism?
    7. What were Qasim Amin's books about?
    8. What was ‘Ali ‘Abd al-Raziq's view of Muhammad's mission?
    9. What was, and is, the goal of the Muslim Brothers?
    10. What was the place of Islam in Abdel Nasser's Arab Socialism?
    11. What hadith justified state ownership of utilities?
    12. What idea is Sayyid Qutb best known for?
    13. How strong is the Sufi movement in Egypt?
    14. Which Islamist groups have engaged in violence in Egypt since 1970.
    15. What has the strategy of the Muslim brothers been since 1980?
  34. ↑
  35. Chapter 18. Iran: From Secularism to Islamic Revolution
    1. How did the position of the ‘ulama’ change from the early Safavid period to the Qajar period?
    2. What was the “dual agency”?
    3. What were the three “heterodox” movements that challenged the position of the ‘ulama’? Which became the most widespread?
    4. What was the Tobacco protest about and what were its short term results?
    5. What were some of the features of the Constitution of 1906?
    6. What were Na'ini's arguments about constitutional government?
    7. What were Shah Reza Pahlavi's reform measures?
    8. What changes did the two Pahlavi shahs make in the calendar and what is the significance of these?
    9. What parties were active in the late 1940s and early 1950s?
    10. When was Khomeini sole marja‘-i-taqlid?
    11. How did the White Revolution threaten the ‘ulama’?
    12. How did Ali Shariati interpret Islam?
    13. What does gharbzadegi mean and who coined this term?
    14. What is Khomeini's doctrine of vilayat-i faqih?
    15. Why was the shah called the “Yazid of the age”.
    16. Who would have been the “Islamic Marxists” that the shah complained about?
    17. What are the “Western” elements in the constitution of the Islamic Republic and what is distinctive about it?
    18. How successful have the Iranians been in exporting the Revolution?
  36. ↑
  37. Chapter 19. Indonesia: Islamic Society or Islamic State?
    1. Who established the present boundaries of Indonesia?
    2. What is the slametan? How is it related to Islam?
    3. What is “Javanese mysticism”?
    4. Where and in what context does the word jihad appear in this chapter?
    5. How did Dutch rule affect the development of Islam in Indonesia?
    6. What is the meaning of abangan, santri and priyayi?
    7. What is Pancasila and what were the “seven words”?
    8. What are the main similarities and differences between the Muhammadiya, Nahdlatul, Ulama and Persatuan Islam.
    9. Which of these groups was most influenced by Muhammad ‘Abduh?
    10. What was Masyumi?
    11. How was Islam involved in the events of 1965?
    12. What was Suharto's attitude toward Islam?
    13. What percent of the vote did Muslim parties get in 1955 and 1999?
    14. How were Darul Islam movements linked with the later violent movements such as Jemaah Islamiyah?
    15. Who are the “neo-modernists” and what are their main views?
  38. ↑
  39. Chapter 20. Globalization: Challenge and Opportunity
    1. What are some of the manifestations of the globalization of Islam mentioned early in this chapter?
    2. How do the Tablighi Movement and the Ḥizb al-Taḥrīr differ from each other?
    3. What factors allowed the Taleban to come to power in Afghanistan?
    4. What are the connections of al-Qaeda with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Afghanistan.
    5. What have been the sources of tension between al-Qaeda and the Taleban?
    6. How is al-Qaeda organized?
    7. How does al-Qaeda justify its actions and to whom might this justification be plausible?
    8. What has led Muslims to emigrate to Western countries?
    9. How has the situation of Muslims in American differed from that of Muslims in Germany?
    10. How does the Saudi government relate to Muslims in diaspora?
    11. What did Elijah Muhammad teach and how did his movement change after his death?
    12. What were Fazlur Rahman's main teachings?
    13. Which of the “progressive” thinkers have identified themselves as Mu‘tazili?
    14. What are the main views of Tariq Ramadan?
  40. ↑

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