- Q) Who were Muslims ?
A: The followers of Muhammad came to be known as the Muslims or those who had submitted to Allah.
- Q) Name some famous Muslim dynasties that ruled India.
A: Some of the famous Muslim dynasties that ruled India are Abbasids, Fatimids, Seljukids and Mughals.
- Q) Name the water bodies that surround the Arabian Peninsula.
A: The Arabian Peninsula is surrounded by the Red Sea in the west, the Arabian Sea in the south and the Persian Gulf in the east.
- Q) Who were the Bedouins? What did they primarily trade in?
A: The inhabitants of the Arabian peninsula were nomads and were called Bedouins. Their primary occupation was camel rearing.
- Q) What was the strategic importance of Mecca?
A: It was strategically placed at the junction of two trade routes – the route running from north to south linking Palestine with Yemen and the route connecting Ethiopia and the Red Sea in the west to the Persian Gulf in the east.
- Q) What is hijira? Or Q) What do you understand by the concept of hijirah?
A: After the death of Abu Talib, Muhammad was forced to move out of Mecca. Muhammad and his followers fled to Madina in 622 CE. This immigration from Mecca to Madina, also known as Yathrib, is referred to in Arabic as Hijrah.
- Q) What is the Quran? Or Q) Write short notes on Quran.
A: The Quran contains the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. It is the holy book of Muslims all over the world. It is written in Arabic. It meant to guide the followers of Prophet Muhammad in all the aspects of life.
- Q) Name the first caliph.
A: Abu Bakr was the first caliph.
- Q) Name the most famous of the Abbasid Caliphs.
A: Harun ar-Rashid was the most famous of the Abbasid Caliphs.
- Q) Name one contribution made by the Arabs to the field of medicine.
A: The most famous example of contribution of Arabs in the field of medicine is a medical encyclopedia. It was considered as a masterpiece, Comprehensive work in Medicine, by al-Razi.
- Q) Which three styles of architecture influenced Arab architecture?
A: Roman, Byzantine and Persian architecture influenced Arab architecture.
- Q) Name any two famous literary works of the Arabs.
A: The Rubiyat by Omar Khayyam and One Thousand and One Nights are famous literary works of the Arabs.
- Q) Who was the first Islamic ruler to have invaded India?
A: Mohammed Bin Qasim was the first Islamic ruler to have invaded India in 712 CE.
- Q) Who were the Arabs? What did they do for living?
A: The people staying at Arabian Peninsula referred to themselves as Arabs. Their primary occupation was camel rearing. Dates and the milk of camels were the staple diet of the people of this region.
- Q) Why was there constant struggle to gain control over Mecca?
A: Prophet Muhammad’s beliefs and teachings differed sharply from the religious practices of the idol worshipping of Meccans. As a result, he met hostility and stiff opposition from a majority of the Meccan population.
- Q) Mention the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.
A: The teachings included :
- – Acceptance of an uncompromising monotheism
- – Rejection of all other deities
- – Firm prohibition of idol worshiping
- – All men are equal and there should be no class discrimination
- – Women must observe Purdah.
- – Followers of Islam must give alms to the poor.
- Q) State the five principles of Islam.
A: The five principles of Islam are :
- There is no other God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger.
- Muslims are required to pray five times a day in the direction of Kaaba at fixed times.
- All those who have the means are required to give alms to the poor as a way of serving God.
- Ritual fasting is an obligatory act for the Muslims during the month of Ramadan and Ramzan.
- Every Muslim, if possible, should go to Mecca on Hajj once in his lifetime.
- Q) How did Islam spread in India?
- Q) Mention the significant archetypes of Islamic architecture.
- Q) Explain the genesis of Islam.
- Q) What do you understand by the phrase ‘Golden Age of Islam’?
- Q) Describe the various contribution of Islam and Arabs.
- Q) Write short notes on kaaba.
A: The Kaaba is a cuboid structure that is the main shrine at Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
- Q) Write short notes on khalifas and spread of islam.
Fill Up the Blanks
- At the beginning of the seventh century the Arabian Peninsula became the centre of a new religious movement called Islam.
- Mecca rose to prominence as it was strategically placed at the junction of two trade routes. It was also a place of pilgrimage for different tribes.
- The Khalifas were the successors of Muhamad who carry forwarded his teachings.
- The Arabs made significant contributions in the fields of science, mathematics, literature and architecture.
- Kabaa is the main cuboid shrine at Mecca.
- The Caliphate is the anglicize form of the word Khalifa.
- The followers of Muhammad came to be known as the Muslims or those who had submitted to Allah.
- The Islamic calendar is known as hizi.
- Fasting is an obligatory act for the Muslims during the month of ramza.