Rise and Spread of Islam

People primarily practised monotheism.

Reason — In pre-Islamic Arabia, people primarily practised polytheism, not monotheism, though some tribes had also embraced Judaism and Christianity.

The Koran

Reason — The Koran is the sacred book of Islam, which reveals the will of Allah. Allah is believed to have revealed its teachings to his messenger, Prophet Muhammad.

40

Reason — At the age of 40, Muhammad is said to have been visited by angel Gabriel, who revealed the divine message and urged him to preach it to the people.

hijrat

Reason — In 622 CE, Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina, and this migration is known as hijrah or hijrat.

benevolence

Reason — The Abbasids were benevolent rulers who took several measures for the well-being of their subjects, including constructing roads, promoting trade and encouraging cultural enrichment.

The Kaaba became the central point of pilgrimage and prayer.

Reason — The Kaaba at Mecca is one of the most sacred places for the Muslims. The Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, requires Muslims to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime, making it the central point of pilgrimage and prayer.

By promoting social equality and belief in one God

Reason — Muhammad preached a monotheistic message, which antagonised the orthodox people. He aimed at bringing about a sense of brotherhood and a bond of faith among his followers, forbade idol worship, and stressed the importance of good and kind behaviour.

Mosque

Reason — A mosque is a centre of religious and community life for the Muslims. The Prophet's mosque in Medina is one of the most important places of worship for Muslims.

It is the Kaaba in Mecca, housing the Black Stone, the focal point of Islamic prayer and Hajj.

Reason — The image shows the Kaaba in Mecca, one of the most sacred places for Muslims. It is the focal point of Islamic prayer and the destination of the Hajj pilgrimage. Muslims around the world face the Kaaba while offering their prayers.

Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation — After the death of Prophet Muhammad, the Arab armies under the Caliphs went far and wide to spread the message of Islam. The Arab empire stretched over Iran, Syria, Central Asia, North Africa and even Spain. The message of brotherhood, equality and belief in one God attracted many people from different regions, which led to the rapid spread of Islam.

Only A is true, and R is false.

Explanation — The early Islamic empire indeed made significant progress in science, medicine and mathematics. Al-Khwarizmi introduced the Hindu-Arabic numerals and the concepts of algebra, great advances were made in astronomy and geometry, and scholars like Ibn Sina and Muhammad al-Razi made remarkable contributions. However, the Islamic rulers, especially the Abbasids, actually encouraged education and learning, leading to great intellectual and cultural achievements.

1. Kaaba — The Kaaba at Mecca is one of the most sacred places for the Muslims. It is the focal point of Islamic prayer and the destination of the Hajj pilgrimage.
2. Mosque — A mosque is a centre of religious and community life for the Muslims. The Prophet's mosque in Medina is one of the most important mosques in Islam.
3. Caliphate — The Caliphate refers to the rule of a Muslim leader known as the Caliph. The Caliphs were the successors of Prophet Muhammad and exercised power on behalf of the Prophet.
4. Ramadan — Ramadan is the holy month of Islam during which Muslims observe fasting. Fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam. Fasting begins at dawn and ends at sunset. Eid is celebrated at the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

The correct options are:

1. With the exception of Yemen in the south-west, no part of the Arabian peninsula had any government at any time.
2. The Arabs derived security not from a State but from their descent groups.

Since there was an absence of any political organisation across most of the Arabian peninsula, the Arabs were organised in tribes and derived security from their descent groups rather than from a State. The third option is incorrect because the land was mostly arid and only suitable for nomadic pastoralism, not sedentary agriculture.

Yes, the Five Pillars of Islam continue to be highly relevant among the followers of the religion today. They form the core of Islamic practice and remain mandatory duties for all practising Muslims. Muslims around the world continue to:

1. Profess their faith in one God, Allah, and accept Muhammad as His messenger.
2. Perform the five daily prayers (namaz or salaah) at set times of the day.
3. Give Zakat, a portion of their wealth as alms, to the poor and needy each year.
4. Observe fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, from dawn to sunset.
5. Undertake the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime, if they can.

These pillars continue to unite Muslims worldwide and reinforce values of devotion, charity, self-discipline and community.

The Arabic word 'Islam' literally means 'surrender' or 'submission to the will of Allah'. It illuminates the fundamental religious idea of Islam — absolute submission to one God, Allah.

The believers of Islam are known as Muslims. The word 'Muslim' means 'one who has submitted'.

Prophet Muhammad was born in c. 570 CE in Mecca. He was orphaned at an early age and was brought up by his uncle, who was a merchant. He accompanied his uncle on trading ventures in caravans. Subsequently, Muhammad spent his time in prayer and meditation. At the age of 40, he is said to have been visited by angel Gabriel, who revealed the divine message and urged him to preach it to the people.

The Five Pillars of Islam are:

1. Faith — The basic statement of Islamic faith is that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.
2. Prayer — Muslims are required to perform five daily prayers, also called namaz or salaah, at five set times of the day.
3. Zakat — Muslims are required to annually give a portion of their wealth as alms to the poor and the needy.
4. Fasting — Muslims are required to fast during the holy month of Ramadan, from dawn to sunset.
5. Hajj — Muslims are prescribed to undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

After the immediate successors of Prophet Muhammad (the first four Caliphs), the Umayyad dynasty took over the Caliphate Empire in 661 CE. Their capital was Damascus.

a. Yes, this is the Kaaba.

b. The Kaaba is located in the city of Mecca, in present-day Saudi Arabia.

c. The Kaaba is one of the most sacred places for the Muslims. It is the central point of pilgrimage and prayer for Muslims around the world. The Hajj, which is the fifth pillar of Islam, requires Muslims to undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. Muslims around the world also face the Kaaba while offering their daily prayers.

a. Three features of Islamic architecture are:

1. The introduction of the minaret — a tall tower, traditionally part of a mosque.
2. The use of the dome — a roof shaped like the top half of a ball.
3. The decoration of architectural structures with mosaics and calligraphy, which added beauty and intricacy to the buildings such as palaces, mosques, tombs and learning centres.

b. Mosaics were patterns made by putting together little pieces of stone and tiles. Calligraphy was the art of beautiful writing done using special pens and brushes. Both mosaics and calligraphy were used extensively to decorate Islamic architectural structures.

a. The year 622 CE marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. This is the year in which Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina, an event known as the Hijrat.

b. The first mosque built by the Prophet in Medina is known as the Prophet's Mosque (Masjid an-Nabawi). It became another important sacred place for Muslims, along with the Kaaba at Mecca.

c. The migration to Medina was highly significant in the spread of Islam. In Medina, Prophet Muhammad was welcomed by his followers, where his teachings were increasingly accepted, and many people converted to Islam. The Prophet established a community based on equality, brotherhood and faith. This laid a strong foundation for Islam, which gradually spread throughout Arabia and later to different parts of the world.