Introduction to Islam: Entry-Level Exam

 

Part I. Multiple Choice Questions                                      Name: _______________________

 

1) The word “Islam” means

  1. surrender to God.
  2. recitations.
  3. sons of Allah.
  4. those who follow Muhammad.

 

2) Islam is best described as a religion of

  1. rebirth.
  2. reincarnation.
  3. monotheism.
  4. polytheism.

 

3) Shahadah means giving testimony/witness that

  1. Muhammad is the Way, the Light, and the Truth.
  2. there is no god but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God.
  3. Abraham built the Ka’bah.
  4. God is one and just.

 

4) Through the angel Gabriel, Muhammad received God’s message. This message, the sacred book of the Islamic faith, is called the

  1. Hadith
  2. Sunna
  3. Qur’an
  4. Shari’ah

 

5) When Muhammad was ____­­­­­­­______ years old, he began receiving revelations from God.

  1. 30
  2. 60
  3. 25
  4. 40

 

6) Muslims calculate time from the migration of Muslims to Medina, called the hijrah, which took place in ________________ CE.

  1. 587
  2. 266
  3. 622
  4. 612

 

7) The Qiblah, or direction of prayer, was changed from ______________ to _____________ during Muhammad’s lifetime.

  1. Mecca, Medina
  2. Medina, Mecca
  3. Jerusalem, Mecca
  4. Mecca, Jerusalem

 

8) The Qur’an acknowledges prophets from Judaism and Christianity including

  1. Jesus
  2. Abraham
  3. Adam
  4. All of the above.

 

9) Commonly called the “Tradition of the Prophet,” the _________________ is a body of material giving examples of the Prophet’s behavior in various situations, and is used as a guide for the Ummah.

  1. Sunnah
  2. Hijrah
  3. Hajj
  4. Shafi’i

 

10) The Mu’tazilites argued that _________________________.

  1. the Qur’an was created and not eternal
  2. the Qur’an was eternal and uncreated
  3. the Qur’an alone should be the basis of the Shari’ah
  4. the Qur’an was to be used cautiously

 

11) Islamic law, based on the Qur’an and the Hadith, is called the _________________ .

  1. Shahadah
  2. Avesta
  3. Sharia’ah
  4. Amistad

 

12) The largest group within Islam is the ______________, making up about 80 percent of all Muslims.

  1. Sufi
  2. Sunni
  3. Imams
  4. Shi’a

 

13) Shi’ites seek leadership from

  1. Sufis.
  2. Caliphs.
  3. Imams.
  4. All of the above.

 

14) The mystic tradition within Islam is called

  1. Shi’a.
  2. Sufism.
  3. Sunni.
  4. Fana.

 

15) The Melevi Dervish Order in Turkey, famous for its ecstatic dancing, was founded by the poet

  1. Jalal al-Din Rumi.
  2. Abu Yazid al-Bistami.
  3. Junayd.
  4. Rabi’a.

 

16) The Five Pillars of Islam consists of the profession of belief in God and messengership of Muhammad, prayer five times a day, almsgiving, fasting, and

  1. submission to God.
  2. memorization of portions of the Qur’an.
  3. pilgrimage to Mecca.
  4. mosque sacrifice.

 

17) The period during which Muslims fast is the month of ___________________ .

  1. Ramayana
  2. Sunnah
  3. Ramadan
  4. Rosh Hashanah

 

18) This site, believed to have been established by Abraham and Ishmael, is circumambulated during visits to Mecca.

  1. Qiblah
  2. Ka’bah
  3. Sura
  4. Dome of the Rock

 

19)  _________________ refers to struggles or conflicts that Muslims face, sometimes spiritual, and sometimes military.

  1. Jihad
  2. Ijtihad
  3. Ijma’
  4. Sunnah

 

20) Jews and Christians are referred to as _______________, in distinction from other non-Muslims.

  1. unbelievers
  2. People of the Book
  3. kafir
  4. fellow Monotheists

 

 

Part II. Match the expressions with the correct explanations

 

 

 

Caliph

A.  Texts containing traditional reports of Muhammad’s words and example, taken by Muslims as a foundation for conduct and doctrine.

 

 

Hadith

 

 

B.  The holiday that celebrates breaking the month-long daylight fast at the end of Ramadan.

 

 

 

Halal

 

 

C.  Ritually acceptable, in the context particularly of the slaughter of animals for meat.

 

 

Surah

 

 

D.  Successor to the Prophet Muhammad.

 

 

‘Id al-Fitr

 

 

E.  ‘Remembering’ God’s name. In group devotional exercises, Sufis repeat it in rhythmic chant.

 

 

Dhikr

 

 

F.  A chapter of the Qur’an.

 

 

Part III. Essay Question

 

Based on your current knowledge and understanding of Islam write a brief essay in response to the following question.

 

What is Islam? When answering this question develop a definition of Islam and explain why your definition says something important about Islam.

 

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