ISLAM FOR BEGINNERS BRS 107.pdf - CUEA

successors could not be called prophets but Caliphs. The first was Abu Bakr (632-634):his mission was to consolidate the community dislocated after the death of the prophet.Umar was the second (634-644): his mission was to expand Islam within and outsideArabia. The third was Uthman (644-656): faced with so many tensions, his reign wassimply full of dissatisfaction. Ali was the last (656-661): his reign faced a civil war; this ledthe ground for the numerous sects of Islam such as Sunnism, Shi`ism, Kharigism. Theperiod of the four immediate successors of Muhammad is called: Golden Age (Rashidun).The end of this period marks the beginning of empires. The first was the Umayyad period(661-750). The second was the Abbasid Empire (750-1258). In 1258 or thereabout, theAbbasid empire disintegrated and the Muslim world saw another ruling power: theOttomans. But after the First World War, the Turks were left with only the territory of thepresent Turkey. At the same time the Caliphate was abolished.Study Questions 7Is it true to say that Islam is faith, law,ethics, rite, practice, belief and politics?State your reasons.Who is Allah for the Muslims? Can youconfidently say that he is God, the God ofthe Christians? Comment on yourresponse.Comment on the macro and the microstructure of the Qur’an. Can youconfidently say that the Qur’an is therevealed Word of God? Explain yourresponse.What is the place of Muhammad in Islam?Can you confidently say that Muhammadis a prophet? What is your opinion?What are the differences between thesetwo expressions: (1) Muhammadans (2)Muslims.Frederic N. Mvumbi,OP Page 35 of 85