CSS Islamiat Islam and the Contemporary World Syllabus

Islam and the Contemporary World syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Islam and the Contemporary World in CSS Islamiat, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Impact of Islamic Civilization on the West

   3 topics

   • Muslim Contributions to Sciences
   • Transmission of Knowledge to Europe
   • Western Influence on the Muslim World
2. 2

   Role of Islam in the Modern World

   3 topics

   • Relevance of Islamic Teachings Today
   • Islam and Modern Civilization
   • Da'wah and Revival
3. 3

   Muslim World and Contemporary Challenges

   3 topics

   • Political and Economic Challenges
   • Educational and Scientific Backwardness
   • Islamophobia and Identity
4. 4

   Rise of Extremism

   3 topics

   • Causes of Extremism
   • Islamic Concept of Moderation (Wasatiyyah)
   • Strategies to Counter Extremism

Islam and the Contemporary World flashcards for CSS Islamiat

22 of 50 cards from the Islam and the Contemporary World deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Name three major Muslim scientists and the fields they are most associated with.

   Al-Khwarizmi (algebra/algorithms), Ibn al-Haytham/Alhazen (optics), and Ibn Sina/Avicenna (medicine).

2. What landmark medical encyclopedia did Ibn Sina (Avicenna) write, and why was it significant?

   'Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb' (The Canon of Medicine); it was the standard medical textbook in European universities for roughly 600 years.

3. Which Muslim scholar is called the 'father of algebra,' and what term derives from his name?

   Al-Khwarizmi; the word 'algorithm' derives from his Latinized name, and 'algebra' from his book title 'al-Jabr.'

4. What was Ibn al-Haytham's (Alhazen) key contribution to science?

   His 'Kitab al-Manazir' (Book of Optics) established the modern theory of vision and pioneered the experimental scientific method.

5. Which Muslim physician first clinically distinguished smallpox from measles, and in what work?

   Al-Razi (Rhazes), in his treatise 'Kitab al-Jadari wal-Hasba.'

6. Name the Muslim scholar regarded as the founder of sociology and the philosophy of history.

   Ibn Khaldun, through his 'Muqaddimah' (Prolegomena).

7. Which Muslim geographer produced a famous world map and the 'Tabula Rogeriana' in the 12th century?

   Al-Idrisi, who created the map for King Roger II of Sicily.

8. What contributions did Jabir ibn Hayyan make, and what is he called in the West?

   He laid foundations of experimental chemistry; he is known in the West as 'Geber,' the 'father of chemistry.'

9. Through which three main routes did Muslim/Greek knowledge transmit to medieval Europe?

   Islamic Spain (Andalusia, especially Toledo), Sicily, and the Crusades trade contacts.

10. What was the role of the 'Toledo School of Translators' in transmitting knowledge to Europe?

    It translated Arabic scientific, philosophical, and medical works into Latin, fueling Europe's intellectual revival.

11. How did Muslim scholars preserve Greek philosophy for later European use?

    They translated, preserved, and built upon works of Aristotle, Plato, and Galen (e.g., during the Abbasid 'Bayt al-Hikmah'), later passed to Europe via Latin translations.

12. What was the 'Bayt al-Hikmah' (House of Wisdom) and where was it located?

    A major translation and research center in Baghdad under the Abbasids that translated and produced scientific and philosophical works.

13. Which Muslim philosopher (Averroes) profoundly influenced European scholasticism, and how?

    Ibn Rushd (Averroes); his commentaries on Aristotle shaped medieval European thought and gave rise to 'Averroism.'

14. What numeral system did Muslims transmit to Europe, and why was it transformative?

    The Hindu-Arabic numeral system including zero (sifr), which revolutionized mathematics, commerce, and accounting in Europe.

15. Define 'Western influence on the Muslim world' as discussed in Islamiat.

    The political, economic, cultural, and intellectual impact of European colonialism and modernity on Muslim societies, including secularism, materialism, and erosion of Islamic values.

16. List three negative impacts of Western influence frequently cited in Islamiat.

    Secularization and weakening of religious identity, cultural imitation/materialism, and political-economic dependency on the West.

17. List two positive aspects of Western influence acknowledged in the Muslim world.

    Modern education, science, and technology; and improvements in administrative, legal, and institutional structures.

18. What is meant by the 'intellectual colonization' of Muslim minds?

    The internalization of Western frameworks and a sense of inferiority that leads Muslims to devalue their own intellectual and religious heritage.

19. How does Islam remain relevant to contemporary life according to Islamiat?

    As a complete code of life (Deen) providing eternal guidance on spiritual, social, economic, and political matters through the Qur'an and Sunnah, adaptable via Ijtihad.

20. What is 'Ijtihad' and why is it important for the relevance of Islam today?

    Independent reasoning by qualified scholars to derive rulings on new issues; it keeps Islamic law dynamic and applicable to modern circumstances.

21. How does Islam reconcile with modern civilization regarding science and reason?

    Islam encourages the pursuit of knowledge and reflection ('tafakkur'); there is no inherent conflict between faith and reason or science.

22. Name three Islamic teachings directly relevant to solving modern social problems.

    Zakat (poverty alleviation), prohibition of riba/interest (economic justice), and emphasis on justice ('adl) and consultation (shura).

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