2. ISLAM AND PROPHET MUHAMMAD (S.A.W.)

Question 1

What is the center of Islam, just as Christ is the center of Christianity?

Answer 1

The Holy Qur’an

Question 2

In what language is the Qur’an written, and why is this significant?

Answer 2

The Qur’an is written in Arabic, and Muslims believe that the only real reading of the Qur’an must be in Arabic as it was sent down in that language.

Question 3

Why can’t the Qur’an be adequately translated?

Answer 3

Any translation changes its Arabic form, so it can never fully capture the Qur’an’s essence; translations are considered approximations.

Question 4

The Holy Qur’an was revealed gradually, how many years?

Answer 4

over a period of 21 years

Question 5

A part of the Qur’an was revealed in (1)__ and in (2)__. (Places)

Answer 5

1) Mecca
2) Medina

Question 6

When the Prophet recited the surah, where did his followers write? (name 4 materials)

Answer 6

1) Pieces of leather
2) Animal bones (shoulder blades and ribs)
3) Palm leaves
4) Likaf (flat white stones).

Question 7

The Prophet died in the __ year of Hajira.

Answer 7

11th

Question 8

What do you call those who preserve the surah of the Prophet written on different materials or preserved on the mind?

Answer 8

Qurra

Question 9

When were the extant verses of Qur’an collected and collated into the authoritative text?

Answer 9

During the reign of Caliph Uthman in 653 A.D. (31 A.H.) – Anno Hegirae ‘Year of the Hijrah’

Question 10

How many Surahs and verses does the Qur’an contain?

Answer 10

114 Surahs or chapters and about 6,200 verses.

Question 11

the primary source for all Islamic Law and Dogma. Tradition became a secondary source later on.

Answer 11

The Holy Qur’an

Question 12

What is Muhammad’s role in the Qur’an? What role did Muhammad play in the composition of the Qur’an?

Answer 12

1) Muhammad is a “warner” of the coming Judgment and later revealed legislation for the proper ruling of the community.
2) Muhammad did not compose the Qur’an; he spoke the words dictated to him by God without alteration.

Question 13

How do Christians view the revelation of the Bible?

Answer 13

Christians believe God made biblical writers his instruments while respecting their freedom, mental processes, traditions, culture, languages, and historical contexts, so their message is both God’s word and their own.

Question 14

How do Muslims view the revelation of the Qur’an?

Answer 14

Muslims view the Qur’an’s revelation as dictation. God spoke to Muhammad through Angel Gabriel, and Muhammad repeated it word for word without any involvement in the choice of language or phrasing.

Question 15

How do the styles of writing in the Bible differ from those in the Qur’an?

Answer 15

The Bible contains diverse forms such as stories, proverbs, laws, and poetry, reflecting different authors’ styles
The Qur’an contains only Prophetic utterances, all presented as sermons spoken by God or an Angel to Muhammad.

Question 16

What is the Qur’an considered in terms of its origin and status?

Answer 16

• Word of God
• a copy of the Eternal Tablet in Heaven

Question 17

How do Muslims treat the Qur’an?

Answer 17

greatest reverence, cannot be bought or sold, and is used to bless all occasions in life with quotations from it.

Question 18

How might a Christian statement like “As St. Paul says in Romans…” confuse a Muslim?

Answer 18

It may confuse a Muslim because it suggests human authorship, whereas Muslims believe the Qur’an is the direct and unaltered word of God.

Question 19

Before Muhammad, it was A SOCIETY (a place) based on tradition, innovation was synonymous with heresy, and tradition was highly valued as it ensured survival in the harsh desert environment.

Answer 19

Central Arabia

Question 20

How did the arrival of Islam affect the traditional society of Arabia?

Answer 20

Islam and the Qur’an were seen as major innovations in a society that highly valued tradition.

Question 21

the body of traditions and practices based on the behavior of the Prophet Muhammad, serving as the second major source of Islamic law after the Qur’an.

Answer 21

Sunna

Question 22

What is the Sunna in Islam?

Answer 22

The Sunna is the body of traditions and practices based on the behavior of the Prophet Muhammad, serving as the second major source of Islamic law after the Qur’an.

Question 23

an oral communication or story about something Muhammad did or said, used to support traditions.

Answer 23

Hadith

Question 24

What is a Hadith?

Answer 24

A Hadith is an oral communication or story about something Muhammad did or said, used to support traditions.

Question 25

How did the authenticity of Hadiths become an issue in Islam?

Answer 25

Rival groups began fabricating Hadiths to support their points of view, leading to widespread forgery.

Question 26

Who were the scholars of Tradition (3) that investigated and classified thousands of Hadiths? classified Hadiths as sound, good, weak, or false.

Answer 26

1) Al-Bukhari
2) Muslim
3) An-Nawawi

Question 27

The Scholars of Tradition decreed that each hadith requires an __ (__), a list of trustworthy transmitters or relators of the story about the Prophet.

Answer 27

isnad (chain)

Question 28

What role did tradition play in Arab life before Islam, and how did it change after Muhammad?

Answer 28

Tradition was key to survival before Islam, but after Muhammad, his behavior replaced the ancestral traditions as the new authoritative guide for Muslims.

Question 29

What are the 10 major Islamic festivals and holidays?

Answer 29

1) Amon Jadeed (Islamic New Year)
2) Ashura
3) Maulidan Nabi (Birth of Prophet Muhammad)
4) Israwal Miraj (Night of Ascension)
5) Nisfu Shaban
6) Saum (Fasting during Ramadhan)
7) Nazul al Qur’an (Night of Majesty)
8) Eidl Fitr (Festival of the Breaking of the Fast)
9) Eidl Adha (Festival of Sacrifice)
10) Yaummul Jumma (Day of Assembly)

Question 30

the Islamic New Year celebrated on Muharram 1, commemorating the Prophet’s flight from Mecca to Medina and the start of the Islamic calendar.

Answer 30

Amon Jadeed (New Year)

Question 31

observed on Muharram 10 as a day of thanksgiving for God’s mercies to various prophets and as a day of mourning for the massacre of Imam Hussein and his followers.

Answer 31

Ashura

Question 32

the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad on Rabi-ul Awwal 12, observed with assemblies recounting his life, character, and teachings.

Answer 32

Maulidan Nabi

Question 33

celebrated on Rajab 27, commemorates the Prophet Muhammad’s miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and ascension to paradise. It is observed with prayers, Qur’an recitation, and storytelling.

Answer 33

Israwal Miraj

Question 34

on Shaban 15, commemorates the change in the direction of Muslim prayer from Jerusalem to Mecca.

Answer 34

Nisfu Shaban

Question 35

the fasting during the month of Ramadhan, a sacred month when Muslims fast during daylight hours, marking significant events in Islamic history, including the revelation of the Qur’an.

Answer 35

Saum

Question 36

observed on the 17th of Ramadhan and marks the revelation of the Holy Qur’an.

Answer 36

Nazul al Qur’an (Night of Majesty)

Question 37

on Shawwal 1, celebrated with feasting, special prayers, and giving gifts to the poor, marking the end of Ramadhan.

Answer 37

Eidl Fitr (Festival of the Breaking of the Fast)

Question 38

celebrated on Zul Hajji 10, marking the end of the pilgrimage, observed with thanksgiving, feasting, and sharing.

Answer 38

Eidl Adha (Festival of Sacrifice)

Question 39

observed every Friday with obligatory congregational prayers.

Answer 39

Yaummul Jumma (Day of Assembly)