Muhammad

Question 1

Who is Muhammad?

Answer 1

The last prophet of Allah.

Question 2

Why is his life an example to Muslims?

Answer 2

Because he demonstrated how to obey Allah.

Question 3

What did Muhammad gain a reputation for whilst growing up?

Answer 3

A reputation for justice and honesty.

Question 4

What names did he gain?

Answer 4

• al-Amin - ‘the trustworthy’

- As-Sadiq - ‘the truthful’

Question 5

Why is he known as the ‘seal of the prophets’?

Answer 5

Because he provided the final revelation of Allah to his people in the form of the Qur’an.

Question 6

What do Shi’a Muslims believe?

Answer 6

They know Muhammad as the ‘seal of the prophets’ to whom the Qur’an was revealed, but also believe in the 12 Imams and that Allah has communicated some new messages to them. For Shias, Muhammad was not necessarily the final human messenger, the 12 Imams were also divinely appointed.

Question 7

What happened on the Night of Power?

Answer 7

An angel appeared to Muhammad during a time of meditation in a cave outside Mecca.

Question 8

What did the angel say and do?

Answer 8

The angel commanded Muhammad to read, but he replied ‘I am not a reader’. The angel squeezed him so tightly he thought he would die.

Question 9

What happened after the angel released him?

Answer 9

The angel commanded Muhammad to read again. This happened 3 times.

Question 10

What happened after the third time?

Answer 10

Muhammad recited the verses as though they had been written on his heart. These were the first revealed verses of the Quran.

Question 11

What did the angel, Jibra’il, do after?

Answer 11

On flying away from Muhammad, declared him as the messenger of Allah.

Question 12

When is the Night of Power (Laylat ul-Qadr) believed to have happened?

Answer 12

During the last of the ten nights of Ramadan. Still commemorated today during Ramadan.

Question 13

Why is the Night of Power important to Muslims?

Answer 13

Since it is the start of Allah’s final revelation. During this time many Muslims devote themselves to prayer and the reading of the Quran.

Question 14

What happened during the Night Journey (Lailat ul-Miraj)?

Answer 14

An angel woke him and took him to Jerusalem on a winged horse named al-Buraq. His heart was taken out and purified from doubt, idolatry and error and was filled with faith and wisdom.

Question 15

What did he ascend through during the Night Journey?

Answer 15

The seven heavens and was shown both paradise and hell.

Question 16

Who did he meet and speak to during the Night Journey?

Answer 16

Previous prophets including Musa, Ibrahim and Isa.

Question 17

What did he talk to Musa and Muhammad about during the Night Journey?

Answer 17

Musa and Muhammad talked about how many time a day a Muslim should pray - agreeing on five (which is why they continue to pray 5 times a day).

Question 18

What was the last part of his journey?

Answer 18

Muhammad entered into the presence of Allah at his throne. Muhammad was aware of peace, light and the blessings of Allah. He was then returned to Mecca but no time had passed.

Question 19

What do some Muslims believe about the Night of Journey?

Answer 19

That it was not an actual journey but a spiritual experience.

Question 20

What do Sufi Muslims say?

Answer 20

This is an experience all Muslims can share in as they draw spiritually close to Allah.

Question 21

What happened after Muhammad began to preach the words of Allah?

Answer 21

His followers grew in numbers, but so did the opposition to him.

Question 22

What happened in 622CE?

Answer 22

After a serious plot to assassinate him, Muhammad left Mecca and travelled to the city of Yathrib.

Question 23

What is this journey to Yathrib known as?

Answer 23

Hijrah, meaning emigration.

Question 24

Who was meeting him here?

Answer 24

Many Muslim families that Muhammad had already sent ahead. The community at Yathrib became the first to be run according to Islamic principles.

Question 25

What did this migration become?

Answer 25

It became the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Islamic calendars are dated from AH - meaning ‘in the year of the Hijrah’.

Question 26

What was Yathrib renamed?

Answer 26

Medinah, meaning ‘City of the Prophet’.

Question 27

What did Muhammad do which made Islam more organised?

Answer 27

He gave instructions on prayer, fasting, charity and pilgrimage.

Question 28

What did Muhammad rule and view?

Answer 28

He ruled the community of Yathrib. He viewed Allah as the only ‘king’ so he lived a simple life and taught self discipline and obedience to Allah.

Question 29

What happened between 624-630CE?

Answer 29

There was a series of battles between the people of Mecca and the Muslims of Medinah.

Question 30

Who won the battles?

Answer 30

The Muslims of Medinah won over the people of Mecca. All of the idols of Mecca were destroyed and the city was reclaimed as the Muslim holy city.

Question 31

What did Muhammad do at the Mount of Mercy?

Answer 31

Spoke to a crowd of more than 140000 Muslims. This became known as his farewell speech. He gave them guidance and reminded them to live in peace, respect each other’s rights and remain true to the Quran.

Question 32

What did he do at the end of his speech?

Answer 32

He asked the crowd whether he has fulfilled his mission. They responded ‘You have fulfilled it, O messenger of Allah’.

Question 33

Key quote: Surah 33:21

Answer 33

‘You have in the Prophet of Allah an excellent model’.

Question 34

Key quote: Surah 61:9

Answer 34

‘It is He who has sent His messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that he may uplift it above every religion, though the unbelievers be averse.’

Question 35

Key quote: Surah 3:144

Answer 35

‘Muhammad is not but a messenger, (Other) messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your hells (to unbelief)? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allah at all; but Allah will reward the grateful.’