Topic 1: Water
Why does Professor Shaolei Ren question Sam Altman’s estimate of water usage?
There is not enough information to trust the number and it may refer to tiny models
Which tarīqah led a revolt against Turco-Egyptian rule?
The Mahdiyyah
Briefly describe how governments can make the private rental market more affordable while balancing landlord and tenant rights.
By introducing controls on rent increases and improving transparency and enforcement of rental regulations.
According to the majority opinion, Allah (SWT) praises Masjid Quba in which surah?
Surah Tawbah
This political activist was the founder of Turning Point USA, hosted his own podcast, and was a key ally of Donald Trump. Name this political activist who was assassinated while speaking at a college campus in September 2025
Charlie Kirk
What proportion of the world’s population experiences severe water scarcity at least part of the year?
Roughly 50%
What 3 major humanitarian impacts has the siege of el-Fasher caused?
Hundreds of casualties, overwhelming hospitals, and blocked food supplies
How are forced evictions defined in international human rights law?
Removal against a person’s will without legal protection
What happened right when Suhayl ibn Amr proposed that defectors from Quraysh must be returned to Makkah?
His son, Abu Jandal, attempted to defect to the Muslims
This Arabic-speaking community, while not Muslim, is known for their high regard for Shuaib (A). Which religious group was involved in clashes with Bedouin tribes in southern Syria?
The Druze
How many people were living in water-stressed countries in 2021, and describe briefly what 2 factors are expected to worsen this situation?
Over 2 billion people, with climate change and population growth expected to exacerbate water stress
According to the WFP, what role has food insecurity played in the crisis?
Over 24 million people face acute food insecurity
Approximately how many people are forcibly evicted worldwide each year?
At least 2 million people
In Surah Fath, Allah describes the Treaty of Hudaybiyya as a victory and promises a large victory afterwards. According to Yasir Qadhi, what was the fulfillment of this promise?
Victory at Khaybar
The arrest of this Turkish presidential candidate, while far from unprecedented, as the current president had experienced the same, was met with nationwide protests. Name the mayor of Istanbul whose arrest sparked widespread protests in Turkey.
Ekrem Imamoglu
Why does microbial contamination pose the greatest risk to drinking-water safety?
Because faecal contamination can transmit serious infectious diseases through drinking-water
What proportion of Sudanese refugees fled west to Chad?
Roughly 21%
In which two international instruments/forums was adequate housing first formally recognized?
The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Which sahabi angrily questioned the Prophet (SAW) after the Treaty of Hudaybiyya was signed?
Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA)
This Texas-based aerospace company had its IPO on NASDAQ in 2025, though it also achieved an impressive milestone earlier in the year. Name this commercial company that became the first to land on the moon without technical issues.
Firefly Aerospace
Briefly describe how the liquid cooling process used in AI data centers works.
Coolant is piped over processing chips to absorb heat, water is used to cool the coolant through heat exchange and cooling towers, and some water evaporates while the rest is recirculated.
What warning did the World Food Program issue about Sudan’s hunger crisis if fighting continues?
Sudan risks becoming the world’s largest hunger crisis in recent history
What are the four pillars of the Framework for the Future of Real Estate?
Liveability, sustainability, resilience, and affordability
What is linguistically special about the last verse of Surah Fath?
It contains every letter of the Arabic alphabet
This astronaut was the only one to visit travel to the Moon more than once without stepping on the Moon at all. Name this astronaut who died in 2025 that commanded Apollo 13, the mission that was the infamous origin of the misquote "Houston, we have a problem."
Jim Lovell