Virtues
This chapter in the Quran, named after women, emphasizes the importance of treating women justly and kindly.
Surah Nisa
This Muslim mathematician, known as the 'Father of Algebra,' wrote a book in the 9th century that laid the foundations for modern algebra. His name is also the origin of the word 'algorithm. His texts were translated into Latin in the 12th century, influencing European mathematics
What is his name?
Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi
His book is titled Al-Kitab al-Mukhtasar fi Hisab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala
During the noon prayer, Surah Baqarah ayat 144 was revealed, calling on Muslims to change the direction of the Qibla to the Masjid-ul-Haram in Mecca (The Kaaba). It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad's congregation rotated 160 degrees during prayer to turn and face the new Qibla.
What is the city in which the old Qibla was located? (or) What was the site of the old Qibla?
Jerusalem
Masjid-al-Aqsa
In the Qur’an there is a mention of a Prophet who has been called by his mother’s name. Who was he?
Isa Ibn-Maryam
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam.
For what reasons do we fast in Islam? List 3.
Obedience to Divine Command, Spiritual Purification, Developing Self-Discipline, Empathy and Solidarity with the Less Fortunate, Humility, Cultivating Gratitude and Reflection, and Strengthening Community Bonds.
or WTTE.
In the 10th century, Muslim Physicist Ibn-Sina was hard at work in Baghdad trying to determine how vision works. To do this, he invented what we know today as the 'Scientific Method'. Using experiments he discovered that, to see something, light must bounce off of an object into your eyes.
What theory did he discover?
The Theory of Vision (or) The Theory of Optics
This major city, once the capital of the Byzantine Empire, was foretold by the Prophet Muhammad to be conquered by Muslims in a hadith, saying, 'Verily you shall conquer Constantinople. What a wonderful leader will her leader be, and what a wonderful army will that army be!' This prophecy was fulfilled in 1453 by the Commander of the Ottoman Army, Sultan Mehmet II.
What is the name of this city today, and which country is it in?
Istanbul, Turkiye
This prophecy was fulfilled by Mehmet II when he was only 21. For this, he was given the title "Fateh" (Conqueror)
What is the Quranic term for the concept of striving or struggling in the way of God?
Jihad
One of the core teachings of Islam is compassion for one another, and communal harmony.
As Muslims what are we encouraged to do for our neighbours? (There's a lot of things, so list at least 3)
Share meals with our neighbours, help them in their time of need, ensure the safety of neighbours and live in harmony with them, not bother or harass them in any way, must visit and take care of your neighbor when he is ill and also attends the funeral of your neighbor when he dies. Congratulate your neighbor if he met with good fortune and also grieve in sympathy if a calamity befalls him
(Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari)
A lot of artifacts in modern-day Science and Math start with Arabic prefixes ('Al', 'Ar', 'Az', etc), such as 'Algorithm', 'Azimuth', and 'Arithmetic'.
Name 3 such artifacts not already listed here.
Algebra (Al-Jabr), Alchemy (Al-Kimiya), Almanac (Al-Manakh), Alcohol (Al-Kohl), Alkaline (Al-Qaliy), Azimuth (As-Sumut), Cipher (Sifr) or any correct answer.
The Sasanian empire was one of the mightiest empires at the time of the Prophet (SAWS). The Prophet (SAWS) wrote a letter to the Emperor of Persia, Khosrow II, calling on him to accept Islam and abandon the native Persian religion of Zoroastrianism.
How did the Persian Emperor react to the Prophet's letter?
Hint: Today, Persia is known as Iran (a 99.4% Muslim country)
He was enraged at the letter and tore it up.
The Persian empire collapsed a few years later, being conquered by subsequent Muslim empires.
What are the three questions asked in the grave?
1- Who is your Lord? 2- What is your religion? 3- Who is this man who was sent among you?
Racism is a very big issue in today's world, and has been a problem for centuries. Racism is explicitly prohibited in Islam.
In the Prophet (SAWS) final sermon, he preached about eliminating racism. What did he say on this topic?
All mankind is descended from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab. And a non-Arab has no superiority over an Arab. A white person has no superiority over a black person, nor a black person has any superiority over a white person, except by piety and good action
Today, the number system we use has the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. When Europeans took the original texts describing this number system, they were in shock over how advanced it was.
What is the original name of this number system? (or) Whose texts did they take to Europe?
The Arabic Number System (or the Western Arabic Numeral System)
The Muslims (Specifically, Al-Khawarizmi)
This ethnic group, formerly Shamanists/Tengrists, conquered the second largest empire in the world. Except for the Yuan dynasty which now spans China and Mongolia, the entirety of their empire converted to Islam and is responsible for spreading Islam to far-flung areas such as Siberia, Western China, Central Asia, and Russia. Their descendants would go on to found the famed Mughal empire in South Asia.
What ethnic group is this? (or) What empire is this?
Mongolians, rulers of the Mongol empire.
In the 14th century, three of the four major Mongolian Khanates converted to Islam after being impressed by Muslim culture and in awe of Muslim values. Today, their Mongolic descendants still practice Islam in Western Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Far-eastern Russia.
On which mountain did the Prophet Musa (AS) talk to God? (or) What land is this mountain located in?
Mount Sinai
Now part of Sinai Region, Egypt
Highly valued in Islam, this virtue involves the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. It's considered a way to come closer to God, with the Prophet Muhammad stating that seeking it is an obligation for every Muslim, man and woman.
Ilm or Pursuit of knowledge
Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.
Muslims have made immeasurable contributions to Medicine.
In the 10th century, this brilliant Muslim scholar wrote about the circulation of blood, a concept that would only be fully understood in Europe with the work of William Harvey over 600 years later. He was the Chief Surgeon at the Al-Naseri Hospital of Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi (Saladin)
Ibn al-Nafis (ابن النفيس)
an Arab polymath whose areas of work included medicine, surgery, physiology, anatomy, biology, Islamic studies, jurisprudence, and philosophy. He is known for being the first to describe the pulmonary circulation of the blood
The Southeast Asian Island regions of Malaysia and Indonesia are home to the largest Muslim population on earth. However, they are completely detached/far away from Arabia and the rest of the Muslim world, and were never conquested by any Muslim empires.
How did Islam reach this region?
The Malay archipelago was an important trade route at the time (and still is). In the 7th century, Muslim traders and Sufi Missionaries established trade with the people of the Malay region. The sophistication, knowledge, and advancement of the Muslims, as well as their ethical practices and just values made Islam very attractive to the native Malays, leading to widespread conversions to Islam.
This prophet, known in the Quran as the 'Friend of God' (Khalilullah), is a central figure in Islam, Judaism, and Christianity and is renowned for his unwavering faith in God.
Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)