5 Pillars
What is the Kalimah Shahādah in Arabic and English?
Ashhadu an lā ilāha illā Allāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh.
I bear witness that there is no God worthy of worship except Allāh. He is one. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muḥammad ﷺ is His Servant and His Messenger.
Before Studying (BOTH)
Rabbi Zidnī ‘Ilmā
My Lord, increase me in knowledge.
Rabbish Raḥlī Ṣadrī Wa Yassir Lī Amrī Wahlul ‘Uqdatam-Millisānī Yafqahū Qawlī
My Lord, expand for me my chest [with assurance], and ease for me my task, and untie the knot from my tongue, that they may understand my speech.
Who should give Salām first?
The younger person should greet the older person, the riding person should greet the walking person, the walking person should greet the seated person, and the smaller group should greet the bigger group.
Name all 5 mandatory prayers in order, including the final night prayer and Friday prayer.
Fajr Ẓuhr ‘Aṣr Maghrib ‘Ishā' Witr Jumu‘ah
What are the steps of making wuḍū'?
Say the du‘ā' and intend to get clean. Wash hands to the wrists three times. Rinse mouth three times. Sniff water into the nose three times. Wash face three times. Wash right arm, then left arm, up to the elbow three times. Wipe wet hands over the head once. Wipe ears inside and out once. Wipe the nape/back sides of the neck once. Wash right foot, then left foot, up to the ankle three times.
What is Ṣiyām or Ṣaum? When is it?
Ṣiyām or Ṣaum is fasting in the month of Ramaḍān, the 9th month of the Islāmic (Hijrī) calendar.
Bathroom (Before & After)
Allāhumma Innī A‘ūẕubika Minal-Khubthi Wal-Khabā'ith
O Allāh, I seek refuge in You from the male and female devils.
Ghufrānak
I seek Your forgiveness. (Short version)
What is the entire Salām and its reply with meaning, and how many rewards are there?
As-Salāmu ʿAlaykum Wa Raḥmatullāhi Wa Barakātuh
Peace be upon you, and the Mercy of Allāh and His Blessings.
Wa 'Alaykumu-s-Salāmu Wa Raḥmatullāhi Wa Barakātuh
And peace be upon you, and the Mercy of Allāh and His Blessings.
There are 30 rewards total, 10 for each part, and the one who gives Salām first is closer to Allāh.List at least 5 things that need to be done before starting to pray.
Area of prayer must be clean, clothes must be clean, body must be clean, wuḍū', niyyat (intentions), wear clothes that cover the ‘awrah/satr (private areas), face the qiblah, ghusl for those who are old enough and need one.
Why did Shayṭān become who he is today, and what does Shayṭān do to the humans?
When Allāh commanded all of the angels to do sajdah to the first human He created, Ādam عليه السلام, Shayṭān said that he would not because he is made of fire while the human was made of clay. He was arrogant. In Arabic, we call this kibr or takabbur. To think that you are better is a trait of Shayṭān. He tries to misguide Allāh's best creation until the Last Day.
What is Zakāt, how much is it, and who has to give it?
Zakāt is a mandatory charity of a Muslim's entire year of savings. It is 2.5% of one's savings. One who is bāligh (Islāmically considered an adult) and has the minimum savings requirement by the end of the year must pay Zakāt.
Before Wuḍū'
Bismillāhi Walḥamdulillāh
In the name of Allāh, and all praises due to Allāh.
Using the Bathroom
- Say the du‘ā' before entering and enter with the left foot
- Always sit or squat as much as possible but never stand
- Do not use urinals or relieve yourself in public unless you can be covered entirely
- Clean using your left hand with tissue and then water, but never just tissue or nothing at all
- Keep your body, clothes, and the bathroom clean
Where do we place our hands in every part of Ṣalāh?
1) Both hands raised facing the Qiblah next to the earlobes when starting Ṣalāh, 2) Right pinky and thumb around the left wrist with the 3 middle fingers on top of the wrist, kept under the belly button (navel)., 3) Hands on the knees in Rukū’, 4) Hands on the side after Rukū’, 5) Hands next to ears in Sajdah, 6) Hands on the lap before the knee when sitting.
What breaks one's Ṣalāh?
Bleeding that flows, the passing of wind/stool/urine from the private areas, vomiting full mouth, eating/drinking/talking, making excessive unnecessary movements or sounds, turning the chest away from the qiblah, clothes reveal the private areas, laughing (which also breaks the wuḍū').
Name the 4 famous books and the prophets they were revealed to.
Taurāh (Torah) to Mūsā (Moses) عليه السلام
Zaboor (Psalms) to Dāwūd (David) عليه السلام
Injīl (Gospel) to ‘Īsā (Jesus) عليه السلام
Qur'ān (Koran) to Muḥammad (Mohammed) صلى الله عليه وسلم
Bismillāhi Wa ‘Alā Barakatillāh
In the name of Allāh, and upon the blessings of Allāh.
Alḥamdulillāh
All praises due to Allāh. (Short version)The 3 Sunnah styles of sitting when eating or drinking
(Explain and demonstrate)
1) Squat
2) One leg raised
3) Tashahud
What do we have to recite in the 1st rak‘at of every prayer, and what would we recite in other rak‘ats of the different prayers?
1) Thanā', Ta‘awwudh, Tasmiyah/Basmalah, Sūrah al-Fātiḥah, and another Sūrah or at least 3 small āyāt or 1 very big āyat.
2) In Sunnah and Nafl prayers, we recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and another Sūrah (or the other options) in every rak‘at, but in the 5 daily farḍ prayers, we do Sūrah al-Fātiḥah with nothing after for the 3rd and/or 4th rak‘ats.
Why is Islām the correct message but not other religions?
Islām shows us that the universe is so perfectly ordered because one powerful God created it, rather than many different forces working against each other. Over time, God sent many famous messengers—like Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus—to teach people how to be good and worship Him alone. Some bad people, with the whispers of Shayṭān, changed those teachings to fit their personal desires. Islām is the final, complete version of that same message. God sent the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ (peace be upon him) with the Holy Qur'ān to bring all these beautiful teachings together into one final guide for the whole world.The Qur'ān is incredibly special because it has never changed. Every single letter is exactly the same today as it was over 1,400 years ago! It is filled with amazing facts about nature and science that people back then could never have known on their own. People only say bad things about the religion because they do not know about it, or people lied about it on the news, or because they do not want to follow good rules and want to follow the steps of Shayṭān.
Name the 4 famous angels and the responsibilities they carry (carried).
Jibrīl عليه السلام brought down messages from Allāh to the Messengers, even if they were not an entire book.
Mikā'īl عليه السلام is in charge of rain and food.
Isrāfīl عليه السلام is in charge of blowing the trumpet (soor) twice.
‘Izrā'īl عليه السلام is in charge of death.
After Aẕān
Allāhumma Rabba hāẕihid-da‘watittaammah, waṣ-Ṣalātil-qā'imah, āti Muḥammadanil-wasīlata wal-faḍīlah, wab‘athhu maqāmam-maḥmudanil-laẕī wa‘adtah. Innaka laa tukhliful mī‘ād
O Allāh, Lord of this perfect call and the established prayer, grant Muḥammad ﷺ the intercession and favor, and resurrect him to the praised station which You have promised him.
In the Qur'ān, what specific word does Allāh use to forbid even the smallest expression of annoyance toward our parents?
“Uff”
And your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and that you show the finest treatment to your parents. If one or both of them reach old age with you, do not say to them even a sigh of frustration ('uff'), do not shout at them, but always speak to them with honorable and respectful words. (Sūrah Banī Isrā'īl)
How many rak‘ats do we have to pray everyday?
32 on a normal day, and 34 on Fridays.
What was the Prophet ﷺ sent down to perfect in this world for the people?
Character/Good Manners
I was sent only to perfect good character.