Seerah
What work did the Prophet ﷺ do when he was young?
He worked as a shepherd, tending sheep.
In Sūrah al-Fātiḥah, which group is cited in tafsīr as an example of “those who have incurred Allah’s anger” because they knew the truth but did not follow it?
Those among the Jews who knew the truth but did not follow it.
Which sūrah does not begin with the basmalah (“Bismillāh ar-Raḥmān ar-Raḥīm”)?
Sūrah at-Tawbah — سورة التوبة.
Why was Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه given his nickname, and what does it mean?
He was nicknamed Abū Hurayrah — أبو هريرة, meaning “father of a little cat,” because he used to care for and carry a small cat.
How old was the Prophet ﷺ when he received the first revelation and became a prophet?
He was 40 years old.
What does “Lā ilāha illā Allāh” (لا إله إلا الله) mean?
There is no god truly worthy of worship except Allah.
How many juzʾ (parts) is the Qur’an divided into?
30 parts
Which companion did Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه choose to collect the Qur’an into one compilation?
Zayd ibn Thābit رضي الله عنه — زيد بن ثابت.
What nickname did the Quraysh give the Prophet ﷺ because of his trustworthiness?
Al-Amīn — الأمين, meaning “the trustworthy one.”
What are the three levels of the religion of Islam?
What is the shortest sūrah in the Qur’an?
Sūrah al-Kawthar — سورة الكوثر.
Which caliph standardized the written copies of the Qur’an and sent them to the provinces?
ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān رضي الله عنه — عثمان بن عفان.
What was the last military expedition (battle) the Prophet ﷺ personally led?
The Expedition of Tabūk — غزوة تبوك. No fighting took place during this expedition.
What is Allah’s right over His servants, and what is the servants’ right upon Allah?
Allah’s right is that we worship Him alone and associate nothing with Him (Tawheed). The servants’ right upon Allah is that He does not punish those who associate nothing with Him (Prevention from the hellfire and being entered into Paradise).
In which sūrah did Allah reveal verses declaring ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها innocent of the slander against her?
Sūrah an-Nūr — سورة النور.
The passage concerning ʿĀʾishah’s رضي الله عنها innocence is Sūrah an-Nūr, verses 11–20, beginning with 24:11:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالْإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِنْكُمْ ۚ لَا تَحْسَبُوهُ شَرًّا لَكُمْ ۖ بَلْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ ۚ لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِنْهُمْ مَا اكْتَسَبَ مِنَ الْإِثْمِ ۚ وَالَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ كِبْرَهُ مِنْهُمْ لَهُ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Meaning: Those who brought the slander were a group among you. Do not consider it bad for you; rather, it is good for you. Each of them bears the sin he earned, and whoever took the leading role among them will face a tremendous punishment.
Which companion did the Prophet ﷺ send to Madinah before the Hijrah to teach Islam, earning him the title “the first ambassador of Islam”?
Muṣʿab ibn ʿUmayr رضي الله عنه — مصعب بن عمير.
What compromise did the Quraysh propose to the Prophet ﷺ regarding worship, which Sūrah al-Kāfirūn was revealed to reject?
They proposed that the Prophet ﷺ worship their gods for one year, and they would worship Allah for one year in return.
Who's worse, the Shirk of Quraysh, and the shirk of the people today? Explain.
The Quraysh committed shirk during times of ease but called upon Allah alone during severe hardship. Those who invoke others besides Allah in both ease and hardship commit shirk in both situations.
In which sūrah is the story of Ṭālūt and Jālūt mentioned?
Sūrah al-Baqarah — سورة البقرة.
Which companion was called “the trustworthy one of this ummah” by the Prophet ﷺ?
Abū ʿUbaydah ibn al-Jarrāḥ رضي الله عنه — أبو عبيدة بن الجراح.