Early Life
In what year was the Prophet ﷺ born, and what major event happened that year?
570 CE, the Year of the Elephant (Abrahah’s failed attack on the Ka‘bah).
What month did the Battle of Badr take place, and what year of Hijrah was it?
Ramadan, 2 AH.
Where did Muslims migrate for the first time in 615 CE, and who was their leader?
Abyssinia (Ethiopia), led by Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib.
Who was the first adult male convert to Islam?
Abu Bakr as-Siddiq.
In what year was the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah signed?
6 AH.
Who took care of the Prophet after Aminah’s death, and what role did this person play in Makkah society?
Abdul-Muttalib, his grandfather.
Chief of Quraysh and custodian of Ka‘bah.
What was the strategic mistake at Uhud, and what lesson did Allah emphasize in the Qur’an afterward?
Archers left their post; Qur’an stressed obedience and patience (Surah Aal Imran 3:152).
What was the Prophet doing in Cave Hira when the first revelation came?
In solitude, reflecting and worshipping.
Who was the slave freed by Abu Bakr who became the first mu’adhin?
Bilal ibn Rabah.
What year is called the “Year of Delegations”?
9 AH.
What was Hilf al-Fudul, who hosted it, and why did the Prophet value it even after Islam?
An alliance to defend the oppressed, hosted at Abdullah ibn Jud‘an’s house; Prophet said he would join such a pact again in Islam.
Who suggested the trench strategy at Khandaq, and why was it unusual for Arabia?
Salman al-Farisi. Trench warfare was Persian, not Arab practice.
What was the Prophet’s du‘a after being rejected and stoned in Ta’if?
He prayed for their guidance, not destruction, and entrusted his affair to Allah.
Which Quraysh leader tore up the Prophet’s letter, and what happened to him according to narration?
Khusrau II of Persia; Allah caused his downfall and empire’s weakening soon after.
During the Farewell Hajj, what Qur’anic verse was revealed about the completion of religion?
Qur’an 5:3 — “Today I have perfected your religion for you…”
Surah Al-Mā’idah (المائدة)
ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡإِسۡلَٰمَ دِينٗا
What was the Prophet’s role in the rebuilding of the Ka‘bah before Prophethood, and how did he resolve a conflict?
He placed the Black Stone on a cloth so chiefs could lift it together, then he positioned it himself. This prevented tribal conflict.
Name the three commanders martyred at Mu’tah, and who led after them.
Zayd ibn Harithah, Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib, Abdullah ibn Rawahah; Khalid ibn al-Walid took over.
On the Night Journey, which Prophet advised Muhammad ﷺ to ask Allah to reduce the prayers, and to what number was it reduced?
Musa advised him, reduced from 50 to 5 daily prayers.
Who was Mus‘ab ibn ‘Umayr? What was he most known for, and why was he sent to Madinah?
Mus‘ab ibn ‘Umayr was one of the earliest Muslims from Makkah, known for giving up a life of luxury for Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ sent him to Madinah before the Hijrah as the first teacher and ambassador of Islam. Through him, many of the Ansar embraced Islam.
At Uhud, he carried the Prophet’s banner. When killed by Quraysh, many thought the Prophet himself had been slain, causing confusion. His steadfastness symbolizes sacrifice and loyalty.
When the Prophet ﷺ sent Usama ibn Zayd to lead the army shortly before his passing, some companions questioned his appointment. What did the Prophet say in response?
The Prophet ﷺ defended Usama’s leadership, reminding the companions that they had also criticized his father, Zayd ibn Harithah, before him. He declared that both father and son were worthy leaders, beloved to him.
Why was the name Muhammad unique at the time, and what did Abdul-Muttalib say when asked why he chose it?
It was virtually unknown among Arabs. Abdul-Muttalib said, “I wanted him to be praised in the heavens and on earth.”
In the Battle of Hunayn, Muslims initially fled despite having a large army. What Qur’anic verse describes this, and what turned the tide of battle?
Qur’an 9:25; Surah At-Tawbah (التوبة)
The Prophet ﷺ stood firm on his mule, calling out, and companions regrouped around him.
"Allah has already given you victory in many battlefields and [even] on the day of Hunayn, when your great number impressed you, but it did not avail you at all, and the earth was constrained for you despite its vastness, then you turned back fleeing."
لَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِي مَوَاطِنَ كَثِيرَةٖ وَيَوْمَ حُنَيۡنٍ إِذۡ أَعۡجَبَتۡكُمۡ كَثۡرَتُكُمۡ فَلَمۡ تُغۡنِ عَنكُمۡ شَيۡـٔٗا وَضَاقَتۡ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتۡ ثُمَّ وَلَّيۡتُم مُّدۡبِرِينَ
During the Hijrah to Madinah, what role did Suraqah ibn Malik play, how did the Prophet ﷺ respond to him, and what future promise was made that showed the Prophet’s confidence in Islam’s eventual triumph?
Suraqah ibn Malik chased the Prophet ﷺ for the bounty Quraysh placed on his head. His horse stumbled multiple times until he realized he could not capture him.
The Prophet ﷺ assured him of safety and made him a promise.
Promise: The Prophet told Suraqah that one day he would wear the bracelets of Kisra (Chosroes, emperor of Persia).
This promise came true years later during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab, when Persia fell and the royal treasures were brought to Madinah.
During the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, who served as the Prophet’s scribe, what significant decision was made about the wording of the treaty?
The scribe was Ali ibn Abi Talib.
When writing “Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah”, the Quraysh negotiator Suhayl ibn Amr objected, demanding it be changed to “Muhammad ibn Abdullah”.
Ali initially refused to erase it, out of respect and faith, but the Prophet ﷺ himself directed the change.
In his final illness, the Prophet ﷺ directed that certain individuals be expelled from the Arabian Peninsula. Who were they, and what does this instruction show about the completion of his mission?
He instructed that polytheism and idol worship be completely removed from Arabia. He also emphasized that Jews and Christians should not remain in the Arabian Peninsula with political or military influence, so Islam could be fully established there.