ISLAM
Q1. What does Islam mean?
The name was given by Prophet Muhammad. It means Submission or surrender of God's will.
Q2. Who founded Islam?
Prophet Muhammad (B.570 AD; D.632 AD) founded this religion in 622 AD. Also called Muhammad Nabi.
Q3. Where was Prophet Muhammad born?
Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It is the Haj Pilgrim centre for the Muslims. A muslim who undertakes the Haj and returns after worshipping is known as Haji.
Q4. Who is called a Muslim?
Followers of Islamic principles are called Muslims. The word Muslim means - "one who submits himself to god".
Q5. Who conveyed the preachings of the God to Prophet Muhammed?
Gabriel - the Angel. Based on these preachings prophet Muhammed compiled the holy text for Islam.
Q6. What is the Holy or Sacred book of Islam?
Quran - Originally written in Arabic, it has 114 Suras or chapters and 6236 verses.
Q7. What are the various denominations in Islam?
(1) SUNNI - They are the largest among the Muslims. They believe that the first four Caliphs (of Egypt) are the rightful successors of Prophet Muhammad and considered the Caliphs as the unquestionable authorities.
(2) SHIA - They are the second largest among Muslims.
(3) SUFISM - A sect of Muslims, minor in strength, who believe in the spiritual inner feeling to God.
(4) BAHAI - A sect of Muslims. This belief was founded by Bahaullah (see later in this section).
Q8. What are the five pillars of faith in Islam?
(1) SAHADAH: Testimony of faith - the declaration that there in none worthy of worship except Allah the God and that prophet Muhammad is his messenger.
(2) SALAT : Prayer - 5 times a day.
(3) ZAKAT : Giving Alms to the poor.
(4) SAWM: Fasting.
(5) HAJJ : Pilgrimage to Mecca.
Q9. What are the two most sacred places of pilgrimage (called Haj) for the Muslims?
(1) MECCA: The birthplace of Prophet Muhammad, In Saudi Arabia. Its full name is "Makkah al Mukkarammah". (It was formerly known as Baqqah). It is here the most sacred and revered place Qafah/Kafah/Kabah is located in the Masjid-Al-Haram. It is here the Jamrat or Jamrat Al Aquaba, a pillar symbolizing the "Devil" is also located. The pilgrims after circling the Kafah or Qafah, seven times, perform what is called Tawaf beating of the demon/devil - Jamrat, with black stones.
(2) MADINA : It is the place where Prophet Muhammad Nabi was put to rest in the Masjid-Al-Nawabi. It is also in Saudi Arabia. Visiting these two places and offering their prayers is called Haj, and persons who have performed the Haj are called Hajis, a honor for every Muslims.
Q10. As a tradition, all Haj pilgrims spend a night at a specific place outside Mecca. What is the place?
MUSTALIFA: A place between Mecca and Arafat. All pilgrims stay or spend a night at the Jabal Al Rahma - a holy mountain, considered to be the mountain of forgiveness, seeking the God's forgiveness.
Q11. Why do Muslims pray facing the west?
Because the holy place Qabah in Mecca is in the west.
Q12. What are the five customary daily prayers of Muslims called?
(1) FAJR: Before Sunrise (2) ZUHAR: Afternoon(3) ASR: Evening (4) MAGHRIB: Before Sunset (5) ISHAR: Night. This ritual in total is called Fard.
Q13. What is the most recommended time of prayer as advised by prophet Muhammad?
Tahajjuth - Midnight prayer.
Q14. What are the five duties of a Muslim?
Kalma - Profession of faith; Namaz - Saying prayers; Kharait - Giving alms; Raza - Adhering to fast; Haj - Pilgrimage
Q15. Besides the Quran, the Haddith is also revered as a holy text in Islam. What does it contain?
The authentic sayings of Prophet Muhammad.
Q16. What is the worshipping place of Muslims called?
Mosque or Masjid.
Q17. What is the tall tower in a mosque called and what is its importance?
Minaret - It is erected tall, to enable the Imams of the mosques give a call at the scheduled times for the prayers, in the olden days. Now with the advent of science, loud speakers are used to give the call for prayers.
Q18. How the traditional religious schools of Islam are called?
Madarasa.
Q19. What is the I chapter of Quaran?
Al Fatihah.
Q20. What are the various religious terminologies used in Islam?
ANSARI: One who helps everybody. A
SSALAMU-AL-AIQUM: in short "Salam" - meaning "the blessings of God Allah be with you".
ASHURAH: Beating of chests - The day of Ashura is a day of mourning for the death of Husayn Ibn Ali - grand son of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in the battle of Karbala with Yzidi, the Ummayad Caliph. It is observed by both Sunni and Shia sects. Matham is how the beating of chest is called.
ADAB: Prescribed way of living as per Islam.
BISMILLAH: In the name of God.
DUAH: To seek, to pray to God.
FAKR: A type of charity
FATWAH: An inviolable order issued by an Islamic religious head.
HAFIZ: A person who has memorized the entire Quran.
HALAL: Permissible - Meaning to permissible food.
HIRJA: The era in which the Islamic calendar began.
INSHAH ALLAH: "May God Bless" or "If God Wills" or "God Willing".
IMAM: A Muslim official who conducts prayers at Mosques or who leads the Muslims congregation of prayers.
JIHAD: Islamic Holy war for the protection and propagation of their religion.
LA ILAHI ILLALLAH- Mohammad Rasulullah: The Allah alone is reverrable/respectable.
MAHAR: Under the Islamic Law, it is the amount of money as fees that a groom would give the bride. It is a binding law on every Muslim groom.
MUJJAHID: Islamic law of Judges.
NABI: The exalted.
NIKKAH: Marriage
SALAT: Prayer
SUHUDH: The practice of kneeling and bending the body to touch the ground with the forehead.
SHAN E ALLAH: Glory of God.
SUBHAN E ALLAH : God is great.
SHARIA: The body of Islamic Law.
SAWM: Dawn to dusk fasting by Muslim during the month of Ramadaan (Ramzan).
TARAVEEH: Night prayers at the Mosque/Masjid.
TALAQ: Divorce
THAYAM UM : Equal to Ulu - Where water is not available for self purification, one is advised to purify himself with mud or sand.
UMRAO : To seek, to pray, to take vow of prayer. It is equal to Haj and conditions are same. Umrao can be performed anytime, whereas Haj can be performed only at the particular designated period.
ULU : The practice of purifying oneself with water before every schedule of prayer.
ULEMA: The educated class of Muslim scholars. They are best known as arbiters of Sharia'a - the Muslim Law.
WAKF: Property and funds placed in trust under Islamic tradition of mandatory gift.
YA ALLAH : We pray into thee; we seek into thee.
YASHMAK: Name for the veil worn by Muslim women. ZAKAT: A type of charity.
Q21. What are the festivals of the Islamic community?
MUHARRAM: the first month of the Islamic calendar.
RAMZAN/RAMADAAN: A season of lent (fasting) in the month of Ramadaan - 9th month of Islamic calendar - During that month, all male and female, above 12 years to observe fast from Dawn to Dusk (6 am to 6 pm).
Id Ul Fitr: The last day of the fasting in the month of Ramadaan. It is known as the breaking of the fast. Celebrated in a big way.ID UL ZUHA : Falls on the 10th day of the 12th month - Dhu-Al-Hajja, of Islamic Lunar calendar. Celebrated for 5 days during the Haj pilgrimage.
Q22. Where was India's first Mosque/Masjid built?
Kodungallur in Kerala in 642 AD by Malik Ifnud.
Q23. Which is the largest Mosque in India?
Jama Masjid, Delhi.
Q24. 786 - a unique number we come across with Islamic scripts and texts. What does it indicate?
"Bismillah Irrahman Irrahim" - meaning in the name of Allah, most gracious most merciful.
Q25. Where is the famous "Blue Mosque"?
Istanbul - Turkey.
Q26. What does AH stands for with reference to Islamic calendar?
"Anna Hegirae" in the year of Hijra - with reference to Islamic dates.
Q27. What is the sacred symbol of Islam?
Crescent
Q28. Who is that famous Muslim, whose contribution in the field of Mathematics is immeasurable?
Al Khwarizmi - a mathematician after whom Algorithm is named. His book Kitab Al Jabr is the base for naming Algebra.
Q29. What is the Babism and how is it relevant to Bahaism?
Siyyid Ali Muhammad Shirazi also called Bab, founded a sect of religion within Islam which is called Babism, which is the forerunner for the Bahaism to be founded by Bahaullah.
Q30. What are the holy scriptures of Bahais?
Kitab-I-Aqdas, Kitab-IIqan and the Hidden words.
Q31. What are the basis of Bahai Administration?
The will and testament of Abdul Baha and Kitab-I-Aqdas.
Q32. Where is the governing body of Bahaism?
Universal House of Justice in Haifa, Israel.
Q33. What is the sacred symbol of Bahais?
Nine Edged Star with Islamic inscription of calligraphy in the centre.
Q34. Who is the most revered leader of Bahais?
Shogi Effendi.
Q35. Where is Bahaullah, the founder is rested?
Shrine of Bab, Haifa, Israel.
Q36. What is the famous landmark of Bahaism in India?
Lotus Temple - a place of worship in New Delhi.
Q37. What is the important festival of the Bahai's faith people?
Ridvan - Celebration of Bahaullah's prophethood for 12 days.
Q38. Which is the most famous mosque/dargah in South India?
Nagore, Tamil Nadu.
Q39. Which city is called the city of mosques?
Dacca, Bangladesh.
Q40. What is the Arabic word for God?
Allah
Q41. What does "Assalamu- alaiqum" mean?
The blessing of God Allah be with you.
Q42. On a particular day of mourning the Muslims express it by beating their chests. How is it called?
Ashurah.
Q43. What does "Bismillah" mean?
In the name of God.
Q44. How an inviolable order of an Islamic religious head is called?
Fatwah.
Q45. What does "Inshaallah" mean?
May God bless or God willing.
Q46. How a religious head of a Mosque who conducts prayer congregation is called?
Imam.
Q47. What does "Jihad" mean?
An Islamic holy war for protection / propagation of their religion.
Q48. How the Islamic Law judges are known?
Mujjahid.
Q49. What does "Nabi" mean?
The exalted.
Q50. How a Muslim marriage is called?
Nikkah.
Q51. What is the general term for "prayer" in Islam?
Salat.
Q52. We have seen the Muslims kneeling down, bending their body and touching the ground with their forehead. How is it called?
Shuhudh.
Q53. What does "Subhan-e-Allah" mean?
God is great.
Q54. How the governing body of Islamic Law is called?
Sharia.
Q55. How the dawn to dusk fasting of Muslims during Ramadaan period is called?
Sawm.
Q56. What is Umrao in Islam?
Equal to Haj.
Q57. What is the difference between Umrao and Haj?
Haj can be performed only during a particular period - between 8th to 12th day of 'Dhu-al-Hijjah" 12th and last month of the Islamic Calendar. While Umrao can be performed anytime.
Q58. The veil, covering the face, worn by Muslim women are called?
Yashmak.
Q59. What is full name of Mecca, Saudi Arabia?
Makkah al Mukkarammah.
Q60. What is the name of the holy place at Mecca?
Kafah/Qafah/Kabah.
Q61. What is the name of the pillar symbolizing a devil in Mecca is known?
Jamrat Al Aqaba (Jamrat).
Q62. Muslims who have undergone Haj Pilgrimage are called?
Haji.
Q63. How is the migration of prophet Muhammad and his followers to the city of Medhina in 622 CE is called?
Hijra.
Q64. How is the "cave of Hira" on Jabal-annoor, important to Muslims?
Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad received his first revelations from Allah (God) through the Angel Gabriel there.
Q65. Which is the third most revered place of the Islamic community after Mecca and Medina?
Al Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem.
Q66. Which beautiful and imposing mosque is located inside the sea?
Haji Ali Dargah - off the coast of Worli in Mumbai.
Q67. Where is the mosque with shaking minarets?
Ahmedabad
Q68. Where is the famous "Toli" Masjid?
Hyderabad.
Q69. In which mosque in India, a hair from the beard of Prophet Muhammad is preserved?
Hazaratbal Mosque, Srinagar, J & K, (Hazarat - Majestic), (Bal - Place).
Q70. Which is the only domed mosque in India?
Hazratbal mosque, Shrinagar. Normally mosques has pagoda like roofs.
Q71. Which is the tallest minaret in the world?
Qutub Minar.
Q72. What are the famous festivals of Muslims?
Eid/Id/Idu-Ul-Fitr, Ashura, Eid-ul-Duha, Milad/Milad-un-Nabi, Muharram, Urs, Ramzaan.
Q73. What is Eid or Eid-ul-Fitr?
It is the day making the end of the month long fasting of Ramadaan/Ramzaan. It falls on the first day of the month of "Shawwal", Islamic calendar. Prayers, Charity, feast with family and friends. Also called Ramzan.
Q74. What is "Ashura" a festival of?
Ashura mean Ten. It is the 10th day of Muharrams and marks the climax of the remembrance of Muharram. It is actually a day of mourning.
Q75. What is "Eid-ul-Adha" a celebration of?
In occurs on the 10th day of the Islamic months of Dhul Hijja. It is one of the Eid festivals that Muslims celebrate world wide as a commemoration of prophet Ibrahims willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail for God.
Q76. What is Milad-Un-Nabi, a celebration of?
Birth day of Prophet Muhammad.
Q77. What is Muharram an Islamic celebration?
It is a mourning and not a celebration. The shi'ite sect of the Muslims observe it mainly. The mourning is for 10 days and the last day is known as commemorating the death of Husayn Bin Ali, grand son of prophet Muhammad, who attained martyrdoms in the battle of Karbala. The mourners male and female, assemble separately and chant, sorrowful poetic recitations. They also chant Ya Huseyn. It is the saddest moment of Shia Muslims. Male Mourners assemble in public and involve themselves in ceremonial chest beating - called Matham - a display of devotion to Husayn and remembrance of his suffering.
Q78. What is Urs a celebration of?
Death anniversary of a sufi saint - observed in South Asia.
Q79. The religious festival of Ashura, commencing on the first day of the month of Muharram, commemorates what?
Slaying of Prophet Muhammad's grandson Imam Huseyn (Huseyn Bin Ali) during the7th century.
