Q & A to Masjid Manhattan's 30 Questions Constest for the Month of Ramadan 2006

1. Which surah of the Holy Q’uran reads: “And they say: “Why is not this Q’uran sent down to some great man of the two towns”? Which are the two towns?
Answer: Surah Az-Zukhruf (43:31): The two towns were the cities of Mecca and At-Ta’if.

2. There was a Prophet who had his people believe and their faith saved? Who was that Prophet and which Ayat of the Book of Allah mentions this fact?

Answer: Prophet Jonah (Surah 10:98) “For, alas there has never yet been any community that attained to faith [in its entirety,] and thereupon benefited by its faith, except the people of Jonah. When they came to believe, We removed from them the suffering of disgrace [which otherwise would have befallen them even] in the life of this world, and allowed them to enjoy their life during the time allotted to them.

3. Complete this Ayat of the Book of Allah and site the Surah and the Ayat number: “ Verily, the harshest of all__________ is the ___________ of the ass.”
Answer: Luqman (31:19) - Loud voice -“Hence, be modest in thy bearing, and lower thy voice: for, behold, the ugliest of all voices is the [loud] voice of asses…”

4. Who was the Companion who was killed by the Mushrikuns while giving D’awa and whose grave got lost after a flood?
Answer: Asim Bin Thabit. “When some infidels from Quraish were informed that Asim had been killed, they sent some people to fetch a part of his body (i.e. his head) by which he would be recognized. (That was because) 'Asim had killed one of their chiefs on the day (of the battle) of Badr. So, a swarm of wasps, resembling a shady cloud, were sent to hover over Asim and protect him from their messenger and thus they could not cut off anything from his flesh.” Source: Bukari: Volume 5. Book 59. Number 412; Volume 4, Book 52, Number 281.

5. What was the name of the Companion who was usually referred to as “The man who is equal to 1000 men?
Answer: Al-Q’aqa’ - Bin Amr. “When Amr Ibnul-Aas wanted to propagate and spread the word of Islam towards Egypt, he sent for Omar Ibnul-Khattab (RA) asking him for an army. Omar (RA) asked Amr about how many warriors he needed; Amr claimed to need 4,000 warriors. Omar (RA) sent only four. Amr, shocked, called for Omar (RA) again asking him why he had sent only four when he had asked for four thousand? Omar (RA) angrily said, “I sent you four warriors each one of them equal to a thousand.” “How is that?” Amr asked. Omar (RA) replied, “I swear by Allah that al-Q’aqa’s voice in battle is better than a thousand warriors.” The battle started, Muslims were surrounding a fortress which was difficult to conquer. They were losing spirit, when suddenly al-Q’aqa’ started crying out in a loud voice saying, “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest).” His voice lifted the Muslims’ spirits. The fortress was conquered and the Muslims won. Amr cried saying, “Omar (RA) was right, he knew his men better than me. This man is better than a thousand men.” Source: Explanation of (al-Anfaal:65) “If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred”.

6. Which one of the companions built the first “Minbar (Member -the area where the Imam stands up to give the Khutba)?
Answer: The Prophet (PBUH) would stand on the flat ground, leaning against a date-tree-trunk when delivering the Khutbah. One of the women of the Ansaar said that her slave was a good carpenter. If permission is given, she would instruct him to make a mimbar. Rasulullah (PBUH) consulted the Sahaabah. It was then decided to have the mimbar made. The slave, Maimoon built the mimbar. The timber for the mimbar was brought from Ghaabah (a place about 9 miles from Madinah). After the mimbar was prepared, Rasulullah (PBUH) no longer leaned against the date-tree-trunk. Unable to bear this separation, the tree-trunk miraculously cried profusely. Rasulullah (PBUH) descended from the mimbar and placed his blessed hand on the tree-trunk which was sobbing like a little child. The tree-trunk was then consoled by Nabi-e-Akram

7. Which was the food and drink that Prophet Dawood (PBUH) used to like but used to forbid himself from eating and drinking?
Answer: The meat of the she-camel and the milk of the she-camel. Source: (Tafsir of Sura 2:97- The Jews enemies of Jibril).

8. What are the 10 Fardh (Imperative actions) in the Salat. If one of these acts is missed how can we correct the Salat?
Answer:
1. Intention
2. Takbiratul ihram
3. Qayam (standing up unless sick)
4. Fatiha
5. Ruku on every Rakat
6. Qaumah (standing after ruku)
7. Sojoud (two postrations for every Rakat)
8. Jalsah (the middle sitting between the to sojoud)
9. Qaidah (sitting down between the two rakats and the recitation of the tashahhud in the last sitting (last rakat).
10. Taslim (ending the salat with As salam Alaikum wa Rahmatullah turning the face towards the right and then the left.
Correction: the rakat has to be repeated and; two Sojoud Sahv (corrective prostration) must me be done after the first salam.
No Salat will be valid if #1 and #2 are missed.

9. How long is the “Eddat period” for a pregnant woman and for a widow?
Answer:
Pregnant woman: waiting period is until her child is born. Widow: 4 months and 10 days.

10. Reading of the Quranic Surah ....... every Friday is recommended.
Answer:
Surah Al-Kahf

11. All the conquests Abu Bakr (r.a.) achieved were during one of the following years.
A. Between years 644 and 656
B.632 and 634
C.634 and 644
D.644 and 658
Answer: (B) All the conquests Abu Bakr (r.a.) achieved were during 632 and 634.

12. How many areas did Abu Bakr (r.a.) had to send armies to at the same time to take care of the rebellion against Islam?
A. 8
B. 11
C. 4
D. 6

Answer: (B) Abu Bakr (r.a.) had to send 11 armies to at the same time to take care of the rebellion against Islam. “Abu Bakr (r.a.) eradicated the bane of apostasy, crushed those who had denied to pay the poor-due and sent out eleven armies under different commanders who beat down the rebels of Sajah, Bani Tamim and al-Fujat with the result that the people of Bahrain) Mahra and Yemen were received back in Islam, The number of rebels and apostates who were sent to their doom in Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula is estimated to be fifty thousand. Ibn Kathir has correctly stated that: "Abu Bakr brought the fugitives of Islam back to its fold and truth was re-established in its original shape.” Source: - Excerpted from "The Life of Caliph Ali" by Abul Hasan Nadwi; Syrat

13. Abu Bakr (r.a.) was appointed by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself as the leader of the Hajj in which year of Hijrah ?
Answer: During the 9th year of Hijrah. The Prophet deputed Abu Bakr to direct the Hajj ceremonies in his place. It involved a great responsibility and meant a compliment to him. Hajj was made incumbent in 9 A. H. and the Prophet sent Abu Bakr in command of the Hajj in that very year to enable the Muslims to perform the pilgrimage while the polytheists were at their pilgrim stations. The number of Muslims performing Hajj with Abu Bakr was three hundred.

14. In verse 9 of Surah At-Taubah: “They bartered away Allah’s revelations for paltry worldly gains and then debarred others from His Way: indeed very evil were the deeds they did, “ they refers to ..…
A) The Hypocrites of Madina
B) The Polytheists of Makkah
C) The Jewish tribes living around Madina
D) The Roman Christians

Answer: (B) The Polytheists of Makkah

15. The believers used to meet secretly at the house of ….. to learn about Islam.
A) Ammaar bin Yassir (r.a.)
B) Arqam ibn-abu-Al-Arqam (r.a.)
C) Bilal bin Rabah (r.a.)
D) Khabbab bin Arth (r.a.)

Answer: (B) Arqam ibn-abu-Al-Arqam (r.a.)

16. Prophet Mohammed asked one of his Companions to open the fortress of Khaiper. The Prophet (PBUH) loved him dearly. Who was this Companion?
Answer: The companion that opened the fortress of Khaiper was Ali Ibn Abi Talib (r.a.)

17. A man passed way and left his father and two daughters as his heirs. What percentage of the inheritance should be given to the father and what percentage should be given to the two daughters?
Answer: Father: 1/3 Daughters: 2/3 of inheritance.

18. Who was the prophet that Allah favored by delaying the sunset in order to finish his battle?
Answer: Joshua Ibn Noon (PBUH) “After the new generation had grown up and the years of wandering in the wilderness ended, the Children of Israel were led by an apostle called Joshua Ibn Noon, peace be upon him. The Jews called him "Yashou". He succeeded Moses in their leadership, and he crossed the Jordan River with them in the year 1190 BC. Together, they conquered the enemy and occupied the city of Jericho. Then he led them in the invasion of "A'ai", near Ramallah, and attempted to conquer Jerusalem but he could not because the number of the Jews was small. It was difficult for them to spread out and to occupy and control all the regions. The information about Joshua had come from the tradition of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) who said that when Joshua met his enemies in a battle that lasted till the sun was going to set, he prayed to God not to set the sun until the battle was over in his favour. God Almighty responded to his prayer and delayed the setting of the sun till Joshua achieved victory.” Sources: This Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira (according to Sahid Muslim Book#19, Hadith 4327- Spoils of War made lawful to the believers)

19. Who was the Companion who lived and died alone and who in the Day of Judgement, as the Prophet (PBUH) mentioned, “will be raised as having, in himself alone, the worth of a whole people?
Answer:
Abu Dharr (r.a.) “The Messenger of Allah (saw) praised Abu Dharr (ra) and said to him: “May Allah bless you, O Abu Dharr! Truly, you live alone, die alone, rise alone and enter heaven alone! Fortunate and amongst the delivered are those who will attend the ceremonial washing of your body after your death and your burial. The sky has cast no shadow and the earth received not one more truthful than you.” Sources: Bukhari. 4:248; Muslim. 4:1904; Ibn Hanbal. 6:77. Bayhaqi. 7:164.

20. Who was the Companion who died at the border of Turkey?

Answer: Abu-Ayub Ansari (r.a.) “The last campaign he took part in was the one prepared by Muawiyah and led by his son Yazid against Constantinople. Abu Ayyub at that time was a very old man, almost eighty years old. But that did not prevent him from joining the army and crossing the seas as a ghazi in the path of God. After only a short time engaged in the battle, Abu Ayyub fell ill and had to withdraw from fighting. Yazid came to him and asked: "Do you need anything, Abu Ayyub?" "Convey my salaams to the Muslim armies and say to them: "Abu Ayyub urges you to penetrate deeply into the territory of the enemy as far as you can go, that you should carry him with you and that you should bury him under your feet at the walls of Constantinople." Then he breathed his last. The Muslim army fulfilled the desire of the companion of the Messenger of God. They pushed back the enemy's forces in attack after attack until they reached the walls of Constantinople. There they buried him.”

21. Who was the first Jewish woman and the first Jewish man to become believers?
Answer: First Jewish man to convert to Islam was Abdullah Ibn Salam (r.a.) First Jewish woman was Safiyya bint Huyayy (r.a.)

22. What is the rule for the mouqtadi (the ones who stand behind the Imam in prayer) if his Imam mistakenly brings a fifth rakaat and doesn’t listen to the warning “Subhana Allah” from his followers?
Answer: Remain sitting until the Imam completes the 5th rakat. Imam should do Two Sojoud Sahw after Taslim to correct his salat.

23. What is the rule if you missed the Maghreb salat and you enter the Isha Jamat with the Imam who is praying 4 rakaats?
Answer:
Two opinions are valid:
First opinion - Majority of the Ulamah agrees with this opinion:
One should pray Isha with the Imam to get the reward of the Jamat Salat. According to the hadith of the Prophet (PBUH), it is said that if a Salat has been established in Jamat, no Salat will be valid except the present (actually running time) Salat. Accordingly, the salat should be joined with the intention (Niah) of praying Isha prayer. Magrib should be prayed later.
Second opinion:
Complete the third rakat and sit-down, don’t stand up with the Imam in the 4th rakat, and then wait for the Imam to complete the 4th rakat. Then continue to follow him once he comes back to the sitting position (Jalsah at- tashahhud).

24. A man died and left an estate of $30,000. He had one son and one daughter from his legal marriage. He also had a boy from an adulterous relationship with a non-Muslim woman whom he married after the child’s birth. How much will the none-Muslim woman and her son will inherit?
Answer: Non-Muslim woman and her son will inherit 0%.

25. A Muslim man dies and leaves an estate. What is the percentage of inheritance of that should be given to his non-Muslim mother, his Muslim wife and his Muslim son?
Answer: Non-Muslim mother :0% Muslim wife: 1/8 of inheritance Muslim son: the remaining of the inheritance -7/8 Source: Surah 4:12

26. What is the rule to follow when you are performing Moutah Haj and you have no money to pay for the Qurbani (to slaughter an animal)?
Answer: Fasting for a total number of 10 days. Three (3) days during Hajj and seven (7) after his return. Source: Surah 2:196

27. A business man has an auto-part shop, how he should calculate his annual (Almal) zakat?
Answer: Zakat = 2.5% of the end of the year inventory

28. A man gives a loan of $10,000 for two years. How much zakat he has to pay for the first year?
Answer:Two opinions are valid:
First opinion:
The lender has to pay 2.5% at the end of each year or $10,000 * 2.5% = $250
Second opinion: The lender does not have to pay any zakat until he collects the loan. If the loan is not collected, then there is no zakat due.

29. Who was the Companion given the title of “Washing of the Angels”?
Answer: Hanthalah Ibn Abi Amer.
“He died while in state of sexual impurity. He had just gotten married the night before he went to the battle of Uhud. The next morning he met his wife, before departing to the battle. He ran late so he left without bathing. He died as a martyr. After that he was known as “ Hanthalah Ghaseel Al-Mala’ikah”

30. Mention one of the names of the rivers in Janat.
Answer: Sihan, Jihan, Alfurat, Alnil and Al-cauthar.

Allaah knows best !

By: Sheik Mustafa @ Masjid Manhattan