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Grade 10, 11 and 12
Basic of Islam 30 marks
Al-Quarn 30 marks
Study of Quran and Hadith 20 marks
General Knowledge 20 marks
You have to study the notes for Grades JK, SK, 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and followings for a written test.
Basic of Islam (30 marks)
Five pillars of Islam
•Ash-Shahadah (The Declaration of faith)
•As Salah(Five compulsory daily prayers)
•Az Zakah (Welfare contribution)
•As-Sawm (Fasting during Ramadan)
•Al-Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah)
The first pillar of Islam is Shahadah, which is about belief in Tawhid and Risalah of Muhammad (S).
The other four pillars are the main duties in Islam, called Ibadah. Ibadah includes any activity which is done to please Allah. Salah, Zakah, Sawm and Hajj are the main four forms of worship or Ibadah. If we perform those regularly and correctly we come closer to Allah. Those are like a training program for a Muslim to shape life around
Study:
• The meaning and significance of Kalima Taiyibah, Tawhid and Risalah
• The timings of five daily prayers: What are the times when we should not pray?
• What is the importance of Taharah (cleanliness) and Niyah (intention) for Salah.
• Significance of Salah: ‘Our salah is the first thing we will be asked about when we die and stand’- explain in relation to the benefits of Salah.
• Lessons of Salah
• Meanings of Tasbih (uttering) which are recited in Ruku and Sujud
• Meanings of Qibla, Qiyam, Ruku, Sujud, Tayammum
• Meaning of the word Zakah
• Which people are helped by Zakah
• Importance of Zakah in context of social welfare
• Good qualities developed by Sawm
• Morals and social lessons of Sawm
• Why Lailatul Qadr is an important night
• What is Hajj? What Hajj teaches us?
• Hajj is called the Annual International Muslim Assembly- explain
Al-Quran (30 marks)
Each of the 114 surahs has their own name. Allah and His messenger have given a name to each surah. Usually the surah is named from a word used in that particular surah. Surahs are sometimes named according to an event or subject mentioned in that specific surah. Examples: Surah Al-Fatiha: the opening, Surah Al-Baqarah: The Cow; Surah Al-Imran: The family of Imran; Surah An-Nisa:The Women; Surah Maidah:The table spread; Surah An’am:The cattle.
Allah has guaranteed the protection of the Quran.
Quran contain stories (Qasas, sg. Qissah).
“We do relate unto thee the most beautiful of stories.” 12:3
Those Quranic stories are about
Prophets of Allah, their people, their message, their call ...etc., for example Nuh (A), Musa (A), and Isa (A).
Past people or events, eg. the Companions of the cave.
Events that took place during the lifetime of the Prophet, e.g. battle of Badr.
Sometimes Miracles (Moziza) happen through a messenger only by the will of Allah the Creator. It breaks the usual norms and serves as proof for the claims of the messenger that he is the messenger of Allah.
The Quran is called a miracle (Moziza) because of its uniqueness. Some of the special features are as follow:
Its language and style excels other texts of the Arabic language.
Its comprehensiveness cannot be matched.
Its legislation and legal ruling and sophistication cannot be surpassed.
Its narrations about the unknown can only result from a revelation from the creator (e.g. creation of the Universe. Day of the Judgment, Paradise, Hell fire, Stories of the Prophets, etc.)
It has no contradiction with the most advanced sound discovery in all the branches of science.
Its fulfillment of all its prophecies.
Its in complete harmony with human natural need (fitra)
It speaks to the human heart as well as the human faculty of reason at the individual level and at the group (Ummah, Jamaah) level.
It was delivered 1417 years ago by a messenger who could not read nor write.
It transformed a group of 100,000 early Muslims through a quantum and giant step to one of the best examples for humanity in only 23 years.
It answers the most important questions in human life. e.g. Why we are here in this world? Who created us? What happens after we die? What happened to the nations before us? What is right and what is wrong? How can you be happy?, etc.
It corrects the current belief among the people of the Book.
It is consistent in using beautiful language throughout the 23 years of its revelation. Its uniqueness in expressing wide varieties of topics from moral ethics to complex legal rulings.
No other piece of literature, in any language, can match its combined beauty and sophistication, touching the heart and the mind.
Its teaching strikes a well measured and balanced approach to all able aspects of human needs, e.g. making a living and praying.
The Quran is a unique, supreme book of guidance from the Lord of the Universe (Rabbul-allameen). If it is followed, the Lord guarantees success in this life and in the hereafter. Throughout Islamic history, this fact has been proven time and time again.
The Quran contained scientific facts only discovered by modern science in the last 50 years.
Everything in the universe was compacted together and then split apart (big-bang theory). Gases spread throughout the universe and stars, planets and other things were formed. The Universe was in the shape of a fiery gas (21:30, 41:11).
All life originated from water (24:45, 21:30).
Matter is made up of minute particles (10:62).
The oxygen content of the air is reduced at higher altitudes (6:125).
The water cycle in regards to how precipitate is formed (30:48, 24:43)
Everything consists of complementary elements (equivalent to male and female): animals, man, plants and inorganic material (36:36, 20:53, 22:5, 3:10, 13:3).
The embryo in the womb is enclosed by three coverings. A pregnancy occurs only when the ova and the sperm unite. The fertilized egg ‘clings’ in the womb. The fetus grows in stages until it is ready to be born. (23:14, 40:67, 75:37, 23:14, 5:22, 39:6).
The fertilization of certain plants is done by the wind (15:22).
Microscopic organisms exist that are not visible to the naked eye. (96:1)
Each human has permanent individual fingerprints (75:4).
There may be life on other planets.(30:26, 24:41, 19:93-95, 3:83)
The Quran is a book of guidance, for mankind from Allah, the Creator, and the Lord of the Universe. Although its facts and teaching do not contradict with scientific facts it cannot be called a book of science. We have to keep in mind that scientific facts are not absolute truths; they might change as human knowledge changes.
Sample questions:
Does the Quran use examples, similes (amthai, sg. mathal) to explain a message?
Yes.
What is the meaning of ‘Qul’?
’Qul’ means Say.
How many times is the word ‘Qul’ used in the Quran?
The word ‘Qul’ has been mentioned more than 200 (two hundred) times.
Does the Quran use oath-like expressions (aqsam, sg. qasam)?
Yes.
How does the oath-like expressions start?
‘Wa’ meaning ‘and’. or ‘la-uqsimu’ meaning ‘indeed I swear’ or using the letter ‘ta’.
Why is the oath-like expression used in the Quran?
The Quran uses the oath-like expressions to strengthen and support an argument, to catch the attention of the reader and to point out the magnificent event or phenomenon.
How many Surah start with sentences (Ayah) that have separate letters? How many letters are used for that purpose?
29 (twenty-nine) surahs. 14 (fourteen) letters have been used in different combination for that purpose.
List some Surah starting with letters and give their Surah number.
Alif Lam Ra (Surah number 10, 11, 14 and 15) Alif Lam Meem (Surah number 2, 3, 29, 30, 31 and 32). Alif Lam Meem Ra (Surah number 13), Alif Lam Saad (Surah number 7), Ha Meem(Surah number 40, 41. 42, 43, 44 45 and 46), Saad( Surah number 38), Ta Seen (Surah number 27), Ta Ha (Surah number 20), Qaf (Surah number 50), Kaf Ha Ya Aeen Saad (Surah number 19), Noon (Surah number 68), Ya Seen (Surah number 36), Ta Seen Meem (Surah number 26, 28)
What is the significance of using separate letters at the beginning of some Surah?
The exact significance is known to Allah, but Muslim scholars have many explanations. They are used to draw the attention of the listener to the fact that the following are Allah’s words.
Although they consist of the Arabic alphabet, they have a unique beauty and style and offer guidance to mankind.
Who was the first to commit to memorizing the Quran?
Prophet Muhammad (S) himself.
Who are the companions of the Prophet who memorized the Quran?
Some companions were AbuBakr(R), Omar(R), Uthman(R), Ali(R), Aisha(R), Hafsa(R) and Umm Salma(R). The 3 companions who memorized the entire the Quran and went over it with the Prophet before his death were Ubai ibn Kab(R), Muaaz ibn Jabal(R), and Zaid ibn Thabit(R).
Was the Quran written down during the Prophet’s life?
Yes, but it was not bound as a single volume. It is reported that the Quran was indeed written down. When people came to Madina to learn about Islam, they were provided with copies of the chapters of the Quran, to read and memorize.
Did the Prophet write down the revelations?
No, he dictated the revelation to some 48 companions.
Did the Prophet give instructions for the arrangement of the verses of the Quran?
Yes, the order and the arrangement were well known to the Muslims due to the daily recitation of the Quran in their prayers.
What was the form of the Quran in the early stage?
All parts of the Quran were in written form in separate written materials. It was written on paper, dry skin, papyrus etc. The order of the verses within each Surah was fixed, but the sheets on which the Surah was written were still in a loose arrangement. i.e. not bound into a volume. The Quran was in this form during the Prophet’s time and also during Abu Bakrs(R) and Omar’s(R) time.
Who determined the arrangement of the Quran?
The Prophet determined the arrangement of the Quran under guidance of Allah through Angel Jibrail.
Who ordered the Quran to be bounded into a volume?
Calipha Uthman(R).
What led Uthman to order the collection of the Quran into a volume?
During Abu Bakr’s(R) rule, he instructed Zaid lbn Thabit(R) to collect the Quran from the various written material and from the memories of people. The collection was kept with him and then with Omar(R) and then with his daughter Hafsa(R).
During Uthman’s(R) rule, disputes had risen among Muslims in the vast Muslim empire about the correct manner of reciting the Quran.
Uthman(R) borrowed the collection of the Quran, which were kept with Hafsa(R) and ordered four companions among them Zaid lbn Thabit(R) to rewrite the script in perfect copies.
Uthman(R) sent those copies to the main centers of the Muslim world to replace other copies that were in circulation. Those copies of the Quran have remained the same to this day.
What are the differences between the printed form of the Quran and that of Uthman’s(R) time?
Today’s volume of the Quran has vowel marks (tashkil) to help in the pronunciation and diacritical marks to help tell the difference between similiar letters. All old Qurariic script is completely without diacritical points or vowels signs. Also there are no headings or separations between Surahs or any other kind of division or formal indication of the end of a verse.
Do we still have old manuscripts of the Quran?
Yes. In the Egyption National Library there is a copy made of gazelle skin which has been dated 68 after Hijra (688 A.D.), 58 years after the Prophets death. There are also copies from the first and second centuries A.H.
When were diacritical marks and vowelling symbols introduced into the Quranic manuscript?
First century A.H.
When was the first time the current manuscript of the Quran printed?
In 1925 (1344 A.H.) in Cairo, Egypt and it is based on the reading of Hafs as reported by Asim.
What should we observe in regards to reading the Quran?
One should have a personal copy of the Quran kept in a clean place.
Read the Quran regularly, daily if possible, at a given time alone or with others.
Concentrate, reflect and understand as you seek Allah’s guidance by reading.
Begin with “A’oozu bil lahee minas shytaneer rageem” ( I seek Allah’s refuge from Satan), ‘Bismilla hir rahmanir rahim’ (In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate).
Be ritually clean (have Wudu).
Read with a good voice and pronounce its words correctly.
Memorize as much as you can.
Apply it in your daily life and encourage others to read and apply it in their daily lives.
Say when you finish say “Saddaqa Allahoo al Azeem” (Allah the All-Mighty told the Truth).
Pause, when you hear the Azan (call for prayer) and when somebody says “Assalamu Alaikum”.
What is Sajda-al-Tilawa?
Sajda-al-Tilawa is the prostration similar to that we perform during the Salah. It is suggested to perform when one read or listens to a specific ayah. There are 14 places in the Quran where we have to perform Sajda-al-Tilawa.
What is “Tajweed”?
Tajweed refers to the rules of proper pronunciation and the speed at which one should read the Quran. It also teaches the correct length and emphasis that has to be given to vowels.
Why is memorizing the Quran so important?
Memorization has been advised by the Prophet. Ayahs from the Quran are used to perform prayer (Salah) and making dua (supplication).
Mention some practical suggestions for memorizing the Quran.
Make it a daily routine.
Try to memorize a few ayahs at a time.
Select ayahs which are easy for you to memorize with understanding of the meaning.
Use those ayahs in Salah.
Use the help of another person.
Study of the Quran & Hadith (20 marks)
Memorize the last 15 Surahs of the Quran
Memorize and study the meaning: Verses 45-47 of Surah Ankabut (Surah 29)
Truthfulness
Prophet (S) said: “Guarantee me six things and I shall assure you of Paradise. (1) When you speak, speak the truth, (2) keep your promise, (3) discharge your trust, (4) guard your chastity, (5) lower your gaze and (6) withhold your hands from high-handedness.” - Mentioned in Baihaqi
Politeness
Prophet (S) said: “Allah is polite and likes politeness.” - Condensed from Muslim
Brotherhood
Prophet (S) said: “Each of you is a mirror of his brother, if you see something wrong in your brother, you must tell him to get rid of it.” -Mentioned Tirmidhi
Repentance (Tawbah)
Prophet (S) said: “By Allah, I (Muhammad) ask Allah’s forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.” Mentioned in Bukhari
Gifts
Prophet (S) said: “Give gifts to one another, for gifts take away malice.” -Mentioned in Mishkat
Visiting the sick
Prophet (S) said: “Visit the sick, feed the hungry and free the captives.” -Mentioned in Bukhari
General Knowledge, Morals and etiquettes (20 marks)
- Muslim Countries
- Islam in Canada
- Muslim contribution to civilization
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