F1 Lesson 1: Surat-ul-Hujuraat The Rooms of the Prophet [s] Aayaat [1-5] The Etiquette of Visiting Elders and Speaking to them 1. What is al-hujuraat? Hujuraat is the plural of Hujra, which means a room. In this case, Hujuraat refers to the rooms of the Messenger of Allah [s] and his wives [ra]. 2. What should a Muslim do when he is about to make a decision on an important matter? Support your answer with a Hadeeth. When we are about to make a decision on important matters, we should ask Allah for guidance and look for His and the Prophet s [s] teachings in the relevant issue. When Muath ibn Jabal was being sent as a leader to Yemen, a conversation took place between him and the Prophet [s]. How will you judge? I will follow Allah s book. What if you don t find the answer? Then I will judge by the Sunnah. What if you don t find your answer? I will work hard to come up with my own opinion. 3. Discuss the important of speaking respectfully with others, especially the elders. Support your answer with stories from the Prophet s [s] time. Respect of the Prophet [s] and elders is a divine order from Allah. The Prophet [s] also said, Anyone who does not respect elders is not from among us. One of the Companions, Thabit ibn Qais, who used to have a naturally loud voice, was so sad to hear Ayah 2 and 3 of Sūrat-ul-Hujuraat, because he thought that Allah means him. Omar ibn al-khattab once argued loudly with Abu Bakr in the presence of Allah s Messenger [s]. When the Verses of Surat-ul-Hujuraat were revealed, Omar felt bad and only used almost to whisper to the Prophet [s] afterwards.
F1 Lesson 2: Surat-ul-Hujuraat The Rooms of the Prophet [s] Aayaat [6-8] Verifying before passing judgement 1. Who is a Fasiq? He is one who commits major sins or is corrupt. He is someone who is rebellious and extreme in disobedience, who commits major sins and lies. 2. What should a Muslim do when he or she a negative story or repost on another Muslim? Support your answer with an ayah. When people spread wrong information, or interpret news or information in a wrong way. In Islam, there is no excuse for spreading false information that splits the Muslim ummah and hurts innocent people. We should never forward whatever we hear. Rather, we should be cautious and verify the truth of the situation. 3. What is nameemah and what is the Islamic rule on it? Support your answer with an ayah and a Hadeeth. A slander or making comments or spreading false rumours, which will damage the character of a person and ruin his or her relations with family and friends. It usually refers to the act of carrying false and evil tales, from one person to another. The Prophet [s] said, A slanderer [nammaam] will never enter Paradise. Allah says in the Glorious Qur'an, Woe to every slanderer and backbiter. [Surah Humazah]
D1: The Battle of Tabook [Ghazwat Tabook] 50 Days in the Harsh Desert 1. When and where did the Campaign to Tabook take place? The Battle of Tabook took place in the month of Rajab in the 9th year after Hijrah. It was the last of the Messenger s [s] military expeditions. It was near the northern border, close to Syria. 2. What is the meaning of Jaysh-ul-Usrah? Jaysh-ul-Usrah means the Army/contingent of Hardship. It was called so because the army was ill-equipped with shortage of arms and 18 men had to take turns, sharing one camel. 3. Why did the Prophet [s] advance towards Syria? He [s] advanced towards Syria because he had got news and was anticipating the approach of the Byzantine Roman Empire. 4. Describe the military powers of the Muslims and the enemies during that military campaign. As far as the military powers of the Muslims is concerned, there were 30,000 horsemen and soldiers, and the enemies were 40,000 of the Byzantine Romans together with their neighbouring tribes in Syria. 5. Who were the enemies of the Muslims in Tabook? The Romans and their Arab allies were the enemies of the Muslims in Tabook. 6. How did the campaign to Tabook end? The Tabook campaign ended with the Muslims being psychologically and strategically triumphant, although no physical war took place. The Arab tribes who had allied themselves to the Byzantines, now joined with the Muslims who proved to be the more superior force. 7. How long did the expedition of Tabook take? The journey to Tabook took 15 days to complete. The army remained in Tabook for 20 days, searching for information about the Roman army, which never showed up. The return journey took 15 days as well. In all, it was a 50-day-long expedition.
8. Who was among the people who followed the Prophet [s] and travelled alone through the desert? What lesson can we learn from him? He was Abu Tharr al-ghifari. We learn sincerity, loyalty, courage and sacrifice from him. Believers devote their lives for the sake of Allah and are always willing to sacrifice their lives, wealth, convenience and everything else for Islam. 9. What was the greatest lesson the Muslims learned in the course of the battle? The great importance of obeying the Prophet [s] and staying loyal to the Muslim community, especially during hardship. 10. Who are the Munafiqoon [hypocrites]? They were the people who claimed to be followers of the Prophet [s], but in reality, they were not sincere. They were constantly working to destroy the Muslims. 11. By the end of the campaign, there was a threat on the Prophet s [s] life. Describe what happened. Some of the hypocrites tried to kill the Prophet [s] during the journey back to Madinah. They thought they could seize the opportunity when the Prophet [s] was on his camel near the edge of a cliff. They attempted to cause him to fall off that cliff, but Allah warned His Prophet about their wicked plot. The Prophet [s] was guarded by Ammar [ra] and Huthayfah [ra] who struck the heads of the attackers camels causing them to flee. The Companions asked for permission to capture and kill the wicked culprits who attempted to kill the Messenger [s], but he [s] refused saying that he did not want the Arabs to think that he killed his companions. 12. Briefly describe at least two of the miracles demonstrated by the Prophet [s] during the journey to Tabook. One morning the people woke up with no water and complained to the Prophet [s]. He implored and made du a to Allah, Who sent a cloud that rained on them until they quenched their thirst and they took with them with their supply of water. When the Messenger [s] lost his she-camel and a hypocrite was mocking and saying that the Prophet [s] gets revelation, yet did not know a simple thing like where his camel was. At that very instance, Allah revealed the location of the she-camel to the Messenger [s] and she was found at that exact same spot. 13. Describe how a traveller can combine and shorten the Prayer. By the example of the Prophet [s] in the return journey, he combined Thuhr and Asr during the time of Thuhr. It can also be combined during the time of Asr. He also combined Maghrib and Isha in the time of Maghrib. It can also be combined in the time of Isha All the four-raka at Prayers were shortened to two Raka ats. However, the two Raka ats of Fajr and three Raka ats will not be shortened.
D2: Honesty Saves The Story of the Three Who Missed Tabook 1. Who were the believers who stayed in Madinah behind the Prophet [s] without a good excuse? While the hypocrites, the weak, the ill and the aged stayed by permission, Ka b bin Malik, Murarah ibn-ur-rabee and Hilal ibn Umayyah stayed behind because of procrastination and lack of sense of urgency to follow the orders of the Prophet [s]. 2. What made Ka b [ra] stay behind? It was nothing but procrastination that made Ka b stay behind. He thought he would join the army later, but it became too late, and the Prophet [s] and the army had gone too far off. 3. What did Ka b tell the Prophet [s] when he explained why he stayed behind? He had no good excuse for staying behind. He told the truth that that he was strong and wealthy but still stayed behind, thinking he would join the army later until it was too late. 4. What did the hypocrites tell the Prophet [s]? Did he believe them? The hypocrites gave senseless excuses like the summer heat and mostly told lies. The Messenger [s] did not believe them but still excused them. There was no point arguing with them as they were not Muslims who feared Allah. 5. What punishment did Ka b and his two counterparts receive from Allah? The Prophet [s] was directed to tell the Ummah that no one was to speak to them. This boycott extended to not even saying salaam to them. The Prophet [s], further, stopped looking at them even. The disbelievers started taking advantage of this Muslim in-fighting and called Ka b to join their tribe where they support him. However, Ka b refused them. Finally, during the last ten days of their ordeal, the Prophet [s] asked them to be separated from their wives. This went on for fifty days, the same time period it took to complete the expedition of Tabook. 6. How did the ordeal of Ka b end? His ordeal ended with forgiveness and reconciliation. Allah revealed Ayaat in the Qur'an forgiving Ka b and his two companions. Ka b gave Sadaqah: a charitable contribution as compensation for his wrong action.
7. What was the greatest lesson Ka b learned during the course of the ordeal he went through? To obey the directions of the Prophet [s] without any hesitation or procrastination as he [s] receives guidance from Allah. Hence, obeying the Messenger [s] meant obeying Allah Himself. 8. Who died shortly after the Prophet [s] returned to Madinah? Describe what the Prophet [s] did about that. The leader of the Hypocrites, Abdullah ibn Salool, died shortly after the Prophet [s] returned to Madinah from the expedition of Tabook. He [s], who had a kind heart, prayed for his forgiveness, despite the earlier revelation that he would not be forgiven.
Unit F2 Dangerous Lifestyles 1 Alcoholic Beverages: The Mother of All Evils 1. What is the Islamic ruling on al-khamr? In Islam, alcohol is forbidden. 2. Describe how Allah gradually prohibited drinking wine. Allah prohibited drinking wine in three stages. One day, a group of Companions brought up the evils of alcohol to the Prophet [s]. Hence, Allah revealed ayaat explaining that alcohol had some benefits and some sin and that sin was greater. On another occasion, a group of Companions were praying together when their imam made mistakes in Surat-ul-Falaq. Soon Allah revealed the ayaat making it prohibited to pray while under the influence of alcohol. Finally, a Companion complained to the Prophet [s] about an argument that was followed by a fight the previous night under the influence of alcohol. Subsequently, Allah s Messenger [s] prayed to Allah asking Him for guidance once and for all. The people were ready for it and hence finally, alcohol was completely forbidden. 3. Determine if the following statements are true or false: a. Alcohol may be halal if someone drinks only a little bit. False. b. Drinking alcohol is absolutely haram whether the drinker becomes drunk or not. True c. It took a while before Allah prohibited drinking wine. True 4. Write three reasons for the prohibition of alcoholic drinks in Islam. a. Alcohol is forbidden because it is Satan s handiwork and avoidance of it will lead to prosperity. b. It creates hatred and tension among people and opens the restraint to all the major sins. c. It wastes money and leads to crime. 5. Who said Khamr is the mother of all sins. Explain why he thought so. The Messenger [s] said these words.
He [s] said so because after drinking alcohol, the mind becomes unsteady and unclear. It is addictive. It causes accidents and accidental deaths. it unleashes passions and people are unable to restrain themselves. It may cause the person to commit other sins without realizing it. For example, one day, a pious man was forced to drink. He eventually got frunk. The next day, he found out that after he got drunk, he had committed murder and adultery. The alcohol caused him to commit two other major sins without him realizing it. This shows how dangerous alcohol is. 6. The Messenger [s] cursed ten types of people who deal with Khamr. Who are they? They are those who make it, Those who help make it. Those who drink it, Those who buy it, Those for whom it is bought, Those who sell it, Those who deliver it, Those who receive it, Those who serve it, and Those who use the money made from it. 7. How would Allah punish the person who drinks wine in this life? Support your answer with a Hadeeth. The person who drinks alcohol, his Prayers will not be accepted for forty days. The Messenger [s] said, If anyone drinks any alcoholic drinks, God will not accept his Prayer for forty days 8. Describe one type of punishment awaiting alcohol drinkers in the Hereafter. Support your answer with a Hadeeth. Allah will punish alcohol drinkers by not giving them to drink it in the hereafter. The Messenger [s] said, Whoever drinks Khamr in this life and dies while he is addicted to it will never drink it in the hereafter. 9. What are some social harms of drinking alcohol? Besides alcohol being a waste of money, it causes many social harms like accidents and innocent lives are lost. It leads to addiction, self-harm, social conflict and fighting. It also leads to great sins such as adultery and murder. 10. In Sūrat-ul-Maidah, Allah mentioned that Shaytan makes people do three wrong behaviours after drinking alcohol. What are those wrong actions? Shaytan enjoys seeing Muslims forgetting about Salat, and not remembering Allah [Dhikr]. Further, he enjoys Muslim brothers and sisters fight one another.