I.R.E QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - Atika School

State the teaching of Suratul HujuraT

12/5/2019

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Teachings of Suratul Hujurat

STATE THE TEACHING OF SURATUL HUJURAT

This Surah begins by bringing up a point in regards to having discipline and order, while in the presence of Allah and His Messenger. The meaning of this discipline and order is that the Muslims must learn the commandments and legislations of the religion from Allah and must not let their own inner desires and whims lead them to formulating laws and regulations.
The people who have true faith are instructed and commanded how they should speak to their leaders. They should be humble and show respect whenever speaking to their leaders not to raise their voices.
The people who have true faith are also commanded that when they are given news or testimony about another person from one who commits sins in the open, is known for his wicked ways or is not scared of his transgressions (against the laws of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He), that they must not accept such a testimony from him and must stay away from all forms of rumors and gossip.
The general thoughts and opinions of the people have absolutely no value when compared to the orders and directives of the infallible Prophet (blessings of Allah be upon him and his progeny).
It is incumbent upon every Muslim that he strives for peace, and to attain this goal he must stand up against the oppressors so that he would be able to uphold the truth and maintain the rights of the oppressed.
All Muslims are brothers (and sisters) of and equal to one another and it is incumbent that they all endeavor to ensure that peace and happiness are established amongst themselves.
A Muslim does not have the right to make fun of another Muslim.
It is forbidden to find or pick faults in other people according to the teachings of Islam.
A true believer does not have the right to call his brother in faith by a nickname or bad name.
It is forbidden (haram) to think bad thoughts about a believing brother (or sister).
It is expressly forbidden to spy on or pry into the secrets and private life and affairs of other people.
It is a major sin to speak bad things behind the back of another Muslim.
In this Surah, the issue of racial superiority has also been brought to an end and the only criteria for judging who is better (than another person) is one’s merit, piety and abstinence from those things which Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has forbidden and by keeping away from all sins.

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Why is it important to memorize the Quran?

11/5/2019

PREVIOUSLY << GIVE REASONS WHY THE QURAN IS THE LAST AND FINAL WORD OF GOD.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO MEMORIZE THE QURAN

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO MEMORIZE THE QURAN?

Why it is important to memorize the Quran.

Whoever memorizes Qur’an and acts upon it; Allah will reward him and honor him greatly for that, so that he will rise in status in Paradise to a level ommensurate with what hememorized of the Book of Allah. Ibn 'Amr reported that the Prophet (S.A.W) said: "It will be said to the companion of the Qur’an after he has entered Paradise, 'Recite, and rise!' For every verse he recites he will rise one level (in Paradise), until he recites the last verse with him (i.e., in his memory)." (Abu Dawood)
The Parents of the Memorizer of the Qur'an will receive the highest Honor of wearing a crown on the Day of Judgment. It was narrated that Buraydah said: “The Prophet (s.a.w) said: ‘Whoever reads the Qur’an, learns it and acts in accordance with it, on the Day of Resurrection his parents will be given a crown to wear whose light will be like the light of the sun, and his parents will be given garments which far surpass everything to be found in this world. They will say, “Why have we been given this to wear?” It will be said, “Because your child learned the Qur’an.”3
For every letter the Memorizer of the Qur'an recites is rewarded ten times or more. The Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Whoever recites one Word from the Book of Allah will be rewarded for a good deed and ten more like it; and I don’t say that Alif Lam Mim is a letter but Alif is a letter and Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter” (Tirmidhi & Al-Darami)
The Qur'an will intercede for the Memorizer of the Qur'an: It was narrated that Abu Umaamah al-Baahili said: “I heard the Prophet (s.a.w) say: ‘Recite the Qur’an, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection to intercede for its companions. Recite the two bright ones, al-Baqarah and Surat Aal ‘Imraan, for they will come on the Day of Resurrection like two clouds or two shades or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading for those who recite them. Recite Surat al-Baqarah for to take recourse to it is a blessing and to give it up is a cause of grief, and the magicians cannot confront it.” (Muslim and Al-Bukhaari).
The memorizer of the Qur’an will be granted Jannah so long as he followed the lawful and kept away from the prohibited. Hadrat Ali (RA) reports that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Anyone who knows the Quran by heart and follows the lawful and the prohibited according to it, he will be sent to Heaven by Allah .” (Tirmidhi).
There is double reward for those who try hard to memorise the Qur'an Aisha that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: The likeness of the one who reads Quran and memorizes it is that he is with the righteous honorable scribes. The likeness of the one who reads it and tries hard to memorize it even though it is difficult for him, he will have (at least) a double reward. (Al-Bukhaari)
It is among the methods of preserving the message of the Quran hence enabling its perpetuation to the next generation.
Memorization of the Quran is an act of ibadah, hence one is rewarded by Allah(s.w)
Those who memorize the Quran are held in high esteem in the Ummah.
It helps in remembering and understanding the content of the Quran.
To maintain accuracy of the message of the Quran.
Those who have memorized the Quran are highly sought after and valued by the Islamic learning institutions and universities and the world of scholarship.
Necessary for perfection of prayer.

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Give reasons why the Quran is the Last and Final Word of God.

11/5/2019

PREVIOUSLY >> OUTLINE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SHEIKH ABDALLAH FARSY TO EDUCATION IN EAST AFRICA

Give reasons why the Quran is the Last and Final Word of God.

GIVE REASONS WHY THE QURAN IS THE LAST AND FINAL WORD OF GOD

Quran was given to the last Prophet, no other Prophet will come after Muhammad (s.a.w) and thus his revelation was considered the final revelation.
The Quran is a miracle, it is beyond human power, and this is because no human being can reproduce a copy similar to it.
The Quran is addressed to the whole mankind whereas the previous revelations were addressed to a particular people, for instance, Taurat was meant for the Jews only.
The message of the Quran is eternal, since it is applicable anywhere around the world and at all times its judgment is perfect putting in consideration the question of equity.
It guards the previous revelations and restores eternal truth thus guiding humanity to the straight path.
The teaching of the Quran is all encompassing, dealing with all aspects of life e.g. moral, Legal, political, social, economical and international relations.
It teaches about the histories of the past nations and their Prophets, an indication that it is addressing the last Ummah no nation will come after it.
The other revealed books were revealed before the Quran, this is because the teachings of the other revelations are included in the Quran thus the final revelation.
The earlier revelation has given a prophecy of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) that he will come to complete the chain of Prophethood.
Other Prophets were sent to their own nations to give guidance but the message of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was for all humanity.
The Quran is a complete book of guidance as it is a complete way of life.
Prophet Muhammad to whom the Quran was revealed is the Seal of the prophets, the final decisive Prophet after whom no more will come. He is Allah’s decisive messenger to whom the revelation of Quran was vouchsafed.

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Outline the contributions of Sheikh Abdallah Farsy to education in East Africa

5/11/2018

Contribution of Sheikh Abdallah Farsy to education in East Africa

He translated the Quran into Kiswahili
He presented programs on radio
He traveled widely in East Africa to propagate Islam
He was a prolific writer who wrote many works i.e Hidayatul atfal
He confronted the Qadiani movement by writing many discourses against their unislamic beliefs i.e. Ubaya wa Uqadiyyani

He fought hard against Bida practices among Muslims
He published pamphlets used in the spread of Islam
He was a teacher and a scholar of Islam
He fought for the inclusion of Arabic and I.R.E in the secular school
He served as an inspector in Arabic and I.R.E department in Zanzibar.

Give a brief life history of Al-Amin Mazrui

5/11/2018

Briefly life history of Al-Amin Mazrui

He was born in Mombasa in January 1891
His full names were Al-Amin Ibn Ali Bin Abdullah Nafi Al Mazrui
He belonged to famous Al Mazrui family, which migrated from Oman to Kenya in 18th Century
He lost his father when he was only four years and was brought up Sh. Suleiman Bin Ali Al Mazrui who became the chief Kadhi in 1932

As a young boy Sh. Al Amin Al Mazri received his early Islamic education from Sh. Suleiman
He also traveled to Zanzibar to study Islamic education under several Muslim scholars e.g. Sh. Ahmed Ibn Bakhir
His grandfather was a prominent scholar who belonged to Shafii School of law
He died in April 1947 at the age of 56 having devoted most of his time in service of Islam
He had three sons and one daughter, one of his sons became a D.C in Lamu and other, Ali Mazrui is a professor and a lecturer in a university in America and currently the chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University.

The practice of slavery was prominent in pre-Islamic Arabia, what Islamic message did the prophet (saw) bring to improve the status of slaves?

5/11/2018

How the prophet improved the lives of the slaves

The prophet (saw) advocated for the freeing of slaves
Islam advocated for killing of those who kill slaves in order to respect their right to life
Slaves are the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, therefore, should be treated fairly by their masters.

Slaves should be dressed and fed properly by their master
Salves sold not be assigned to a task beyond their power
Islam condemns a person who sells free men and spends the price
In a number of offences, the Sheria has prescribed the freeing of slaves as a means of expiation

What role did the Muslims from Oman play in bringing about the downfall of the Portuguese in East African?

5/11/2018

The role of Oman Arabs in the downfall of the Portuguese

They opposed Portuguese rule in the East Africa Coast
They promoted the spread of Islamic culture and hence undermined the spread of Christianity
Many people admired the Islamic culture and identified themselves with the Muslims as contrasted with Christians

The Portuguese lost some territories to the Omani Arabs leading to their weak authority in the territory
Omani Arabs were friendly to indigenous people as opposed to the supported Omani Arabs and Islam
They rebelled against them
The Portuguese experienced poor administration contrasted with the Omani Arab rulers
They (Portuguese) imposed heavy taxation thus inspired local people to do so which led t their decline.

Give reasons why the Portuguese wanted to drive Muslims out of East African coast in the 16th and 17th centuries

5/11/2018

Why the Portuguese wanted to drive the Muslim out of East Coast of Africa

They wanted to control the trade along the East Coast of Africa
They wanted to spread Christianity
They (Arabs) opposed the heavy taxation imposed on them

They wanted rule region
They wanted to stop slave trade which was associated with the Arabs.

Identify five qualities of the holy prophet (saw) evidenced by the Taif incidence.

5/11/2018

Qualities of the prophet evidence in Taif

Persevering – despite all the opposition and oppression he met from the people, he persevered to fulfill his mission.
He was very sympathetic as he prayed for them to be forgiven by Allah (sw)

He was steadfast
He was dedicated to his mission
He was merciful.

Explain how the constitution of Madina helped in establishing peace in the city of Madina

5/11/2018

How the Madina constitution helps in establishing peace in Madina

It safeguarded the rights of Makkans and the Jews
It gave a guarantee to individual rights.
All parties were to remain united in peace as well as war

The city of Madina was regarded as sacred.
Strangers who came under the protection of its citizens were to be treated on equal terms
No party was allowed to make separate agreement with a third party
All disputes were to be referred to the prophet (saw) for arbitration.