In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful

  AL-AQA’ID – I
 
The Beliefs

Question and Answers
 
1. What is Iman (Faith)?
ASH-HADU AN LA ILAHA ILLALLAHU WA-ASH HADU ANNA MUHAMMADAN ABDUHU WA RASULUHU. (I bear witness that there is no deity save Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger). To say this and believe it at heart, and to express faith in whatever the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) had described as the essential duties of religion.

2. What is Islam?
A. I) To pray five times a day,
II) To pay the legal Alms (Zakat) to the deserving,
III) To observe the Fasts of Ramazan,
IV) To make the pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj).  
3. What is Ihsan?
IHSAN means, to worship Allah with perfect concentration assuming that He is in front of you and you are seeing him, and if you are unable to see Him, worship Allah assuming that He is watching you.
 
4. What is TAUHEED?
To believe in Unity of God and not to associate any created being with Him and His Attributes.

5. What are the Attributes (Sifat) of Allah?
Allah is Omniscient and Omnipotent; He is alive, He listens, sees, talks and acts with intention.

6. Does Allah know everything?
He knows everything, hidden or apparent, and He knows whatever, we say, act and intend in our hearts.
 
 7. Is Allah Omnipotent (al-Qader)?
Yes, Allah has the power to create or wipe out everything, and to recreate, liquidate and revive the whole world within a moment. He has created with His power, the earth, heavens, sun, moon, innumerable stars and living and non-living things. Therefore, He is the one who has created us and we are His slaves.

8. Are there any people who associate the created beings with Allah, the Almighty?
Yes. Hindus make the idols with their hands, and believe in them as associates of God and worship them. The Parsis (Magians or Majus) worship the sun and fire and believe in two Gods: one who creates the virtue and other evil. Christians also believe in trinity or three Gods, hence all of them are polytheists (Mushrik).

9. Is it not permissible to believe in polytheists?
Yes, having belief in polytheism is Kufr.

10. What is the meaning of KUFR?
Literally Kufr means ‘That which covers the truth’. But in Islamic Law (Shari’ah), Kufr means, associating any thing with Allah and his Attributes, or declining His Commands, or disbelieving in angles, Holy Scriptures and the day of Judgement, or disbelieving in the good and evil being the creatures f God, or denying the existence of the punishment of the grave and torment of the Hell after death, or denying the resurrection, accountability of the deeds, existence of Paradise and Hell, and considering a habited (Haram) thing as permissible (Halal) or vice versa.  

11. Who are the Angels?
The Angels are very obedient slaves of Allah who never commit any mistakes.
 
12. Are the angels identical with human beings?
No, they are not offsprings of Adam (AS), but they were born before him.
 
13. Are they made of clay?
A. No, they are not made of clay but of light (Noor). God has created them with the light (Noor).
 
14. Are the Angels visible to the people?
They are not visible to everybody.
 
15. Why the angels are not visible to everyone?
The bodies of the angels are very pure, and the purest things are not visible, therefore, the angels too are not visible. Look at and think about few of the creatures of God, amongst which we live in and move about, like air which is not visible.
 
16. Where do all these angels live?
They live in the heavens and on the earth. Some of them descend from the heavens to the earth and ascend from the earth to the heavens.
 
17. Are the angels visible to any human being?
The angels are visible to some of the human-beings, like Prophets, who not only see them but can talk to them too.
 
18. Why are the angels visible to Prophets?
Allah, out of His benevolence, has created some of the human beings as clean and enlightened, and their soul and heart are no less than that of the angels in purity and enlightenedness. Hence the angels are visible to them.
 
19. Why does Allah send the angels to such people?
Allah sends the aforementioned pious people towards His servants, to guide them towards right path and to make them practice the deeds which pleases Him, and He makes them His deputies and teach them good things and good deeds through the angels, who talk with them and convey His message to them. Subsequently, these pious servants pass on the Commands of Allah to His servants, and invite them towards Allah. Such pious servants are called as the Prophets.

20. Do the angels also pray to God?
Verily they pray to God. Some of them are in the posture of Ruku’ (bowing down) while some of them in Prostration (Sajdah). They do as they are ordained.
 
21. How many angels are superior among them (archangels) and what are their names?
The archangels are four: Jibril(AS) or Gabriel, Mika’il(AS) or Micheal, Izra’il (AS) and Israfil (AS).

22. What are their assignments?
A. Jibrail (AS) brings WAHY to the Prophets from Allah. Mika’il (AS) takes necessary measures to provide means of living (RIZQ) to human beings and animals. Izra’il (AS) seizes and carries away the soul of the living creatures at the time of their death.
Israfil (AS) will sound the trumpet whenever ordered by Allah.
The trumpet will be blown twice; at the first sound, the whole world, heavens, earth and all of their contents shall perish, and at the second, the world and everything shall revive.
 
23. Which angel is the most distinguished amongst them?
Hazrath Jibril (AS) is the most distinguished amongst them. Allah Ta’ala Himself had praised him in the Holy Qur’an, and mentioned him as the ‘Chief of the Angels’ (Archangel).
 
24. How many angels are there?
Except Allah the Almighty, nobody knows the number of angels.
 
25. What is the meaning of WAHY?
Literally Wahy means, ‘to write’ or ‘a book’, but in Islamic Law (Shara’), Wahy is the name of Divine Revelations to the angels and the prophets, from Allah, the Almighty.
 
26. Is WAHY revealed on the prophets through angels or by Allah Himself?
A. Sometimes, Allah reveals Wahy on the prophets through the angels, and sometimes He Himself reveals it directly without any medium, such as Allah conversed with the Prophet Moses (AS).
 
27. How many kinds of Wahy are there?
A. Three:
1) Wahyu Ilham, which means Allah inspires any Order or News in the heart of His servants, and the pious servant understands it.
 
2) In the Second type of Wahy, Allah Himself converse with his servants.
 
These two kinds of Wahy are revealed on both the Prophets as well as Non-Prophets.
 
3) In the Third type of Wahy, Allah imparts instructions to His servants through an angel. This kind of Wahy is received only by the Prophets of Allah.
 
28. Could all of these inspirations (Wahy) be compiled?
Yes, collection of such inspirations or revelations is called as ‘Book of God’ or Holy Scripture, provided, the Prophet or the Caliph of God discloses that God has instructed him in these words, and this is the word of God, not his.
 
29. How many ‘Books of God’ are there?
Islamic Theology (Shari’ah) says that, the Holy Books of Allah are four in number, in addition to SAHIFAS (A small book or pamphlet).
 
30. What is Sahifah?
Sahifah and Book are same, but whichever collection of revelations is named as ‘Sahifah’ by Allah is called as ‘Sahifah’, and whichever collection is named as ‘The Book’ by Allah, is called as ‘The Book’.
 
31. What are the names of the Holy Books?
Taurat (Torah), Zubur (Psalms), Injil (Bible) and Holy Qur’an.
 
32. What are the names of the Sahifaf?
A. Allah has not disclosed the names of the Sahifafas, but they are named after the  Prophets, on whom they were reveled. Such as ‘Sahifas of Adam (AS)’, ‘The Sahifas of Ibrahim (AS)’.

33. What are the names of the Prophets who possessed the Holy Books?
A. Taurat (Torah) was given to Prophet Moses (Musa A.S).
Zubur (Psalms) was given to Prophet David (Dawud A.S).
Injil (Bible) was given to Prophet Jesus (Isa A.S).
Holy Qur’an was revealed upon the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh), ‘The Seal of the Prophets’.
 
34. What are the contents of ‘The Books of God’?
A. The Books of God contain different kinds of subjects:

i) The Essence of God (ZATU ‘LLAH), His Attributes, Angles, Events of the Day of Judgment (QIYAMAT), Paradise, Hell Reward and Punishment;
ii) Methods and kinds of devotion to Allah (IBADAH);
iii) Rules and regulations of worldly transactions (MUA’MILAT);
iv)Account of past prophets and their followers as well as news about the forthcoming Caliphs;
v) Good advices (Nusuh) and Parables (Amthal)
 
35.Are these four books in the same language or different?
A.The language of Taurah is Ibrani (Hebrew), of Injil and Zabur is Suryani (Syriac) and the language of the Holy Qur’an is Arabic.
 
36. What is the reason behind the Books being in different languages?
A. The Books of God are revealed in the concerned languages of the prophets and their nations.

37. What are the meanings of NABI and RASOOL?
A. The meanings were mentioned earlier, but repeated here too. NABI is a pious and venerable person, Allah has created for the guidance of His servants, and he is instructed through the angel Jibra’il. Whereas, RASOOL or Messenger is a NABI who is being sent towards any nation for its guidance.
 
38. How many types of RASOOL are there?
A. RASOOL (Messenger) are of two types: One who possesses a Book or upon whom a Holy Book was revealed, and the other type who was not given any Book, and most of the prophets belong to this category.
 
39. How many kinds of the messengers (RASOOL) are there, who were given the Books?
They are of two kinds. First, who was given a Holy Book as well as a new Law (Shari’ah), viz. Prophet Moses (pbuh), Prophet Jesus (pbuh), and the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Second, who was given only a Book but not a new Law, viz. Prophet David (AS), as he was given Zabur but it did not contain any new Law, and Prophet David (Daw’ud A.S) was following the Laws of Prophet Moses (Moosa A.S).                                                                                                    
 
40. Where any Prophets permitted to perform such an act, which other persons cannot?
A. Yes. Manifestation of such acts is possible from the prophets, which other people are unable to perform and such kind of act is called as ‘M’UJIZAH (Miracle).
 
41. Is the Mujizah (Miracle) an act of the prophet himself or of Allah the Almighty?
A. Mujizah is an act of Allah which emanates on the request of a Nabi. Allah Ta’ala evince such an act through the Nabi. Such an act would be unnatural and the people cannot match it.
 
42. What is the definition of ‘KHALIFAT-ULLAH’ (Caliph of God)?
A. Khalifa’tullah is one who possesses the qualities of the prophets, receive instructions from Allah, and invite people towards Allah as per His Commands. The Caliphs of God are of two types: One who receives instructions from Allah as well as through the angel Jibra’il, and such type of Khalifah is a NABI. The other type of Kalifah receives instructions from Allah alone, and not through Jibra’il, and such a person is a ‘Caliph of God’ only, but not a Nabi or Rasool.

43. Are there any prophets, amongst the angels?
A. Yes. Allah Ta’ala has mentioned in the Holy Qur’an that the angel Jibra’il is a prophet.
 
44. It is known that the prophets do exist amongst the human-beings and the angels, but was there any prophet among the Jinns(Genii)?
A. It is not proved by any authentic Tradition that; there was any prophet among the Jinns.

45. Is there any other reason for that?
The apparent reason is that, the Jinns are made of fire, hence they have more heat and anger, and where the anger is more, the wisdom would be less, and a stupid will not be able to graps the Wahy and carry it to the people. It means, their nature is not suitable for the job of guidance. Therefore, they cannot become a prophet. 

46. Was there any prophet among women?
A. No. Existance of any prophetess is not proved.

47. Where all the prophets of the same status or different?
A. The prophet who was given a Holy Book and a New Law (Shari’ah), is distinguished than those who were not given any Book or Law.  

48. Are the prophets being sent for guidance of their own people or all human beings?
Amongst all the prophets, only Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) was born for the guidance of all the progeny of Adam (AS). No other prophet except him, was sent for guidance of the whole world. Every Prophet was sent on a particular piece of land, to guide the people of that country, and to invite them towards Allah. For example, Hazrath Ibrahim(AS)was sent for guidance(Hidayat), to the city of Babil (Babel), Hazrath Loot(AS) was sent as a prophet to the city of Moliqkat(Sodom). Sodom and the other neighboring cities were overthrown by divine wrath. Hazrath Yaqub(AS) was sent to the city of Kan’an (Canaan), Hazrath Moosa(AS) to Egypt, Hazrath Shu’aib(AS)to the city of Madyan, Hazrath Hud(AS) was sent to the tribe of ‘Aad’, Hazrath Saleh(AS) was sent to the tribe of ‘Samud’ and Hazrath Isa(AS) was sent to the Jews. But Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was sent for guidance and reformation of all mankind as well as Jinns.  

49. Who was the first prophet and who was the last?
Hazrath Adam (AS) was the first Prophet before all else, and Hazrath Muhammad (pbuh) was the last prophet.

50. Was there no prophet before Adam (AS)?
There was no human being before Adam (AS). All humanity is the progeny of Adam (AS). He is also called as ‘Abul Bashar’ (father of the mankind). His wife Hawwa (Eve) was also born from him only.

51. Did Allah create him without a father and a mother?
Indeed Allah created him without any father and mother, and made him His Caliph on earth.

52. Which people were guided by Adam (AS) and saved from going astray?
Adam (AS) guided his own children and taught them the Commands of Allah.

53. Did Allah reveal any Book upon Adam (AS)?
No Book was revealed upon Adam (AS), but Sahifas’ (pamphlets), and he was instructed to follow these Sahifas’.

54. What were the names of the parents of Prophet Muhammad (pbhu)?
His father’s name was Abdulla and his mother’s name was Bibi Aamina.

55. Which prophet’s descendant was Muhammad (pbuh)?
He was the descendant of Prophet Ibrahim Khalilulla..

56. How many sons did Ibrahim (AS) have and what were their names?
There were two sons to Ibrahim (AS), and they were: Is’haque (Isaac) and Isma’il (Ishmael).  
 
57. Were they both prophets?
Yes. Both of them were prophets.

58. Were they real brothers or stepbrothers?
Hajira was the mother of Isma’il (AS) and Sarah was the mother of Is’haque (AS).

59. Where did both the prophets live?
Isma’il (AS) was living in Makkah with his mother, and Is’haque (AS) was living in Syria with his mother.

60. Whose descendant was Muhammad (pbuh)?
A. He was the descendant of Isma’il (AS).

61. How many sons did Is’haque (AS) have?
Generally it is believed that he had two sons. Viz. Ais (AS) and Yaqub (AS). Yaqub (AS) was the Prophet, and was also known as ‘Israel’. He had twelve sons, all if them together were known as ‘Bani-Israel’.

62. What were the names of the twelve sons?
Yahuza, Roubel, Sham’un, Lawi, Rabaloon, Yashjar, Wadan, Naftali, Jad, Aasher, Joseph, and Bin Yamin.

63. Which son’s descendant was Moosa (AS)?
He was the descendant of Lawi.

64. Whose descendant was Daw’ud (AS)?
He was the descendant of Yahuza.

65. Whose descendent was Isa (AS)?
He was the descendant of Suleiman (AS) son of Daw’ud (AS). Mary, the
mother of Isa (AS) was the granddaughter of Sulaiman (AS).

66. Was Daw’ud (AS) not having a new Law (Shari’ah)?
A. As mentioned earlier, Prophet Daw’ud(AS) was following the Law of
Moosa(AS). Though Allah revealed ‘Zabur’ upon him, it contained prayers (Du’a) only, not Commands.

67. Where did Prophet Muhammed(pbuh) live?
A. He was born and lived at Makkah.

68.  Were the parents and grand parents of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) also living in Makkah?
A. Yes, They were living in Makkah.

69. What is the well-known lineage of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)?
A. Muhammad b. Abdullah b. Abdul Muttalib b. Abd Munaf b. Qus’i b. Kilab b. Marrah b. Ka’ab b. Luwi b. Galib b. Faher b. Malik b. Nazar b. Kinaanah b. Khuzaimah b. Mudrikah b. Ilyas b. Muzer b. Nazaar b. Sa’ad b. Adnan.

70. Were the parents of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) alive till he was made a prophet?
A. No. They died during his childhood.

71. Then who brought up Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)?
A. His uncle Abu Talib took care of him.

72. Was Abu Talib present during the period of his prophecy?
A. Though he was present, his acceptance of Faith is not established.

73. At what age did Muhammad (pbuh) become a prophet?
A. At the age of forty he became a prophet.

74. Describe few of the well known virtues(sifat) of Prophet Muhammad(pbuh)?
A. He was very Sagacious, Sincere, Just, Courageous, Abstinent, Virtuous, Honest, an ally in righteousness, Benevolent, Gracious, Sympathiser of everybody, Forgiving, and Generous. Moreover, he was possessing thousands of good qualities. He was always busy in devotion to God, day and night contemplating Allah in his mind.

75. What were the initial circumstances of his prophecy?  
A. The Prophet (pbuh) was experiencing real dreams, with clear and unambiguous interpretation, and the same becoming true which he had been shown in the dream.

76. When did Muhammad (pbuh) believe that he was a prophet?
A. Once, at the age of forty, as usual he went to the cave of mount HIRA, for a devotion to God, and when he was busy in prayer, suddenly an angle appeared before him, stood with dignity, and asked him to recite the Surah of Iqra. He replied; ‘I don’t know recitation’. Then the angel took hold of him and squeezed him. Again he said that he don’t know recitation. Again the angel squeezed him. Likewise, the angel squeezed him three times, and made him recite the Surah IQR’A. Thereafter, the angel disappeared.

77. Who was the angel?
A. The angel was Hazrath Jibra’il (AS).

78. When the Prophet(pbuh) saw him all at once, was he in human form?
A. The Prophet(pbuh) saw Jibra’il in his original form, with high stature. When the angel disappeared, the Prophet(pbuh) left the Cave of Hira, and reached home. He narrated all the events to his wife Kadija-tul-Kubra(RA). After listening the details, she said that ‘indeed you are a prophet’. Later on she took him to a pious person Warqa bin Noufil, and apprised him to the events. Warqa was an eminent scholar of the Holy Book ‘Taurat’. After listening to the story of Muhammad(pbuh), he said that, this is the same angel who brings Wahy towards the prophets. The same angel was sighted by Prophet Moses (AS). If the same angel is seen by Muhammad (pbuh) at the Cave of Hira, then Muhammad (pbuh) will become a Prophet. There is no doubt in his prophecy. He is the same venerable prophet the good news of whose advent is mentioned in Taurat and Injil, by God. If I be alive, I would support you. Later Warqa died.

79. Who were the first persons to believe in the prophecy of Muhammad(pbuh)?
A. First of all, his wife Kadija-tul-Kubra(RA) expressed faith in him, followed by Ali(may God honor him), a young boy of seven or eight years. Among the elders, Abu Bakar Siddique (RA) was the first to believe in the Prophet. It is well know that Ali(RA) never indulged in idol-worship.

80. When did Umer(RA) believed in Muhammad(pbuh)?
A. He accepted the Faith after about five years of the prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh). The Prophet used to pray Allah beseeching for Divine Guidance to Umer and Abu Jahl, to make them accept Islam. The prayer for Umer (RA) was answered and he embraced Islam, after which, the enthusiasm for Faith spread amongst the people and Islam strengthened.

81. When did Usman (RA) accept the Faith?
A. Usman bin Affan (RA) believed in Muhammad (pbuh), soon after his prophethood.

82. Why is Usman (RA) known as ‘Zun-Noorayn’?
A. The messenger of God (pbuh), had given in marriage, two of his daughters to Usman (RA), viz. Raqaiyah (RA) and Kulsum (RA).

83. Why did he (prophet) migrate to Madinah from Makkah?
A. When the infidels of Makkah resorted to his persecution, Allah ordained him to proceed to Madinah, therefore, he went to Madinah.

84. How many years did the Prophet (pbuh) stay at Makkah after his prophethood?
A. He stayed at Makkah for ten years.

85. How many years did he live in Madinah?
A. Thirteen years.

86. Totally in how many years was the holy Qur’an revealed upon him?
A. Twenty-three years.

87. Had he been to Makkah again during that period?
A. Yes, he went to Makkah and was prevented by infidels, but a compromise was made, and he performed Hajj in the following year. When Islam gained momentum and strength, Makkah was conquered and everybody embraced Islam.

88. After capturing Makkah, did he stay at Makkah or not?
A. The Prophet (pbuh) did not stay at Makkah, and returned to Madinah, where he died. His tomb is situated at Madinah.

89. How many wives survived the Prophet (pbuh)?
A. Nine.

90. What are their names?
A. Juwairiyah, Ayeshah, Zainab, Hafsah, Ummu Salmah, Ummu Habibah, Saudah bint Zam’ah, Maimunah and Safiyah.

91. What are the other virtues(Faza’il) of Prophet Muhammad(Pbuh)?
A. Prophet Muhammed(Pbuh) was “The Seal of the Prophets” (KHATIM-ul-AMBIYA), which means, he is the last prophet to possess a Law (Shari’ah), and no such prophet will appear after him. He was most reverend amongst and Chief of all Prophets. He has the power of Intercession(Shafa’ah), which means, Allah has ordained him to intercede for those who have committed sins, thus the sinners shall be pardoned. He is the man of MI’RAJ, which means, he ascended the heavens upon SIDRAT-UL-MUNTAHA (The Lote-tree of the extremity), and even beyond it, and saw the Paradise and the Hell. The authentic Traditions prove that, he also had a vision of God. His Law (Shari’ah) will remain intact till the Day of Judgment. Magnificent miracles were performed by him.

92. Where is the ‘Sidrat’ul-Muntaha’ and what is it?
A. Sidrat-ul-Muntaha is situated at the seventh heaven, and this is a tree of prickly plum’Jujuba’(Ber). In the night of Meraj, the Prophet(pbuh) saw the tree covered with some thing, but its actuality could not be ascertained. ‘Sidrah’ is the abode for Jibra’il (AS), and he is not permitted to go beyond this boundary, and at this place, Allah reveals WAHY upon him.

93. What is the meaning of MI’RAJ?
A. Mi’raj means a ‘ladder’, as well as ‘ascension’.

94. What is the meaning of the phrase, that the Messenger of God (pbuh) had a Mi’raj?
A. It means that the Messenger of God (pbuh) has ascended the heights.

95. In which month and date did the Mi’raj occur?
A. The prophet (pbuh) ascended to the seven heavens (Mi’raj) in the night of twenty-seventh Rajab (27th night).

96. Did the Mi’raj (ascension) occur to the Prophet (pbuh) with his body?
A. Yes. Mi’raj occurred with his human body, and most of his companions believed in this doctrine.

97. What is the anecdote of the Mi’raj?
A. It is mentioned in TAFSIR MA’ALIM-UT-TANZIL that Abu Zar(RA) heard the Prophet(pbuh) saying that: “Suddenly the roof of my house opened up and Jibrail entered, cut me open from my breast to my navel, and washed the cavity with Zamzam water, and brought a tray containing the Faith and Wisdom, which he poured into my chest, and closed it”. According to another tradition, the Prophet was present in Hateem (a part of the Ka’aba), where his chest was cut open, and filled with Faith(Imam) and Light(Noor). After this a white animal BURAQ’ was brought to him to ride upon. Its size was smaller than a mule. This riding animal was so swift-paced that it stretched as far as the eye could see. The Prophet(pbuh) said: “Then I mounted the animal(Buraq) and went to the mosque of Jerusalem (BAIT-UL-MUQADDAS) along with Jibra’il(AS). There I tied the animal to a particular circle, where other prophets used to tie their riding animals, and I enter the Holy Mosque of Jerusalem, and offered two raka’hs of prayer along with other prophets. After that Jibra’il (AS) presented to me two vessels, one filled with milk and the other filled with wine, I took the vessel of milk. Jibra’il (AS) said: “O Muhammad (pbuh)! You have opted the nature. Then I along with Jibrail, ascended until we arrived at the lowest heaven. There I met Adam(AS).  I saluted Adam, and he answered it and said: “You are welcome, O Virtuous son and Virtuous prophet!” I asked: “Who is he?” Jibrail answered: ‘This is your father Adam’ There were two gatherings of souls on both sides of Adam(AS). When he looked at the assembly of souls on right side, he was amused and laughed, whereas, when he looked at the assembly on the left side, he cried. Amazed, I asked Jibrail, the reason. He replied that the assembly on right side, is of the people of paradise, but those on left side, belong to hell. Thereafter, I went above the reached the second heaven, where the people welcomed me. There I met the prophets Yahya(John) and Isa(Jesus) (AS). I saluted both of them, and they answered it, and said ‘welcome’. Then I reached the third heaven, where the people received me with pleasure. There I met Yousuf(AS) (Joseph), who is very handsome. I saluted him, and he answered it and said ‘welcome’ to me. After that I ascended to the fourth heaven, where the people bid welcome to me. There I met Idris(AS) (Enoch), I saluted him and he answered it and bid welcome to me. Then I ascended the fifth heaven, where the people bid welcome to me. There I met Haroon(AS) (Aaron), I saluted him and he answered it and bid welcome to me. Thereafter, I went to the sixth heaven, where also the people bid welcome to me. There I met Moosa(AS) (Moses). I saluted him and he answered it and bid welcome to me. When I passed him he wept. He was asked; ‘Why are you weeping’? He said ‘Because more people of Muhammad’s(pbuh) community would enter paradise than of mine.’ After that, I reached the seventh heaven, where the people bid welcome to me. There I met Ibrahim(AS) (Abraham). I saluted him and he answered it and said ‘ welcome virtuous son’. Except Adam(AS) and Ibrahim(AS), all other prophets addressed him as ‘righteous brother’.
 
The messenger of God(pbuh) said: “Then I entered the BAIT-UL- M’AMOOR. Jibrail(AS) said that, this is ‘Bait-ul-M’amur’ and here seventy thousand angels offer prayer every day, and they do not turn up again next day, but other angels come and offer prayer. It means that the angels who enter this mosque once never come again. From here, I went up to the tree called as `Sidrat-ul-Muntaha’, its fruits and leaves were large in size. At that time, `Sidrah’ was covered with something”. Another tradition says that, the tree was surrounded by the bright moths. I (writer) say that they were all angels.
 
The Prophet(pbuh) said: “At that place(Sidrah tree), Allah gave His Divine Command(Wahy) and made fifty prayers obligatory each day. Then I returned and passed by Moses, and he asked: `What have you been ordered’? I said: `Fifty prayers every day’. Then Moses said, `I have tried the sons of Israel in religious orders, and though they were very strong, but they did not carry out the Divine Orders fully, and your people are weak, and they will not be able to perform fifty prayers every day. You return to your lord, and request Him to reduce the number of prayers. Then the Prophet returned and solicited for reduction, and five prayers were taken off. Again the Prophet(pbuh) met Moses (AS) and informed him that five prayers were taken off. Moses (AS) advised him to return and beseech further reduction. The Prophet (pbuh) again returned to God’s court, and got the number of prayers further reduced. Likewise, due to the efforts of Moosa (AS), the Prophet (pbuh) got the number of prayers curtailed to such an extent that only five prayers were left. Again Moosa (AS) urged him to try for further reduction, but the Prophet (pbuh) excused saying, `I am quite ashamed to ask him again and again’. At last, five prayers were made obligatory for the Prophet and his followers (Ummah).
 
The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Then I visited the paradise”. Abu Dajanah relates that, the Prophet (pbuh) has ascended beyond that place and even reached up to such a place where he heard the sound of a pen. Anas bin Malik (RA) relates that, when the Prophet (pbuh) reached up to the tree of `Sidrat-ul-Muntaha, he said that, “Jabbar (one of the names or attributes of Allah) came closer and closer to me, and then gave me the Divine Command (Wahy).

98. The anecdote reveals that the Messenger of God (pbuh) had conversed with Allah, in the night of Mi’raj, but had he seen Allah or not?
A. Most of the Companions (Sahaba) believe that the Prophet (pbuh) had seen God in the night of Mi’raj, and we also believe that too.

99. Whether some of the Companions say that the Prophet (pbuh) did not have the vision of God?
A. Yes, some of the Companions believe that the Prophet (pbuh) had not seen Allah. His wife Ayesha (RA) was having the same belief, and Shi’ah and Mu’tazilah sects also opine the same.

100.   Those who expressed Faith in the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), what are they called?
A. They are called as the ‘Companions of the Messenger of God’ (Sahaba).

101. What is the definition of a ‘Companion’ (Sahaba)?
A. The Companion is a person who had met the Prophet (pbuh), believed in him and died with the same belief.
 
102.  How many kinds of the Companions are there?
A. Two; Muhajireen and Ansar.
 
103. What are their definitions?
A. Muhajireen are the Companions, who had left Makkah and emigrated to Madina, to live with the Prophet (pbuh), and Ansar are the Companions who had helped and served the Prophet (pbuh) and his emigrated Companions.

104.   Who are the prominent amongst all the Companions?
A. The Companions who fought with the infields along with the Messenger of God (pbuh), in the battle of BADR, are more venerable.
 
105.   How many were those Companions?
A. They were three hundred and thirteen.
 
106.   Who are the most distinguished amongst them?
A. Ten Companions, who are called as ‘Asharah Mubashshrah’.
 
107.   What are their names?
A. Abu Bakr Siddique, Umer bin al-Khattab, Usman bin Affan, Ali bin Abi Talib, Talha, Zubair, Abdur Rahman bin Auf. Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas, Sayeed bin Zai. Abu Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with all of them).

108.   Why are these Companions known as ‘Mubashsharah’?
A. The Prophet (pbuh) has prophesied the certainty of their entry into the Paradise.
 
109.   Apart from them, were any other Companions, given the good news of the certainty of entry into Paradise?
A. Yes. Bibi Fatima (RA), Imam Hassan (RA), and Imam Hussain (RA) were given the good news (Basharat) of their positive entry into paradise.
 
110.   Who are the most distinguished amongst these thirteen Companions?
A. The Caliphs of the Prophet (pbuh) are more distinguished.
 
111.   How many Caliphs of the Prophet (pbuh) are there, and what are their names?
A. There are four Caliphs of the Prophet (pbuh), viz. Abu Bakr Siddique, Umer bin al-Khattab, Usman bin al-Affan, and Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with them).
 
112. Are these four Caliphs infallible (Ma’soom)?
A. We believe that, they are not infallible, since it is not substantiated by any argument.