11th Grade Islamic Studies Final Exam Study Guide

Imagery and Divine Presence on the Day of Judgment

  • Visual Descriptions of Mankind and Nature: On the Day of Judgment, humanity will be compared to scattered moths, while the mountains, once firm, will appear like carded wool.

  • The Coming of Allah: When Allah arrives for the judgment, He will come in the cover of clouds.

  • Prophetic Intercession and the Throne: Before Allah grants Prophet Muhammad's request for intercession, the Prophet will perform Sujood (prostration) before the Arsh, which is the Throne of Allah.

  • Station of Praise: The specific station of praise and glory promised to Prophet Muhammad is known as Maqam Mahmud.

The Major and Minor Signs of the Day of Judgment

  • Chronological Order of the 10 Major Signs:

    • 1.1. The Appearance of Dajjal (The Antichrist or False Messiah).
    • 2.2. The Descent of Isa bin Maryam.
    • 3.3. The emergence of Yajuj & Majuj (Gog and Magog).
    • 4.4. East Landslide.
    • 5.5. West Landslide.
    • 6.6. Arabian Peninsula Landslide.
    • 7.7. The Dukahn (Smoke).
    • 8.8. The Appearance of the Daabah (The Beast).
    • 9.9. The Rising of the Sun from the West.
    • 10.10. A Fire that will drive people to their place of gathering.

  • Minor Signs of the Day of Judgment:

    • The Prophethood of Muhammad (the first minor sign).
    • The Splitting of the Moon.
    • The Death of Prophet Muhammad.
    • Widespread Zina (adultery/fornication).
    • Loss of knowledge.
    • Prevalence of consuming alcohol.
    • Proliferation of music and musical instruments.
    • Consumption of Riba (interest).
    • Women wearing clothes yet still being naked.

  • Misconceptions regarding Yajuj and Majuj: It is important to note four attributes that are NOT true regarding Yajuj and Majuj:

    • They are not from China.
    • They are not a creation close to humans but separate from humankind; they are human.
    • They do not wait to believe in Allah before exiting from the wall.
    • They are not small in number but great in size.

Entities and Categorized Events of the End Times

  • The Fitnah of Dajjal: The Prophet sought refuge from the trial (fitnah) of Dajjal in every Salah (prayer) because it is the greatest trial humanity will face from the time of Adam until the Day of Judgment.

    • Dajjal's Attributes: He has curly hair, a ruddy complexion, a broad upper chest, and a large forehead bearing letters representing Kafir (disbeliever).
    • Dajjal’s Influence/Wealth: He possesses rivers of water and mountains of bread. He can command the sky to rain and the earth to produce vegetation. The treasures of the earth follow him, and he travels as rapidly as clouds driven by the wind.

  • The Daabah (The Beast): Once the Beast appears, no good will come from a person's faith if they did not believe prior to that point.

  • The Fire of Gathering: The specific purpose of the final fire is to corral and drive people toward the gathering area.

  • The 5 Before 5 (Priorities for Believers):

    • Youth before old age.
    • Health before illness.
    • Riches before poverty.
    • Free time before work.
    • Life before death.

  • The 7 Under the Shade of Allah:

    • A just Ruler.
    • A youth brought up in the worship of Allah.
    • A man whose heart is attached to the Masjid.
    • Two people who love each other for the sake of Allah.
    • One who refuses a call for unlawful relations.
    • One who spends charitably for Allah.
    • One who remembers Allah in seclusion.

Resurrection, Accountability, and the Unseen

  • Names of the Day of Judgment:

    • Yawm Al Qiyamah: The Day of Resurrection or Rising.
    • As-Saah: The Hour.
    • Yawm Al Hisaab: The Day of Accountability.
    • Yawm Ad Deen: The Day of Recompense or Judgment.
    • Yawm Al Ba’th: The Day of Resurrection.
    • Yawm Al Akhir: The Last Day.

  • Mechanics of Resurrection:

    • People will be recreated from their tailbones.
    • A specific rain will fall, causing bodies to grow back like vegetation.
    • There will be an interval of 4040 eras between the two blows of the horn.

  • The Scale and Testimony: All deeds, regardless of size, will be weighed on the scale. The hadith of Al-Bitaqah illustrates that the weight of the Shahadah (testimony of faith) outweighs even the worst bad deeds.

  • The Horn (As-Soor): The blowing of the horn by the Angel is the first major event of the Day of Judgment. After the first blow, all living things die. After the second blow, people are resurrected.

  • Al Barzakh: Literally meaning ‘barrier’ or ‘veil’, it is the state/place between this world and the Day of Judgment where the soul remains after being taken by Malik Al Mawt (The Angel of Death).

  • Al Qiyaamatus Sughrah: Refers to the ‘Minor Resurrection,’ which is another term for death. When an individual passes away, their personal Judgment has begun.

  • The Hawd: A cistern or place where believers meet the Prophets.

Intercession (Shafah) and the Awliya

  • Definition and Conditions: Shafah is the act of mediating for another with Allah’s permission.

    • Required Conditions:
    • 1.1. Allah's permission for the intercessor.
    • 2.2. Allah's approval of the intercessor.
    • 3.3. Allah's approval of the one receiving the intercession.

  • Types of Intercession:

    • Specific Intercession: Includes the Great Intercession (to begin Judgment for all mankind), intercession for the people of Paradise, for true believers, and specifically for Abu Taalib.
    • General Intercession: Performed by the people of Paradise, intercession for those deserving Hellfire, and intercession to elevate a person's rank in Paradise.

  • The Awliya (Allies) of Allah: These are individuals who believed in Allah, feared Allah, believed in all His signs, and submitted as Muslims.

Ethics, Financial Jurisprudence, and Hadith Literacy

  • Financial Guidelines:

    • Riba: Allah declares war against those indulging in interest.
    • Budgeting: When earning money, one should prioritize three categories: Sadaqah (charity), Self & Family, and Reinvest.
    • Possessions: It is not disliked in Islam to purchase nice or expensive items.
    • Debt: Ayat Ud Dayn is the Quranic verse specifically regarding debt. Muslims are bound by their conditions/contracts.

  • Legal Intention: Researching legal ways to avoid taxes is permissible if the intentions and actions do not contradict Shariah.

  • Hadith Classification and Concepts:

    • Sahih: Hadith with strong chains of narration.
    • Daeef: Hadith with weak links or people in the chain.
    • Mutawatir: A category of hadith reported by so many people that it is impossible for them to have agreed upon a lie.
    • Kasal and Ajz: Kasal refers to laziness, while Ajz refers to inability.

  • Sensory Priority in the Quran: Hearing is mentioned before sight because hearing is considered closer to the heart.

The Rightly Guided Caliphs (Khulafa-e-Rashidun)

  • Overview: The total rule of these caliphs lasted approximately 2929 years.

  • Abu Bakr (As Siddiq):

    • Meaning: ‘The Truthful.’
    • He immediately believed the Prophet's account of Isra & Miraj.
    • Dates: 573573 to 634 CE634\,\text{CE}.

  • Umar Ibn Khattab (Al Farooq):

    • Meaning: ‘The Distinguisher.’
    • He fearlessly led Muslims in prayer at the Kaba.
    • Dates: 583583 to 644 CE644\,\text{CE}.

  • Uthman Ibn Affan (Dhun Nurayn):

    • Meaning: ‘Possessor of Two Lights’ (because he married two of the Prophet's daughters, Ruqayah and Umm Kulthoom).
    • He migrated to Abyssinia and had the longest rule.
    • During the rebellion, rebels surrounded his house, cut off food and water, and killed him with a dagger.
    • Dates: 573573 to 656 CE656\,\text{CE}.

  • Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (Abu Turab):

    • Meaning: ‘Father of Dust’ (named by the Prophet when Ali was found sleeping in the Masjid covered in dust).
    • He moved the center of Islam to Al-Kufa for military efficiency and to protect Madina during civil war.
    • Dates: 600600 to 661 CE661\,\text{CE}.

Questions & Discussion

  • Why are earthquakes and tsunamis sent? They are smaller calamities meant to remind humanity of the greater calamity of the Day of Judgment.

  • What is the significance of the Prophet Suleiman’s story? He was once distracted from Salah by his love for horses but immediately repented for the oversight.

  • What is the first part of the soul's journey after death? The soul is taken from the body, goes on a journey (Al Barzakh), and is returned to the body in the grave to await resurrection.

  • What is the relationship between Siraat al Mustaqeem in this life and the hereafter? The way a person navigates the straight path in this life correlates directly to their success or failure in crossing the Siraat (bridge) over Hellfire in the hereafter.

  • How does repentance increase Rizq (provision)? Seeking repentance is a means of spiritual purification that Allah rewards by increasing worldly and spiritual sustenance, as evidenced in various Quranic verses and Hadith.

  • Prophetic Du’aa analysis: The Prophet sought refuge from worry, sadness, incapacity (Ajz), laziness (Kasl), cowardice, stinginess, heavy debt, and being overpowered by men. These relate to maintaining financial independence, a healthy work ethic, and psychological well-being in one's career.