57 Questions of Major Religions You Don't Know

55 Questions of Major Religions with Answers

1. Who founded Islam?
Ans: Islam was founded by Prophet Mohammad.

2. When was Prophet Mohammad born?
Ans: Prophet Mohammad was born in Mecca in 570 AD.

3. Who brought up Prophet Mohammad?
Ans: Prophet Mohammad’s uncle brought him up who took him over Arabia.

4. Who declared himself the prophet of Allah?
Ans: Prophet Mohammad declared himself the prophet of Allah.

5. When did Prophet Mohammad die?
Ans: Prophet Mohammad died in 632 AD.

6. Who was the first adult to embrace Islam?
Ans: Abu Bakr, Prophet’s friend, was the first adult to embrace Islam.

7. Name the two sects of Islam.
Ans: The Sunni and the Shia are the two sects of Islam.

8. Who was the first Guru of Sikhs?
Ans: Guru Nanak was the first Guru of Islam.

9. When was Guru Nanak born?
Ans: Guru Nanak was born in 1469.

10. Who believed in Nirankar Brahma or God?
Ans: Guru Nanak believed in Nirankar Brahma or God.

11. Sikhism is based on which tradition?
Ans: Sikhism is based on Guru-Shishya tradition.

12. What is the sacred scripture of Sikhs?
Ans: The sacred scripture of Sikhs is the Adi Granth.

13. When did Guru Nanak die?
Ans: Guru Nanak died in 1539 AD.

14. Who was the second Guru of Sikhs?
Ans: Guru Angad was the second Guru of Sikhs.

15. By whom was the holy tank known as Amritsar dug?
Ans: Guru Ram Das dug the holy tank known as Amritsar.

16. How did the city of Amritsar take its name?
Ans: The city of Amritsar took its name from the holy tank known as Amritsar.

17. Who constructed the Golden Temple?
Ans: Guru Arjun Dev constructed the Golden Temple.

18. Who constructed the Akal Takht?
Ans: Guru Har Govind constructed the Akal Takht.

19. Who was the last Guru of Sikhs?
Ans: Guru Govind Singh was the last Guru of Sikhs.

20. Who created the Khalsa Panth?
Ans: Guru Govind Singh created the Khalsa Panth.

21. What do you mean by Bhakti?
Ans: Bhakti means complete submission and devotion to God.

22. When was Bhakti movement started?
Ans: Bhakti movement was started during medieval period.

23. In which country was Bhakti movement started?
Ans: Bhakti movement was started during 7th and 8th century.

24. Which god was worshipped by the Alvars?
Ans: God Vishnu was worshipped by the Alvars.

25. Which god was worshipped by the Nayanars?
Ans: God Shiva was worshipped by the Nayanars.

26. Who took the ideas of Bhakti to north?
Ans: Ramanand took the ideas of Bhakti to north.

27. What did Kabir and Nanak Preach?
Ans: Kabir and Nanak preached Hindu-Muslim unity.

28. Which word Kabir could never learn?
Ans: Kabir could never learn the word of “Rama”.

29. What did the Sufis wear?
Ans: The Sufis mystics wore a long woollen coat.

30. What is the Guru in Sufis called?
Ans: The Guru in Sufis is called Pir.

31. What is the Shishya in Sufis called?
Ans: The Shishya in Sufis is called Murid.

32. Where did Pirs live?
Ans: The Pirs lived in Kanqahs (Hermitage-Ashram).

33. What is God according to Sufis?
Ans: According to Sufis God is haq.

34. What is universe according to Sufis?
Ans: According to Sufis universe is khalq.

35. How many orders of Sufism were there?
Ans: There were five orders (Silsilas) of Sufism.

36. Who established the Chisti order?
Ans: Chisti order was established by Khwaja Muinnuddin Chisti.

37. Who established Suhrawardi order?
Ans: Suhrawardi order was established by Shaikh Bahauddin Zakaria.

38. Who established Naqsh Bandi order?
Ans: Naqsh Bandi order was established by Khwaja Baqt Bittah.

39. Name some famous Sufi saints.
Ans: Following were the famous Sufi saints:
Baba Farid, Bakhtiar Kaki, Nizamuddin Aulia, Shaikh Salim Chisti, Amir Khusro, etc.

40. Name two holy cities of pilgrimage for Muslims.
Ans: Mecca and Madina are the two holy cities of pilgrimage for Muslims.

41. Who became the first khalifa after Prophet Mohammad?
Ans: Abu Bakr became the first khalifa after Prophet Mohammad.

42. What was the way to realize God according to Guru Nanak?
Ans: According to Guru Nanak one has to be egoless and denounce lust for worldly pleasures to realize God.

43. Give the meaning of Bhakti and name four prominent Bhakti saints.
Ans: Bhakti means complete submission and devotion to God. Four prominent Bhakti saints were Kabir, Ravidas, Surdas and Ramanand.

44. What is the meaning of word ‘Sufi’?
Ans: The word ‘Sufi’ has been derived from suf (wool) as these mystics wore a long woollen coat.

45. Explain the teachings of Islam with special reference to its principles.
Ans: The Koran says that to regulate one’s life as a true Muslim, a person has to observe the following five principles in his life. These can be seen as the teachings of Islam also:
(i) He should always proclaim oneness of God i.e. Allah and Muhammad as his prophet on this earth.
(ii) Every muslim should offer prayers five times daily, and on Friday afternoon in a mosque, with others.
(iii) One should give alms to the poor.
(iv) Every muslim should keep fast (roza) during the month of Ramzan from dawn to dusk.
(v) One should, if possible, go on a ‘Haj’ to Mecca at least once in his lifetime.

46. Mention the features of Islam that make it a humane religion.
Ans: The features of Islam that make it a humane religion are the following:
(i) Oneness of God: One should always proclaim oneness of God i.e. Allah.
(ii) Prayers five times daily: Every muslim should offer prayers five times daily.
(iii) Alms to the poor: One should give alms to the poor.
(iv) Keeping fast (roza): Every muslim should keep fast (roza) during the holy month of Ramzan.

47. Explain the contribution of Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh to Sikhism.
Ans: The contribution of Guru Tegh Bahadur: Guru Tegh Bahadur was involved in fighting against the oppression by the Mughals. He inculcated courage among the Sikhs to fight against the atrocities of the mughal rulers.
The contribution of Guru Govind Singh: Guru Govind Singh created the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur popularly known as Takhat Sri Keshgarh Sahib, on the day of Baisakhi in 1699 AD.

48. What is the importance of Bhakti movement in reforming and uniting the Hindu Society?
Ans: During the Bhakti movement the saints discarded and taught various things to reform and unite the hindu society.

49. Mention three orders (silsilas) of Sufism.
Ans: The three orders (silsilas) of Sufism were:
(i) Chisti Order: This order was established by Khwaja Muinnuddin Chisti.
(ii) Suhrawardi Order: This order was established by Shaikh Bahauddin Zakaria.
(iii) Naqsh Bandi: This order was established by Khwaja Baqi Bittah.

50. Enlist the similarities between Islam and Sikhism.
Ans: The similarities between Islam and Sikhism are:
(i) Both preach oneness of God.
(ii) Both of them preach honest and selfless service to humanity.

51. In which language is Koran written?
Ans: Koran is written in Arabic language.

52. What does Koran provide?
Ans: Koran provides the Muslim believers with everything that they need to lead a good and pious life.

53. Who established Sangat and Pangat?
Ans: Guru Nanak established Sangat and Pangat.

54. What do you mean by Sangat?
Ans: Sangat is the religious gathering where everyone recites the name of God without any distinction of caste, creed, colour or race.

55. What do you mean by Pangat?
Ans: Pangat is eating larger by sitting together in a row without any distinction of rich or poor, caste or creed, race or colour.

56. What are the five K’s of Sikhism?
Ans: The five K’s of Sikhism are:
Kesh, Kangha, Kara, Kaccha and Kripan.

57. What are the ten states one has to pass through to achieve union with the supreme in Sufism?
Ans: Following are the ten states one has to pass through to achieve union with the supreme in Sufism:
(i) Tauba (repentance)
(ii) Vara (abstinence)
(iii) Tudah (piety)
(iv) Zakva (property)
(v) Sabra (patience)
(vi) Shabra (gratitude)
(vii) Khauf (fear)
(viii) Raza (hope)
(ix) Tawakkul (contentment)
(x) Riza (submission to God)