Islamic Studies MCQs – Page 13 (Q121-130)

The Holy Quran contains 14 verses of Sajdah (prostration), at which reciters and listeners are encouraged to perform a single prostration as an act of humility and reverence toward Allah, a practice known as Sajdah Tilawah. These verses are scattered across various Surahs, including Al-A'raf, Ar-Ra'd, An-Nahl, and Al-Isra among others, and the practice is documented in hadith describing the Prophet ﷺ and his companions prostrating upon reciting or hearing them recited, even outside the context of formal Salah.

There are 14 Sajdah (prostration) verses in the Holy Quran, found across Surahs including Al-A'raf, Ar-Ra'd, An-Nahl, Al-Isra, Maryam, Al-Hajj, Al-Furqan, An-Naml, As-Sajdah, Sad, Fussilat, An-Najm, Al-Inshiqaq, and Al-Alaq. Upon reciting or hearing one of these verses, it is recommended (Sunnah) for a Muslim to pause and perform a single prostration, reflecting immediate humility before Allah's greatness described in the verse. This practice can occur outside of formal Salah, making it one of the more distinctive and spontaneous acts of worship connected directly to Quranic recitation.

The Holy Quran contains 14 verses that call for Sajdah (prostration) upon recitation, a practice rooted in hadith describing how Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would prostrate immediately upon reaching such verses, whether reciting alone, leading prayer, or simply listening to recitation. This spontaneous prostration is distinct from the regular prostrations performed within the structured units of Salah, instead functioning as an immediate response to specific Quranic content emphasizing Allah's majesty, creation, or humanity's duty to worship. Reciters leading Tarawih or public Quran recitations often pause to perform this prostration when reaching one of these fourteen verses.

Fourteen is the correct number of Sajdah verses found in the Holy Quran, each one calling the reciter or listener to pause and physically prostrate in acknowledgment of Allah's greatness. Surah As-Sajdah takes its very name from containing one of these verses, underscoring the theme's importance within Quranic teaching. This practice of Sajdah Tilawah demonstrates how the Quran is meant to be actively experienced rather than only read, with physical worship woven directly into moments of powerful recitation throughout the text.

Of the Quran's 114 Surahs, 86 are classified as Makki, meaning they were revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in or around Makkah before the Hijrah (migration) to Madinah in 622 CE, while the remaining 28 are classified as Madani, revealed after the migration. Makki Surahs tend to be shorter and focus heavily on core beliefs such as the oneness of Allah (tawhid), the Day of Judgment, and stories of earlier prophets, reflecting the challenges of the early Makkan period. Madani Surahs, revealed once the Muslim community was established in Madinah, generally address law, social organization, and community governance.

Of the Quran's 114 total chapters, 86 are Makki Surahs, revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ during the thirteen years he preached in Makkah before the Hijrah to Madinah in 622 CE. This period was marked by intense opposition from the Makkan tribal leadership, and the revelations of this era focus heavily on establishing the foundations of faith — the oneness of Allah, prophethood, resurrection, and moral accountability — rather than detailed legal rulings, which came later once the Muslim community had its own state in Madinah.

Out of the Quran's 114 Surahs, 86 fall under the Makki classification, meaning they were revealed before the Prophet's ﷺ migration to Madinah, regardless of whether the actual location of revelation was technically within Makkah's city limits, since some Makki verses were revealed during journeys. Makki Surahs are often identifiable by shorter, more rhythmic verses aimed at capturing the attention of a resistant audience, frequent references to previous prophets and nations, and vivid descriptions of the Day of Judgment intended to instill reflection and repentance.

The number 86 correctly represents the Makki Surahs within the Quran's 114 total chapters, distinguishing them from the 28 Madani Surahs revealed after the Hijrah. Scholars classify a Surah as Makki or Madani primarily based on the timing of revelation relative to the migration to Madinah in 622 CE, rather than strictly by geographic location. This classification helps scholars and students understand the Quran's historical development, tracing how its content evolved from foundational matters of belief toward the detailed social and legal guidance needed once a functioning Muslim community existed.

The Quran contains 28 Madani Surahs, revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ after his migration (Hijrah) to Madinah in 622 CE, where he established the first organized Muslim community and state. Unlike the shorter, faith-focused Makki Surahs, Madani Surahs tend to be longer and address practical matters such as marriage, inheritance, criminal law, warfare, treaties, and relations with other communities, reflecting the new responsibilities of governing a growing society. Surah Al-Baqarah, the Quran's longest chapter, is a prominent example of a Madani Surah.

There are 28 Madani Surahs among the Quran's 114 total chapters, complementing the 86 Makki Surahs revealed earlier in Makkah. The Madani period spans roughly the final ten years of Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ life, during which the Muslim community in Madinah grew from a small persecuted group into an organized state capable of engaging in diplomacy, trade, and eventually the peaceful conquest of Makkah in 630 CE. Consequently, Madani revelations often contain detailed legislation suited to managing a functioning society rather than only foundational articles of belief.