Knowledge & Devotion · Seerah in Depth

Prophetic Life and Predictions

Explore key events from the Prophet's life and his foresight about future events.

6 questions · Hard · about 4 minutes

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6 questions, about 4 minutes.

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1. What was Allah’s plan for Prophet Yoosuf عليه السلام regarding his brother?

  • A good plan that allowed him to keep his brother and reunite his family. (correct answer)
  • A sinful lie from Yoosuf عليه السلام.
  • A prohibited act of injustice.
  • A plan to harm his brother.

Why

The source explains that the incident was not lying or prohibited deceit by Prophet Yoosuf عليه السلام. Allah made easy for him a plan that enabled him to keep his brother with him, because under the king’s law he would not have been able to do so. The wording of the Qur’an avoids saying that the brother stole; rather, the bowl was brought out of his bag. The caller may have spoken based on what he thought, and Yoosuf عليه السلام used truthful double entendre. The plan led to good outcomes: the truth became clear, the brothers recognized their wrongdoing, the family was reunited, and Allah’s promise to Yoosuf and Ya‘qoob عليهما السلام was fulfilled.

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2. Why did the brothers of Prophet Yoosuf عليه السلام swear by Allah that they were innocent of theft?

  • Because they knew the Egyptians recognized them as people of dignity and piety. (correct answer)
  • Because they had already confessed to stealing the bowl.
  • Because they wanted to hide that they had stolen the bowl.
  • Because they believed the king’s law could not punish them.

Why

The brothers of Yoosuf عليه السلام swore by Allah because they were confident that the Egyptians knew they had not come to cause mischief and were not thieves. They were known to them as people of dignity and piety who would not commit such theft. Their wording was a strong way of refuting the accusation, because they appealed to what the Egyptians themselves already knew about their conduct.

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3. What did Allah send down upon the Prophet ﷺ in the cave of Thawr?

  • Sakeenah: calmness, tranquillity, and peace. (correct answer)
  • A spider’s web that is proven by sound report.
  • A written command to leave Madinah.
  • A visible army that everyone saw.

Why

The Qur’an mentions the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه in the cave during the Hijrah. When Abu Bakr feared that the pursuers might see them, the Prophet ﷺ reassured him by saying that Allah was with them. The verse states that Allah sent down Sakeenah upon him and strengthened him with unseen forces. Reports about a spider’s web or doves at the cave are not established as sound according to the source, while the Qur’anic account is certain.

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4. What did the Prophet ﷺ say about going to soothsayers?

  • Do not go to them. (correct answer)
  • Go to them when the prediction seems useful.
  • Ask them only about harmless matters.
  • Learn astrology from them for religious guidance.

Why

The source distinguishes between astronomy and astrology. Astronomy, such as using stars for directions, timekeeping, and other observable matters, is not the forbidden practice being discussed. Forbidden astrology claims to know future earthly events through the stars and is linked to soothsaying and magic. The Prophet ﷺ forbade going to soothsayers, and the source explains that astrologers fall under the same ruling or category according to scholars. A person must not be deceived if some prediction appears to come true by coincidence or as a test.

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5. What did the sound hadith of Thawbaan رضي الله عنه foretell about India?

  • A group from the ummah would invade India. (correct answer)
  • India would never be reached by Muslims.
  • Every report about India is equally authentic.
  • The hadith clearly proves a future end-time invasion.

Why

The source states that the hadith of Thawbaan رضي الله عنه about a group of the ummah invading India is sound, while the report from Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه on the same topic is weak. It also explains that India was historically invaded and conquered by Muslims, beginning in the Umayyad period and again later. This fulfilled the report and is counted as one of the signs of Prophethood, because it was unseen knowledge Allah revealed to His Messenger ﷺ. The source adds that there is nothing clear to prove that another invasion of India will occur near the end of time.

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6. What did the Prophet ﷺ say would happen to the land of the Arabs before the Hour?

  • It will again become meadows and rivers. (correct answer)
  • It will remain desert forever.
  • It will be covered completely in ice.
  • It will disappear from the earth.

Why

The source cites the hadith that the Hour will not begin until the land of the Arabs once again becomes meadows and rivers. This future change is certain because it is established in the hadith. However, the source cautions that the exact cause is known only to Allah. Some specialists connected it to major climate change, but a Muslim should not state with certainty that it will happen specifically because of global warming or melting ice caps unless there is clear proof.

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A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

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