The 22 Questions: Islam in a Nutshell

Some pious man from Basra - Iraq was sleeping one night, and heard in his sleep, "Tonight is a Christian celebration, so wake up and do your ablution; then visit a convent nearby where a celebration will take place...You shall witness of God's wisdom a brilliant wonder!"

So he did what the voice instructed him, and entered that convent. It was filled with people preparing themselves for the commencement of the celebration, while their Father was sitting in his chair. The people noticed their Father's reluctance to start and asked him why.

The Father: "I cannot start when there is a Mohammedian among us."

The People: "And how did you know this man as a Mohammedian?"

The Father: "The Followers of Mohammed are known by the marks on their faces, for they are ferverous prostraters!"

All eyes suddenly shifted at the Pious Man's direction. "Get out!", the Father demanded.

Pious Man: "By Allah, I shall not leave until He judges between us, and He is the Best of Judges!"

The Father: "All right then, I shall ask you questions. If you answer all of them correctly, we will embrace your religion, and if you fail to answer one of them, we shall slaughter you and carry you over our shoulders in parade!"

Pious Man: "Ask as you wish."

1. What is the one which has no second?
2. What are the two which do not have a third?
3. What are the three which do not have a fourth?
4. What are the four which do not have a fifth?
5. What are the five which do not have a sixth?
6. What are the six which do not have a seventh?
7. What are the seven which do not have an eighth?
8. What are the eight which do not have a ninth?
9. What are the nine which do not have a tenth?
10. What are the ten which accept multiplicity?
11. Who are the eleven brothers?
12. What is the miracle which consisted of twelve things?
13. Which family consists of thirteen members?
14. What are the fourteen things which spoke to God?
15. What is the thing which took a breath but does not have a soul?
16. Which grave moved while its owner is entombed within it?
17. What is the thing which God has created and emphasized, and the thing He created and disdained?
18. What are the things which were created without being born?
19. Who are those who lied but went to Heaven?
20. Who are those who spoke the truth but entered the Hellfire?
21. What do the following verses mean: "51:1, 51:2, 51:3, 51:4"
22. What is the tree which has twelve brances, each branch has thirty leaves, and each leaf has five fruits below it; three under the shade and two under the sun?

The Pious Man took a deep breath, his eyes shining with confidence. He then answered:

1. Say (O Mohammed), He is Allah the One, the Only One! [112:1]
2. We Have Made The Night and Day two Wonders
3. Moses' excuses to Al-Khudr regarding The Ship, The Child, and the City Wall [18: 71, 74, 77]
4. The Torrah, The Psalms, The Gospel, and The Noble Qur'an
5. The compulsory prayers: Dawn, High Noon, Afternoon, Dusk, and Night prayers
6. We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in Six Days, nor did any sense of weariness touch Us. [50:38] (Jews and Christians claim that God got tired so he rested on Saturday; the second part of this verse denies their claim)
7. He Who created Seven Skies on top of each other
8. And on (Judgment Day), His Throne shall be carried by eight Angels
9. The Miracles of Moses VS Pharoah's stubborness
10. He who does a good deed shall be rewarded its ten-fold, and Allah increases (even more) for whomever He deems
11. Joseph's eleven brothers
12. The twelve springs of Moses [2:60]
13. Add to Joseph's brothers his father and mother
14. The Seven Skies and Seven Layers of Earths: Moreover He comprehended in His design the sky, and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: "Come ye together, willingly or unwillingly." They said: "We do come (together), in willing obedience." [41:11]
15. The Day (والصبح إذا تنفس)
16. Jonah's Whale (while he is near-death)
17. Women's Snare, and the sound of donkeys
18. Adam, the Angels, Ishmail's great ram, and Saleh's camel
19. Joseph's brothers; they lied to their father about his death, but Allah had forgiven them later
20. The Jews say: "The Christians have naught (to stand) upon; and the Christians say: "The Jews have naught (To stand) upon." Yet they (Profess to) study the (same) Book. [2:113]
21.
By the (Winds) that scatter broadcast;
51:2
And those that lift and bear away heavy weights;
51:3
And those that flow with ease and gentleness;
51:4
And those (the Angels) that distribute and apportion by Command;-
22. And as for the tree, it resembles the year: 12 months, each having 30 days, each of those days has five compulsory prayers: Three in the Shade (Dawn, Dusk and Night) and two under the Sun (High Noon and Afternoon).

Pious Man: "And now I shall ask you only one question, Father"

The Father: "Ask, Pious Man"

Pious Man: "What is the Key to Paradise?!"

The Father immediately rose from his chair, maintaining confusing silence.

The People: "O Father, you have asked him many and he asked you one. Why can you not answer it??"

The Father: "Because I fear from your reaction"

The People: "Answer his question and we shall follow your path!"

The Father: أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، وأشهد أن محمداً رسول الله
I Bear Witness That There Is No God But Allah, and That Mohammed Is His Messenger...

Everyone else followed suit, and the convent was transformed into a mosque...