Quiz of the Day
Eid al-Adha & World Faiths
Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Festival of Sacrifice — world religions, faith traditions, sacred sites
1. What event does Eid al-Adha commemorate in Islam?
- Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son
- The end of Ramadan
- The Prophet Muhammad's migration to Medina
- The revelation of the Quran
The story of Ibrahim (Abraham) being willing to sacrifice his son is shared across Islam, Christianity, and Judaism — making it one of the most widely recognised narratives in human history, connecting roughly half the world's population.
2. How many major world religions have over 500 million followers?
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 4
Christianity (2.4 billion), Islam (1.9 billion), Hinduism (1.2 billion), and Buddhism (500 million) each have over 500 million followers. Together they represent about 77% of the world's population. The fastest-growing is Islam, projected to match Christianity by 2060.
3. What is the Hajj?
- A charitable donation
- The annual pilgrimage to Mecca
- A daily prayer in Islam
- A month of fasting
The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it must undertake the journey at least once. Around 2-3 million people perform Hajj each year, making it one of the largest annual human gatherings on Earth.
4. Which sacred site is holy to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?
- Jerusalem
- Varanasi
- The Ganges River
- Mount Fuji
Jerusalem contains the Western Wall (Judaism), the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Christianity), and the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock (Islam) — all within roughly one square kilometre of the Old City. It has been conquered over 40 times throughout history.
5. What is the oldest religion still widely practised today?
- Zoroastrianism
- Buddhism
- Hinduism
- Judaism
Hinduism has no single founder and its roots stretch back over 4,000 years to the Indus Valley civilisation. The Rig Veda, one of its oldest sacred texts, was composed around 1500 BCE. Unlike most religions, Hinduism has no single creed or unified system of beliefs.
6. What does the word 'Eid' mean in Arabic?
- Sacrifice
- Prayer
- Festival or celebration
- Peace
There are two major Eids in Islam: Eid al-Fitr (the festival of breaking the fast after Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (the festival of sacrifice). Both begin with a special communal prayer at dawn and involve giving to those in need.
7. How many arms does the Star of David, a symbol of Judaism, have?
- 6
- 8
- 12
- 5
The Star of David (Magen David) is formed by two overlapping triangles creating a six-pointed star. It only became widely associated with Judaism in the 17th century. Before that, it appeared in Islamic art, Christian churches, and even Hindu temples.
8. What is the Sikh place of worship called?
- Gurdwara
- Synagogue
- Temple
- Mosque
Every Gurdwara runs a 'langar' — a free community kitchen open to absolutely anyone regardless of faith, caste, or background. The Golden Temple in Amritsar serves free meals to around 100,000 people every single day, making it the world's largest free canteen.
9. What are the Four Noble Truths central to?
- Buddhism
- Jainism
- Confucianism
- Hinduism
The Four Noble Truths — that suffering exists, has a cause, has an end, and that there is a path to that end — were the first teaching of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) after his enlightenment around 500 BCE. Buddhism spread across Asia without a single holy war.
10. Which animal is traditionally sacrificed during Eid al-Adha?
- Only a goat
- A sheep, goat, cow, or camel
- Only a cow
- Only a sheep
The meat from the Qurbani (sacrifice) is traditionally divided into three equal parts: one-third for the family, one-third for friends and neighbours, and one-third for those in need. This principle of sharing ensures the celebration benefits the wider community.
11. What is the Diwali festival often called?
- Festival of Lights
- Festival of Colours
- Festival of Harvest
- Festival of Water
Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists — each for different historical reasons. The festival involves lighting oil lamps (diyas) and is one of the biggest shopping seasons in India, rivalling Black Friday and Christmas combined.
12. How many times a day do Muslims traditionally pray?
- 4
- 3
- 5
- 7
The five daily prayers (Salah) are performed at dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset, and night. Muslims face the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca — which means that at any given moment, there is an invisible spiral of prayer circling the globe as time zones progress.
13. What is the Torah in Judaism?
- A religious holiday
- A type of synagogue
- A prayer shawl
- The first five books of the Hebrew Bible
Torah scrolls are still handwritten by specially trained scribes (sofrim) using a quill and special ink on parchment. A single Torah scroll contains 304,805 letters, takes about a year to complete, and a single error can render the entire scroll unusable.
14. What is the largest religious structure in the world?
- Borobudur in Indonesia
- St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City
- Angkor Wat in Cambodia
- The Great Mosque of Mecca
Angkor Wat covers 162.6 hectares (over 400 acres) and was originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu in the 12th century before gradually transforming into a Buddhist site. It appears on Cambodia's national flag — the only building to feature on any flag.
15. What do Christians celebrate on Easter Sunday?
- The Last Supper
- The ascension of Jesus
- The birth of Jesus
- The resurrection of Jesus
Easter's date changes every year because it follows a lunar calendar — it falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox. This means it can occur anywhere between 22 March and 25 April, a 35-day window.