The Qur'an usually answers without saying what it was asked. In these verses it does both. The verb is yasʾalūnaka, “they ask thee”, and it stands at the head of the verse before anything else.
The subjects are not ordered by weight. The new moons (2:189), what to spend (2:215), fighting in the sacred month (2:217), wine and games of chance (2:219), orphans (2:220), menstruation (2:222), what food is lawful (5:4), the Hour (7:187, 33:63, 79:42), the spoils of war (8:1), the spirit (17:85), Dhūl-Qarnayn (18:83), the mountains (20:105). One of the 15 is not a question: in 4:153 the People of the Book demand that a book be sent down to them from the sky.
All but two are answered with qul, “Say”, which makes these verses the only place where the Qur'an supplies both halves of an exchange: what was asked, and what was to be said back. The exceptions are 4:153, answered by recounting what an earlier people did to Moses, and 79:42, where the answer is that the messenger has no knowledge of the Hour to give.
How this list was made
Every verse containing يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ (yasʾalūnaka), وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ (wayasʾalūnaka) or يَسْـَٔلُكَ (yasʾaluka), in muṣḥaf order.
Every verse the rule matches is in the list.
Al-Baqarah2:189They ask thee about the phases of the moon. Say thou: “They are measurements of time for the people and the pilgrimage.” And it is not virtue that you approach houses by the backs thereof — but virtue is one who is in prudent fear — but approach houses by the doors thereof; and be in prudent fear of God, that you might be successful.
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَعَنِالْاَهِلَّةِۜقُلْهِيَمَوَاق۪يتُلِلنَّاسِوَالْحَجِّۜوَلَيْسَالْبِرُّبِاَنْتَأْتُواالْبُيُوتَمِنْظُهُورِهَاوَلٰكِنَّالْبِرَّمَنِاتَّقٰىۚوَأْتُواالْبُيُوتَمِنْاَبْوَابِهَاۖوَاتَّقُوااللّٰهَلَعَلَّكُمْتُفْلِحُونَ١٨٩
Yas-aloonaka AAani al-ahillati qul hiya mawaqeetulinnasi walhajji walaysa albirrubi-an ta/too albuyoota min thuhooriha walakinnaalbirra mani ittaqa wa/too albuyoota min abwabihawattaqoo Allaha laAAallakum tuflihoon
They ask thee what they should spend. Say thou: “Whatever you spend of good for parents and relatives, and the fatherless, and the needy, and the wayfarer,. And whatever you do of good, God knows it.”
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَمَاذَايُنْفِقُونَۜقُلْمَٓااَنْفَقْتُمْمِنْخَيْرٍفَلِلْوَالِدَيْنِوَالْاَقْرَب۪ينَوَالْيَتَامٰىوَالْمَسَاك۪ينِوَابْنِالسَّب۪يلِۜوَمَاتَفْعَلُوامِنْخَيْرٍفَاِنَّاللّٰهَبِه۪عَل۪يمٌ٢١٥
Yas-aloonaka matha yunfiqoona qul maanfaqtum min khayrin falilwalidayni wal-aqrabeenawalyatama walmasakeeni wabniassabeeli wama tafAAaloo min khayrin fa-inna Allahabihi AAaleem
They ask thee about the inviolable month, fighting therein; say thou: “Fighting therein is grave, but turning away from the path of God, and denial of Him and the inviolable place of worship, and the expulsion of its people therefrom is graver in the sight of God; and means of denial is worse than killing.” And they will not cease to fight you until they turn you from your doctrine, if they are able; and whoso among you turns from his doctrine, and dies a false claimer of guidance: those, their works are vain in the World and in the Hereafter; and those are the companions of the Fire; therein they abide eternally.
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَعَنِالشَّهْرِالْحَرَامِقِتَالٍف۪يهِۜقُلْقِتَالٌف۪يهِكَب۪يرٌۜوَصَدٌّعَنْسَب۪يلِاللّٰهِوَكُفْرٌبِه۪وَالْمَسْجِدِالْحَرَامِوَاِخْرَاجُاَهْلِه۪مِنْهُاَكْبَرُعِنْدَاللّٰهِۚوَالْفِتْنَةُاَكْبَرُمِنَالْقَتْلِۜوَلَايَزَالُونَيُقَاتِلُونَكُمْحَتّٰىيَرُدُّوكُمْعَنْد۪ينِكُمْاِنِاسْتَطَاعُواۜوَمَنْيَرْتَدِدْمِنْكُمْعَنْد۪ينِه۪فَيَمُتْوَهُوَكَافِرٌفَاُو۬لٰٓئِكَحَبِطَتْاَعْمَالُهُمْفِيالدُّنْيَاوَالْاٰخِرَةِۚوَاُو۬لٰٓئِكَاَصْحَابُالنَّارِۚهُمْف۪يهَاخَـالِدُونَ٢١٧
Yas-aloonaka AAani ashshahri alharamiqitalin feehi qul qitalun feehi kabeerun wasaddunAAan sabeeli Allahi wakufrun bihi walmasjidi alharamiwa-ikhraju ahlihi minhu akbaru AAinda Allahi walfitnatuakbaru mina alqatli wala yazaloona yuqatiloonakumhatta yaruddookum AAan deenikum ini istataAAoowaman yartadid minkum AAan deenihi fayamut wahuwa kafirunfaola-ika habitat aAAmaluhum fee addunyawal-akhirati waola-ika as-habuannari hum feeha khalidoon
They ask thee about wine and games of chance. Say thou: “In both is great sin, and benefits for men; but their sin is greater than their benefit.” And they ask thee what they should spend. Say thou: “The surplus.” Thus does God make plain to you the proofs, that you might reflect
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَعَنِالْخَمْرِوَالْمَيْسِرِۜقُلْف۪يهِمَٓااِثْمٌكَب۪يرٌوَمَنَافِـعُلِلنَّاسِۘوَاِثْمُهُمَٓااَكْبَرُمِنْنَفْعِهِمَاۜوَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَمَاذَايُنْفِقُونَۜقُلِالْعَفْوَۜكَذٰلِكَيُبَيِّنُاللّٰهُلَكُمُالْاٰيَاتِلَعَلَّكُمْتَتَفَكَّرُونَۙ٢١٩
Yas-aloonaka AAani alkhamri walmaysiriqul feehima ithmun kabeerun wamanafiAAu linnasiwa-ithmuhuma akbaru min nafAAihima wayas-aloonaka mathayunfiqoona quli alAAafwa kathalika yubayyinu Allahulakumu al-ayati laAAallakum tatafakkaroon
Upon the World and the Hereafter. And they ask thee about the fatherless. Say thou: “Improvement for them is best.” And if you associate with them, then are they your brothers. And God knows the worker of corruption from the doer of right. And had God willed, He would have caused distress for you; God is exalted in might and wise.
فِيالدُّنْيَاوَالْاٰخِرَةِۜوَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَعَنِالْيَتَامٰىۜقُلْاِصْلَاحٌلَهُمْخَيْرٌۜوَاِنْتُخَالِطُوهُمْفَاِخْوَانُكُمْۜوَاللّٰهُيَعْلَمُالْمُفْسِدَمِنَالْمُصْلِحِۜوَلَوْشَٓاءَاللّٰهُلَاَعْنَتَكُمْۜاِنَّاللّٰهَعَز۪يزٌحَك۪يمٌ٢٢٠
Fee addunya wal-akhiratiwayas-aloonaka AAani alyatama qul islahunlahum khayrun wa-in tukhalitoohum fa-ikhwanukumwallahu yaAAlamu almufsida mina almuslihiwalaw shaa Allahu laaAAnatakum inna AllahaAAazeezun hakeem
And they ask thee about menstruation. Say thou: “It is a hindrance; so keep away from women during menstruation, and approach them not until they are clean. And when they have purified themselves, then approach them in what manner God has commanded you; God loves those who repent and loves those who purify themselves.
وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَعَنِالْمَح۪يضِۜقُلْهُوَاَذًىۙفَاعْتَزِلُواالنِّسَٓاءَفِيالْمَح۪يضِۙوَلَاتَقْرَبُوهُنَّحَتّٰىيَطْهُرْنَۚفَاِذَاتَطَهَّرْنَفَأْتُوهُنَّمِنْحَيْثُاَمَرَكُمُاللّٰهُۜاِنَّاللّٰهَيُحِبُّالتَّوَّاب۪ينَوَيُحِبُّالْمُتَطَهِّر۪ينَ٢٢٢
Wayas-aloonaka AAani almaheediqul huwa athan faAAtaziloo annisaafee almaheedi wala taqraboohunna hattayathurna fa-itha tatahharna fa/toohunna min haythuamarakumu Allahu inna Allaha yuhibbu attawwabeenawayuhibbu almutatahhireen
The doctors of the Law ask thee to bring down upon them a Writ from the sky; and they asked of Moses greater than that; they said: “Show thou us God openly”; so the thunderbolt seized them for their injustice. Then took they up the calf after clear signs had come to them, and We pardoned that; and We gave Moses a clear authority.
يَسْـَٔلُكَاَهْلُالْكِتَابِاَنْتُنَزِّلَعَلَيْهِمْكِتَاباًمِنَالسَّمَٓاءِفَقَدْسَاَلُوامُوسٰٓىاَكْبَرَمِنْذٰلِكَفَقَالُٓوااَرِنَااللّٰهَجَهْرَةًفَاَخَذَتْهُمُالصَّاعِقَةُبِظُلْمِهِمْۚثُمَّاتَّخَذُواالْعِجْلَمِنْبَعْدِمَاجَٓاءَتْهُمُالْبَيِّنَاتُفَعَفَوْنَاعَنْذٰلِكَۚوَاٰتَيْنَامُوسٰىسُلْطَاناًمُب۪يناً١٥٣
Yas-aluka ahlu alkitabi an tunazzilaAAalayhim kitaban mina assama-i faqadsaaloo moosa akbara min thalika faqaloo arinaAllaha jahratan faakhathat-humu assaAAiqatubithulmihim thumma ittakhathoo alAAijla minbaAAdi ma jaat-humu albayyinatu faAAafawnaAAan thalika waatayna moosa sultananmubeena
They ask thee what is made lawful for them. Say thou: “Made lawful for you are good things; and what you have trained of animals of prey as trainers teaching them of what God taught you — eat of what they catch for you, and remember the name of God over it. And be in prudent fear of God; God is swift in reckoning.”
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَمَاذَٓااُحِلَّلَهُمْۜقُلْاُحِلَّلَكُمُالطَّيِّبَاتُۙوَمَاعَلَّمْتُمْمِنَالْجَوَارِحِمُكَلِّب۪ينَتُعَلِّمُونَهُنَّمِمَّاعَلَّمَكُمُاللّٰهُۘفَكُلُوامِمَّٓااَمْسَكْنَعَلَيْكُمْوَاذْكُرُوااسْمَاللّٰهِعَلَيْهِۖوَاتَّقُوااللّٰهَۜاِنَّاللّٰهَسَر۪يعُالْحِسَابِ٤
Yas-aloonaka matha ohilla lahumqul ohilla lakumu attayyibatu wamaAAallamtum mina aljawarihi mukallibeenatuAAallimoonahunna mimma AAallamakumu Allahufakuloo mimma amsakna AAalaykum wathkurooisma Allahi AAalayhi wattaqoo Allaha innaAllaha sareeAAu alhisab
They ask thee concerning the Hour: “When is its arrival?” Say thou: “Knowledge thereof is but with my Lord; none reveals its time save He. It weighs heavily in the heavens and the earth; it comes not upon you save unexpectedly.” They ask thee as though thou wert privy thereto; say thou: “Knowledge thereof is but with God”; but most men know not.
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَعَنِالسَّاعَةِاَيَّانَمُرْسٰيهَاۜقُلْاِنَّمَاعِلْمُهَاعِنْدَرَبّ۪يۚلَايُجَلّ۪يهَالِوَقْتِهَٓااِلَّاهُوَۜثَقُلَتْفِيالسَّمٰوَاتِوَالْاَرْضِۜلَاتَأْت۪يكُمْاِلَّابَغْتَةًۜيَسْـَٔلُونَكَكَاَنَّكَحَفِيٌّعَنْهَاۜقُلْاِنَّمَاعِلْمُهَاعِنْدَاللّٰهِوَلٰكِنَّاَكْثَرَالنَّاسِلَايَعْلَمُونَ١٨٧
Yas-aloonaka AAani assaAAatiayyana mursaha qul innama AAilmuhaAAinda rabbee la yujalleeha liwaqtiha illahuwa thaqulat fee assamawati wal-ardila ta/teekum illa baghtatan yas-aloonaka kaannaka hafiyyunAAanha qul innama AAilmuha AAinda Allahiwalakinna akthara annasi layaAAlamoon
They ask thee about the spoils of war. Say thou: “The spoils of war are for God and the Messenger; so be in prudent fear of God, and make right in what is between you; and obey God and His messenger, if you be believers.”
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَعَنِالْاَنْفَالِۜقُلِالْاَنْفَالُلِلّٰهِوَالرَّسُولِۚفَاتَّقُوااللّٰهَوَاَصْلِحُواذَاتَبَيْنِكُمْۖوَاَط۪يعُوااللّٰهَوَرَسُولَهُٓاِنْكُنْتُمْمُؤْمِن۪ينَ١
Yas-aloonaka AAani al-anfali qulial-anfalu lillahi warrasooli fattaqooAllaha waaslihoo thata baynikum waateeAAooAllaha warasoolahu in kuntum mu/mineen
And they ask thee about the Spirit. Say thou: “The Spirit is by command of my Lord; and you have been given of knowledge only a little
وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَعَنِالرُّوحِۜقُلِالرُّوحُمِنْاَمْرِرَبّ۪يوَمَٓااُو۫ت۪يتُمْمِنَالْعِلْمِاِلَّاقَل۪يلاً٨٥
Wayas-aloonaka AAani arroohiquli arroohu min amri rabbee wama ooteetummina alAAilmi illa qaleela
And they ask thee about Dhūl-Qarnayn. Say thou: “I will recite to you a remembrance of him: —”
وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَعَنْذِيالْقَرْنَيْنِۜقُلْسَاَتْلُواعَلَيْكُمْمِنْهُذِكْراًۜ٨٣
Wayas-aloonaka AAan thee alqarnayniqul saatloo AAalaykum minhu thikra
And they ask thee about the mountains. Say thou: “My Lord will scatter them with a blast
وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَعَنِالْجِبَالِفَقُلْيَنْسِفُهَارَبّ۪ينَسْفاًۙ١٠٥
Wayas-aloonaka AAani aljibali faqulyansifuha rabbee nasfa
The people ask thee concerning the Hour. Say thou: “The knowledge thereof is but with God.” And what can make thee know that the Hour might be nigh?
يَسْـَٔلُكَالنَّاسُعَنِالسَّاعَةِۜقُلْاِنَّمَاعِلْمُهَاعِنْدَاللّٰهِۜوَمَايُدْر۪يكَلَعَلَّالسَّاعَةَتَكُونُقَر۪يباً٦٣
Yas-aluka annasu AAani assaAAatiqul innama AAilmuha AAinda Allahi wamayudreeka laAAalla assaAAata takoonu qareeba
They ask thee about the Hour: “When is its arrival?”
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَعَنِالسَّاعَةِاَيَّانَمُرْسٰيهَاۜ٤٢
Yas-aloonaka AAani assaAAatiayyana mursaha
