Language
Which direction is Arabic script read from?
Arabic script is read from right to left.
What are the five pillars of Islam?
Faith
Prayer
Alms
Fasting
Pilgrimage
What were the two empires present in the Middle East during the Pre-Islamic period?
The Byzantine Empire and the Sassanian Empire.
The Kaa'ba is mostly what color?
Black
Name three causes of the Arab revolts.
Three of
•Political dictatorships
•Corruption
•Unemployment
•Repression, killing, and wounding of protestors
•Demographic class imbalance
The Arabic language can be grouped into which three variants?
•Classical Arabic
•Modern Standard Arabic MSA fusha
•Colloquial Arabic
What is the call to prayer in Islam?
Athan
Name three countries in the Arab world that are NOT in the Middle East.
Three of [Algeria, Djibouti, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia]
NOT
[Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.]
Name three key features of Islamic architecture.
• Onion shaped domes
• Pointed arches
• minarets/towers
• calligraphic elements
Which of the following is NOT a major source of income for Arab economies?
• Gas
• Oil
• Agriculture
• Tourism
Agriculture
Name three English words that come from Arabic.
..., ..., and ...
Which branch of Christianity is the largest in Lebanon?
Maronite
What were the two major Arabian trade routes during Pre-Islamic times, and where did they go to and from?
1. Central Arabian Desert Route [Yemen to Edom, Edom to either Damascus or Egypt]
2. East Arabian Desert Route [Southern Arabia (Oman) to Babylon]
What makes Islamic architecture Islamic?
It relates to the building traditions of Muslim populations in the Middle East and elsewhere from the 7th century onwards
What do the Arab social movements succeed and fail in?
•Success: mobilize millions to successfully overthrow the regime
•Failure: lack political leadership
Which language family does Arabic belong to?
Arabic is a member of the family of Semitic languages.
Today, around how many Muslims visit Mecca every year for Hajj?
2 million
In which country is the Shrine of Imam Ali located?
What is the word for an ornate design featuring intertwined curves, often containing geometric and/or floral patterns.
Arabesque
Name two characteristics of Arab revolts.
Two of
•Easy to assemble and disperse
•Lack organization
•Lack leadership
How many consonants are Arabic roots normally made up of?
Three consonants.
Name five (5) examples of tribal humanism present in Arab culture during the Pre-Islamic period.
Five of [Social Group, Honor, Manliness, Hospitality, Vendetta, Genealogy]
How many different millets were recognized by the Ottoman government in the 19th century?
17
What is the name of the embroidered fabric covering of the Kaaba?
Kiswa
Name two achievements or qualities of Al-Jazeera.
•the station gained worldwide attention following the outbreak of war in Afghanistan, when it was the only channel to cover the war live from its office there
•nominated as one of the five best news web sites, along with BBC News, National Geographic and The Smoking Gun
•was praised by the Index on Censorship for circumventing censorship and contributing to the free exchange of information in the Arab world