Islamic Division
What major event directly led to the split within the Muslim Umma into Sunni and Shi'a factions?
a) The disagreement over the rightful successor after Prophet Muhammad's death
b) The assassination of the third Caliph, Uthman, and the ensuing civil unrest
c) The assassination of the fourth Caliph, Ali, and the rise of the Umayyad dynasty
d) The Battle of Karbala and the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali
Answer: a) The disagreement over the rightful successor after Prophet Muhammad's death
Why was the construction of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem significant under Abd al-Malik’s rule?
a) It replaced the Ka’bah as the primary pilgrimage site for Muslims.
b) It was built on the site of the Hebrew Temple, symbolizing Islamic religious dominance.
c) It was designed to serve as the headquarters for the Umayyad administration.
d) It commemorated the victory of Muslims over the Persians.
Answer: b) It was built on the site of the Hebrew Temple, symbolizing Islamic religious dominance.
How did the Delhi Sultanate contribute to the demographic changes in the Indian subcontinent?
a) It caused a decrease in population due to constant warfare.
b)It forced nomadic tribes to settle in urban areas for economic reasons.
c) It led to widespread migration of Hindus into neighboring regions.
d) It facilitated a population growth of roughly 40% through economic and militaristic stability.
Answer: d) It facilitated a population growth of roughly 40% through economic and militaristic stability.
How did the Quran influence Arabic literacy across the Muslim world?
a) It mandated that all legal documents be written in Arabic.
b) It made Arabic literacy essential for religious study and prayer.
c) It replaced local languages with Arabic in daily communication.
d) It restricted the teaching of other languages in Islamic schools.
Answer: b) It made Arabic literacy essential for religious study and prayer.
What religious belief was central to the Umayyad tribe that controlled Mecca before Islam’s rise?
a) Zoroastrianism
b) Christianity
c) Polytheism
d) Monotheism, with a belief in Allah
Answer: d) Monotheism, with a belief in Allah
What is the key difference between Sunni and Shi’a beliefs regarding the role of the caliph?
a) Sunnis believe the caliph should be a religious authority, while Shi’a believe the caliph should be a political leader.
b) Sunnis believe any devout Muslim can serve as caliph, while Shi’a believe the caliph must be a descendant of Muhammad.
c) Sunnis believe in hereditary succession for the caliph, while Shi’a believe in an elected caliph.
d) Sunnis reject the concept of a caliphate entirely, while Shi’a support it.
Answer: b) Sunnis believe any devout Muslim can serve as caliph, while Shi’a believe the caliph must be a descendant of Muhammad.
What administrative reform is Caliph Abd al-Malik most noted for during his reign?
a) The establishment of a decentralized tribal governance system
b) Replacing Persian and Byzantine officials with qualified Arab administrators
c) Introducing a new tax system favoring non-Muslims
d) Centralizing power in Damascus through military reforms
Answer: b) Replacing Persian and Byzantine officials with qualified Arab administrators
What was one of the negative consequences of the Delhi Sultanate’s taxation policies over time?
a) It caused widespread peasant revolts that weakened the empire.
b) It slowed economic growth in the later years of the empire.
c) It led to the depopulation of urban centers.
d) It allowed rival Hindu kingdoms to reclaim territories.
Answer: b) It slowed economic growth in the later years of the empire.
Which of the following social practices was NOT explicitly denounced by the Quran?
a) Exploitation of the poor
b) Charging high interest rates on loans
c) Polygamy
d) Neglect of widows and orphans
Answer: c) Polygamy
What was a key characteristic of the Bedouins in their interactions with Mecca’s wealthier merchants?
a) They frequently clashed with merchants due to social and economic disparities.
b) They acted as intermediaries in the Indian Ocean trade. c) They monopolized the trade routes leading to Byzantium.
d) They introduced advanced shipping technologies to Meccan merchants.
Answer: a) They frequently clashed with merchants due to social and economic disparities.
Which of the following best explains the immediate political outcome after the assassination of Caliph Ali?
a) The establishment of the Abbasid Caliphate by descendants of Ali
b) A period of anarchy leading to the fragmentation of the Islamic community into multiple states
c) The rise of Mu'awiya, Ali's rival, who founded the Umayyad dynasty and became the new caliph
d) The unification of Sunni and Shi'a factions under a mutually accepted caliph
Answer: c) The rise of Mu'awiya, Ali's rival, who founded the Umayyad dynasty and became the new caliph
Which significant change made by Caliph Abd al-Malik helped unify the empire linguistically?
a) Declaring Persian the official administrative language
b) Introducing bilingual inscriptions in Persian and Arabic
c) Making Arabic the official language of administration
d) Abolishing local dialects in favor of Greek
Answer: c) Making Arabic the official language of administration
Which technological advancements were facilitated by the Delhi Sultanate’s economic and militaristic stability?
a) The invention of new farming techniques and irrigation systems
b) Development of advanced naval fleets and weaponry c) Increased production of iron and steel and the use of Chinese paper technology
d) Introduction of European architectural styles to the subcontinent
Answer: c) Increased production of iron and steel and the use of Chinese paper technology
What does the title "Quran" mean, and how does it reflect its origins?
a) "The Recitations," emphasizing that it was orally revealed and transmitted.
b) "The Book," signifying its written preservation after Muhammad’s death.
c) "The Law," indicating its function as a guide for Islamic legal systems.
d) "The Verses," referring to its poetic and literary structure.
Answer: a) "The Recitations," emphasizing that it was orally revealed and transmitted.
What was a significant source of tension in Mecca before the rise of Islam?
a) Conflicts between monotheists and polytheists over religious practices
b) Tensions between the Bedouins and wealthier merchants
c) Disputes over control of trade routes with the Byzantine Empire
d) Frequent invasions by neighboring tribes
Answer: b) Tensions between the Bedouins and wealthier merchants
What percentage of the global Muslim population identifies as Sunni?
a) 50%
b) 70%
c) 90%
d) 95%
Answer: c) 90%
What social divide existed under Caliph Abd al-Malik’s reign despite administrative reforms?
a) Non-Arab Muslims and Dhimmi were both regarded as second-class citizens.
b) Arab Muslims and Dhimmi were equally treated under the law.
c) Persian Muslims held a higher social status than Arab Muslims.
d) Dhimmi and non-Muslims were exempt from taxation.
Answer: a) Non-Arab Muslims and Dhimmi were both regarded as second-class citizens
What was a key factor that contributed to economic growth under the Delhi Sultanate?
a) The establishment of a new currency system
b) Repelling the Mongol invasion, which ensured economic and militaristic stability
c) Eliminating taxation on agricultural production
d) Promoting Hindu and Buddhist cultural practices
Answer: b) Repelling the Mongol invasion, which ensured economic and militaristic stability
What event prompted the compilation of the Quran into a single text?
a) The conquests of non-Arabic speaking regions
b) Muhammad’s death in 632 and the fear of losing oral traditions
c) The need to unify Muslims under a single legal system
d) The discovery of discrepancies in early manuscripts
Answer: b) Muhammad’s death in 632 and the fear of losing oral traditions
What industries flourished during the Abbasid era due to increased trade and wealth?
a) Shipbuilding and metalworking
b) Agriculture and livestock breeding
c) Ceramics, rug-making, jewelry, and tapestry production
d) Printing and bookbinding
Answer: c) Ceramics, rug-making, jewelry, and tapestry production
What event led to the establishment of the Umayyad dynasty?
a) The death of Prophet Muhammad
b) The assassination of the 4th Caliph, Ali
c) The signing of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah
d) The conquest of Mecca by the Muslims
Answer: b) The assassination of the 4th Caliph, Ali
How did Caliph Abd al-Malik’s conquest of North Africa impact the spread of Islam?
a) It led to the forced conversion of the Berbers to Islam.
b) It resulted in the Berbers forming a separate Islamic caliphate.
c) It caused a significant decline in cultural practices.
d) The subjugated Berbers later converted voluntarily and spread Islam into Spain.
Answer: d) The subjugated Berbers later converted voluntarily and spread Islam into Spain.
What policy of the Delhi Sultanate caused animosity with subjugated Hindu kingdoms?
a)Destroying anthropomorphic art and Hindu and Buddhist temples. b) Imposing high taxes on non-Muslims
c) Forcing conversions to Islam among the Hindu population
d) Banning trade with Hindu merchants
Answer: a)Destroying anthropomorphic art and Hindu and Buddhist temples.
What themes are central to the Quran’s denunciation of prevailing social practices?
a) Economic exploitation, gender inequality, and neglect of marginalized groups
b) Secular governance, military expansion, and legal codification
c) Tribal customs, artistic expression, and regional autonomy
d) Intellectualism, scientific inquiry, and education reform
Answer: a) Economic exploitation, gender inequality, and neglect of marginalized groups
Which trade route became increasingly popular during the 5th and 6th centuries due to unrest in the Byzantine and Sassanid Empires?
a) The Silk Road passing through Central Asia
b) A route passing through Mecca to Yemen, then across the Indian Ocean
c) The Mediterranean Sea connecting Rome to North Africa
d) A northern route through the Caucasus and Persia
Answer: b) A route passing through Mecca to Yemen, then across the Indian Ocean