Islamic History
Who was the first Caliph after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?
Abu Bakr (RA)
What major event in 1948 led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians?
The Nakba (1948 Palestinian Exodus)
Who is considered the father of algebra, and what is his major contribution to mathematics?
Al-Khwarizmi; He introduced algebra, a branch of mathematics focused on solving equations.
Which military leader is famous for retaking Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187?
Saladin (Salah ad-Din)
Which Surah of the Qur'an is named after a prophet and contains the verse "And indeed, you are of a great moral character"?
Surah Al-Qalam (68:4)
Name two major battles fought during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that were pivotal to the spread of Islam.
The Battle of Badr
The Battle of Uhud
Name the two main Palestinian political factions that have been in conflict for control of Palestinian territories.
-Fatah
-Hamas
Name two Muslim scholars who made significant advancements in the field of optics.
-Ibn al-Haytham
-Al-Farabi
Name the famous Persian philosopher who wrote The Book of Healing and made significant contributions to medicine and logic.
Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
In which Surah can you find the verse "Indeed, Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin"?
Surah An-Nahl (16:90)
Which major battle, fought in 751 CE, marked the first direct confrontation between the Abbasid Caliphate and the Tang Dynasty of China, and resulted in a decisive victory for the Abbasids, leading to the establishment of Islamic rule in Central Asia?
The Battle of Talas
List three territories occupied by Israel after the 1967 Six-Day War.
The West Bank
Gaza Strip
East Jerusalem
What is the astrolabe, and how was it used by Muslim scholars during the Islamic Golden Age?
The astrolabe is an ancient instrument used to measure the position of the stars and planets, aiding in navigation and timekeeping.
Who was the founder of the Mughal Empire in India, and what was his key contribution to the empire?
Babur
-He founded the Mughal Empire in 1526 and is known for his military prowess and cultural contributions.
List the names of the four Surahs in the Qur'an that are named after places.
Surah Al-Imran
Surah Al-Ma'idah
Surah Al-A'raf
Surah Al-Hajj
List three major achievements during the rule of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA).
Establishment of the Islamic calendar
Expansion of the Islamic empire
Reforms in governance and law
Which Palestinian city is considered a major religious site for both Muslims and Christians due to its association with the birthplace of Jesus?
Bethlehem
Which medical innovation was first introduced by Muslim physicians that became widely adopted in Europe?
The concept of quarantine and the development of surgical instruments.
List three scholars who contributed to the development of Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh).
-Imam Abu Hanifa
-Imam Malik
-Imam Shafi’i
Which Surah was revealed when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was deeply distressed due to the loss of his wife Khadijah (RA) and his uncle Abu Talib?
Surah At-Tawbah (9:128–129)
Which Umayyad caliph initiated the construction of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, and why was it significant?
Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan; it marked the first large-scale Islamic architectural project and commemorates the night journey of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Which peace agreement, signed in 1993, was the first to involve mutual recognition between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)?
The Oslo Accords
List four significant inventions developed by Muslim engineers during the Islamic Golden Age.
-Windmills
-Water clocks,
-Automata,
-Crankshafts
Other acceptable choices:
Also acceptable:
mechanical automata
camera obscura
gear mechanisms
submarines
the crank and the connecting rod
early versions of an airplane—the flying machine
Which famous Muslim ruler was known for his role in the expansion of the Ottoman Empire, particularly for his military conquests and building projects?
Suleiman the Magnificent
Which Surah contains the verse "If you help [the cause of] Allah, He will help you and make your feet firm"? And who was it revealed to?
Surah Muhammad (47:7)
Revealed to the Muslims during the battle of Uhud