The Islamic World and South Asia Test

1. What is Islam?
a) A religion
b) A country
c) A language
d) A food

2. Who is the prophet of Islam?
a) Muhammad
b) Jesus
c) Buddha
d) Abraham

3. What is the holy book of Islam?
a) Bible
b) Quran
c) Torah
d) Vedas

4. What is the main pilgrimage site for Muslims?
a) Mecca
b) Jerusalem
c) Istanbul
d) Medina

5. When did Islam originate?
a) 7th century AD
b) 5th century BC
c) 14th century AD
d) 3rd century AD

6. What is the largest Muslim country in the world by population?
a) Iran
b) Saudi Arabia
c) Indonesia
d) Pakistan

7. Who founded the Mughal Empire in South Asia?
a) Muhammad bin Qasim
b) Aurangzeb Alamgir
c) Babur
d) Akbar

8. What is the famous monument built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, and where is it located?
a) Qutub Minar, Delhi
b) Red Fort, Agra
c) Jama Masjid, Delhi
d) Taj Mahal, Agra

9. What was the primary trade item between the Islamic World and South Asia during the medieval period?
a) Spices
b) Cotton
c) Silk
d) Tea

10. Who was the first Muslim ruler of India?
a) Muhammad bin Qasim
b) Babur
c) Shah Jahan
d) Akbar

Answers:
1. a) A religion
2. a) Muhammad
3. b) Quran
4. a) Mecca
5. a) 7th century AD
6. c) Indonesia
7. c) Babur
8. d) Taj Mahal, Agra
9. b) Cotton
10. b) Babur

Why did Muhammad move from Mecca to the city of Medina?

A.
He had already established a Muslim community in Mecca.

B.
He and his followers faced persecution by opponents in Mecca.

C.
He did not want to interfere with existing worship at the Kaaba in Mecca.

D.
He was a merchant and wanted to trade with the people of Medina.

B. He and his followers faced persecution by opponents in Mecca.

Use the drop-down menu to complete the sentence.

Muslims are not permitted to gamble or drink alcohol by the legal code known as the ...

Sharia.

Read each description of sources of Islamic thought, and then drag each description into the correct box.

Islamic code of law


words and actions of Muhammad


main source of Islamic teaching


Quran


Sunnah


Sharia

Islamic code of law: Sharia
words and actions of Muhammad: Sunnah
main source of Islamic teaching: Quran

Read the quote about the life of Muhammad.

“[Muhammad] called Ayesha to him, and said, ‘Where is that gold which I gave [you] to keep?’ . . . [S]he placed it in his hand, and counted six dinars. He directed that it should be divided among certain indigent [needy] families; and then . . . he said, ‘Now I am at peace. Verily [truly] it would not have become me to meet my Lord, and this gold in my possession.’”

—The Life of Mahomet [Muhammad] and History of Islam

Which of the Five Pillars of Islam is related to this quotation?

A.
daily prayer

B.
fasting during Ramadan

C.
charity

D.
the hajj

C. Charity.

Drag and drop the descriptions to the appropriate location. Descriptions may be used more than once.

This group believes only descendants of Muhammad should be caliph.


The majority of Muslims are this group.


This group views the Quran as the holy book of Islam.


Sunnis


Shias

This group believes only descendants of Muhammad should be caliph: Shias
The majority of Muslims are this group: Sunnis
This group views the Quran as the holy book of Islam: Both Shias and Sunnis

Which of the following statements best describes the spread of Islam during the Arab conquests?

A.
Islam spread only within the lands conquered by Arabs.

B.
Everyone in conquered lands was forced to convert to Islam.

C.
Few non-Arabs ever converted to Islam.

D.
Islam spread inside and outside the new Arab Muslim empire.

D. Islam spread inside and outside the new Arab Muslim empire.

Look at the table of dynasties.

Dynasty Achievement
Sasanian maintained Mesopotamian culture
Umayyad ?
Abbasid made Baghdad a cultural capital
Safavid helped Persian culture thrive


Which description can replace the question mark?

A.
expanded the Muslim empire to its greatest extent

B.
translated the Quran into the most foreign languages

C.
completed the conquest of the Byzantine empire

D.
introduced Islam into the Indian subcontinent

A. Expanded the Muslim empire to its greatest extent.

Look at the table.

Area of Achievement Achievement
philosophy combined Islamic faith with Greek logic
medicine published a medical encyclopedia
mathematics ?


Which achievement completes the table?

A.
invented the telescope

B.
spread the concept of zero

C.
invented geometry

D.
used Roman numerals

B. Spread the concept of zero.

Use the drop-down menu to complete the sentence.

A characteristic commonly found in Islamic art and architecture was ...

symmetry.

not helpful

Apologies for the wrong response. Here is the correct sentence:

A characteristic commonly found in Islamic art and architecture was geometric patterns.

Use the drop-down menus to complete the sentences.

The rulers of the
Choose...
empire in southern India spoke Tamil. Indian cultural ideas and practices spread from the empire mainly through
Choose...
.

The rulers of the Chola empire in southern India spoke Tamil. Indian cultural ideas and practices spread from the empire mainly through trade and missionary activity.

What was Xuanzang's accomplishment?

A.
He established the Delhi sultanate.

B.
He led Turkish troops in India.

C.
He helped spread Buddhism to China.

D.
He founded the religion of Sikhism.

C. He helped spread Buddhism to China.

Which of the following was the Delhi sultanate?

A.
It was the government of the Mongols in India.

B.
It was the government of the Gupta empire.

C.
It was the government of the Chola empire.

D.
It was the government of the Muslim Turks in India.

D. It was the government of the Muslim Turks in India.

Which is one factor that contributed to the rise of Sikhism?

A.
the spread of Christianity into India

B.
opposition to the Hindu caste system

C.
objections to the Five Pillars of Islam

D.
a return to polytheistic religion

B. Opposition to the Hindu caste system.

The city of Baghdad was economically important in part because it ...

was located on a major east-west trade route.

Compare and contrast the treatment of different religions by rulers of the Arab empire.

The treatment of different religions by rulers of the Arab empire varied over time and place. At times, non-Muslims were treated with tolerance and were allowed to practice their own religions. For example, during the early years of the Islamic empire, non-Muslims were generally allowed to worship freely and some even held prominent positions in government.

However, at other times, non-Muslims were treated less favorably and faced discrimination. This was particularly true during periods of conflict between the Muslim and non-Muslim populations. For example, during the Umayyad period, non-Muslims were often treated as second-class citizens and were subject to special taxes.

Overall, the treatment of different religions by rulers of the Arab empire varied depending on the current political and social climate. It is important to note that tolerance and discrimination were not unique to the Arab empire, and other empires throughout history have exhibited similar patterns of treatment of different religions.

Describe the split in the Muslim community caused by Muhammad’s death.

Muhammad's death in 632 CE led to a split in the Muslim community over the issue of who should be his successor as leader, or caliph, of the Muslim community. A group known as the Sunni believed that the caliph should be appointed by a consensus of the community and should be elected based on merit and piety.

On the other hand, a group known as the Shia believed that the caliph should be a direct descendant of Muhammad's family, and that the family of the Prophet should have a special status within the Muslim community. This split, known as the Shia-Sunni divide, has persisted throughout Islamic history and remains a significant source of tension and conflict within the Muslim world today.

The immediate cause of the split was the question of succession following Muhammad's death. The Sunni believed that Abu Bakr, a close associate of the Prophet, should become the first caliph, while the Shia believed that Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, was the rightful successor.

The split between the Sunni and Shia has had significant consequences throughout Islamic history, including political disputes, social divisions, and military conflict. Despite efforts at reconciliation over the centuries, the divide between the two groups remains an important issue within the Muslim world.

What was Muhammad’s role in establishing and spreading Islam?

Muhammad is considered the founder of the Islamic faith, as he received the revelations or messages from Allah and taught them to his followers. He played a pivotal role in establishing and spreading Islam throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.

Born in Mecca in 570 CE, Muhammad started receiving revelations from Allah at the age of 40. He initially faced resistance from the Meccan elites, who were opposed to his message and feared the threat it posed to their power. However, Muhammad's message of monotheism, social justice, and equality resonated with many in Mecca, particularly the poor and marginalized.

In 622 CE, Muhammad and his followers were forced to flee Mecca and establish a new community in Medina. This event, known as the Hijra, marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar and is a significant event in Islamic history.

In Medina, Muhammad consolidated his position as the leader of the Muslim community and established a new social and political order based on Islamic principles. He also continued to receive revelations that were later compiled in the holy book of Islam, the Quran.

Over time, Muhammad's message gained traction throughout Arabia, and by the time of his death in 632 CE, Islam had spread to many parts of the Arabian Peninsula. After his death, his followers continued to spread the message of Islam, and the faith eventually spread throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond. Today, Islam is one of the world's major religions, with more than one billion followers worldwide.

What factors helped the economies of the Muslim empires prosper?

There were several factors that helped the economies of the Muslim empires prosper. Here are some of them:

1. Trade: The Muslim empires were located at a strategic location on the trade routes between Europe, Asia, and Africa, which allowed them to control and benefit from the vast trade networks that existed during the medieval period. The Islamic world was also known for producing and exporting luxury goods such as textiles, ceramics, spices, and precious metals.

2. Agriculture: Many of the Muslim empires were located in fertile areas that were favorable for agriculture. Islamic societies developed advanced irrigation and farming techniques that allowed them to grow crops such as wheat, rice, and cotton in large quantities, which supported the growth of urban centers and trade networks.

3. Urbanization: The Muslim empires were centers of culture and learning, with vibrant urban centers that attracted merchants, scholars, and artisans from all over the world. This urbanization led to the growth of a consumer economy, with a thriving market for luxury goods such as textiles, perfumes, and jewelry.

4. Finance: The Muslim empires developed advanced financial systems, including the use of paper money, credit, and banking that supported the growth of trade and commerce.

5. Technology and innovation: The Islamic world made significant contributions to science, technology, and medicine. Muslim scholars made important discoveries and innovations in fields such as mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, and physics, which helped drive economic and cultural growth in the Muslim world.

Overall, these factors contributed to the prosperity of the Muslim empires, allowing them to build thriving economies and contribute significantly to the cultural and intellectual development of the world.

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