Question 1

The mihrab is a semicircular niche set in the qibla wall;its specific purpose is still being debated.Some scholars have suggested the mihrab is referencing Muhammad.Which of the following best supports this suggestion?

Accepted Answer

The mihrab is typically placed on the qibla wall indicating the direction of the Kaaba which is the center of Islamic worship. Some scholars believe that the mihrab is referencing Muhammad as it honors the place where he stood when leading communal worship, facing towards the direction of the Kaaba. This suggests that the mihrab plays a significant role in connecting Islamic worship to the Prophet Muhammad. Option A is the most relevant as it directly relates to the purpose of the mihrab in honoring the place where Muhammad stood during communal worship.

Question 2

The unification of text and ornament found in the design of Islamic Korans is also found in the European manuscripts of the ______________.

Accepted Answer

The Hiberno-Saxon manuscripts, such as the Book of Kells, are known for their intricate interlacing patterns and the integration of text and ornament, similar to the design of Islamic Korans.

Question 3

The Great Mosque at Córdoba has a hypostyle prayer hall with horseshoe shaped arches adapted from which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The horseshoe shaped arches of the Great Mosque at Córdoba were adapted from the Visigothic style of architecture, which was prominent in the region before the Islamic conquest.

Question 4

The structural foundation of the Great Mosque of Damascus owes much to the architecture of the Greco-Roman East.Which structural feature accounts for this?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The structural foundation of the Great Mosque...

Question 5

The hypostyle mosque,such as Kairouan,most closely reflects the mosque's supposed origin.Which of the following best supports this statement?

Accepted Answer

The hypostyle mosque, such as Kairouan, is believed to reflect the early mosques that were based on the design of Muhammad's house in Medina. Therefore, option A, which refers to Muhammad's house in Medina, best supports the statement.

Question 6

Sinan was born a Christian,converted to Islam,then trained in engineering and the art of building while still in the army.He was also court architect to Suleyman the Magnificent.Which of the following was his greatest achievement?

Accepted Answer

Sinan's greatest achievement is considered to be the Mosque of Selim II, located in Edirne, Turkey. This mosque is praised for its unique architectural features, such as its octagonal shape, large dome, and intricate decoration. It is also notable for being one of Sinan's later works, completed when he was in his 80s, and for its use of advanced engineering techniques.

Question 7

It is said Muslims worship Allah directly without a hierarchy of clergy acting as intermediaries.However during communal gatherings,the imam would stand on a stepped pulpit or ___________.

Accepted Answer

The stepped pulpit is called "minbar" and it is where the imam stands during communal gatherings to deliver the sermon or khutbah. The other options listed are also important elements of a mosque but not related to the question asked.

Question 8

Critical of the polytheistic religion of his fellow Arabs,Muhammad had all the idols destroyed,however he preserved the Kaaba.Which of the following supports the reason for this preservation?

Accepted Answer

The Kaaba is considered the Islamic world's symbolic center and a significant religious site for Muslims, even before the time of Muhammad. Its preservation was likely due to its importance within the Islamic faith, rather than any personal association with Muhammad himself.

Question 9

When Islam arose,who were peripheral to the Byzantine and Persian empires?

Accepted Answer

The Arabs were peripheral to both the Byzantine and Persian empires at the time of the rise of Islam.

Question 10

The Mshatta Palace,never completed,has a rich ornamental frieze with animal figures appearing on some of the triangles.However no animal figures appear on the façade that correspond to the mosque's qibla wall.Why is the animal figuration absent from this section of the frieze?

Accepted Answer

It is likely that the animal figuration is absent from the qibla wall because the representation of fauna in a sacred place is prohibited in Islam.

Question 11

The art of calligraphy,ornamental writing,was used to reproduce the sacred words of the Koran in as beautiful a script as possible.Which of the following would never appear in ornamental writing of the Koran?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The art of calligraphy,ornamental writing,was used to...

Question 12

The positioning of all mosques,no matter period or country,must be oriented toward which of the following cities?

Accepted Answer

All mosques are required to be positioned towards Mecca, which is considered the holiest city in Islam. This is known as Qiblah.

Question 13

How is interior architectural space defined in the Muslim world?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How is interior architectural space defined in...

Question 14

The coming of a new religion to Jerusalem,a city sacred to both Jews and Christians,is marked by a monument known as the ____________.

Accepted Answer

The Dome of the Rock is a monument located in Jerusalem that is sacred to both Jews and Christians. It was built in the late 7th century and is considered one of the earliest examples of Islamic architecture. It is situated on the Temple Mount, which is also a holy site for Jews and Christians. The building is significant in Islamic history as it marks the location where the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven.

Question 15

Which of the following is built over the spot from which Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven?

Accepted Answer

The Dome of the Rock, located in Jerusalem, is built over the spot from which Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven. The other options listed are significant Islamic architectural examples, but they are not built on this particular spot.

Question 16

What was the Hegira?

Accepted Answer

The Hegira was Muhammad's flight from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, which marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

Question 17

The Saminid mausoleum from Bukhara can be said to be which of the following structure types?

Accepted Answer

The Saminid mausoleum from Bukhara is a dome-on-a cube form. This means that the structure features a cube-shaped base with a dome placed on top of it.

Question 18

The Malwiya minaret in Samarra was too tall to have been used to call the faithful to prayer and was clearly visible for a considerable distance.Which of the following is a possible explanation?

Accepted Answer

The Malwiya minaret's height and visibility suggest it was meant to symbolize the presence and dominance of Islam in the region, rather than serving a practical function like calling to prayer.

Question 19

The vault in the Hall of the Two Sisters is meant to symbolize __________.

Accepted Answer

The vault in the Hall of the Two Sisters is meant to symbolize the dome of heaven, which is a common motif in Islamic architecture.

Question 20

In the 7^th century,the capital of Islam had been transferred from Mecca to Damascus by the ____________.

Accepted Answer

The Umayyads, a powerful Arab dynasty, transferred the capital of Islam from Mecca to Damascus in the 7th century.

Quiz 10: The Islamic World