Question 1

Ismalis believe that there were twelve Imams who followed Mohammed.

Accepted Answer

Ismailis believe in a different line of succession for their Imams and do not adhere to the belief in twelve Imams following Prophet Mohammed, which is a belief held by the Twelver Shia Muslims.

Question 2

Which of the following religions were not founded in the Middle East?
A)Christianity
B)Judaism
C)Hinduism
D)Islam

Accepted Answer

Hinduism was founded in India, not in the Middle East.

Question 3

Mohammed was born in Mecca.

Accepted Answer

This is a well-known fact in Islamic history. Mohammed was born in Mecca in the year 570 CE.

Question 4

Sunnis compromise an estimated 85-90 percent of all Muslims today.

Accepted Answer

Sunnis are considered the largest denomination in Islam, making up around 85-90 percent of all Muslims worldwide.

Question 5

Gulf states include only those Arab kingdoms bordering the Dead Sea.

Accepted Answer

Gulf states refer to the Arab countries bordering the Persian Gulf, which include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. They do not border the Dead Sea.

Question 6

The Zionist movement took place at the same time the Ottoman Empire was forming.

Accepted Answer

The Zionist movement began in the late 19th century, while the Ottoman Empire had been in existence for several centuries.

Question 7

Who are the four major prophets of Islam?
A)Abraham,Moses,Jesus,and Mohammed
B)Moses,Jesus,Mohammed,and Ali
C)Mohammed,Abu Bakr,Umar,and Uthman
D)Mohammed,Ali,Hasan,and Hussein

Accepted Answer

The four major prophets of Islam are Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed, with Mohammed being the last prophet according to Islamic belief.

Question 8

According to the text,in what year was Mohammed born?
A)100 BCE
B)560 AD
C)580 AD
D)570 AD

Accepted Answer

The text states that Mohammed was born "in the year 570 AD."

Question 9

Leaders of the Irgun studied and incorporated the tactics of Marighella.

Accepted Answer

There is no evidence to suggest that the leaders of the Irgun studied or incorporated the tactics of Marighella. The Irgun was a Jewish paramilitary group active in Palestine/Israel in the 1930s and 1940s, while Marighella was a Brazilian Marxist revolutionary active in the 1960s.

Question 10

Although theological divisions with Sunnis would eventually arise and the Shi'ites themselves would split into competing sects,the first division in Islam was political.

Accepted Answer

The first division in Islam was political, specifically between the Sunni and Shia branches. Theological divisions and further sectarian splits arose later.

Question 11

Mainstream Muslims following the caliph were conventionally called Sunnis,while the followers of Ali became known as Shi'ites.

Accepted Answer

This is correct according to Islamic history and tradition. Mainstream Muslims who followed the caliphate were known as Sunnis, while those who believed in the leadership of Ali and his descendants were known as Shi'ites.

Question 12

_________________is the site of a battle between the Muslims of Medina and the merchants of Mecca in 624.
A)Jordan
B)Iraq
C)Badr
D)Qutb

Accepted Answer

The Battle of Badr was fought between the Muslims of Medina and the merchants of Mecca in 624. It took place in present-day Saudi Arabia, not in Jordan or Iraq. Qutb is a surname and not related to this event.

Question 13

In 1969,Colonel Muammar Gadhafi seized power in a military coup,claiming Libya as an anti-Western socialist state.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Muammar Gadhafi seized power in Libya through a military coup in 1969 and established a socialist government that was hostile to Western nations.

Question 14

The only persons to practice terrorism in the name of their religion are Muslim fanatics.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false and perpetuates harmful stereotypes about Islam and Muslims. Terrorism has been carried out by individuals of various religions and ideologies, including white supremacists, Christian extremists, and Hindu nationalists. It is important to avoid painting an entire group of people with one negative brushstroke based on the actions of a few extremists.

Question 15

Some Islamic countries refer to their legislative body as a majlis.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Some examples of countries that use "majlis" to refer to their legislative body include Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.

Question 16

Muslims believe that Jews,Christians,and Zoroastrians worship the same deity.

Accepted Answer

Muslims believe in the concept of tawhid, or the oneness of God, and recognize the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) as sharing the same theological roots and worshipping the same God. Additionally, Islam recognizes the importance and legitimacy of the Zoroastrian faith in its history and teachings.

Question 17

According to Bernard Lewis,the Middle East is not a geographical region.

Accepted Answer

Bernard Lewis, a renowned scholar of Middle Eastern history and culture, argued that the term "Middle East" is a political and cultural construct, rather than a strictly geographical one. He pointed out that the region referred to as the Middle East has shifted over time and has been defined differently by different groups.

Question 18

According to Islam,Mohammed was born in which city?
A)Mecca
B)Medina
C)Badr
D)Jerusalem

Accepted Answer

According to Islamic history, Prophet Mohammed was born in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia in 570 CE.

Question 19

The followers of Ali are known as Sunnis.

Accepted Answer

The followers of Ali are known as Shi'as, whereas Sunnis are those who follow the Sunnah (practices and traditions) of the Prophet Muhammad.

Question 20

Zaidi Shi'ites compose the majority of Shi'ite Muslims.

Accepted Answer

The majority of Shi'ite Muslims are Twelver Shi'ites, not Zaidi Shi'ites.

Quiz 8: Background To The Middle East