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The Origins and Spread of Islam

Total questions: 18

Worksheet time: 14mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Why is the city of Mecca important in Muslim tradition?

a)

Most Muslims today live there.

b)

It was the birthplace of Muhammad

c)

It was the capital of the Umayyad empire

d)

Muhammad moved there with his followers in the 6th century

2.

What took Muhammad to places beyond the Arabian Peninsula?

a)

Searching for a wife

b)

Heading the family jumping goats

c)

Conquering a vast empire

d)

Making caravan trips for trade

3.

Before Muhammad was born, people of Arabia were united by:

a)

a belief in one God (monotheism)

b)

a single social class

c)

a common language

d)

a central government

4.

What geographic feature made Mecca a wealthy city?

a)

A sheltered harbor, much like Humboldt bay.

b)

deep mountain forests, like, you know, the redwood coast.

c)

It's location along trade routes

d)

Oasis water for agriculture

5.

According to Islamic teachings, what did the angel Gabriel tell Muhammad to do?

a)

Teach monothesim

b)

Defeat the Syrian rulers

c)

Write down the most important laws on an I-pad tablet

d)

Flee to the deserts of North Africa

6.

The Word Muslim means one who

a)

surrenders to God.

b)

follows Muhammad.

c)

preaches the one true faith.

d)

practices kindness to everyone

7.

Why is the Qur'an the holy book of Islam?

a)

It tells the story of Muhammad's life and death

b)

It records the words of God spoken by Gabriel.

c)

It is a collection of sermons by the prophet Muhammad

d)

It records the history of the Arabs and the spread of Islam

8.

What teaching by Muhammad most upset the leaders of Mecca?

a)

Children should learn to read

b)

Women should have more rights

c)

The rich should share their wealth

d)

Trade with unbelievers was wrong

9.

Why did the leaders of Mecca want to keep polytheism?

a)

It taught people to obey them.

b)

It kept the peach among the tribes

c)

It let them sell expensive idols.

d)

It brought pilgrims to the city, who spent money

10.

How did some clans boycott Muhammad's clan?

a)

By tearing down their stores

b)

By shutting them up in caves

c)

By staging a siege of Medina

d)

By refusing to do business with them

11.

What is said to have happened on Muhammad's Night Journey?

a)

A winged horse-like creature took him to Jerusalem

b)

He met an angel in a cave near his home.

c)

He fled from Mecca to Fortuna for safety

d)

He visited his sleeping followers just before he died.

12.

What action by Muhammad in Medina made that city important to his followers?

a)

He prayed with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.

b)

He lived there while he attracted more people to Islam.

c)

He tore down the city walls and destroyed the ancient shrines.

d)

He delivered his Last Sermon, announcing that he would retire.

13.

How did the Muslim empire treat Jews and Christians differently from Muslims?

a)

It made them leave the empire, under punishment of tickling

b)

It charged them extra taxes

c)

It outlawed use of their prayers

d)

They burned down their houses of Worship

14.

After the first four caliphs, what changed in the Muslim empire?

a)

The Qur'an was respected

b)

Leaders stopped making war

c)

Islam split into two branches.

d)

Egyptian nomads took power.

15.

How did the Umayyads contribute to the spread of Islam?

a)

As wealthy traders, they spread Arab ideas

b)

As a ruling family, they conquered new lands.

c)

As wandering preachers, they attracted converts.

d)

As scholars, they translated the Qur'an into other languages

16.

What question separated the two branches of Islam?

a)

Is is wise to expand the empire?

b)

Should nonbelievers be punished by tickling?

c)

Should religious pictures of humans be permitted?

d)

Must a caliph be a descendant of the Phophet Muhammad?

17.

What regions of the world has the highest concentration of Muslims?

a)

The Middle East

b)

Africa

c)

Central Asia

d)

'Murica

18.

Which region of the world did the Islamic faith originate?

a)

South America

b)

Europe

c)

The Middle East

d)

Oceania