Ghada World — History Quizzes EncyclopediaGhada World — History Quizzes Encyclopedia
Ghada World — A trusted Q&A encyclopedia · 237 questions
Q1: Match each element of traditional architecture and heritage in the Kingdom with its description:
Answer: Rawasheen ↔ Projecting, decorated wooden windows, Manqabi stone ↔ Coral stone taken from the sea, Libn (mud bricks) ↔ Bricks made of sun-dried mud, Al-Qatt al-Asiri ↔ Colorful patterns decorating house walls
💡 Jeddah was famous for its rawasheen and manqabi stone, Najd for its mud and mud-brick houses, and Asir for the art of al-qatt, with which women decorate the walls of houses.
Q2: Match each heritage site with the region or city where it is located:
Answer: The rock art at Jubbah ↔ Hail, Souq Okaz ↔ Ta'if, Al-Ahsa Oasis ↔ The Eastern Province
💡 Jubbah preserves rock art thousands of years old, Souq Okaz was the meeting place of Arab poets before Islam, and Al-Ahsa is the largest oasis in the Eastern Province.
Q3: Match each historic landmark with the place where it is located:
Answer: At-Turaif District ↔ Diriyah, Nassif House ↔ Historic Jeddah, Al-Ukhdood ↔ Najran, Elephant Rock (Jabal al-Fil) ↔ AlUla
💡 The Kingdom's landmarks are spread across all its regions: At-Turaif in Najd, Nassif House on the Red Sea, Al-Ukhdood in the south, and Elephant Rock, a natural rock formation, in the northwest.
Q4: Arrange these Saudi sites by the date they were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, from earliest to latest:
Answer: The At-Turaif District in Diriyah then Historic Jeddah then The rock art in the Hail Region then Al-Ahsa Oasis
💡 The At-Turaif District was inscribed in 2010, Historic Jeddah in 2014, the rock art at Jubbah and Shuwaymis in 2015, and Al-Ahsa Oasis in 2018.
Q5: Arrange these events in Saudi history from earliest to latest:
Answer: Founding of the First Saudi State then The fall of Diriyah then Founding of the Second Saudi State then Regaining Riyadh then Unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
💡 The First State was founded in 1727 CE and Diriyah fell in 1818 CE, then the Second State arose in 1824 CE, King Abdulaziz regained Riyadh in 1902 CE, and the Kingdom was unified in 1932 CE.
Q6: Arrange the kings of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the first to the fifth:
Answer: King Abdulaziz then King Saud then King Faisal then King Khalid then King Fahd
💡 The founder ruled until 1953 CE, then Saud until 1964, then Faisal until 1975, then Khalid until 1982, then Fahd until 2005.
Q7: Choose what appears on the flag of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:
Answer: The declaration of Tawhid, A sword, The color green
💡 The flag is green with the phrase "La ilaha illallah, Muhammadun rasulullah" (There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) in the middle and a sword beneath it, while the palm tree appears on the national emblem, not on the flag.
Q8: Identify the imams who ruled the First Saudi State:
Answer: Muhammad ibn Saud, Abdulaziz ibn Muhammad, Saud ibn Abdulaziz, Abdullah ibn Saud
💡 Four imams ruled the First State in succession, from father to son, while Turki ibn Abdullah was the founder of the Second State.
Q9: Choose the historic landmarks found in the city of Riyadh:
Answer: Masmak Fort, Murabba Palace
💡 Masmak and Murabba are Riyadh landmarks, while Ibrahim Palace is in Hofuf in Al-Ahsa, and Tarut Castle is on Tarut Island in Qatif Governorate.
Q10: Choose the ancient Arabian kingdoms that arose in the AlUla region:
Answer: Dadan, Lihyan
💡 Dadan and then Lihyan were thriving kingdoms in AlUla on the Incense Route, while Palmyra was in the Syrian desert and Saba' (Sheba) in Yemen.
Q11: Choose the events that took place during King Abdulaziz's reign:
Answer: Announcing the unification of the Kingdom, Discovering oil in commercial quantities, Signing the United Nations Charter
💡 King Abdulaziz died in 1953 CE, while King Saud University was established in 1957 CE during King Saud's reign, and the space flight was in 1985 CE.
Q12: Choose the cities located in the Hijaz region:
Answer: Makkah, Jeddah, Ta'if
💡 The Hijaz is the western region along the Red Sea and includes Makkah, Jeddah, Ta'if, and Madinah, while Riyadh is in Najd and Al-Ahsa is in the east.
Q13: The Hejaz Railway, opened in 1908 CE, reached Makkah.
Answer: False ✖
💡 The line ran from Damascus only as far as Madinah and was never completed to Makkah; its station in Madinah still stands today as a museum.
Q14: Diriyah was the capital of the Second Saudi State.
Answer: False ✖
💡 After Diriyah fell, Imam Turki ibn Abdullah made Riyadh the capital of the Second State, and since then Riyadh has been the center of government.
Q15: King Faisal is the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Answer: False ✖
💡 The founder is King Abdulaziz ibn Abdulrahman Al Saud, while King Faisal is his son and the Kingdom's third king.
Q16: Historic Jeddah is on the coast of the Arabian Gulf.
Answer: False ✖
💡 Jeddah is on the Red Sea coast in the west of the Kingdom, while the Arabian Gulf is overlooked by Eastern Province cities such as Dammam and Khobar.
Q17: The Second Saudi State ended before King Abdulaziz regained Riyadh in 1902 CE.
Answer: True ✔
💡 The Second State ended in 1891 CE, and Imam Abdulrahman Al-Faisal and his family left; about 11 years later his son Abdulaziz returned and regained Riyadh.
Q18: AlUla Governorate is located in the Madinah Region.
Answer: True ✔
💡 AlUla is a governorate of the Madinah Region in the northwest of the Kingdom, and it contains archaeological sites from many civilizations.
Q19: The At-Turaif District in Diriyah is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Answer: True ✔
💡 The At-Turaif District was inscribed in 2010. It is one of the largest mud-built districts in the world, and it was the seat of government in the First State.
Q20: Founding Day falls on February 22 every year.
Answer: True ✔
💡 A royal order was issued in 2022 CE designating February 22 as Founding Day, celebrating the beginning of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud's rule in 1727 CE.
Q21: Dammam Well No. 7 is known as "the Well of Prosperity."
Answer: True ✔
💡 It was called the Well of Prosperity because the oil that flowed from it opened the door to development and prosperity in the Kingdom, and it kept producing for many decades.
Q22: What is the main material Masmak Fort was built with?
Answer: Mud and mud bricks
💡 Masmak was built in the Najdi style from mud and mud bricks, and it is known for its thick walls and four towers.
Q23: Who founded the town of Diriyah in 1446 CE and was the earliest ancestor of the Al Saud family?
Answer: Mani' al-Muraydi
💡 Mani' al-Muraydi came from the east of the Arabian Peninsula and settled on Wadi Hanifah, founding Diriyah; about three centuries later the First Saudi State was established there.
Q24: In which direction from the city of Riyadh does historic Diriyah lie?
Answer: Northwest
💡 Diriyah lies on the northwestern outskirts of Riyadh, a short distance from its center, and today it has become part of the city's urban spread.
Q25: Who is the seventh king of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?
Answer: King Salman ibn Abdulaziz
💡 After the founder, his sons ruled in turn: Saud, then Faisal, then Khalid, then Fahd, then Abdullah, so King Salman became the seventh when he took office in 2015 CE.
Q26: What does Masmak Fort in Riyadh house today?
Answer: A museum that tells the story of the Kingdom's unification
💡 Masmak was turned into a museum displaying weapons, documents, and photographs from the period of regaining Riyadh and unifying the country.
Q27: What is the most famous palace in the At-Turaif District, the seat of government of the First Saudi State's imams?
Answer: Salwa Palace
💡 Salwa Palace is the largest building in the At-Turaif District. Generations of imams built it in stages, and it was the center of government and administration in Diriyah.
Q28: What is the short name of the Arabian American Oil Company, which produced oil in the Kingdom?
Answer: Aramco
💡 The name Aramco is an abbreviation of the company's English name; ownership later passed to the Kingdom and its name became "Saudi Aramco."
Q29: By what name was the city of Riyadh known in ancient times, before it was called Riyadh?
Answer: Hajr
💡 Hajr was the chief town of the Yamamah region, and later the name Riyadh (meaning "gardens") took over because of the many orchards and gardens around it.
Q30: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, whose unification King Abdulaziz announced, is which number Saudi state?
Answer: The third
💡 It was preceded by the First State, with Diriyah as its capital, and the Second, with Riyadh as its capital; then the Third State began with the regaining of Riyadh in 1902 CE.
Q31: What does the official emblem of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia consist of?
Answer: A palm tree and two crossed swords
💡 The palm tree symbolizes growth and vitality, and the two crossed swords symbolize strength and protection.
Q32: What was King Abdulaziz's title before the name Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was announced in 1932 CE?
Answer: King of the Hijaz and Najd and its Dependencies
💡 After the annexation of the Hijaz, he was pledged allegiance as King of the Hijaz and Sultan of Najd in 1926, and in 1927 his title became "King of the Hijaz and Najd and its Dependencies," until all the regions were unified under one name in 1932.
Q33: Which coastal city came under King Abdulaziz's rule in 1925 CE and was the pilgrims' gateway by sea?
Answer: Jeddah
💡 Jeddah was the main port for sea pilgrims on the Red Sea coast, and with its entry the annexation of the Hijaz was complete.
Q34: In which historic house in Jeddah did King Abdulaziz stay when he entered the city?
Answer: Nassif House
💡 Nassif House is one of the most famous houses in Al-Balad. It was built of manqabi coral stone with wooden rawasheen (latticed bay windows), and today it is used as a cultural landmark.
Q35: Who built the historic Murabba Palace in Riyadh?
Answer: King Abdulaziz
💡 King Abdulaziz built Murabba Palace outside the old wall of Riyadh, and it became the seat of his rule. Today it is part of the King Abdulaziz Historical Center.
Q36: Al-Ahsa Oasis, a World Heritage Site, is one of the largest oases of what in the world?
Answer: Palm trees
💡 Al-Ahsa has millions of palm trees and natural water springs, and it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018.
Q37: Darb Zubaydah is a historic pilgrim route from Kufa to Makkah. Who is it named after?
Answer: Zubaydah, wife of Caliph Harun ar-Rashid
💡 Zubaydah spent her wealth digging wells and building pools and rest stations along the route to make the pilgrims' journey through the desert easier.
Q38: Who was the first Arab and Muslim astronaut to go to space, in 1985 CE?
Answer: Prince Sultan bin Salman
💡 Prince Sultan bin Salman launched aboard the American space shuttle "Discovery" on an international mission that lasted about a week.
Q39: What was the first university established in Saudi Arabia, in 1957 CE?
Answer: King Saud University
💡 King Saud University was established in Riyadh in 1957 CE during the reign of King Saud, and generations of Saudi talent have graduated from it.
Q40: From which port was the first Saudi oil shipment exported, in the presence of King Abdulaziz, in 1939 CE?
Answer: Ras Tanura
💡 King Abdulaziz himself turned the valve to load the first tanker at Ras Tanura on the Arabian Gulf coast.
Q41: Which American geologist's name is linked to the discovery of oil in Dammam Well 7?
Answer: Max Steineke
💡 Steineke insisted on continuing to drill in Dammam despite the disappointments of the earlier wells, until the discovery was made in 1938 CE.
Q42: In 1933 CE, the oil exploration concession in the Kingdom was granted to an American company. Which one?
Answer: Standard Oil of California (SOCAL)
💡 SOCAL established a subsidiary to work in the Kingdom, which later became "Aramco."
Q43: King Abdulaziz met U.S. President Roosevelt in 1945 CE. Where did the meeting take place?
Answer: Aboard a ship in the Bitter Lakes on the Suez Canal
💡 The historic meeting took place aboard the American cruiser USS Quincy in the Great Bitter Lake in Egypt, and it was the first meeting between a Saudi king and an American president.
Q44: Who signed the United Nations Charter on behalf of the Kingdom in 1945 CE?
Answer: Prince Faisal ibn Abdulaziz
💡 Prince Faisal, who later became king, represented the Kingdom at the San Francisco Conference, where the UN Charter was signed.
Q45: Who was the last imam of the First Saudi State?
Answer: Imam Abdullah ibn Saud
💡 Imam Abdullah ibn Saud held out during the siege of Diriyah until he was forced to surrender in 1818 CE, and the First State came to an end.
Q46: Which commander besieged Diriyah until the First Saudi State fell in 1818 CE?
Answer: Ibrahim Pasha
💡 Ibrahim Pasha led the campaign that came from Egypt and besieged Diriyah for months until it fell and many of its buildings were destroyed.
Q47: On the banks of which valley does historic Diriyah lie?
Answer: Wadi Hanifah
💡 Wadi Hanifah runs through Diriyah and Riyadh, and it provided the water and farms on which the city was built since ancient times.
Q48: What is the old district of Historic Jeddah known as?
Answer: Al-Balad
💡 Al-Balad is the heart of old Jeddah, surrounded by the remains of its wall and gates, and it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.
Q49: In which year was oil discovered in commercial quantities in the Kingdom?
Answer: 1938
💡 Oil flowed from Dammam Well 7 in March 1938 CE, about six years after the Kingdom was unified.
Q50: Which well was the first in the Kingdom from which oil flowed in commercial quantities?
Answer: Dammam Well No. 7
💡 Many wells were drilled before it without commercial results, until oil flowed from Well No. 7 in Dammam and changed the country's future.
Q51: Who was the first king of the Kingdom to take the title "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" instead of "His Majesty"?
Answer: King Fahd
💡 King Fahd ibn Abdulaziz took this title in 1986 CE to express the honor of serving Al-Masjid Al-Haram and the Prophet's Mosque.
Q52: On which day of the year does the Kingdom celebrate National Day?
Answer: September 23
💡 National Day commemorates the announcement of unification on September 23, 1932 CE, and it is different from Founding Day, which falls on February 22.
Q53: In which year was the unification of the country under the name "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" announced?
Answer: 1932
💡 The decree unifying the country and naming it the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was issued in 1932 CE, and it was announced on September 23.
Q54: From where did King Abdulaziz set out on his journey to regain Riyadh?
Answer: Kuwait
💡 The family of Imam Abdulrahman Al-Faisal was living in Kuwait, and from there the young Abdulaziz set out with a small number of his men.
Q55: Which fort did King Abdulaziz and his men storm when regaining Riyadh?
Answer: Masmak Fort
💡 Masmak Fort was the garrison's headquarters in Riyadh, and by taking control of it, the city came under King Abdulaziz's rule.
Q56: In which year did King Abdulaziz regain the city of Riyadh?
Answer: 1902
💡 King Abdulaziz regained Riyadh in January 1902 CE, and that was the start of a unification journey that lasted thirty years.
Q57: Who founded the Second Saudi State?
Answer: Imam Turki ibn Abdullah
💡 Imam Turki ibn Abdullah regained Riyadh in 1824 CE, six years after the fall of Diriyah, and the Second Saudi State was established.
Q58: In which year CE was the First Saudi State founded?
Answer: 1727
💡 1727 CE marks the beginning of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud's rule, which is why February 22 of that year was chosen to commemorate Founding Day.
Q59: What was the capital of the First Saudi State?
Answer: Diriyah
💡 Diriyah was the seat of government of the First State's imams, and it remained the capital until the state fell in 1818 CE.
Q60: Who founded the First Saudi State in 1727 CE?
Answer: Imam Muhammad ibn Saud
💡 Imam Muhammad ibn Saud took power in Diriyah in 1727 CE, laying the foundation of a state that later united most of the Arabian Peninsula.
Q61: Match each ancient ruler with the civilization he belonged to:
Answer: Hammurabi ↔ Babylon, Khufu ↔ Ancient Egypt, Julius Caesar ↔ Rome, Cyrus the Great ↔ Persia
💡 Hammurabi was famous for his written code of laws, the Great Pyramid was built for Khufu, Caesar was one of Rome's most famous leaders, and Cyrus founded the Persian Empire.
Q62: Match each ancient monument with the civilization that built it:
Answer: The Colosseum ↔ The Romans, The Parthenon ↔ The Greeks, The ziggurat ↔ Mesopotamia, The Abu Simbel temple ↔ The ancient Egyptians
💡 The Colosseum is a huge Roman amphitheater, the Parthenon is a temple in Athens, the ziggurat is a stepped temple in Iraq, and Abu Simbel was built by Ramses II in southern Egypt.
Q63: Match each Muslim scholar with the field he was famous for:
Answer: Al-Khwarizmi ↔ Algebra, Ibn al-Haytham ↔ Optics, Al-Idrisi ↔ Geography and mapmaking, Az-Zahrawi ↔ Surgery
💡 Al-Khwarizmi wrote the first book on algebra, and az-Zahrawi described many surgical instruments, which he drew himself, in his encyclopedia "At-Tasrif."
Q64: Arrange these inventions by when they appeared, from earliest to latest:
Answer: Cuneiform writing then Paper in China then Gutenberg's printing press then The light bulb
💡 Cuneiform appeared more than 5,000 years ago, paper about two thousand years ago, Gutenberg's press in the 15th century, and the light bulb in the 19th century.
Q65: Arrange these scholars by when they lived, from earliest to latest:
Answer: Al-Khwarizmi then Ibn Sina then Al-Idrisi then Ibn Khaldun
💡 Al-Khwarizmi lived in the 9th century CE, Ibn Sina in the 10th and 11th centuries, al-Idrisi in the 12th century, and Ibn Khaldun in the 14th century.
Q66: Arrange these events from earliest to latest:
Answer: Building the Great Pyramid of Giza then Hammurabi's rule over Babylon then The founding of Alexandria then The destruction of Pompeii by a volcano
💡 The Great Pyramid was built about 4,500 years ago, Hammurabi ruled about 3,700 years ago, Alexandria was founded in the 4th century BCE, and Pompeii was destroyed in 79 CE.
Q67: Identify what is credited to the scholar Ibn al-Haytham:
Answer: Writing "The Book of Optics", Studying light and how vision works
💡 In "The Book of Optics," Ibn al-Haytham showed that the eye sees by light coming from objects to it, and he used experimentation as his method, so he is considered the pioneer of optics.
Q68: Choose the philosophers who lived in ancient Greece:
Answer: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
💡 Socrates taught Plato, and Plato taught Aristotle, while Julius Caesar was a Roman leader and Ramses II an Egyptian pharaoh.
Q69: Choose what counts among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World:
Answer: The Great Pyramid of Giza, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, The Lighthouse of Alexandria
💡 The Great Pyramid is the only one of the seven ancient wonders still standing. The Great Wall of China was not on that list, and the Eiffel Tower is modern.
Q70: Choose the civilizations that arose in Mesopotamia:
Answer: The Sumerians, The Babylonians, The Assyrians
💡 The Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians followed one another in the land of Iraq, while the Nabataeans were in the north of the Arabian Peninsula and the Greeks in Greece.
Q71: Choose the Muslim scholars who were famous in medicine:
Answer: Ibn Sina, Az-Zahrawi, Ar-Razi
💡 Ibn Sina and ar-Razi are leading figures in medicine, and az-Zahrawi was a pioneer of surgery, while al-Khwarizmi was a mathematician and al-Idrisi a geographer.
Q72: Choose the inventions credited to ancient China:
Answer: Paper, The compass, Gunpowder
💡 The Chinese invented paper, the compass, and gunpowder many centuries before the telephone and the light bulb, which appeared in the 19th century.
Q73: The Silk Road was only a sea route that did not cross any land.
Answer: False ✖
💡 The Silk Road was mainly a network of land routes crossed by caravans across Asia, though it had sea extensions as well.
Q74: The scholar al-Idrisi drew a famous world map for King Roger II of Sicily.
Answer: True ✔
💡 Al-Idrisi worked at the court of Roger II and wrote the book "Nuzhat al-Mushtaq" along with a map of the known world of his time.
Q75: Latin was the language of the ancient Greeks.
Answer: False ✖
💡 The Greeks spoke Greek, while Latin was the language of the Romans, and languages such as Italian, Spanish, and French branched off from it.
Q76: Samarkand was one of the first cities in the Islamic world to know papermaking.
Answer: True ✔
💡 Papermaking moved from China to Samarkand in the 8th century CE, then spread to Baghdad and from there to the rest of the Islamic world and Europe.
Q77: The Nabataeans carved their tombs into the mountain rocks at Hegra in AlUla.
Answer: True ✔
💡 At Hegra, the Nabataeans carved huge tomb facades decorated with carvings, and their inscriptions are still visible on some of them.
Q78: Ibn Sina wrote the famous book "The Muqaddimah" on history and civilization.
Answer: False ✖
💡 The author of "The Muqaddimah" is Ibn Khaldun, who explained in it why states rise and fall and the nature of societies.
Q79: Cuneiform writing originated in ancient China.
Answer: False ✖
💡 Cuneiform was invented by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia. They pressed reed pens into clay tablets, leaving wedge-shaped symbols.
Q80: The pyramids of Giza are on the west bank of the Nile.
Answer: True ✔
💡 The Egyptians built most of their tombs west of the Nile, where the sun sets, because they linked the west with the world of the dead.
Q81: The Great Wall of China was built in stages over many centuries.
Answer: True ✔
💡 The wall was not built all at once; successive ruling dynasties added new sections to it, and its most famous surviving parts date from the Ming dynasty.
Q82: Who founded the Achaemenid Persian Empire?
Answer: Cyrus the Great
💡 In the 6th century BCE, Cyrus the Great founded an empire that stretched from Asia Minor to the borders of India.
Q83: Who was the city of Constantinople named after?
Answer: The Roman Emperor Constantine
💡 Emperor Constantine made it the new capital of his empire in the 4th century CE, so it carried his name.
Q84: Which Andalusian scholar was famous for trying to fly with two wings he had made?
Answer: 'Abbas ibn Firnas
💡 'Abbas ibn Firnas lived in Cordoba in the 9th century CE. He was an inventor with many interests, and his attempt is considered one of the earliest attempts at flight.
Q85: By what title was the Arab navigator Ahmad ibn Majid known?
Answer: The Lion of the Seas
💡 Ibn Majid was one of the most skilled ship captains of the Indian Ocean, and he wrote books on the sciences of the sea and the stars that sailors navigate by.
Q86: Complete the famous saying that expresses the strength of the Roman road network: "All roads lead to ..."
Answer: Rome
💡 The Romans built a huge road network linking the far corners of their empire to their capital, Rome, and some of these roads still exist.
Q87: Which country does the sage Confucius come from?
Answer: China
💡 Confucius lived about 2,500 years ago, and his sayings on ethics and respect for family still influence Chinese culture.
Q88: Many historians believe the Arabic script developed from the script of an ancient civilization. Which one?
Answer: The Nabataeans
💡 Inscriptions show that the Nabataean letters gradually developed into the Arabic letters we write with today.
Q89: The Sphinx statue at Giza has the body of a lion and the head of what?
Answer: A human
💡 The Sphinx was carved from a single rock next to the pyramids, combining the strength of a lion with a human head.
Q90: From which plant did the ancient Egyptians make sheets for writing?
Answer: Papyrus
💡 Papyrus grew on the banks of the Nile, and from its name in European languages (Papyrus) came the word "paper."
Q91: Which Carthaginian commander crossed the Alps with his army and elephants to attack Rome?
Answer: Hannibal
💡 Hannibal undertook this famous adventure in the 3rd century BCE, and his battle plans are still studied today.
Q92: In which present-day country are the ruins of Carthage, founded by the Phoenicians?
Answer: Tunisia
💡 The Phoenicians founded Carthage on the coast of Tunisia, and it became a great sea power that rivaled Rome in long wars.
Q93: Under which ruling dynasty was the ancient Library of Alexandria founded?
Answer: The Ptolemies
💡 The Ptolemaic kings founded the library to gather the knowledge of the world, and it became a destination for scholars from everywhere in ancient times.
Q94: Which Muslim scholar described the pulmonary circulation of blood between the heart and the lungs?
Answer: Ibn an-Nafis
💡 Ibn an-Nafis corrected an old idea and showed that blood passes from the heart to the lungs and then returns, centuries before Europeans knew it.
Q95: Which Muslim physician was famous for distinguishing between smallpox and measles?
Answer: Abu Bakr ar-Razi
💡 Ar-Razi (Rhazes) wrote a treatise describing the symptoms of each disease precisely, and he also wrote the medical encyclopedia "Al-Hawi."
Q96: Which queen was the last ruler of the Ptolemaic state in Egypt?
Answer: Cleopatra VII
💡 After Cleopatra's defeat and death in 30 BCE, Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire.
Q97: Which Italian traveler was famous for his journey to China along the Silk Road?
Answer: Marco Polo
💡 Marco Polo traveled to China in the 13th century, and his travel book introduced Europeans to the riches of the East.
Q98: Which volcano erupted in 79 CE and buried the Roman city of Pompeii under ash?
Answer: Vesuvius
💡 The ash of Mount Vesuvius covered Pompeii and preserved it as it was, so today it is a rare window into the daily life of the Romans.
Q99: The ancient Ma'rib Dam in Yemen is linked to which kingdom?
Answer: Saba' (Sheba)
💡 The Sabaeans built the Ma'rib Dam to store rainwater and irrigate the land, and the Noble Quran mentions the story of Saba' (Sheba) and the flood of the dam.
Q100: Which science is the name of Jabir ibn Hayyan linked to?
Answer: Chemistry
💡 Jabir ibn Hayyan is considered a pioneer of chemistry; he valued experimentation and described processes such as distillation and crystallization.
Q101: The scholar al-Jazari was famous for a book on making amazing machines. What was he known for?
Answer: Mechanical machines and water clocks
💡 Al-Jazari designed machines and clocks powered by water and weights, the most famous being the Elephant Clock, and he is considered a pioneer of mechanical engineering.
Q102: From which city did the traveler Ibn Battuta set out on his long journeys?
Answer: Tangier
💡 Ibn Battuta left Tangier in Morocco to perform Hajj, and his travels then continued for about thirty years until he reached India and China.
Q103: By what title was the scholar Ibn Sina known?
Answer: Ash-Shaykh ar-Ra'is (the Chief Master)
💡 Ibn Sina was called ash-Shaykh ar-Ra'is (the Chief Master) because of his standing in medicine and philosophy, while "the First Teacher" is Aristotle's title.
Q104: On the banks of which river did ancient Egyptian civilization arise?
Answer: The Nile
💡 The Nile's flood brought fertile silt every year, so farming and cities grew up along its banks, which is why it was said: Egypt is the gift of the Nile.
Q105: The "Terracotta Army," made up of thousands of statues, was made to guard the tomb of which ruler?
Answer: Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China
💡 Qin Shi Huang unified China in the 3rd century BCE, and farmers discovered his terracotta army by chance in 1974.
Q106: In which Greek city did the idea of "democracy," meaning rule by the people, originate?
Answer: Athens
💡 The free citizens of Athens gathered and voted on decisions themselves, and the word is Greek for "rule by the people."
Q107: Which ancient civilization was famous for navigation and sea trade and for spreading the alphabet around the Mediterranean?
Answer: The Phoenicians
💡 The Phoenicians set out from the Levantine coast, and their trade carried their alphabet to the Greeks, from whom it passed to the Romans.
Q108: In 1922, the tomb of King Tutankhamun was discovered in which area?
Answer: The Valley of the Kings
💡 The Briton Howard Carter found it in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor, almost complete with its treasures, including the famous golden mask.
Q109: What is the name of the method the ancient Egyptians used to preserve the bodies of their dead?
Answer: Mummification
💡 Mummification went through stages of drying and wrapping in linen, because the Egyptians believed the body had to remain intact.
Q110: The word "algorithm," used in computing today, is taken from the name of a Muslim scholar. Who is he?
Answer: Al-Khwarizmi
💡 Al-Khwarizmi's name was changed in Latin to "Algoritmi," which gave us the word algorithm, meaning an ordered set of steps for solving a problem.
Q111: What is the name of Ibn Sina's book that remained a medical reference for many centuries?
Answer: The Canon of Medicine
💡 In "The Canon," Ibn Sina (Avicenna) gathered the medical knowledge of his time; it was translated into Latin and taught in European universities for centuries.
Q112: Who is credited with inventing the movable metal type printing press in Europe?
Answer: Johannes Gutenberg
💡 The German Gutenberg developed his press in the 15th century, making copying books faster and cheaper and spreading knowledge widely.
Q113: Why was the "Silk Road" given this name?
Answer: Because Chinese silk was one of its most famous goods
💡 Silk, which China kept as a monopoly for centuries, was one of the most valuable goods carried along these routes, along with spices, paper, and ideas.
Q114: Which leader founded the city of Alexandria in Egypt, which was named after him?
Answer: Alexander the Great
💡 Alexander of Macedon founded the city on the Mediterranean coast in the 4th century BCE, and it became one of the greatest cities of the ancient world.
Q115: Which Greek philosopher was Alexander the Great's teacher in his youth?
Answer: Aristotle
💡 King Philip of Macedon summoned Aristotle to teach his son Alexander, and Aristotle himself had been a student of Plato.
Q116: What was the first site in Saudi Arabia to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, in 2008?
Answer: Hegra (Mada'in Salih)
💡 Hegra in AlUla is the largest Nabataean archaeological site after Petra, with more than a hundred carved tombs with decorated facades.
Q117: Which city was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom?
Answer: Petra
💡 Petra, in what is southern Jordan today, is famous for its buildings carved into rose-colored rock, and it was a hub of caravan routes.
Q118: Between which two rivers did the civilizations of Mesopotamia arise?
Answer: The Tigris and the Euphrates
💡 Mesopotamia (in Arabic, Bilad ar-Rafidayn) means "the land between the rivers": the Tigris and the Euphrates in Iraq, on whose banks the civilizations of Sumer, Babylon, and Assyria arose.
Q119: Which scholar deciphered hieroglyphics with the help of the Rosetta Stone?
Answer: Champollion
💡 The Frenchman Champollion compared the hieroglyphic text on the Rosetta Stone with the Greek text written alongside it, opening the door to understanding ancient Egypt's history.
Q120: What is the name of the picture writing used by the ancient Egyptians?
Answer: Hieroglyphics
💡 Hieroglyphics is writing with symbols and pictures that the Egyptians carved on the walls of temples and tombs and on papyrus.
Q121: Match each leader with the event he is famous for:
Answer: Tariq ibn Ziyad ↔ The conquest of Al-Andalus, Salah ad-Din al-Ayyubi (Saladin) ↔ The Battle of Hattin, Mehmed the Conqueror ↔ The conquest of Constantinople, Sayf ad-Din Qutuz ↔ The Battle of 'Ayn Jalut
💡 Salah ad-Din won at Hattin in 1187 CE and then liberated Jerusalem, and Qutuz stopped the Mongol advance at 'Ayn Jalut in 1260 CE.
Q122: Match each Islamic landmark with the city where it is located:
Answer: The Alhambra Palace ↔ Granada, The Qarawiyyin Mosque ↔ Fez, The Umayyad Mosque ↔ Damascus, The Dome of the Rock ↔ Jerusalem
💡 These landmarks are spread across different continents and countries, showing how far Islamic civilization extended, from Al-Andalus and Morocco to the Levant.
Q123: Match each title with the Companion who was famous for it:
Answer: As-Siddiq (the Truthful Believer) ↔ Abu Bakr, Al-Faruq (the one who distinguishes truth from falsehood) ↔ 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, Dhun-Nurayn (Possessor of the Two Lights) ↔ 'Uthman ibn 'Affan, The Drawn Sword of Allah ↔ Khalid ibn al-Walid
💡 'Uthman was called Dhun-Nurayn because he married two of the Prophet's ﷺ daughters, and the Prophet ﷺ called Khalid the Sword of Allah because of his bravery in battle.
Q124: Arrange these Islamic states by when they arose, from oldest to newest:
Answer: The Rightly Guided Caliphate then The Umayyad state then The Abbasid state then The Ottoman state
💡 After the Rightly Guided Caliphate came the Umayyad state in Damascus, then the Abbasid state in Baghdad, and then, centuries later, the Ottoman state emerged in Anatolia.
Q125: Arrange these events of the Prophet's biography from earliest to latest:
Answer: The Year of the Elephant then The first revelation in the Cave of Hira' then The emigration to Madinah then The Conquest of Makkah
💡 The Prophet ﷺ was born in the Year of the Elephant, received prophethood at forty, emigrated 13 years after that, and then conquered Makkah in 8 AH.
Q126: Arrange the Rightly Guided Caliphs in the order they took office, from first to last:
Answer: Abu Bakr as-Siddiq then 'Umar ibn al-Khattab then 'Uthman ibn 'Affan then 'Ali ibn Abi Talib
💡 Abu Bakr became caliph after the Prophet ﷺ passed away, then 'Umar, then 'Uthman, then 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with them all.
Q127: Choose the caliphs who belonged to the Abbasid state:
Answer: Harun ar-Rashid, Al-Ma'mun, Abu Ja'far al-Mansur
💡 Al-Mansur, ar-Rashid, and al-Ma'mun are among the most famous Abbasid caliphs in Baghdad, while 'Abdul-Malik and his son al-Walid were Umayyad caliphs.
Q128: Choose the cities linked to events of the Prophet's biography in the Arabian Peninsula:
Answer: Makkah, Madinah, Ta'if
💡 In Makkah the Prophet ﷺ was born and received his prophethood, to Madinah he emigrated, and to Ta'if he went to call its people, while Cairo and Tunis lie outside the Arabian Peninsula.
Q129: Choose the daughters of the Prophet ﷺ from the following names:
Answer: Fatimah, Zaynab, Ruqayyah
💡 Among the Prophet's ﷺ daughters are Fatimah, Zaynab, Ruqayyah, and Umm Kulthum, while Aisha and Hafsah were his wives, the Mothers of the Believers.
Q130: Choose the three mosques to which people may travel specially, as mentioned in the noble hadith:
Answer: Al-Masjid Al-Haram, The Prophet's Mosque, Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa
💡 The Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not set out on a journey except for three mosques: Al-Masjid Al-Haram, this mosque of mine, and Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa."
Q131: Choose the battles the Prophet ﷺ took part in himself:
Answer: Badr, Uhud, The Trench
💡 The Prophet ﷺ took part in Badr, Uhud, and the Trench, while al-Qadisiyyah was in the time of 'Umar, and Hattin was in the time of Salah ad-Din centuries later.
Q132: Choose the cities that were among the Muslim centers of Al-Andalus:
Answer: Cordoba, Granada, Seville
💡 Cordoba, Granada, and Seville are among the most famous cities of Al-Andalus, in what is southern Spain today, while Baghdad is in Iraq and Damascus is in the Levant.
Q133: The Prophet ﷺ emigrated from Makkah to Ta'if to settle there.
Answer: False ✖
💡 The Prophet ﷺ went to Ta'if to call its people to Islam and then returned to Makkah; the emigration after which he settled was to Madinah.
Q134: The Battle of the Trench took place before the Battle of Badr.
Answer: False ✖
💡 The Battle of Badr came first, in the second year after the Hijrah, then Uhud, and then the Battle of the Trench (the Confederates) after both.
Q135: The caliph 'Umar ibn 'Abdul-'Aziz was one of the caliphs of the Abbasid state.
Answer: False ✖
💡 'Umar ibn 'Abdul-'Aziz was an Umayyad caliph famous for his justice and simple living, so much so that he was called the fifth Rightly Guided Caliph.
Q136: The Noble Ka'bah was the first qiblah (prayer direction) the Muslims prayed toward.
Answer: False ✖
💡 The first qiblah was Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), and then it was changed to the Ka'bah in the second year after the Hijrah.
Q137: The Prophet's ﷺ call to Islam in Makkah lasted about 13 years before the Hijrah.
Answer: True ✔
💡 The Prophet ﷺ called his people in Makkah for 13 years, during which he and his Companions patiently endured persecution, and then he emigrated to Madinah.
Q138: The Battle of Badr took place in the month of Ramadan.
Answer: True ✔
💡 The Battle of Badr was on 17 Ramadan in the second year after the Hijrah, the first Ramadan the Muslims fasted.
Q139: Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with her) was the first wife of the Prophet ﷺ.
Answer: True ✔
💡 The Prophet ﷺ married her before the start of his prophethood. She was the first to believe in him, and he did not marry anyone else while she was alive.
Q140: The Strait of Gibraltar is named after the Muslim commander Tariq ibn Ziyad.
Answer: True ✔
💡 Tariq ibn Ziyad crossed the strait with his army in 92 AH (711 CE) and landed at a mountain that has carried his name ever since (Jabal Tariq, "Tariq's Mountain").
Q141: Quba' Mosque is the first mosque built in Islam.
Answer: True ✔
💡 The Prophet ﷺ founded it when he arrived at Quba' on the Hijrah journey, before entering Madinah, and praying in it is equal to an 'Umrah.
Q142: To which country was the Muslims' first migration, fleeing the persecution of Quraysh?
Answer: Abyssinia
💡 The Prophet ﷺ permitted his Companions to migrate to Abyssinia because its king, the Negus (an-Najashi), was just and no one was wronged under him.
Q143: Which Companion did Abu Bakr as-Siddiq assign to compile the Noble Quran into a single volume?
Answer: Zayd ibn Thabit
💡 Zayd ibn Thabit was one of the scribes and memorizers of the revelation, so he gathered the verses of the Quran from written pages and from the memories of those who had memorized it until he compiled it.
Q144: The last Muslim kingdom in Al-Andalus fell in 1492 CE. Which was it?
Answer: Granada
💡 The Kingdom of Granada remained the last Muslim stronghold in Al-Andalus until Abu 'Abdullah as-Saghir (Boabdil) surrendered it in 1492 CE.
Q145: In which year CE did the Prophet's Hijrah take place?
Answer: 622 CE
💡 The Hijrah was in 622 CE, while 570 CE is close to the year of his ﷺ birth, and 632 CE is the year of his death.
Q146: What is the famous battle in which the Muslims, led by Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, defeated the Persians?
Answer: Al-Qadisiyyah
💡 Al-Qadisiyyah took place during the rule of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab and opened the way to Iraq and Persia.
Q147: Which commander conquered Egypt during the rule of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab?
Answer: 'Amr ibn al-'As
💡 'Amr ibn al-'As conquered Egypt and built the city of Fustat, where his mosque, considered the first mosque built in Egypt, stands.
Q148: Which woman founded the Qarawiyyin Mosque in the city of Fez?
Answer: Fatimah al-Fihriyyah
💡 Fatimah al-Fihriyyah founded the Qarawiyyin Mosque with her own money in the 3rd century AH, and it became a center of learning that students came to from everywhere.
Q149: In which month did the revelation of the Noble Quran begin?
Answer: Ramadan
💡 Allah said: "The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran," and it began on Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree).
Q150: To which tribe did the Prophet ﷺ belong?
Answer: Quraysh
💡 The Prophet ﷺ belonged to Banu Hashim of the tribe of Quraysh, the tribe that lived in Makkah and served the pilgrims.
Q151: What was the name of the Prophet's ﷺ wet nurse, with whom he lived in the desert as a small child?
Answer: Halimah as-Sa'diyyah
💡 The Arabs used to send their children to the desert for its pure language and fresh air, so the Prophet ﷺ spent his early years among Banu Sa'd with Halimah.
Q152: About how many years did the Prophet ﷺ live in Madinah after the Hijrah?
Answer: 10 years
💡 The Prophet ﷺ lived in Madinah for about 10 years, building the Muslim community there, and he passed away there in 11 AH.
Q153: How old was the Prophet ﷺ when the revelation first came to him?
Answer: 40 years old
💡 The Prophet ﷺ was sent as a prophet at the age of forty, while twenty-five was his age when he married Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her).
Q154: What is the name of the only Hajj the Prophet ﷺ performed after the Hijrah?
Answer: The Farewell Hajj
💡 It was called the Farewell Hajj because the Prophet ﷺ bid farewell to the people during it and delivered his comprehensive sermon to them; he passed away a few months later.
Q155: On the Night Journey (al-Isra'), to which mosque was the Prophet ﷺ taken from Makkah?
Answer: Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa
💡 The Prophet ﷺ was taken by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa and then ascended to the heavens, as in Surah Al-Isra'.
Q156: In which Hijri year was the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah made between the Muslims and Quraysh?
Answer: Year 6
💡 The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was made in 6 AH, and the Quran called it "a clear conquest" because it paved the way for the spread of Islam and then the Conquest of Makkah.
Q157: During which caliph's rule were the standardized copies of the Mushaf made and sent to the provinces?
Answer: 'Uthman ibn 'Affan
💡 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) united the people on a single Mushaf and sent copies of it to the provinces so they would not differ in their recitation.
Q158: What is the current name of the city of Constantinople, which Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror conquered?
Answer: Istanbul
💡 Mehmed the Conqueror conquered it in 1453 CE, and it became the capital of the Ottoman state. The name Istanbul became common until it became the official name in 1930 CE.
Q159: Which famous mosque is one of the greatest Muslim monuments in Cordoba?
Answer: The Great Mosque of Cordoba
💡 The Great Mosque of Cordoba is an Andalusian architectural masterpiece, famous for its forest of columns and its red-and-white striped arches.
Q160: Which Umayyad caliph built the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem?
Answer: 'Abdul-Malik ibn Marwan
💡 'Abdul-Malik ibn Marwan built the Dome of the Rock, which is one of the oldest Islamic buildings still standing today, with its famous golden dome.
Q161: What was the capital of the Umayyad state?
Answer: Damascus
💡 The Umayyads made Damascus their capital, and from there their state stretched from Al-Andalus in the west to Sindh and Transoxiana in the east.
Q162: Which Abbasid caliph built the city of Baghdad?
Answer: Abu Ja'far al-Mansur
💡 Abu Ja'far al-Mansur built Baghdad on the Tigris River and named it "the City of Peace," and his original city was round in shape.
Q163: In which city was the "House of Wisdom," famous for translation and science?
Answer: Baghdad
💡 The House of Wisdom was in Baghdad during the Abbasid era, and there the books of the Greeks, Persians, and Indians were translated into Arabic.
Q164: In which Hijri year did the Muslims conquer Makkah?
Answer: Year 8
💡 Makkah was conquered in Ramadan of 8 AH, and the Prophet ﷺ entered it humbly and pardoned its people.
Q165: In which battle did the archers disobey the Prophet's ﷺ order and come down from the hill?
Answer: The Battle of Uhud
💡 At the Battle of Uhud, most of the archers left their positions thinking the battle was over, so the polytheists circled around the Muslims. It became a lesson in obedience.
Q166: Which Companion advised digging the trench around Madinah during the Battle of the Confederates?
Answer: Salman al-Farisi
💡 Salman al-Farisi (may Allah be pleased with him) suggested digging the trench, a defensive method known to the Persians that the Arabs had not known before.
Q167: What was the first major battle in which the Muslims defeated Quraysh?
Answer: The Battle of Badr
💡 The Battle of Badr took place in the second year after the Hijrah, and the Muslims won despite their small numbers. The Quran called it "the Day of Criterion."
Q168: What is the year in which the Prophet ﷺ was born called?
Answer: The Year of the Elephant
💡 It was called the Year of the Elephant because Abrahah came that year with an army that included an elephant to destroy the Ka'bah, and Allah destroyed him, as Surah Al-Fil mentions.
Q169: Which Companion was famous as the mu'adhdhin (caller to prayer) of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?
Answer: Bilal ibn Rabah
💡 The Prophet ﷺ chose Bilal for the adhan because of his beautiful, strong voice. Bilal had patiently endured severe torture in Makkah while repeating "Ahad, Ahad" (One, One).
Q170: Which uncle of the Prophet ﷺ raised him after his grandfather and protected him from the harm of Quraysh?
Answer: Abu Talib
💡 Abu Talib kept protecting and defending the Prophet ﷺ for many years, and the year he and Khadijah died was called "the Year of Sorrow."
Q171: Who took care of the Prophet ﷺ after his mother died when he was a small child?
Answer: His grandfather 'Abdul-Muttalib
💡 His grandfather 'Abdul-Muttalib, the chief of Quraysh, took care of him; when his grandfather died, when the Prophet ﷺ was eight, his care passed to his uncle Abu Talib.
Q172: What was the name of the Prophet's ﷺ father?
Answer: 'Abdullah ibn 'Abdul-Muttalib
💡 His father was 'Abdullah ibn 'Abdul-Muttalib, who died in Madinah before the Prophet ﷺ was born.
Q173: What was the name of the Prophet's ﷺ mother?
Answer: Aminah bint Wahb
💡 His mother was Aminah bint Wahb of Banu Zuhrah, and she died at al-Abwa' when the Prophet ﷺ was six years old.
Q174: From which event does the Hijri calendar start counting?
Answer: The Prophet's ﷺ emigration to Madinah
💡 The Companions chose the Hijrah as the start of the calendar because it was a turning point after which the Islamic state was established in Madinah.
Q175: During which caliph's rule did the use of the Hijri calendar begin?
Answer: 'Umar ibn al-Khattab
💡 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) adopted the Hijri calendar to organize correspondence and government records after the state had grown large.
Q176: In which cave did the revelation first come down to the Prophet ﷺ?
Answer: The Cave of Hira'
💡 The Prophet ﷺ used to worship in the Cave of Hira' on Jabal an-Nur near Makkah, and there the first verses of the Quran were revealed: "Recite in the name of your Lord who created."
Q177: In which cave did the Prophet ﷺ and his companion hide during the Hijrah?
Answer: The Cave of Thawr
💡 The Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr stayed in the Cave of Thawr, south of Makkah, for three nights until Quraysh's search for them died down.
Q178: Which Companion accompanied the Prophet ﷺ on the Hijrah journey to Madinah?
Answer: Abu Bakr as-Siddiq
💡 Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) accompanied the Prophet ﷺ on the Hijrah, and his companionship is mentioned in the Noble Quran in Allah's words: "when he said to his companion, 'Do not grieve.'"
Q179: What was the old name of Madinah before the Prophet's Hijrah?
Answer: Yathrib
💡 Madinah used to be called Yathrib; when the Prophet ﷺ emigrated there, it became known as the City of the Messenger of Allah, or Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah.
Q180: In which city was the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ born?
Answer: Makkah
💡 The Prophet ﷺ was born in Makkah and lived there until he emigrated to Madinah at the age of fifty-three.
Q181: The mountains of the Jazan region are famous for growing a heritage crop whose related knowledge has been listed by UNESCO. What is it?
Answer: Khawlani coffee
💡 Khawlani coffee has been grown on the terraces of the Jazan mountains for hundreds of years, and in 2022 CE UNESCO added the knowledge and practices related to growing it to its list of intangible cultural heritage.
Q182: The city of Hail lies between two famous mountains, Aja and Salma.
Answer: True ✔
💡 The city of Hail is surrounded by the Aja and Salma mountain ranges, which are mentioned often in classical Arabic poetry.
Q183: In which city is the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran located?
Answer: Madinah
💡 The King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran is in Madinah; it opened in 1984 CE and prints millions of copies of the Quran and translations of its meanings.
Q184: The oil exploration concession agreement was signed in 1933 CE at Khuzam Palace in Jeddah.
Answer: True ✔
💡 Khuzam Palace in Jeddah saw the signing of the oil exploration concession agreement in 1933 CE, and a few years later oil was discovered in commercial quantities in Dhahran.
Q185: In which city is the mosque of the Companion Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) located?
Answer: Taif
💡 The Companion Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) spent the last part of his life in Taif and died there, and its best-known mosque bears his name.
Q186: Saudi Arabia is located on the continent of Asia.
Answer: True ✔
💡 The Kingdom is located in southwest Asia, and the Red Sea separates it from the African continent.
Q187: Saudi Arabia celebrates its independence from colonial rule every year.
Answer: False ✖
💡 Saudi Arabia was never colonized, so it has no independence day; its national occasions are Founding Day, Flag Day and National Day.
Q188: The Kingdom Centre Tower in Riyadh has a sky bridge at its top from which visitors look out over the city.
Answer: True ✔
💡 The Kingdom Centre Tower is known for a large opening at its top crossed by a sky bridge, from which visitors see Riyadh from a great height.
Q189: What is the name of the tower complex that holds the giant Makkah Clock overlooking the Sacred Mosque?
Answer: Abraj Al-Bait
💡 The Makkah Clock tops the Makkah Royal Clock Tower, the tallest tower of the "Abraj Al-Bait" complex next to the Sacred Mosque, and it can be seen from far away.
Q190: What is the name of the famous mosque on the Jeddah Corniche nicknamed the "Floating Mosque" because it seems to sit on the water at high tide?
Answer: Al-Rahma Mosque
💡 Al-Rahma Mosque was built at the edge of the sea on the Jeddah Corniche, so when the sea rises, it looks as if it is floating on it.
Q191: The seat of the Asir regional government is the city of Abha.
Answer: True ✔
💡 The seat of the Asir regional government is Abha, a high mountain city with mild weather in the southwest of the Kingdom; Khamis Mushait is also one of the region's largest cities.
Q192: What is the heritage village of Rijal Almaa in the Asir region famous for?
Answer: Its multi-story stone houses
💡 Rijal Almaa is known for its old stone houses, some of which rise several stories, with windows decorated in bright colors, and it lies among the mountains of Asir.
Q193: The capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is Jeddah.
Answer: False ✖
💡 The capital of the Kingdom is Riyadh, in the center of the country, while Jeddah is the largest city on the west coast along the Red Sea.
Q194: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is located on the Red Sea coast in the town of:
Answer: Thuwal
💡 KAUST opened in 2009 CE in Thuwal, north of Jeddah, and it is a university specializing in graduate studies and scientific research.
Q195: Match each university with the city where its main campus is located:
Answer: King Saud University ↔ Riyadh, King Abdulaziz University ↔ Jeddah, The Islamic University ↔ Madinah, King Faisal University ↔ Al-Ahsa
💡 King Saud University in Riyadh is the Kingdom's oldest university, King Abdulaziz University is in Jeddah, the Islamic University is in Madinah, and King Faisal University is in Al-Ahsa.
Q196: The city of Taif is located on the Red Sea coast.
Answer: False ✖
💡 Taif is a high mountain city in the Sarawat Mountains east of Makkah; its altitude gives it mild summers, and it does not overlook the sea.
Q197: What name did the Holy Quran use to describe Makkah?
Answer: Umm al-Qura (the Mother of Cities)
💡 Makkah is described in the Holy Quran as "Umm al-Qura" (the Mother of Cities), and Umm Al-Qura University there is named after it.
Q198: On which mountain range is the famous "Edge of the World" site near Riyadh located?
Answer: The Tuwaiq Mountains
💡 The "Edge of the World" is a towering cliff of the Tuwaiq Mountains northwest of Riyadh, and anyone standing on it looks out over a vast plain that seems endless.
Q199: The seat of the Al-Qassim regional government is the city of Unaizah.
Answer: False ✖
💡 The seat of the Al-Qassim regional government is Buraidah, while Unaizah is one of the largest and best-known governorates of Al-Qassim.
Q200: The historic Masmak Palace is located in Jeddah.
Answer: False ✖
💡 Masmak Palace is in the center of Riyadh, and it is linked to King Abdulaziz's recovery of Riyadh in 1902 CE.
Q201: Choose all the organizations of which Saudi Arabia is a founding member:
Answer: The Arab League, The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), The Gulf Cooperation Council
💡 The Kingdom helped found the Arab League in 1945 CE, OPEC in 1960 CE, and the Gulf Cooperation Council in 1981 CE, while the European Union is made up of European countries, and NATO is a military alliance of North American and European countries.
Q202: With which phrase does the Saudi national anthem begin?
Answer: "Sari'i lil-majdi wal-'alyaa" (Hasten to glory and supremacy)
💡 The Saudi national anthem begins with the phrase "Sari'i lil-majdi wal-'alyaa" (Hasten to glory and supremacy), and it is sung in schools and at national occasions.
Q203: Saudi Arabia is a member of the G20, which includes the world's largest economies.
Answer: True ✔
💡 The Kingdom has been a member of the G20 since it was founded in 1999 CE, and Riyadh hosted its summit in 2020 CE.
Q204: In which city is the old traditional "Souq Al-Zal," known for selling carpets, bishts (traditional cloaks) and antiques, located?
Answer: Riyadh
💡 Souq Al-Zal is one of the oldest markets in Riyadh, located in the Al-Dirah district near Masmak Palace, and people go there to buy bishts, carpets and antiques.
Q205: For which flower is the city of Taif famous, from which a well-known perfume oil is extracted?
Answer: The rose
💡 Taif is famous for the Taifi rose, grown in its highlands, from which rose water and the well-known rose oil are distilled.
Q206: Order these Saudi cities from north to south:
Answer: Arar then Buraidah then Riyadh then Najran
💡 Arar, the seat of the Northern Borders region, is in the far north, then Buraidah in Al-Qassim, then Riyadh in the center, then Najran in the south near the Yemeni border.
Q207: To which Saudi region does the famously generous Hatim al-Ta'i belong, where the lands of his tribe, Tayy, were?
Answer: Hail
💡 The Tayy tribe lived in ancient times in the Aja and Salma mountains in the Hail region, and from it came Hatim al-Ta'i, whose generosity is proverbial.
Q208: The historic Tabuk Castle was a rest stop for pilgrims on which ancient route?
Answer: The Levantine (Shami) Hajj Route
💡 Tabuk Castle was one of the stations on the Levantine Hajj Route taken by pilgrims coming from the Levant (Sham) to Makkah, and it had water and a place to rest.
Q209: Hunting with which bird is a famous hobby in the Kingdom, with festivals and auctions held for it?
Answer: The falcon
💡 Falconry is an authentic Arab hobby, and UNESCO has listed it as a shared cultural heritage of several countries, including the Kingdom.
Q210: The Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram) in Makkah is the largest mosque in the world.
Answer: True ✔
💡 The Sacred Mosque is the largest mosque in the world by area, and at its center is the Holy Kaaba, the qiblah (prayer direction) of Muslims.
Q211: King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was the second king of Saudi Arabia.
Answer: False ✖
💡 The Kingdom's second king was King Saud, while King Abdullah was the sixth, and he took power in 2005 CE.
Q212: In which city is the National Museum of Saudi Arabia located?
Answer: Riyadh
💡 The National Museum is in the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in the Al-Murabba district of Riyadh, and it presents the history of the Arabian Peninsula from the earliest times to the unification of the Kingdom.
Q213: The Al-Jouf region is famous for its vast olive farms.
Answer: True ✔
💡 Al-Jouf is one of the Kingdom's best-known olive-growing regions; olive oil is pressed from its olives, and annual festivals are held for them.
Q214: In which city is the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, "Ithra," located?
Answer: Dhahran
💡 The Ithra center is in Dhahran in the Eastern Province; it is a cultural center that includes a museum, a library and a theater, and it was built by Saudi Aramco.
Q215: In which region is the historic village of "Dhi Ayn," built of stone on top of a rocky hill, located?
Answer: Al-Baha
💡 Dhi Ayn village is in Al-Makhwah governorate in the Al-Baha region, and it is famous for its old white stone houses and the banana farms around it.
Q216: The Zamzam well is located inside the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram) in Makkah.
Answer: True ✔
💡 The Zamzam well is inside the Sacred Mosque near the Holy Kaaba; pilgrims performing Hajj and Umrah drink from it and carry its water back to their countries.
Q217: In which city did King Abdulaziz (may Allah have mercy on him) pass away in 1953 CE?
Answer: Taif
💡 King Abdulaziz passed away in Taif in 1953 CE and was buried in Riyadh, and his son King Saud took power after him.
Q218: Match each city with the administrative region it belongs to:
Answer: Khamis Mushait ↔ Asir Region, Unaizah ↔ Al-Qassim Region, Al-Kharj ↔ Riyadh Region, Yanbu ↔ Madinah Region
💡 Khamis Mushait is one of the largest cities in Asir, Unaizah is one of the largest governorates in Al-Qassim, Al-Kharj is south of Riyadh, and coastal Yanbu belongs to the Madinah region.
Q219: How many years passed between King Abdulaziz recovering Riyadh in 1902 CE and the announcement of the Kingdom's unification in 1932 CE?
Answer: 30 years
💡 The journey of unification began with the recovery of Riyadh in 1902 CE and lasted 30 years until the name "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" was announced in 1932 CE.
Q220: The First Saudi State was founded in 1727 CE. What is the corresponding Hijri year?
Answer: 1139 AH
💡 Imam Muhammad bin Saud began ruling Diriyah in the middle of 1139 AH, corresponding to 1727 CE, and that is where Founding Day comes from.
Q221: Match each organization with the Saudi city where its headquarters is located:
Answer: Gulf Cooperation Council General Secretariat ↔ Riyadh, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation ↔ Jeddah, Muslim World League ↔ Makkah
💡 The Kingdom hosts the headquarters of major organizations: the Gulf Cooperation Council's General Secretariat in Riyadh, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, and the Muslim World League in Makkah.
Q222: In which region is Raghadan Forest, famous for its trees and mild weather, located?
Answer: Al-Baha
💡 Raghadan Forest is one of the best-known parks in the Al-Baha region, located in the highlands of the Sarawat Mountains near the city of Al-Baha.
Q223: Match each international airport with the city where it is located:
Answer: King Khalid International Airport ↔ Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International Airport ↔ Jeddah, King Fahd International Airport ↔ Dammam
💡 The Kingdom's largest airports are named after its kings: King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, and King Fahd Airport in Dammam.
Q224: What was the old name of Madinah before the Prophet ﷺ migrated to it?
Answer: Yathrib
💡 Madinah used to be called Yathrib; when the Prophet ﷺ migrated there, it was called the City of the Messenger of Allah, and then Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah (the Illuminated City).
Q225: Which Saudi city is nicknamed the "Bride of the Red Sea"?
Answer: Jeddah
💡 Jeddah is nicknamed the Bride of the Red Sea for the beauty of its coast and corniche, and it is also the gateway for pilgrims arriving by air and sea for Hajj and Umrah.
Q226: The city of Abha is located on the coast of the Arabian Gulf.
Answer: False ✖
💡 Abha is a high mountain city in the southwest of the Kingdom and the seat of the Asir region, far from the Arabian Gulf, which lies in the east of the Kingdom.
Q227: Jabal al-Qarah is famous for its caves that stay cool in summer. Where is it located?
Answer: Al-Ahsa
💡 Jabal al-Qarah is in Al-Ahsa in the Eastern Province, and its caves are known for being pleasantly cool in summer and warm in winter.
Q228: Choose the two large industrial cities on the Kingdom's two coasts for which a royal commission was established:
Answer: Jubail, Yanbu
💡 Jubail is on the Arabian Gulf coast and Yanbu is on the Red Sea coast, and they are overseen by the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, established in 1975 CE.
Q229: In what year did the Kingdom celebrate Founding Day for the first time?
Answer: 2022
💡 A royal order designating February 22 as Founding Day was issued in January 2022 CE, so the first celebration was on February 22 of that same year.
Q230: Saudi Arabia occupies most of which peninsula?
Answer: The Arabian Peninsula
💡 The Kingdom covers about four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula, the largest peninsula in the world.
Q231: The Saudi flag is flown at half-mast on days of mourning, as many countries do.
Answer: False ✖
💡 The Saudi flag is never lowered to half-mast because it bears the Islamic declaration of faith, "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," which is never lowered out of respect for it.
Q232: In what year was Saudi Vision 2030 launched?
Answer: 2016
💡 Saudi Vision 2030 was launched in 2016 CE; the number 2030 is the year its goals look toward, not the year it was launched.
Q233: Choose all the landmarks located in Madinah:
Answer: The Prophet's Mosque, Quba Mosque, Mount Uhud
💡 The Prophet's Mosque, Quba Mosque and Mount Uhud are in Madinah, while Jabal al-Nour (Mount of Light), where the Cave of Hira is, is in Makkah, and Souq Okaz is near Taif.
Q234: Saudi Arabia is home to the "Two Holy Mosques." What are they?
Answer: The Sacred Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque
💡 The Two Holy Mosques are the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram) in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, which is why the country's king is titled the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
Q235: The riyal is the currency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. How many halalas are in one riyal?
Answer: 100 halalas
💡 The Saudi riyal is divided into 100 halalas, just as the dollar is divided into 100 cents.
Q236: Order these kings by when they began ruling the Kingdom, from earliest to most recent:
Answer: King Khalid then King Fahd then King Abdullah then King Salman
💡 King Khalid took power in 1975 CE, then King Fahd in 1982 CE, then King Abdullah in 2005 CE, then King Salman in 2015 CE, and all of them are sons of King Abdulaziz.
Q237: Match each Saudi national occasion with its date:
Answer: Founding Day ↔ February 22, Flag Day ↔ March 11, National Day ↔ September 23
💡 Founding Day commemorates the beginning of the First Saudi State in 1727 CE, Flag Day marks the day King Abdulaziz approved the flag in 1937 CE, and National Day commemorates the unification of the Kingdom in 1932 CE.