Q 01/05

Iran marks the birth anniversary of Fatimah, on 20 Jumada II, as which national observance?

A) Nurses' Day

B) Family Day

C) Mother's Day

D) Teachers' Day

Answer · why

C) Mother's Day

Mother's Day in Iran falls on 20 Jumada II, the birthday of Fatimah in Shia reckoning. The date was moved there after 1979; it had previously been 16 ...

Q 02/05

Among Shia clerics, who otherwise wear white turbans, what does a black turban signal about its wearer?

A) Descent from Muhammad

B) Rank of ayatollah

C) Completion of the hajj

D) Training in Najaf

Answer · why

A) Descent from Muhammad

Descent from Muhammad is what the black turban marks: its wearer is a sayyid, a descendant of the Prophet, while other Shia clerics wear white. Shia r...

Q 03/05

Pew's 2009 Mapping the Global Muslim Population study put Shia Muslims at roughly what share of all Muslims?

A) 20–25%

B) 30–35%

C) 40–45%

D) 10–13%

Answer · why

D) 10–13%

10–13% of the world's Muslims are Shia by Pew's count, with Sunnis making up the remaining 87–90%. Earlier estimates had generally fallen in the range...

Q 04/05

The hereditary Imam of the Nizari Ismailis, a community of some 12–15 million people, is known by which title?

A) Sheikh al-Islam

B) Aga Khan

C) Grand Mufti

D) Pir Sahib

Answer · why

B) Aga Khan

Aga Khan, meaning 'Great Leader' or 'Grand Commander', was first conferred on the 46th Imam by the Iranian king Fath-Ali Shah Qajar. The title has pas...

Q 05/05

Which mountain fortress, seized by Hassan-i Sabbah in 1090, was the Nizari Ismaili headquarters until 1256?

A) Masyaf

B) Alamut

C) Lambsar

D) Girdkuh

Answer · why

B) Alamut

Alamut, 'Eagle's Nest', was surrendered to the Mongols in 1256, and they dismantled it and destroyed its famous library. Nizari forces briefly retook ...