Islamic Studies/Islamiat (Competitive Exams) MCQs
Topic Notes: Islamic Studies/Islamiat (Competitive Exams)
<p>MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.</p>
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
91
During the reign of Al-Aziz Billah, the Fatimid Empire reached its peak. Which of these regions did NOT fall under Fatimid influence at that time?
Answer:
Mesopotamia (Iraq)
Under Al-Aziz, the Fatimids controlled Egypt, North Africa, the Hejaz, and much of Syria and Palestine. However, Iraq remained the heartland of the Abbasid Caliphate, despite brief periods where local pro-Fatimid leaders declared the Fatimid Caliph in the Friday sermons.
92
Who was the first Fatimid Caliph to rule from the new capital of Cairo?
Answer:
Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah
Al-Mu'izz moved the Fatimid court from Ifriqiya to Cairo in 973 CE, four years after the conquest. He brought with him the coffins of his ancestors and the state treasury, marking the definitive shift of the Fatimid center of power to the Nile Valley.
93
The world-famous Al-Azhar University was originally established by the Fatimids as:
Answer:
A congregational mosque and center for Ismaili learning
Al-Azhar was commissioned by Jawhar al-Siqilli and completed in 972 CE. It was intended both as the main congregational mosque of the new capital and as a center for teaching Ismaili law and theology to prepare 'Da'is' (missionaries) for the empire.
94
Which city did the Fatimids found to serve as their new imperial capital in Egypt?
Answer:
Al-Qahira (Cairo)
Al-Qahira, meaning 'The Victorious' and known in the West as Cairo, was founded in 969 CE by Jawhar al-Siqilli. It was designed as a royal enclosure for the Caliph and his administration, distinct from the older commercial center of Fustat.
95
Who was the Fatimid general responsible for the conquest of Egypt in 969 CE?
Answer:
Jawhar al-Siqilli
Jawhar al-Siqilli, a former slave of Greek or Sicilian origin, led the Fatimid army into Egypt in 969 CE. He efficiently occupied Fustat and immediately began the construction of a new palatial city, Cairo, to serve as the seat of the Imam-Caliph.
96
What was the name of the first capital built by the Fatimids in modern-day Tunisia?
Answer:
Mahdia
In 921 CE, Al-Mahdi Billah established the city of Mahdia on a strategic peninsula on the Tunisian coast. Named after the founder, it served as the Fatimid capital and a powerful naval base for their Mediterranean ambitions before the conquest of Egypt.
97
Which Berber tribe provided the essential military support for the rise of the Fatimids in North Africa?
Answer:
Kutama
The Kutama Berbers of the Little Kabylie region (modern-day Algeria) were the backbone of the early Fatimid military. They were converted to Ismailism by the missionary Abu Abd Allah al-Shi'i and provided the manpower necessary to overthrow the Aghlabid dynasty.
98
The Fatimid Caliphate was the first major empire to follow which branch of Islam?
Answer:
Ismaili Shia
The Fatimids were Ismaili Shi'ites who believed in a specific line of Imams descending from Ismail ibn Jafar. Their ideology was centered on the 'Da'wa' (mission), which aimed to spread Ismailism and establish the Imam-Caliph as the sole rightful leader of the Muslim world.
99
Who was the first caliph and founder of the Fatimid dynasty?
Answer:
Abdullah al-Mahdi Billah
Abdullah al-Mahdi Billah founded the Fatimid Caliphate in 909 CE in North Africa. He claimed descent from Fatima, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and established the first major Shia caliphate in history, challenging the religious and political authority of the Abbasids in Baghdad.