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
101
Which city was known as the 'Jewel of the World' during the Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba?
Answer:
Cordoba
In the 10th century, Cordoba was the largest and most advanced city in Europe, featuring paved streets, public lighting, and hundreds of libraries and bathhouses while the rest of Europe was in the 'Dark Ages'.
102
The 'Janissaries' were the elite infantry units of which empire?
Answer:
Ottoman
Originally composed of Christian youths recruited through the Devshirme system and converted to Islam, the Janissaries were the Sultan's personal guard and the backbone of Ottoman military power for centuries.
103
The 'Treaty of Sevres' (1920) was intended to:
Answer:
Dismember the Ottoman Empire and divide its heartland
The treaty was so harsh that it sparked the Turkish Nationalist movement. It was eventually replaced by the more favorable Treaty of Lausanne after the Turkish victory in their War of Independence.
104
Which Caliph moved the capital from Madinah to Kufa in Iraq?
Answer:
Ali ibn Abi Talib
Ali (RA) moved the capital to Kufa to be closer to his support base and to more effectively manage the expanding and increasingly complex empire during the First Fitna.
105
The 'Al-Qarawiyyin' University in Fes, Morocco, was founded in 859 CE by:
Answer:
Fatima al-Fihri
Fatima al-Fihri, a wealthy immigrant, used her inheritance to build the mosque and school. It is recognized by UNESCO as the oldest continuously operating educational institution in the world.
106
The 'Ayn Jalut' victory by the Mamluks is often credited to the leadership of Sultan Qutuz and:
Answer:
Baibars
Baibars was the brilliant field commander at Ayn Jalut. He later became Sultan and spent his reign driving the remaining Crusaders out of the Levant and defending against further Mongol attacks.
107
The 'Baghdad' circular city was designed with the Caliph's palace at the center to symbolize:
Answer:
His role as the center of the world and religious authority
The 'Round City' reflected the Sassanid and cosmic models of kingship, where the ruler sat at the center of a perfectly ordered universe, with roads radiating out to the provinces.
108
The 'Siyasatnama' (Book of Government) was written by which famous Seljuk vizier?
Answer:
Nizam al-Mulk
Nizam al-Mulk served Sultan Alp Arslan and Malik Shah. His book provides advice on justice, intelligence gathering, and administrative ethics, reflecting the Turco-Persian model of statecraft.
109
Which leader was the first to unify the Turkish tribes under the banner of the Ottoman Empire?
Answer:
Osman I
Osman I founded the Ottoman principality in Bithynia. His successes against the Byzantines attracted 'Ghazis' (warriors for the faith) and laid the groundwork for a world-spanning empire.
110
The 'Kairouan' school in Tunisia was a major center for which school of law?
Answer:
Maliki
Kairouan was the gateway for Maliki jurisprudence into North Africa and al-Andalus, producing legendary scholars like Sahnun, who wrote the 'Mudawwana'.