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
141
Which Safavid Shah established Twelver Shi'ism as the state religion of Iran in 1501?
Answer:
Shah Ismail I
Shah Ismail I founded the Safavid Dynasty and transformed Iran's religious landscape by making Shi'ism the official faith, creating a distinct identity that separated Persia from its Sunni neighbors.
142
The 'Alhambra Decree' of 1492 resulted in:
Answer:
The expulsion of Jews from Spain
Following the fall of Granada (the last Muslim kingdom in Spain), the Catholic Monarchs issued this decree, forcing Jews to either convert to Christianity or leave Spain, many of whom found refuge in Ottoman lands.
143
The Great Mosque of Cordoba was converted into a Cathedral after the city's fall to the Christians in:
Answer:
1236 CE
Cordoba was captured by King Ferdinand III of Castile in 1236 during the Reconquista. The mosque, a masterpiece of Umayyad architecture, was immediately consecrated as a Catholic cathedral.
144
The 'Battle of Manzikert' (1071 CE) saw the Seljuk Turks defeat which empire?
Answer:
Byzantine Empire
Sultan Alp Arslan's victory at Manzikert opened the Anatolian peninsula to Turkish settlement and eventually led to the Turkification of the region, laying the groundwork for the Ottoman Empire.
145
Which Kurdish leader founded the Ayyubid Dynasty and captured Jerusalem in 1187?
Answer:
Salahuddin (Saladin)
Salahuddin ended the Fatimid Caliphate in 1171 and established the Ayyubid Sultanate. His primary historical legacy is his role in the Crusades, particularly his decisive victory at Hattin.
146
The 'Al-Azhar' mosque and university in Cairo was established by which dynasty?
Answer:
Fatimids
Founded in 970 CE shortly after the Fatimid conquest of Egypt, Al-Azhar was originally an Ismaili Shia institution. It later became one of the most prestigious centers of Sunni Islamic learning under the Ayyubids and Mamluks.
147
The 'Revolt of the Zanj' (869–883) was a massive slave uprising against the Abbasids in which region?
Answer:
Southern Iraq
The Zanj, East African slaves working in salt marshes, rebelled against their harsh conditions. The revolt lasted for 14 years and severely weakened the Abbasid treasury and authority in the Basra region.
148
The Berber leader who led the Islamic invasion of the Iberian Peninsula in 711 CE was:
Answer:
Tariq ibn Ziyad
Tariq ibn Ziyad crossed the straits from North Africa to Gibraltar (Jabal Tariq). He defeated the Visigothic King Roderic at the Battle of Guadalete, beginning the nearly 800-year history of al-Andalus.
149
The Battle of the Zab (750 CE) was the final encounter between which two dynasties?
Answer:
Umayyads and Abbasids
The Abbasid victory at the Zab River in Iraq marked the end of the Umayyad Caliphate. Marwan II, the last Umayyad Caliph, fled to Egypt where he was killed, ending Damascus's era as the center of the world.
150
The 'Great Mosque of Kairouan' in Tunisia was founded in 670 CE by:
Answer:
Uqba ibn Nafi
Uqba ibn Nafi founded Kairouan as a military base and a center of Islamic learning in North Africa. It served as the launchpad for the further westward expansion toward the Atlantic.