Islamic Studies/Islamiat MCQs
Topic Notes: Islamic Studies/Islamiat
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
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
1
The first Abbasid 'Dinar' coin was minted in which year?
Answer:
750 CE
The Abbasids began minting their own coins almost immediately upon taking power to symbolize their takeover of the sovereign rights of the caliphate from the Umayyads.
2
The Abbasid Caliphate's move to Baghdad was partly intended to secure the support of the ______ population.
Answer:
Persian and Khorasani
Baghdad was located on the Tigris, much closer to the heartland of the Persian world and the eastern provinces that had supported the Abbasid Revolution. This location facilitated a much closer integration of Persian culture and personnel into the state.
3
Which Abbasid-era scientist made significant contributions to astronomy and successfully calculated the length of the solar year with high accuracy?
Answer:
Al-Battani (Albategnius)
Al-Battani worked in Raqqa and produced an influential astronomical handbook. His calculations of the solar year (365 days, 5 hours, 46 minutes, and 24 seconds) were incredibly close to modern values and were used by Copernicus.
4
The Abbasid Caliphate is generally divided into two main periods: the 'Golden Age' and the '______ Age'.
Answer:
Fragmentation/Decline
The second half of Abbasid history is characterized by the loss of territorial control as various 'Sultanates' took over political power, while the Caliph remained as a source of religious and symbolic unity.
5
The 'Siege of Baghdad' by the Mongols in 1258 lasted for how many days?
Answer:
13 days
The actual siege was relatively short (roughly Jan 29 to Feb 10). Once the walls were breached and the Mongols entered the city, a week-long massacre and destruction of the city followed, which effectively ended the Abbasid dynasty in Iraq.
6
The Abbasid caliph Al-Nasir utilized chivalric orders called ______ to unify the social and military elite.
Answer:
Futuwwa
Futuwwa were associations of young men focused on bravery, hospitality, and loyalty. Al-Nasir institutionalized these orders, making himself the supreme grand master to create a loyal network of support for his reasserted caliphal authority.
7
The Abbasid caliph Al-Ma'mun's 'Mihna' was an attempt to enforce which theological school?
Answer:
Mu'tazila
The Mu'tazilites were 'rationalists' who emphasized human free will and the createdness of the Quran. Al-Ma'mun's attempt to make this the official state creed failed in the long run but had a profound impact on Islamic intellectual history.
8
The 'Thousand and One Nights' contains stories that reflect the urban life of which two cities?
Answer:
Baghdad and Cairo
The stories in the Arabian Nights were added to over several centuries. The earlier core reflects the 8th and 9th-century courtly life of Baghdad, while later layers reflect the 13th and 14th-century merchant life of Mamluk Cairo.
9
The Abbasid 'Vizier' Khalid ibn Barmak served as the governor of which region before his family's rise in Baghdad?
Answer:
Tabaristan
Khalid ibn Barmak was an early supporter of the Abbasid cause in Khorasan. His family's administrative expertise was vital during the caliphates of Al-Saffah and Al-Mansur, setting the stage for their future dominance.
10
Which Abbasid-era mathematician introduced the 'Zero' into the Arabic numeral system from India?
Answer:
Al-Khwarizmi
Al-Khwarizmi's work on 'Hindu-Arabic' numerals introduced the decimal positional system and the concept of zero to the Islamic world. This revolutionized mathematics and was later transmitted to Europe.