May 2024 Edition
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May 2024 Current Affairs MCQs & Solutions
Top national & international current affairs questions for CSS, PMS, FPSC, PPSC, and NTS screening tests.
#1081
The Umayyad caliphate in the West (Spain) lasted until:
(a) 1031 CE
(b) 1492 CE
(c) 750 CE
(d) 1258 CE
Explanation: The Umayyad dynasty in Spain continued as an Emirate and then a Caliphate until it dissolved in 1031 CE into several small kingdoms (Taifas). Although Muslim rule in Spain lasted until 1492, the specific Umayyad line ended in 1031.
#1082
What was the name of the Umayyad caliph who built the 'Mshatta Facade' (now in a Berlin museum)?
(a) Hisham
(b) Walid II
(c) Marwan II
(d) Abd al-Malik
Explanation: The Qasr Mshatta was one of the grandest 'desert castles' built by the Umayyads. Its intricate stone-carved facade was gifted by the Ottoman Sultan to the German Kaiser and is now a centerpiece of the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.
#1083
Which of these Umayyad caliphs was known for his love of poetry and hunting over statecraft?
(a) Abd al-Malik
(b) Walid II
(c) Umar II
(d) Hisham
Explanation: Walid II (Walid ibn Yazid) was more of a poet and a bon vivant than a ruler. His lack of interest in administrative duties and his provocative lifestyle contributed significantly to the internal dissent that weakened the dynasty in its final decade.
#1084
The Umayyad caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik is credited with stabilizing the empire's economy through:
(a) Discovery of gold mines
(b) Rigorous accounting and administrative frugality
(c) Increasing taxes on everyone
(d) Abolishing the military
Explanation: Hisham was a cautious and hardworking administrator. He spent much of his reign repairing the state's finances after the expensive wars of his predecessors, ensuring that the treasury was full when he died, despite the numerous internal and external challenges he faced.
#1085
Which Umayyad Caliph was the nephew of the Prophet (PBUH) by marriage?
(a) Muawiyah I
(b) Uthman ibn Affan
(c) Marwan I
(d) None of the above
Explanation: Uthman ibn Affan, the third Rashidun Caliph, was an Umayyad. He was the Prophet's (PBUH) son-in-law twice (marrying Ruqayya and later Umm Kulthum). While the Umayyad dynasty officially starts with Muawiyah, their political influence began much earlier under Uthman.
#1086
The Umayyad dynasty's control over the Hijaz was challenged by the 'Kharajites' in which region?
(a) Spain
(b) Southern Iraq and Eastern Arabia
(c) Egypt
(d) Morocco
Explanation: The Kharajites were a radical group that broke away from Ali and later fought both the Umayyads and the Abbasids. They were particularly strong in rural Iraq and parts of the Arabian Peninsula, where they waged persistent guerrilla warfare against Umayyad governors.
#1087
The Umayyad caliph Umar II returned many properties to the Alids that had been confiscated by:
(a) Muawiyah I
(b) Hisham
(c) Marwan II
(d) Abu Bakr
Explanation: As part of his reconciliation policy, Umar II returned the oasis of Fadak to the descendants of Fatima and Ali. This was property that had been a point of dispute since the time of the Prophet's death, and his gesture was intended to heal the wounds of the civil wars.
#1088
The Umayyads used the 'Sikka' (right to mint coins) as a sign of:
(a) Wealth only
(b) Sovereignty and political authority
(c) Religious piety
(d) Friendship with Byzantium
Explanation: In medieval Islamic political theory, the 'Sikka' (coinage) and 'Khutba' (mention in the Friday sermon) were the two primary signs of a ruler's legitimacy and independence. By minting their own coins, the Umayyads declared they were no longer subservient to Byzantine or Persian economic systems.
#1089
The 'Battle of the Meadow' (731 CE) was a major defeat for the Umayyads against the Turks in:
(a) Spain
(b) Central Asia (Transoxiana)
(c) India
(d) North Africa
Explanation: The Battle of the Defile (or Meadow) was a catastrophic defeat for the Umayyad army against the Türgesh Khaganate. It almost cost the Arabs their control over Transoxiana and highlighted the increasing difficulty of maintaining their far-flung eastern borders.
#1090
Which Umayyad caliph was known for his extreme piety, often compared to the Rashidun?
(a) Muawiyah II
(b) Umar II
(c) Yazid II
(d) Walid II
Explanation: Umar II is the only Umayyad caliph consistently praised by later Islamic tradition. His short reign is seen as a 'golden age' of justice where he prioritized Islamic law over dynastic interest, making him a unique figure in the history of the caliphate.
#1091
The Umayyad capital Damascus was famous for its system of:
(a) Underground subways
(b) Water management and fountains (Barada river canals)
(c) Skyscrapers
(d) Public libraries only
Explanation: The Umayyads inherited and improved the ancient irrigation systems of the Barada River. Damascus became a city of lush gardens and public fountains, a testament to Umayyad engineering and their desire to make their capital a paradise on earth.
#1092
The Umayyad dynasty's fall in 750 CE led to the 'Golden Age' of which city?
(a) Damascus
(b) Baghdad
(c) Cairo
(d) Istanbul
Explanation: With the rise of the Abbasids, the capital moved from Damascus to the newly built city of Baghdad. This signaled the start of the Abbasid Golden Age, where Persian influence and scientific advancement flourished in the new metropolitan center of Iraq.
#1093
Who was the 'Last of the Umayyads' in the East who fled to Egypt?
(a) Marwan II
(b) Yazid III
(c) Ibrahim
(d) Hisham
Explanation: Marwan II attempted to rally the Syrian and Mesopotamian tribes against the Abbasids. After his defeat at the Zab, he fled to Egypt, hoping to reorganize, but he was captured and killed at Busir, ending the caliphate in the Levant.
#1094
The Umayyad 'Mawali' policy was ultimately the cause of their:
(a) Greatest wealth
(b) Territorial expansion
(c) Revolution and downfall
(d) Religious purity
Explanation: By failing to integrate non-Arab converts as equals, the Umayyads created a massive and talented class of citizens who felt betrayed. This class provided the intellectual and military power for the Abbasid Revolution, which promised (and initially delivered) more equality for all Muslims.
#1095
Which Umayyad general conquered the Indus Valley (Sindh)?
(a) Muhammad ibn Qasim
(b) Qutayba ibn Muslim
(c) Tariq ibn Ziyad
(d) Musa ibn Nusayr
Explanation: Muhammad ibn Qasim, at the age of 17, led the Umayyad campaign to the Indian subcontinent. His conquest of Sindh brought the region into the Islamic world and established the first Muslim administrative structure in South Asia.
#1096
The Umayyad caliphate in Spain (Cordoba) eventually claimed the title of 'Caliph' in 929 CE under:
(a) Abd al-Rahman I
(b) Abd al-Rahman III
(c) Al-Hakam II
(d) Hisham II
Explanation: While the early Umayyads in Spain used the title 'Emir,' Abd al-Rahman III officially declared himself Caliph in 929 CE to challenge the authority of the Fatimids in North Africa and the Abbasids in Baghdad, marking the peak of Umayyad power in Al-Andalus.
#1097
The Umayyad mosque in Damascus features mosaics that depict:
(a) The Prophet and his companions
(b) Landscapes, cities, and palaces (Paradise)
(c) Ancient Greek gods
(d) The life of Jesus
Explanation: In accordance with Islamic views on aniconism (avoiding human/animal figures), the mosaics of the Great Mosque of Damascus depict lush gardens, flowing rivers, and architectural wonders. This is widely interpreted as a representation of the Quranic vision of Paradise.
#1098
Who was the 'Secretary' or famous scribe of the Umayyad court credited with developing Arabic prose style?
(a) Abd al-Hamid al-Katib
(b) Ibn al-Muqaffa
(c) Al-Jahiz
(d) Al-Kindi
Explanation: Abd al-Hamid al-Katib was the chief secretary to Marwan II. He is considered the father of Arabic epistolary prose, having developed the formal style and structure of official government correspondence that influenced generations of writers.
#1099
Which Umayyad Caliph faced the 'Thawra' (Revolution) of Ibn al-Ash'ath in Iraq?
(a) Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan
(b) Hisham
(c) Marwan II
(d) Walid II
Explanation: The revolt of Ibn al-Ash'ath (700-703 CE) was a major challenge to Abd al-Malik's rule. Led by an Arab aristocrat and backed by Kufan scholars and soldiers, it was a reaction against the harsh policies of Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf and almost toppled Umayyad power in the East.
#1100
The Umayyad Caliphate's fall is marked by the date:
(a) 632 CE
(b) 661 CE
(c) 750 CE
(d) 1258 CE
Explanation: In 750 CE, the Battle of the Zab and the subsequent fall of Damascus signaled the definitive end of the Umayyad dynasty as the rulers of the central Islamic world, replaced by the Abbasids.