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 Fatimid 'Mustansiri' Dinar is highly valued by collectors today because it was minted during a time of:
Answer:
The Great Famine (to pay soldiers)
Despite the famine, the state still produced gold coins to pay its mutinous troops. These coins are historical witnesses to a period when the Caliphate was on the brink of total collapse but still maintained the outward forms of sovereign power.
2
Who was the 'Chief Physician' to the Fatimid court who wrote influential works on ophthalmology and dietetics?
Answer:
Ali ibn Ridwan
Ali ibn Ridwan was a famous Egyptian doctor who rose from poverty to become the Chief Physician of the Fatimid state. He is famous for his medical debates and his descriptions of the health and climate of Egypt.
3
The 'Fatimid' city of Cairo was originally built as a 'Square'. What did its design represent?
Answer:
An imperial enclosure for the Caliph, mirroring the 'Round City' of Baghdad in prestige
Cairo was built not as a public city, but as a forbidden royal city for the Caliph, his guards, and his administration. Its name 'Al-Qahira' (The Victorious) referred to the planet Mars (Al-Qahir), which was rising when the foundation was laid.
4
What happened to the 'Fatimid' Friday sermon after 1171 CE?
Answer:
It was completely replaced by the Sunni sermon naming the Abbasid Caliph
Saladin's primary mission was to restore Sunnism. By changing the 'Khutba' (sermon), he officially signaled to the entire world that Egypt was no longer a Shia state, effectively ending the Fatimid ideological mission.
5
The Fatimid Caliphate's greatest territorial rival in North Africa before the move to Egypt was:
Answer:
The Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba
The Umayyads in Spain and the Fatimids in Tunisia were locked in a 'cold war' for control over the Maghreb and the gold trade. Both dynasties supported rival Berber tribes and claimed to be the only true Caliphs of Islam.
6
The Fatimid caliph Al-Mu'izz famously possessed a 'Holy Relic' that he used to validate his lineage. What was it?
Answer:
The sword of the Prophet (Zulfiqar)
The Fatimids claimed to possess Zulfiqar, the legendary sword of Ali given to him by the Prophet. Displaying such relics during ceremonies was a key part of Fatimid imperial theater to prove their divine right to rule.
7
The 'Ismaili' state in Yemen, which recognized the Fatimid Caliphs, was ruled by which dynasty?
Answer:
The Sulayhids
The Sulayhid dynasty, particularly under the famous Queen Arwa al-Sulayhi, were loyal Fatimid allies. They governed Yemen in the name of the Fatimid Imams and were a vital link in the trade and missionary network with India.
8
Which of these Fatimid-era gates in Cairo features a rare example of figural carving in its stone decoration?
Answer:
Bab Zuwayla
Bab Zuwayla (1092 CE) is one of the most famous gates of Cairo. It was the place of public executions and is crowned by two minarets. Its architecture is a grand example of the stone-building traditions Badr al-Jamali brought from Armenia.
9
The Fatimid Caliphate's final year, 1171 CE, saw the restoration of which group to power in Egypt?
Answer:
The Abbasid Caliph (spiritually) and the Ayyubids (politically)
Saladin's takeover was not just a change of dynasty, but a total religious realignment. Egypt returned to the Sunni fold and recognized the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad for the first time in over 200 years.
10
The 'Fatimid' era is often called the '______ Intermezzo' in Egyptian history.
Answer:
Shia
The 'Shia Intermezzo' refers to the period between the 10th and 12th centuries when Shia dynasties (Fatimids, Buyids, Hamdanids) controlled much of the Islamic world. It was a unique break from the Sunni dominance that preceded and followed it.