Sufi MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Sufi - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is - Mulla Daud

Key Points

• Mulla Daud
  • Mulla Daud was a Sufi poet who contributed to the rich tradition of medieval Indian literature.
  • He is most famously known for his work "Chandayan", which is a romantic tale written in Awadhi.
  • The term "khand chap" in his poetry refers to printed cloth, reflecting the vivid imagery and cultural elements present in his writings.
  • Mulla Daud's works are significant for their blend of Sufi mysticism and folk traditions, making them unique in the literary landscape of his time.

Additional Information

• Sufi Poetry and Its Themes
  • Sufi poetry often revolves around themes of divine love, mysticism, and spiritual longing.
  • Poets like Mulla Daud incorporated local cultural elements, such as references to clothing, traditions, and nature, to connect with the masses.
  • The use of terms like "khand chap" showcases the poet's ability to integrate everyday imagery into mystical and romantic expressions.
• Other Prominent Sufi Poets
  • Amir Khusrau: Known for his Persian and Hindavi compositions, he introduced musical genres such as Qawwali and wrote works blending mysticism with lyrical beauty.
  • Dadu Dayal: A spiritual leader and poet who emphasized the unity of God and critiqued ritualistic practices.
  • Mir Maqbul: Another Sufi poet, though less known for the specific cultural imagery compared to Mulla Daud.
• Importance of Awadhi Language
  • Awadhi, the language used by Mulla Daud, played a crucial role in medieval Indian literature as it was widely understood and appreciated.
  • It served as a bridge between folk traditions and high literary ideals.

The correct answer is - Sufis and learned persons

Key Points

• Madad-e-Maash
  • Madad-e-Maash was a type of financial assistance or grant provided by rulers in medieval India.
  • The term translates to "subsistence allowance" or "help for livelihood."
  • It was primarily given to Sufis, learned persons, and scholars to ensure their financial stability and promote intellectual and spiritual pursuits.
  • This system reflects the cultural and educational priorities of the ruling authorities, especially during the Mughal era.

Additional Information

• Purpose of Madad-e-Maash
  • It was intended to support individuals who contributed to society through spiritual guidance or scholarly achievements.
  • Recipients were often Sufis, theologians, and educators who lacked other sources of income but played crucial roles in religious and academic development.
  • This system helped preserve and propagate Islamic teachings and cultural heritage during the medieval period.
• Historical Context
  • Madad-e-Maash grants were commonly issued by rulers such as the Mughals and other Islamic dynasties in India.
  • These grants were given in the form of land revenue or direct monetary assistance.
  • Land grants were often tax-free, allowing the recipients to derive income from the land while focusing on their intellectual or spiritual duties.
• Impact on Society
  • Encouraged the growth of educational institutions and the spread of knowledge.
  • Promoted the role of Sufis in maintaining social harmony and spiritual guidance.
  • Helped sustain scholars and intellectuals who contributed to the development of science, literature, and philosophy during the medieval era.

The correct answer is - Khwaja Ziyauddin Nahkashabi

Key Points

• Khwaja Ziyauddin Nahkashabi
  • He was a prominent Sufi scholar who significantly contributed to the translation of Sanskrit texts into Persian during the medieval period.
  • He is credited with translating two important Sanskrit texts:
    • Suka-Saptati - A collection of seventy tales narrated by a parrot.
    • Rati Rahasya - A classical treatise on love and erotics.
  • The translations were part of an effort to foster cultural and intellectual exchanges between the Indian and Persian traditions.
  • His translations are considered significant for their role in introducing Indian literature and philosophy to the Persian-speaking world.

Additional Information

• Suka-Saptati
  • The name translates to "Seventy Tales of the Parrot."
  • It is a collection of stories narrated by a parrot to its mistress to prevent her from engaging in illicit activities in the absence of her husband.
  • The tales often include themes of morality, wit, and cleverness.
• Rati Rahasya
  • Also known as the "Secrets of Love," this text is attributed to the ancient scholar Kokkoka.
  • It is a Sanskrit treatise on love and sexuality, similar to the Kamasutra.
  • The text provides insights into human relationships, emotions, and social norms of its time.
• Sufi Scholars and Cultural Exchange
  • Sufi scholars like Khwaja Ziyauddin Nahkashabi played a vital role in the cultural synthesis of Indian and Persian traditions.
  • They acted as bridges between different languages, religions, and intellectual traditions, promoting mutual understanding and respect.
  • Their efforts enriched the literary and philosophical heritage of both cultures.

The correct answer is - Moin al-din Chishti

Key Points

• Moin al-din Chishti
  • He was the founder of the Chishti Sufi order in India, which emphasized love, compassion, and spiritual unity.
  • His teachings and discourses were delivered in Persian, which significantly contributed to the popularization of the language among the masses.
  • The Chishti order’s practices and philosophy promoted cultural exchange, which led to the integration of Persian linguistic elements into Indian society.
  • Harbans Mukhia, a historian, highlights his role in establishing familiarity with Persian at a grassroots level through spiritual and literary contributions.

Additional Information

• Nasiruddin Chiragh
  • He was a prominent Sufi saint from the Chishti order, but his contributions primarily focused on spiritual practices rather than linguistic integration.
  • Although influential, his role in popularizing Persian among the masses is considered secondary compared to Moin al-din Chishti.
• Gesudaraz
  • Gesudaraz, also known as Hazrat Khwaja Banda Nawaz, was a Sufi saint of the Deccan region.
  • His works in Persian were significant, but they primarily served scholarly and spiritual audiences rather than widespread popularization.
• Baba Farid
  • A key figure in the Chishti order, Baba Farid’s literary contributions were made in regional languages such as Punjabi, along with Persian.
  • While influential, his works did not have the same level of impact on Persian integration at the popular level as Moin al-din Chishti.

The correct answer is - Gesudaraz

Key Points

• Gesudaraz is the title by which Sufi saint Muhammad Banda Nawaz is most commonly known.
  • The full name of Gesudaraz was Syed Muhammad Hussaini, and he was a renowned Sufi saint of the Chishti order.
  • He earned the title "Gesudaraz," which means "long-cherished one" or "beloved saint."
  • His teachings emphasized love, tolerance, and harmony, which greatly influenced Indian Sufi traditions.
• He is most famous for his works on Sufism and his role in spreading Islamic mysticism in South India, particularly in Gulbarga (present-day Karnataka).
• His shrine, the Dargha of Gesudaraz, is a popular pilgrimage site in Gulbarga.

Additional Information

• Chishti Order
  • The Chishti order is a prominent Sufi order in the Indian subcontinent known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness.
  • It was introduced to India by Mu'in al-Din Chishti, whose shrine is in Ajmer, Rajasthan.
  • The Chishti saints, including Gesudaraz, rejected material wealth and focused on spiritual growth and serving humanity.
• Works of Gesudaraz
  • He authored several books and treatises on Sufism, including works in Persian and Dakhni.
  • He is one of the earliest authors to use Dakhni (a precursor to modern-day Urdu) in his writings.
• Other Sufi Saints
  • Baba Farid: A prominent saint of the Chishti order, known for his poetry and spiritual teachings.
  • Baba Palangposh: A Sufi saint known for his miracles and spiritual influence in northern India.
  • Shaikh Mohammad: A lesser-known figure often confused with other saints due to the commonality of the name.

The correct answer is a hospice.

Key Points

• A khanqah is a building designated especially for gatherings of Sufi brotherhood.
• In the past and to a lesser extent nowadays, they often served as hospices for Saliks (Sufi travelers), and Islamic students.
• Khanegah is also known as Khanqah or Khaniqah or Ribat.
• Khanegah's are very often found adjoined to dargahs (shrines of Sufi saints), and turbes (tombs of notables), mosques, and madrasas (Islamic schools).
• In the Arab world, especially North Africa, the Khaneqah is known as Zawiyah.
• Khanqahs later spread across the Islamic world, from Morocco to Indonesia.

• He was an Indo-Persian Sufi mystic.  
• He was the disciple of Sheikh Nizamuddin Auliya .
• He lived under different rulers of Delhi Sultanate.
• ‘Khaliq-e-bari’ was his magnum opus work. This work is known as the oldest printed dictionary in the world.
• He was also known as ‘father of qawwali’.
• ‘Tuti-i Hind’ or "Parrot of India" was his unofficial title.

• Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliya is also known as Hazrat Nizamuddin, and Mahbub-e-Ilahi was an Indian Sunni Muslim scholar, Sufi saint of the Chishti Order, and is one of the most famous Sufis from the Indian Subcontinent.
• His predecessors were Fariduddin Ganjshakar, Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, and Moinuddin Chishti, who were the masters of the Chishti spiritual chain or silsila in the Indian subcontinent.
• Nizamuddin Auliya, like his predecessors, stressed love as a means of realising God.
• For him, his love of God implied a love of humanity.
• His vision of the world was marked by a highly evolved sense of religious pluralism and kindness.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya.
Key Points

• Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya
  • Syed Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliya was one of the most famous Sufi saints from the Indian subcontinent region.
  • Also known as Hazrat Nizamuddin, and Mahbub-e-Ilahi (Beloved of God), he was a Sunni Muslim scholar and Sufi saint of the Chishti Order.
  • Like most of the Chishti Sufi saints, Nizamuddin Auliya stressed love as a means of realizing God.
  • He believed the love of God implied a love of humanity.
  • He had a major influence on the Muslims of Delhi and the world over.
  • Nizamuddin Auliya was born in 1238 AD in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh to Syed Abdullah bin Ahmad Al Hussaini Badayuni and Bibi Zulekha.
  • His father died when Nizamuddin was just five years old.
  • At the age of 21, Nizamuddin went to Ajodhan (present Pakpattan Sharif in Pakistan) to become a disciple of the Sufi saint Fariduddin Ganjshakar, also known as Baba Farid.
  • Every year during the month of Ramzan he would visit Ajodhan in presence of Baba Farid.

Additional Information

• Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti
  • Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti also popularly known as Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz was a beloved Sufi saint of the Chisti order.
  • He is known to be the direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad.
  • Born in Sistan (present-day Eastern Iran and Southern Afghanistan, he traveled from Sistan to Lahore to Delhi, and finally settled in Ajmer, Rajasthan.
  • His tomb in Ajmer, the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, is one of the holiest Islamic sites in the world.
  • Muslims from across the world visit Dargah Sharif every year to offer their prayers.
  • Not only Muslims but people belonging to different religions visit this shrine throughout the year.
• Baba Farid
  • Baba Sheikh Farid as he is called all over Punjab, India, and Pakistan was born at the time when Punjab was going through great crossroads.
  • Timur the Lame, Halaku (Son of Changez Khan), etc ravaged Punjab about 100 to 200 years before he was born.
  • The official language of India was Turkish and Persian.
  • The Slave dynasty of Qutub-Ud-Din aibak was at that time being ruled by Sultan Balban. 200-300 years earlier to the West of India, the sword of Islam had swept in the countries like Iran, Afghanistan, and Eastern Europe.
  • In India too, Slave Qutubdin Aibak tried to subdue people through force, but could only create a rift between different communities.
  • Then came the Sufi saints from Arabia and other places to spread their message of love for Allah.
  • Sufi saints like Khwaja Qutub-Ul-Din Bakhtiar Kaki, who was a Sayid of the Jafiri Hussaini tribe, were very famous.
• Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki
  • Hazrat Khawaja Bakhtiyar Kaaki‎ was one and a half years old when his father passed away.
  • Khawaja Qutubuddeen Bakhtiyar Kaaki‎ learned 15 chapters of the Holy Quran from his mother and his mother arranged for his further education and training.
  • Once he wanted to be a part of Mehfil e Samaa however was not allowed in as he seemed to be young in age and didn’t have a beard.
  • Hazrat Khawaja Qutubuddeen Bakhtiyar Kaaki‎ was very fond of Mehfil e Samaa so he rubbed his face and a beard appeared and he was let in.
  • When Khawaja Qutubuddeen Bakhtiyar Kaaki‎ was 4 years and 4 months of age he requested his mother that he wanted to study the Holy Quran under a learned person.

Option 1 is the correct answer: The Chisti order in India was established by Moinuddin Chishti.

Chisti order:

• The Chisti order is one of the four major orders of Classical Sufism, that originated from a small town named Chist in Afghanistan
• Khwaja Abu Ishaq Shami founded this sect in 930 CE there.
• Characteristics of Chisti sect:
  • The followers avoid committing anything against as proposed in the Quran.
  • Stay away from rich & corrupt and avoid worldly attractions
  • Avoiding the company of rulers and the elite.
  • Practising music in a way that it helps an individual to submerge into the existence of god.
  • Qawwali is an eminent feature of this sect of Sunni Islam.
• Moinuddin Chisti introduced this order in India at Ajmer, Rajasthan in 12 century CE.

Moinuddin Chisti:

• Moinuddin Chisti was a Sufi saint, born in Iran in 1141.
• Under the influence of Sheikh Ibrahim Qunduzi, he renounced this world to inquire deep into the religious world.
• He also accompanied Utham Haruni (a Chisti Saint) to Islamic pilgrims a became his disciple.
• It is said that he came to India to introduce Chisti sect here after he was directed by Prophet Mohammad to do so in a dream.
• He died at Ajmer in 1236 and his dargah (Ajmer Sharif Dargah) became a famous pilgrim.

The correct answer is ​Syed Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliya.

• Amir Khosrow was a royal poet and a disciple of Syed Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliya.

Key Points

• Syed Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliya was one of the most famous Sufi saints from the Indian subcontinent region.
• He is also known as Hazrat Nizamuddin and Mehboob-e-Illahi (Beloved of God).
• He was a Sufi saint of the Chisti order.
• His shrine is located in New Delhi.
• Nizamuddin Auliya was born in 1238 AD in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh.​

The correct answer is Friend of God.

Key Points

• In Sufism, the term wali signifies "friend of God".
• Sufism or tasawuf is the name for various mystical and movements in Islam.
• Sufism aims at establishing direct communion between God and man through the personal experience of mystery which lies within Islam.
  • Khalifa ​signifies successor.
  • Silsila signifies A chain.
  • ziyarat signifies Pilgrimage.

The correct answer is Suhrawardi.

• The Suhrawardi order entered India at about the same time, as the Chishtis, but its activities were restricted largely to the Punjab and Multan.

• This order was established by Sheikh Shihabuddin Suhrawardi.

• But the actual founder of this order in India was Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariyya born at Kot Karor, near Multan, in about 1182-83.

• He did not associate with the common people, opposed Qalandars, and invited Sultan lltutmish to invade Multan and topple its ruler, Qabacha.

• After Illtutmish annexed Multan in 1228, lltutmish appointed Bahauddin the Shaikh-ul-Islam (leader of the Muslim community).

• Unlike the Chishtis, the Suhrawardi saints did not believe in leading a life of poverty. 

• They accepted the aid of the state, and some of them held prominent posts in the ministerial department. 

• Music was rejected by this order.

Other Sufi order and their leaders:

The correct answer is option 1, i.e. A place for where Sufi mystics (or murshid) lived and gave spiritual discourses.

The word "Khanqah" is used to define a place of spiritual teaching through discourses on spirituality by a murshid (spiritual mentor, or guide).

• The word finds its origins in the Persian language.
• The place also served as a common place where the message of communal harmony is imparted.
• It was a building designed specifically for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood and was a place for spiritual retreat and character reformation.
• Sama was the creation of mood to nearness to god by reciting music.

The correct answer is Ziyarat.

Key Points

• Pilgrimage, called ziyarat, to tombs of Sufi saints is prevalent all over the Muslim world.
• This practice is an occasion for seeking the Sufi's spiritual grace (Barakat).
• Worship at Sufi shrines is called ‘Ziyarat’. Dancing and singing especially Qawwali, were part of such worship.
• Sufi saints believe that reciting the name of God (Zikra) and listening (Sama).
• Chisti Sama was popularised by Amir Khusrow.

Additional Information

• The term ‘Sufi’ is probably derived from the Arabic ‘suf’ word which means ‘one who wears wool’.
• Sufism is a mystical form of Islam, a school of practice that focuses on the spiritual search for God and shuns materialism.
• There were twelve silsilas or orders under the Bashara. The most important ones were Chisti, Suhrawardi, etc.
• Bashara is a Sufi order in which the Sufi saints obey Islamic laws.
• The most important saint of Chisti order was Moinuddin Chishti, who died in 1236 in Ajmer. His resting place is the Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Ajmer, Rajasthan.
• Suhrawardi order was founded by Abdul-Wahid Abu Najib as-Suhrawardi.
• The term "Futuh" (فتوح) is a medieval Arabic term that can be translated as "conquests" or "openings." It is primarily used in the context of the early Islamic conquests following the death of the Prophet Muhammad. These conquests rapidly expanded the Islamic territories beyond the Arabian Peninsula, covering vast areas of the Middle East, North Africa, and into the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) as well as eastward into the Persian Empire and beyond.

The correct answer is 1 and 2 only.

Key Points