CSS 2001 Part I MCQs
1. The first mosque built for Muslims was?
A. Bait ul Maqdas
B. Quba Mosque
C. Nabvi Mosque
D. None of these
Answer: B
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Masjid Quba in Medina is the first and the oldest mosque. The first stones were laid by the Prophet SAW himself. The Prophet SAW said whoever makes wadu at home and then goes for prayer in Masjid Quba, he will have the same reward as that of an Umrah. This hadith is reported by Imam Hanbal. The masjid was built as the Prophet SAW arrived in Medina.
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2. Musaylimah Kazzab was killed by?
A. Khalid bin Walid
B. Wahshi
C. Hazrat Abbas
D. None of these
Answer: B
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Musaylimah Kazzab, Kazzab meaning Liar, was a false prophet in the time of the Prophet SAW. After the Prophet SAW, Musaylimah rebelled against Caliph Abu Bakar. The Battle of Yamama was fought between the Muslim army under Khalid ibn Walid and Musaylimah. Wahshi ibn Harb, the former slave who had killed Hazrat Hamza, had accepted Islam at the time. Wahshi killed Musaylimah with the same spear. His head was cut off by Abu Dujana.
Khalid bin Walid was the commander of the army during the reign of Caliph Abu Bakar, he was replaced by Abu Ubaidah ibn Jarrah. Khalid ibn Walid is sometimes mistaken for killing Musaylimah because he was the commander of the army. Wahshi ibn Harb is the actual person to kill Musaylimah.
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Battle of Badr was fought in the year?
A. 2 AH
B. 3AH
C. 4AH
D. None
Answer: A
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The Battle of Badr was fought in year 2nd year of Hijra, 624 AD. Jang e Badr was the first large battle between the Muslims and the Quraish of Makkah. The total Muslim army was 313 against the 1000 Quraish. Abu Jahal was killed in this battle. After the battle, Abu Sufyan became the chief of Quraish. The Battle of Badr is one of the few battles mentioned in the Quran.
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4. Grand Mosque at Damascus was built by?
A. Abdul malik
B. Walid
C. Umar bin Abdul Aziz
D. None
Answer: B
Note: This was asked in CSS 2000
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The Grand Mosque/Masjid at Damascus is also known as the Umayyad Masjid. The masjid was commissioned by Khalifa Al Walid after the Arab conquest of Damascus. It was built on the site of a Christian Basilica or Church which was demolished by the Khalifa. The grave of Sultan Salahuddin Al Ayubi is in a garden next to the masjid.
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5. At Qadisiyyah, who commanded the Muslim army?
A. Saad bin Abi Waqas
B. Khalid bin Waleed
C. Ikrama
D. None
Answer: A
Quote:
The Battle of al-Qadisiyyah in Iraq was fought in 636 which resulted in Muslim victory. It was between the Muslim army and the Sassanid Persian army. The battle was fought under Caliph Umar, who had appointed Abu Ubaidah ibn Jarrah commander of the army. Three months before Qadisiyyah the battle of Yarmouk took place which was also a victory for the Muslims. The battle of Yarmouk was agasint the Byzantines. Byzantine and Sassanid Empire had an alleged alliance. Saad bin Abi Waqas as the commander at the battle of Qadisiyyah against the Sassanids. (Battle of Yarmouk CSS 2000)
Khalid Bin Walid was not the commander of the army during Caliph Umar’s time. Umar feared that Khalid’s victory after victory in every battle would make the Muslims think that Khalid was responsible for all the victories instead of Almighty Allah so he had him replaced by Abu Ubaida bin Jarrah. Abu Ubaidah Bin Jarrah kept Khalid with him and would seek advice from him.
Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl, the son of Abu Jahal, converted to Islam after the conquest of Makkah. He was a military leader during the times of Caliph Abu Bakar. He found against Musaylamah the false prophet in Yamamah. Ikrima died during the battle of Yarmouk. Yarmouk took place 3 months before the battle of Qadisiyyah.
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6. Dots on the Arabic letter was introduced by?
A. Al-Hajjaj
B. Yahya Barmaki
C. Hassan Basri
D. None
Answer: A
Note: This was asked in CSS 2000
Quote:
Hajjaj ibn Yusuf is largely credited for adding the Dots on Arabic letters in the Quran.
Yahya Barmaki was the Grand Vizir of Caliph Haroon al Rashid. Later the family had too much power and cast into prison. He died in prison in 806.
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7. Abbasids adopted which color for their official dress?
A. Red
B. Green
C. Black
D. None
Answer: C
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Caliph Al-Mansur is credited with the introduction of the Black robes as the Abbasid dynastic color to be worn by all court those in court.
The Umayyad’s official color was White.
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8. Abu Muslim Khurasni was murdered in?
A. 730 AD
B. 755 AD
C. 757 AD
D. None
Answer: B
Note: This was asked in CSS 2000
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Abu Muslim Khorasani was an Abbasid General. He was the Governor of Khoorasan and a proved military commander. Khalifa Abu Jafar also known as Al Mansur was uneasy over this; he feared that Abu Muslim would rebel. So he had Abu Muslim accused of treasonable activities which the latter denied. He was tried, found guilty and beheaded in the year 755. 755 AD makes the Hijri year of 137-138 but he was most likely killed in 137.
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9. Zakariyya Razi was a?
A. Mufassir
B. Sufi
C. Physician
D. None
Answer: C
Note: Al Razi wrote Al-Haw, which was asked in CSS 2000
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Zakariyya Razi, popularly known as Al-Razi was a Physician, Alchemist, and Philosopher. Kitab Al Hawi is a comprehensive book of medicine written by Al-Razi.
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10. Ottoman Sultans were the direct descendants of?
A. Osman
B. Timur
C. Genghis Khan
D. None
Answer: Osman
Quote:
Osman I, or Osman bey, was the leader of the Ottoman Turks. He was the founder of the Ottoman dynasty that established the Ottoman State. The Ottoman Empire is named after him. Ottoman is European for Osman.
Zahir ud din Babar calimed that he was a direct descendant of Timur through his father and a descendant of Genghis Khan through his mother. Babar would later in 1526 establish the Mughal Dynasty of Indian Subcontinent.
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11. Mamun ur Rashid following which doctrines?
A. Ismaili
B. Ashari
C. Mutazilla
D. None
Answer: C
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Al-Mamun held sympathy for the Mutazili theology and their other controversial views. The Mutazili theology was deeply influenced by Aristotelian though and Greek rationalism. The Mutazilis stated that the Quran was created rather coeternal with God. This contradicted the traditional Sunni opinion that the Quran was coeternal.
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12. Al Khwarzmi was a?
A. Soldier
B. Astronomer
C. Mathematician
D. None
Answer: B
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Al Khwarizmi was a Polymath. He was a Persian mathematician, astronomer, geographer, and is known for his contributions to cartography. He was mainly known for being a mathematician because he was principally responsible for spreading the Arab numerals into the Middle East, Latin West, and Europe. The Arab numerals were developed from Indian sources.
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13. Who signed the Treaty of Hudaibiya on behalf of the Quraish?
A. Abu Sufyan
B. Suhail bin Amru
C. Utba
D. None
Answer: B
Note: This was asked in CSS 2000
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Suhail Bin Amar signed the Treaty of Hudaibiya on behalf of Quraish. Suhail bin Amru insisted that the treaty would be signed by the Prophet as Muhammad SAW Bin Abdullah and not as Muhammad SAW the Prophet of Allah.
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14. Baghdad was conquered and sacked by Halaku Khan in?
A. 1258 AD
B. 1260 AD
C. 1265 AD
D. None
Answer: 1258 AD
Quote:
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In 1258 AD, Baghdad was conquered and sacked by the Mongol forces led by Halaku Khan. After conquering the city, The Grand Library of Baghdad was destroyed. Those who attempted to flee were intercepted by the Mongols and killed. They destroyed Mosques, palaces, hospitals, libraries, and any grand building. The Caliph Al Mustasim Billah was killed. This marked the end of the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad. The Mamluk rulers of Egypt would later re-establish the Abbasid caliphate in Cairo in 1261. In 1517 the last Abbasid Caliph of Egypt would be captured by the Ottoman Sultan Selim I. Sultan Selim I took the title from him, made Egypt part of the Ottoman Empire, and became the first Ottoman Sultan to use the title of Caliph.
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15. Tulaiha was a?
A. Trader
B. Poet
C. False Prophet
D. None
Answer: C
Note: Aswad al-Ansi was also a false prophet, asked in CSS 2000.
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The four false prophets from early Islamic History were, Aswad al-Ansi, Tulayhah al-Azdi, Sajjah bint al-Harith, and Musaylimah al-Kazzab. Although he initially accepted Islam, later he claimed that he was a prophet. The Battle of Zhu Qissa was between the Muslim forces led by Ali ibn Abi Talib, Talha ibn Ubaidullah, and Zubair ibn al-Awam against those led by Tulayha, the false prophet. The Muslims won the battle, Tulayha escaped to Syria. Later when Syria was conquered by Muslims, Tulayha accepted Islam again. He was forbidden by Caliph Abu Bakar to fight in any of the battles. Later in the time of Caliph Umar, he was allowed to fight and he died in the battler of Qasidiyya, between the Muslims and the Sassanid Empire.
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Khayr-al-Din Barbarossa was a?
A. Sailor
B. Qazi
C. Minister
D. None
Answer: A
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Khairuddin Barbarossa was initially a sailor, then a naval captain, and later made admiral by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman (Suleiman the Magnificent). His naval victories secured the Ottoman dominance over the Mediterranean.
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17. Tragedy of Karbala took place in the year?
A. 61 AH
B. 71 AH
C. 81 AH
Answer: A
Note: This was asked in CSS 2000
18. Who was the tutor of Haroon ur Rashid?
A. Khalid Barmaki
B. Yahya Barmaki
C. Al-Ghazali
D. None
Answer: B
Quote:
Caliph al-Mahdi, father of Harun ur Rashid, entrusted Yahya with Harun’s education. Yahya’s family, the Barmakids, was very strong in Baghdad due to their close ties with the Caliph. When Harun became Caliph, he made Yahya his grand Vizir.
Khalid ibn Barmak was the father of Yahya Barmaki
Al-Ghazali the great Muslim philosopher was born in 1058. Harun ur Rashid became Caliph in 786, more than 270 years before Al-Ghazali.
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19. Constantinople was conquered by?
A. Muhammad II
B. Suleman
C. Murad
D. None
Answer: Muhammad II
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The Ottoman Sultan Muhammad II, also known was Sultan Muhammad Fatih, conquered Constantinople in 1453. Upon conquering, he took the title of Qaiser-e-Rum; Caesar of Rome.
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20. Hammurabi the law giver was a?
A. Babylonian
B. Assyrian
C. ? Missing
D. None
Answer: Babylonian
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Hammurabi was a Babylonian king, and is known for the set of laws called Hammurabi’s Code. The Hammurabi’s Code is the first or one of the first written codes of laws in recorded history. They were inscribed on stone tablets.
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CSS 2001 Part II
1. Who was the first conqueror of Africa?
A. Muhammad bin Qasim
B. Khalid bin Walid
C. Uqba bin Nafi
D. None
Answer: Uqba bin Nafi
Quote:
Uqba bin Nafi conquered most of Africa. Uqba founded the city of Kairouan, which became the capital of the Islamic province of Ifriqiya. The Great Mosque of Kairouan also called Mosque of Uqba was built by the General and is the oldest mosque in North Africa. North Africa was conquered during the time of Caliph Muawiyah I. The Arab conquests of Meghrib were written by Ibn Idhari in Al bayan al-Meghrib.
Muhammad bin Qasim is known for conquering Sindh and Punjab. His conquest enabled further expansion of Islam into India. He was the son-in-law of the famous governor al-Hajja ibn Yusuf who was also his paternal uncle. After the death of Hajjaj bin Yusuf, He was executed by the new Caliph Suleiman ibn Abdul Malik.
Khalid bin Walid is known for his conquests of Arabia, Persia, and Roman Syria. Under his command, Damascus was captured. He is also known for the Battle of Yarmouk, Battle of Yamamah, Walaja, and many others. Khalid is said to have never lost a battle. He was the commander of the army during the time of Caliph Abu Bakar. He was replaced by Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah under the orders of the new Caliph, Hazrat Umar. His nick name was The Sword of Allah.
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2. Spain was conquered by?
A. Mehmud Ghaznawi
B. Musa bin Nusair
C. Tariq bin Ziyad
D. None
Answer: Tariq bin Ziyad
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Spain was conquered in 711 by Tariq bin Ziyad under orders of Caliph Al Walid I. He led the army from Morocco and landed at Gibraltar. Gibraltar is Spanish for Jabl-e-Tariq or Mountain of Tariq named after him. His army captured Cordoba and Garnada among other places in most of Spain. Tariq served as the Governor of Tangier. Tariq bin Ziyad was a Berber, which is an ethnic group of North Africa.
Mehmud Ghaznawi was the ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire some 300 years after Tariq ibn Ziyad. The Ghaznavid Empire covered Afghanistan, Eastern Iran, Pakistan, and northwestern India. Mehmud Ghaznawi is known for his 17 successful invasions of northwest India.
Musa bin Nusayr was the governor of North Africa during the time of Caliph al-Walid I. Tariq ibn Ziyad was a General in his Army. Musa bin Nusayr sent Tariq to conquer Spain. Musa completed the conquest of North Africa. He was the first Muslim general to take Tangiers. Uqba bin Nafi who is credited with being the first conqueror of Africa, had only failed to conquer Tangier. Musa occupied Tangier and with that completed the conquest of North Africa. According to the famous Moroccan geographer and explorer Ibn Batutta, Jabel e Musa in Morocco is named after him. Jabel e Musa is opposite the rock of Gibraltar named for Tariq bin Ziyad.
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3. Spain is called by the Arabs as?
A. Afriquiye
B. Auruba
C. Al-Andalus
D. None
Answer: al-Andalus
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Arabs called Spain by the name of Al-andalus. Afriquiye is Africa.
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4. Ibn Khaldun was an?
A. Architect
B. Historian
C. Muhaddith
D. None
Answer: Historian
Note: Ibn Khaldun wrote The Muqaddimah, Question 10 CSS 2001
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Ibn Khaldun was an Arab historian and historiographer. His best known book is The Muqaddimah, a book on universal history i.e philosophy of history, sociology, demography, historiography, cultural history, economics, Islamic theology, political theory, biology and chemistery. The book was written in 1377.
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5. Ibn Zaidun was?
A. Historian
B. Philosopher
C. Poet
D. None
Answer: Poet
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Ibn Zaidun was a famous Arab poet of Cordoba and Seville. He lived during the time of the later Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba.
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6. Ibn Tufail lived in?
A. Egypt
B. Spain
C. Syria
D. None
Answer: Spain
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Ibn Tufail was an Andulasian Muslim polymath. He was a writer, novelist, Islamic philosopher, Islamic theologian, physician, vizier, and a court official. He is known for his philosophical novel, Hayy ibn Yaqdhan.
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7. Cordova is a city of?
A. Libya
B. Al-Andalus
C. Lebanon
D. None
Answer: al-Andalus
Quote:
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Cordova or Cordoba, in Arabic Qurtabah, was a city in al-Andalus and the Capital al-Andalus and capital of Caliphate of Cordoba. Under Caliph al-Hakam of Cordova, it became a center of education. Cordova was captured in 711 by the Muslim army of Tariq ibn Ziyad.
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8. Who was Zaryab?
A. Poet
B. Politician
C. Singer
D. None
Answer: Singer
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His real name was Abu hasan Ali ibn Nafi. Zaryab was his nickname. Ziryab was born in Iraq and moved to Spain. He is mostly known as a singer but actually he was a polymath. He had knowledge of astronomy, geography, meteorology, botanics, cosmetics, culinary art, and fashion. He left Baghdad during the time of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mamun and moved to Cordoba. He was a court musician for Abd al-Rahman II of Cordoba.
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9. The Moors vacated Spain in?
A. 1501
B. 1492
C. 1452
D. None
Answer: 1492
Quote:
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The Moors invaded Spain in 711 under the General Tariq ibn Ziyad. They ruled Spain for 780 years until the fall of Garnada in 1492 which brought an end to the Muslim control of Spain. The Nasrid Kingdom of Garnada was the last Muslim dynasty in Spain. The re-conquest of al-Andalus from the Muslims by Christians is referred to as The Reconquista by the Spanish.
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10. What is the name of the book written by Ibn Khaldun?
Answer: The Muqaddimah
Note: Question 4 asks who Ibn Khaldun was.
Quote:
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The Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldun, a book on universal history i.e philosophy of history, sociology, demography, historiography, cultural history, economics, Islamic theology, political theory, biology and chemistery. The book was written in 1377.
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What is the real name of al-Dakhil?
Answer: Abdul Rahman I
Quote:
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Abdul Rahman I, the first Emir of Cordova was known as al-Dakhil which means The Imigrant. He was also known as Saqr Quraish meaning Hawk of Quraish. Abdul Rahman was from the family of Umayyad Caliphate of Damascus. During his time, the Abbasid revolution overthrew the Umayyad Caliphate. He escaped from Damascus and settled in Cordoba where he continued the Umayyad dynasty. 200 years later one of his descendants, Abdul Rahman III would claim the title of Caliph for himself and find the Umayyad Caliphate of Cordova.
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12. Thafa-tul-Thafat is a book on?
A. Science
B. History
C. Philosophy
D. None
Answer: Philosophy
13.Who was known was Hawk of Quresh?
A. Amir Muawiya
B. Abdul Rahman I
C. Ibn Zubair
D. None
Answer: Abdul Rahman I
Quote:
Abdul Rahman I, the first Emir of Cordova was known as al-Dakhil which means The Imigrant. He was also known as Saqr Quraish meaning Hawk of Quraish. The Abbasid Caliph Al-Mansur, his enemy, gave him the title of Hawk of Quraish. The reason he gave Abdul Rahman the title, which was the title of The Prophet’s tribe, was because Abdul Rahman despite all his difficulties, depended only on himself to save his life and his family’s, wandered the deserts of Asia and Africa, had the boldness to seek his fortune without an army in lands unknown to him beyond the sea (Spain). He exterminated rebels, organized cities, mobilized armies, secured his frontiers against the Christians, and founded a great empire, which according to al-Mansur no one had done before.
Abdul Rahman was from the family of Umayyad Caliphate of Damascus. During his time, the Abbasid revolution overthrew the Umayyad Caliphate. He escaped from Damascus and settled in Cordoba where he continued the Umayyad dynasty. 200 years later one of his descendants, Abdul Rahman III would claim the title of Caliph for himself and find the Umayyad Caliphate of Cordova.
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14. What is Granada and Cordova in Arabic alphabets?
Answer: Cordova is قُرطبة
Garnada is غرناطة
15. What is Wadi-al-Kabeer?
Answer: River
Quote:
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Now called Guadalquivir, it is a river in Spain. Its Arabic name is al-wadi al-kabir, The Great Valley.
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16. Did the Moor enter in France? Yes or No.
Answer: Yes
Quote:
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The Battle of the Tours was fought in France, Europe between the Christian Franks and the Umayyad army under Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi. The Franks won the battle. The battle of the Tours stopped the wave of Islam from further penetrating into Europe.
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17. Who took the title of Khalifa in Spain?
Asnwer: Abdur Rahman III
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Abdur Rahman III became the Emir of Cordova in 912 after the death of Abdullah his grandfather who was the Emir before him. Emir Abdullah has four sons but he chose his grandson Abdur Rahman III as his successor. In the year 929 he assumed the title of Caliph of Cordoba based on the claim that he was descendant of the Umayyad family and that his ancestors were the original Caliphs who were overthrown by the Abbasids.
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18. Name at least Two Muslim philosophers of Spain?
Answer: Ibn Arabi - Ibn Rushud - Ibn Tufail was also an andalusian philosopher.
19. Which city was called Queen of the cities, Aroos ul Bilaad?
A. Baghdad
B. Cordova
C. Damascus
D. None
Answer: Cordova
20. Berbers originally were?
A. Iranians
B. Arabs
C. Africans
D. None
Answer: Africans
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Famous Berbers in Islamic History are:
Tariq Ibn Ziyad, Conqueror Spain
Ibn Battuta, the Muslim explorer and geographer.
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-Nickfury
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