FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION FOR RECRUITMENT TO POSTS
IN BPS – 17 UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, 1994
ISLAMIC HISTORY AND CULTURE, PAPER – II
Time Allowed: 3 Hours Maximum Marks: 100
NOTE: Attempt FIVE questions in all, including Question No. 1, which is Compulsory. All questions carry equal marks.
1 (i) Mention the titles from your reading list of the works authored or edited by the following: (a) M.A. Shaban (b) Joseph Schacht (c) J.J. Saunders (d) H.A.R. Gibb
(ii) Indicate the correct choice.
(a) Maghrib, in classical Islamic usage, means Europe/North Africa (excluding Egypt)}/North Africa (including Egypt)
(b) lbn Sina’s Qanun is a book of Medicine/Music/Law
(c) Tahafat al-Falasifa is written by Farabi/Ghazali/lbn Rushd
(d) The Great Mosque of Damascus was built by Amir Mu’awia/Walid-1/Umar l
(ii) Identify:
(a) the first Umayyad Emir of Andalus to adopt the title of Caliph
(b) the title of the famous book written by Nizam al-Mulk Tusi
(c) the poet who wrote the famous poem on Masjid-i Qurtuba in Urdu
(d) the author of Kitab al-Aghani.
(iv) Write the original Arabic version of: (a) Avcenna (b) Averros (c) Avempace (d) Algazel
(v) Who founded which city? Re-arrange it incorrect:
(a) Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi/Mahdia;
(b) Hassan bin Numan /Jayrawan;
(c) Ugba binNafi/Tunis;
(d) Amr bin al-As/Fustat.
2 In the history of ANDALUSTAN civilization, the reign of ABD AL-AHMAN II represented a decisive turning point. Discuss with special reference to ZIRYAB.
3 “The complex problems which the genealogy of the FATTMIDS raise defy a satisfactory solution”. Elaborate.
4 Describe the significance of the TRANSLATION MOVEMENT under the early ABBASIDS for the intellectual history of the medieval Islam.
5 How far is it true to say that MUSLIM PHILOSOPHY was merely GREEK PHILOSOPHY in disguise?
6 To what extent REFORMATION and RENAISSANCE were made possible by Islamic influences?
7 “To assert that Islam has influenced modern Western THOUGHT and INSTITUTIONS is a travesty of truth; the reality is just the reverse of it.” How would you react to this contention?
8 Write short notes on the significance of any FOUR of the following: (a) QUBBATAL-SAKHRA (b) BATTLE OF AYN JALUT (c) HILALIAN INVASION (d) AHL-AL-HADITH (e) ASH AIRA (f) SHU’UBIYA