Islamic Studies · Topic 3
The Umayyads, Abbasids, Muslim rule in Sindh and Spain, and the Ottomans.
Learn first
Learn the dynasties in order, with their capitals, founders and how each ended.
Practise
Try each question, then open the answer. MCQs 1–50 of 341.
1.Who was the first caliph of Islam?
Answer: A. Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA)
Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) was chosen as caliph in 11 AH at Saqifah Bani Saidah.
2.Where was Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) chosen as caliph?
Answer: B. Saqifah Bani Saidah
The Ansar and Muhajirin met at Saqifah Bani Saidah, where Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) was chosen.
3.For about how long was Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) caliph?
Answer: B. Two years and three months
He ruled from 11 to 13 AH, about two years and three months.
4.The wars against apostates under Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) are called what?
Answer: C. Riddah Wars
The Riddah (apostasy) Wars reunited Arabia after some tribes refused zakat or followed false prophets.
5.Who was the false prophet defeated at the Battle of Yamamah?
Answer: A. Musailimah
Musailimah, called Al-Kazzab, was killed at Yamamah in 12 AH.
6.Who commanded the Muslims at the Battle of Yamamah?
Answer: D. Hazrat Khalid bin Walid (RA)
Khalid bin Walid (RA) defeated Musailimah at Yamamah.
7.Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) is buried where?
Answer: D. Beside the Holy Prophet (PBUH)
He was buried next to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in Hazrat Aishah's (RA) room.
8.Who nominated Hazrat Umar (RA) as the next caliph?
Answer: B. Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA)
Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) nominated Hazrat Umar (RA) after consulting senior companions.
9.For about how long was Hazrat Umar (RA) caliph?
Answer: B. About ten years
He ruled from 13 to 23 AH.
10.Hazrat Umar (RA) was the first to be called by which title?
Answer: C. Amir-ul-Momineen
Hazrat Umar (RA) was the first caliph called Amir-ul-Momineen (Commander of the Faithful).
11.Which caliph introduced the Hijri calendar?
Answer: B. Hazrat Umar (RA)
Hazrat Umar (RA) adopted the Hijri calendar, counting from the year of the Hijrah.
12.Which caliph set up the Bait-ul-Mal as a regular public treasury and diwans (departments)?
Answer: C. Hazrat Umar (RA)
Hazrat Umar (RA) organised the treasury, the army register and other departments.
13.Which caliph founded the cities of Kufa and Basra?
Answer: B. Hazrat Umar (RA)
Kufa and Basra were founded as garrison cities in Hazrat Umar's (RA) time.
14.Jerusalem (Bait-ul-Muqaddas) came under Muslim rule during whose caliphate?
Answer: D. Hazrat Umar (RA)
Hazrat Umar (RA) travelled to Jerusalem to receive its surrender in 637 CE.
15.The Battle of Yarmouk was fought against which empire?
Answer: B. Byzantine
Yarmouk (636 CE) decided Muslim control of Syria.
16.The Battle of Qadisiyyah was fought against which empire?
Answer: D. Persian (Sassanid)
Qadisiyyah (636 CE) opened Iraq and Persia to the Muslims.
17.Who commanded the Muslims at Qadisiyyah?
Answer: D. Hazrat Saad bin Abi Waqqas (RA)
Saad bin Abi Waqqas (RA) led the army at Qadisiyyah.
18.Which battle is called "Fath-ul-Futuh" (Victory of Victories)?
Answer: C. Battle of Nahawand
Nahawand (642 CE) broke the Sassanid empire's last major resistance.
19.Who conquered Egypt in the time of Hazrat Umar (RA)?
Answer: A. Hazrat Amr bin al-As (RA)
Amr bin al-As (RA) conquered Egypt and founded Fustat.
20.Who was called "Amin-ul-Ummah" (Trustee of the Ummah)?
Answer: C. Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah (RA)
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) called Abu Ubaidah (RA) the trustee of this ummah.
21.Hazrat Umar (RA) was martyred by whom?
Answer: B. Abu Lulu Feroz
Abu Lulu Feroz, a Persian slave, stabbed him during the Fajr prayer in 23 AH.
22.How was the third caliph chosen?
Answer: B. By a committee of six companions
Hazrat Umar (RA) named a council of six, which chose Hazrat Usman (RA).
23.Hazrat Usman (RA) was known by which title?
Answer: B. Zun-Nurain
He married two daughters of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and was called Zun-Nurain (possessor of two lights).
24.For about how long was Hazrat Usman (RA) caliph?
Answer: A. About twelve years
He ruled from 23 to 35 AH.
25.Which caliph built the first Muslim navy?
Answer: A. Hazrat Usman (RA)
The navy was built in his time under Hazrat Muawiya (RA), governor of Syria.
26.The first Muslim naval battle, against the Byzantines in 655 CE, is called what?
Answer: D. Battle of the Masts (Dhat-us-Sawari)
The Muslims defeated the Byzantine fleet at the Battle of the Masts.
27.Hazrat Usman (RA) was martyred in which city?
Answer: B. Madinah
He was martyred in his house in Madinah in 35 AH while reciting the Quran.
28.Who was the fourth caliph of Islam?
Answer: D. Hazrat Ali (RA)
Hazrat Ali (RA) became caliph in 35 AH.
29.Hazrat Ali (RA) moved the capital from Madinah to which city?
Answer: B. Kufa
Hazrat Ali (RA) made Kufa his capital.
30.The Battle of Jamal was fought in which year?
Answer: B. 36 AH
The Battle of the Camel was fought near Basra in 36 AH (656 CE).
31.The Battle of Siffin was fought in which year?
Answer: A. 37 AH
Siffin was fought in 37 AH (657 CE) between Hazrat Ali (RA) and Hazrat Muawiya (RA).
32.The group that broke away from Hazrat Ali (RA) after the arbitration at Siffin is called what?
Answer: C. Khawarij
The Khawarij rejected the arbitration and were defeated at Nahrawan.
33.Hazrat Ali (RA) was martyred by whom?
Answer: B. Abdur Rahman ibn Muljam
Ibn Muljam, a Kharijite, struck him in the mosque of Kufa in 40 AH.
34.The period of the four rightly guided caliphs lasted about how long?
Answer: D. About 30 years
The Khilafat-e-Rashidah lasted from 11 to 40 AH (632–661 CE).
35.Who founded the Umayyad Caliphate?
Answer: D. Hazrat Ameer Muawiya (RA)
Hazrat Muawiya (RA) founded the Umayyad Caliphate in 661 CE.
36.What was the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate?
Answer: B. Damascus
The Umayyads ruled from Damascus.
37.The Umayyad Caliphate lasted from 661 CE until which year?
Answer: A. 750 CE
The Abbasids overthrew the Umayyads in 750 CE.
38.The tragedy of Karbala took place in which year?
Answer: A. 61 AH (680 CE)
Hazrat Imam Husain (RA) was martyred at Karbala on 10 Muharram 61 AH.
39.Karbala is in which present-day country?
Answer: C. Iraq
Karbala is in Iraq, south-west of Baghdad.
40.Which Umayyad caliph built the Dome of the Rock?
Answer: C. Abdul Malik bin Marwan
Abdul Malik bin Marwan built the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, completed in 691–692 CE.
41.Which caliph made Arabic the official language of administration and issued the first Islamic coins?
Answer: D. Abdul Malik bin Marwan
Abdul Malik Arabised the administration and minted the first purely Islamic coins.
42.Which Umayyad caliph is often called the "fifth rightly guided caliph"?
Answer: B. Umar bin Abdul Aziz
Umar bin Abdul Aziz (717–720 CE) is remembered for his justice and piety.
43.During whose caliphate were Sindh and Spain conquered?
Answer: C. Walid bin Abdul Malik
Walid I's reign (705–715 CE) saw the conquests of Sindh, Spain and Central Asia.
44.Who conquered Sindh in 712 CE?
Answer: D. Muhammad bin Qasim
The young general Muhammad bin Qasim conquered Sindh.
45.Muhammad bin Qasim first captured which port in Sindh?
Answer: B. Debal
He took Debal, near present-day Karachi, in 712 CE.
46.Who was the Hindu ruler of Sindh defeated by Muhammad bin Qasim?
Answer: A. Raja Dahir
Raja Dahir was killed in battle in 712 CE.
47.Who was the governor of Iraq who sent Muhammad bin Qasim to Sindh?
Answer: C. Hajjaj bin Yusuf
Hajjaj bin Yusuf, governor of Iraq, sent his nephew and son-in-law to Sindh.
48.Sindh is called by which title because Islam first came there in the subcontinent?
Answer: D. Bab-ul-Islam
Sindh is called Bab-ul-Islam, the gateway of Islam.
49.Who led the Muslim army into Spain in 711 CE?
Answer: A. Tariq bin Ziyad
Tariq bin Ziyad crossed from North Africa into Spain.
50.Gibraltar is named after which commander?
Answer: D. Tariq bin Ziyad
Gibraltar comes from Jabal al-Tariq, the mountain of Tariq.
Test yourself
Each quiz has 50 MCQs from this topic and 50 minutes. A correct answer earns 1 mark and each wrong answer takes off 0.25; skipped questions score nothing. No password needed.
