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History · Medieval

Sufi Movement: 23 previous year questions

UPSC has asked 23 questions on Sufi Movement between 1979 and 2026: CDS 9 · CSE 6 · CAPF 4 · NDA 2 · Geo-Scientist 2. 14 of them came after 2015, so this is a live topic examiners keep returning to. 6 were set in Civil Services Prelims; the rest come from UPSC's other papers, which draw on the same question bank.

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Tap an option to check yourself. Answers follow the official UPSC key; where the key was dropped or disputed the question is not shown.

CAPF2026Sufi MovementOn card AMH 13·4

Match List–I with List–II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists : List–I (Sufi Work) List–II (Nature of Composition) A. Kashf-ul Mahjub 1. Biographical accounts of saints B. Fawa'id-al Fu'ad 2. Manuals dealing with Sufi thought C. Siyar-ul Auliya 3. Letters of Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi D. Maktubat-i Imam Rabbani 4. Conversations of Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya Code : A B C D

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Kashf-ul Mahjub → manual of Sufi thought | Fawa'id-al Fu'ad → conversations of Nizamuddin Auliya | Siyar-ul Auliya → biographical accounts of saints | Maktubat-i Imam Rabbani → letters of Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi
CAPF2021Sufi MovementOn card AMH 13·4

Which of the following statements about Akbar are correct? 1. In 1560s, Akbar had the Fort of Agra constructed. 2. In 1570s, Akbar decided to build a new capital at Fatehpur Sikri. 3. Akbar also commissioned a white marble tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti at Sikri. 4. In 1585, Akbar decided to shift the capital back to Agra. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Akbar → Agra Fort in the 1560s; new capital Fatehpur Sikri in the 1570s; white marble tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti at Sikri | 1585 → capital moved to Lahore, not Agra
Geo-Scientist2021Sufi MovementOn card AMH 13·4

The malfuzat literature is:

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Malfuzat → discourses of Sufi leaders
CDS2018 · 1Sufi MovementOn card AMH 13·4

Around twelfth century, Sufi Silsilas began to crystallize in different parts of the Islamic world to signify 1. continuous link between the master and disciple 2. unbroken spiritual genealogy to the Prophet Muhammad 3. the transmission of spiritual power and blessings to devotees Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Sufi Silsilas (twelfth century) → master-disciple link; unbroken spiritual genealogy to the Prophet; transmission of spiritual power and blessings
CDS2018 · 1Sufi MovementOn card AMH 13·4

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT correct → Hujwiri impressed by the Yogis' theory of division of the human body | Hujwiri → critical of Yogic theories
CDS2013 · 1Sufi MovementOn card AMH 13·4

What was Ziyarat in the language of the Sufis?

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Ziyarat → pilgrimage to Sufi tombs for barkat (spiritual grace)
CDS2012 · 2Sufi MovementOn card AMH 13·4

Consider the following statements about Sufism 1. The Sufis were critical of the dogmatic definitions and scholastic methods of interpreting the Quran and Sunna (traditions of the prophet) adopted by the theologians. 2. The Sufis sought an interpretation of the Quran on the basis of their personal experience. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Sufis → critical of the theologians' dogmatic and scholastic interpretation of Quran and Sunna; interpreted the Quran through personal experience
CSE2012Sufi MovementOn card AMH 13·4

With reference to the religious history of medieval India, the Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of the following practices? 1. Meditation and control of breath 2. Severe ascetic exercises in a lonely place 3. Recitation of holy songs to arouse a state of ecstasy in their audience Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Sufi practices → meditation and breath control; severe ascetic exercises in a lonely place; holy songs to arouse ecstasy
CAPF2011Sufi MovementOn card AMH 13·4

Which of the following statements about Sufism is/are correct ? 1. Sufism was the mystical interpretation that developed within Islam. 2. Sufi philosophy highlighted the atmosphere of religious tolerance by speaking about the universal love in quest of the Almighty. 3. The Sufis developed a very complex philosophy and initiated very complicated practices unintelligible to the masses. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Sufism → mystical interpretation within Islam; universal love and religious tolerance | NOT: complex practices unintelligible to the masses
CSE2002Sufi MovementOn card AMH 13·4

With reference to Sufism in Indian history, consider the following statements: [2002] 1. Sheikh Ahmad Sarhandi was a contemporary of Ibrahim Lodi 2. Sheikh Nasiruddin Chirag-I-Dehlavi was a disciple of Sheikh Nizamuddin Auliya 3. Aurangzeb was a contemporary of Sheikh Salim Chisti 4. Qadiri order of Sufis was first introduced in India by Sheikh Niamutullah and Makhdum Muhammad Jilani Which of these statements are correct?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Nasiruddin Chirag-i-Dehlavi → disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya | Qadiri order → introduced by Sheikh Niamutullah and Makhdum Muhammad Jilani | Ahmad Sirhindi (1564-1624) → not a contemporary of Ibrahim Lodi | NOT: Aurangzeb contemporary of Salim Chisti

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