Medieval and Islamic History

Correct Answer: Iltumish

Akbar founded Din-i-Elahi (Divine Faith) in 1582 as a syncretic religious movement that blended elements from Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Jainism. It was an attempt to promote religious tolerance and unity but did not survive long after Akbar's death.

Arabs were the first to bring Islam to India, arriving as traders in the 7th century CE (particularly in Kerala), well before the Turkic and Central Asian invasions. The Turks (including Slave Rulers) came in the 12th century, while Khaljis emerged later in the 13th century.

Babur was indeed a first-rate poet who wrote in both Persian and Chagatai Turkic. His autobiography 'Baburnama' is considered a masterpiece of Turki literature and contains his poetry. While Akbar patronized the arts, Jahangir wrote memoirs, and Shah Jahan commissioned architecture, Babur stands out as the most accomplished poet among the great Mughals.

The Peacock Throne was commissioned by Shah Jahan (1628-1658) for the Mughal Empire, adorned with precious jewels including the Koh-i-Noor. Jahangir was his father, Akbar his grandfather, and Babur the founder - none ruled during the throne's creation.

Id-ul-Milad commemorates the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam. It is observed by Muslims worldwide with prayers, recitations of the Quran, and processions celebrating the Prophet's life and teachings.

Mahmud of Ghazni conducted 17 plundering expeditions into India between 1000-1025 CE, most famously destroying the Somnath Temple in Gujarat in 1024 CE. His invasions were primarily motivated by wealth accumulation from temple treasuries rather than territorial conquest. These raids marked the beginning of systematic Turkish invasions into North India.

Shah Jahan commissioned the Red Fort (Lal Qila) between 1638-1648 when he shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi. The fort served as the main residence of Mughal emperors for nearly 200 years. Built with red sandstone, it represents the pinnacle of Mughal architecture under Shah Jahan's patronage, who also built the Taj Mahal and Jama Masjid.

Babar established the Mughal Empire after defeating Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, marking the beginning of Mughal rule in India. Akbar and Aurangzeb were later rulers who expanded the empire, while Jahangir was Babar's grandson.

Muhammad bin Qasim invaded Sindh in 712 AD, marking the first Muslim invasion of the Indian subcontinent. He was a 17-year-old general sent by the Umayyad Caliphate to control the region. Raja Dahir was the Hindu ruler of Sindh at that time, who was defeated by this invasion.

Sultan Zain-ul Abidin (1420-1470 CE) ruled Kashmir and is known as one of the most progressive rulers of the Kashmir Sultanate. He promoted learning, invited scholars from Persia, and is remembered for his tolerant policies and patronage of arts and crafts. His reign is considered a golden period in Kashmiri history.

Alauddin Khilji had several important nobles in his court, including Ain-ul-Mulk Multani, Zafar Khan, and Nusrat Khan, who were his trusted military commanders and administrators. Munim Khan, however, served under Mughal Emperor Akbar much later (16th century), not under Alauddin Khilji (13th-14th century).

The Shias do not recognise talak-ul-biddat.

Nadir Shah, the Persian ruler, invaded Delhi in 1739 and plundered the Kohinoor Diamond along with other treasures. The diamond had been in the possession of the Mughal emperors, and Nadir Shah took it after defeating Muhammad Shah in the Battle of Karnal, later giving it the name Kohinoor (Mountain of Light).

Raja Todarmal was Akbar's Finance Minister and the chief architect of the zabt system, a revolutionary revenue settlement based on systematic land measurement and classification. His system calculated land revenue as a percentage of the average produce for different crop types, ensuring more consistent and fair taxation across the empire. This sophisticated administrative innovation became a model for later revenue systems in India.