100 MCQs on Bhakti and Sufi Movement – Important for Competitive Exams

100 MCQs on Bhakti and Sufi Movement – Important for Competitive Exams

The Bhakti and Sufi Movements played a significant role in shaping India’s spiritual, social, and cultural history during the medieval period. These movements emphasized love, devotion, equality, and unity among all religions, rejecting caste discrimination and rigid rituals.

This article contains 100 MCQs on the Bhakti and Sufi Movements, arranged from basic to advanced levels. This article is part of Medieval Indian History MCQ Section. These questions cover major saints like Kabir, Mirabai, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Guru Nanak, Ramananda, Vallabhacharya, Shankaradeva, Nizamuddin Auliya, and Muinuddin Chishti, along with their philosophies and teachings.

Whether you are preparing for UPSC, State PSCs, SSC, Railway, or other competitive exams, this comprehensive MCQ set will help you revise important facts, concepts, and chronology effectively. Each question comes with an easy-to-view answer section for quick self-assessment.

100 MCQs on Bhakti and Sufi Movement

1. The Bhakti movement was started by________
(A) Alwar Saints
(B) Sufi Saints
(C) Surdas
(D) Tulsidas
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2. The Alvar and Nayanar saints were associated with which region of India?
(A) Northern India
(B) Eastern India
(C) Southern India
(D) Western India
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3. The common belief of life of both Buddha and Mirabai was______
(A) Following ahimsa
(B) Austerity of Nirvana
(C) The world is full of sorrow
(D) Speak of truth
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4. The Bhakti culture reborn in India during_______
(A) Vedic age
(B) 10th century A.D.
(C) 12th century A.D.
(D) 15th–16th century A.D.
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5. A common feature to all Bhakti Saints was that they_________
(A) Composed their verses in the language understood by their followers
(B) Rejected the authority of the priestly class
(C) Encouraged women to go to temples
(D) Encouraged idol worship
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6. Consider the following statements about the Bhakti Movement:

1. The Bhakti saints emphasized personal devotion to God rather than ritual worship.

2. They promoted equality among all human beings, rejecting caste distinctions.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
   (A) Only 1
   (B) Only 2
   (C) Both 1 and 2
   (D) Neither 1 nor 2
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   Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
   

7. ‘Let no man ask a man’s sect or caste’ — whose dictum was this?
(A) Kabir
(B) Ramananda
(C) Ramanuja
(D) Chaitanya
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8. Who among the following was the first Bhakti Saint to use Hindi for the propagation of his message?
(A) Dadu
(B) Kabir
(C) Ramananda
(D) Tulsidas
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9. Kabir was a disciple of________
(A) Chaitanya
(B) Ramananda
(C) Ramanuja
(D) Tukaram
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10. The teachings of Kabir are compiled in which of the following works apart from Bijak?
(A) Kabir Granthavali
(B) Sakhi Granth
(C) Padavali
(D) Amritvani
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11. Who composed ‘Bijak’?
(A) Surdas
(B) Kabir
(C) Ravidas
(D) Pipaji
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12. A collection of dialogues between Kabir and Dharamdas is titled_________
(A) Sabad
(B) Amarmul
(C) Sakhi
(D) Ramaini
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13. Assertion (A): Kabir rejected both Hindu and Muslim orthodoxy.
Reason (R): He believed in the unity of all religions and emphasized devotion to one God.
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false
(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true
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14. Who composed ‘Barahmasa’?
(A) Amir Khusrau
(B) Imami
(C) Malik Muhammad Jaisi
(D) Raskhan
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15. The main aim of both Bhakti and Sufi movements was to______
(A) Promote regional literature
(B) Bridge the gap between Hindus and Muslims through devotion
(C) Support temple construction
(D) Defend Vedic orthodoxy
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16. Ramanujacharya is related to______
(A) Bhakti
(B) Dvaitvad
(C) Vishistadvaita
(D) Monotheism
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17. ‘Shuddha Advaitvad’ was propounded by______
(A) Madhvacharya
(B) Vallabhacharya
(C) Shrikantacharya
(D) Ramanuja
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18. Basavanna, who founded the Lingayat sect, was a contemporary of which dynasty?
(A) Vijayanagara
(B) Rashtrakuta
(C) Chalukya of Kalyani
(D) Hoysala
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19. The Lingayat or Virashaiva movement rejected which of the following?
(A) Idol worship
(B) Caste distinctions
(C) Vedic authority
(D) All of the above
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20. Who among the following propagated the philosophy of “Dvaita Vedanta”?
(A) Shankaracharya
(B) Ramanujacharya
(C) Madhvacharya
(D) Vallabhacharya
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21. Which one of the following is correctly matched?
(A) Advaitvad – Ramanujan
(B) Vishistadvaitvad – Shankaracharya
(C) Dvaitvad – Madhvacharya
(D) Dvaitadvaitvad – Vallabhacharya
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22. The “Pushti Marg” philosophy emphasizes______
(A) Service to humanity
(B) Path of grace and devotion to Krishna
(C) Renunciation of the world
(D) Knowledge through reason
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23. Where is the birthplace of ‘Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya’?
(A) Shivarinarayan
(B) Bilaspur
(C) Ratanpur
(D) Champaranya
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24. Which Christian saint is famous for the love with animals and birds?
(A) Saint Paul
(B) Saint Thomas
(C) Saint Francis of Assisi
(D) Saint Peter
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25. Which of the following was the birthplace of Guru Nanak?
(A) Amritsar
(B) Nabha
(C) Nankana
(D) Nanded
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26. The followers of Ramanuja are known as______
(A) Shaiva
(B) Vaishnava
(C) Advaitvadi
(D) Avadhoot
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27. Consider the following statements about Guru Nanak:

1. His teachings are compiled in the Adi Granth.

2. He emphasized the unity of God and rejected the caste system.

3. He accepted both Hindu and Muslim rituals as equally valid.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
   (A) 1 and 2 only
   (B) 1 and 3 only
   (C) 2 and 3 only
   (D) 1, 2 and 3
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   Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
   

28. In whose regime did Guru Nanak Dev found the Sikh religion?
(A) Firuz Shah Tughluq
(B) Sikandar Lodi
(C) Humayun
(D) Akbar
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29. ‘God knows man’s virtues and enquires not his caste; in the next world there is no caste!’ This was the theory of which Bhakti saint?
(A) Ramanand
(B) Dadu
(C) Nanak
(D) Ramanuja
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30. Mirabai was contemporary of______
(A) Tulsidas
(B) Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
(C) Guru Nanak
(D) Ramakrishna Paramhansa
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31. The name of the husband of famous devotee poet Mira was______
(A) Rana Ratan Singh
(B) Rajkumar Bhojraj
(C) Rana Uday Singh
(D) Rana Sanga
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32. Who wrote ‘Rag-Govind’?
(A) Mirabai
(B) Narhari
(C) Surdas
(D) Raskhan
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33. Prem Vatika, poems on the life of Krishna, was composed by______
(A) Bihari
(B) Surdas
(C) Raskhan
(D) Kabir
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34. Whose contemporary was Tulsidas?
(A) Akbar and Jahangir
(B) Shahjahan
(C) Aurangzeb
(D) Babur and Humayun
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35. The book ‘Ramcharitmanas’ was written by______
(A) Tulsidas
(B) Valmiki
(C) Surdas
(D) Ved Vyas
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36. Which of the following is not a composition of Saint Tulsidas?
(A) Gitavali
(B) Kavitavali
(C) Vinay Patrika
(D) Sahitya Ratna
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37. Bhakt Tukaram was a contemporary of which Mughal Emperor?
(A) Babur
(B) Akbar
(C) Jahangir
(D) Aurangzeb
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38. Who among the following was the Saint of the Varkari Sect?
(A) Nimbarka
(B) Chakradhara
(C) Namdev
(D) Ramdas
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39. The Alvars were devotees of _____ while the Nayanars were devotees of _____.
(A) Vishnu and Shiva
(B) Shiva and Vishnu
(C) Brahma and Vishnu
(D) Vishnu and Ganesha
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40. The Bhakti and Sufi Movements promoted which of the following values?
(A) Religious tolerance
(B) Social equality
(C) Unity of God
(D) All of the above
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41. Consider the following statements about the Sufi tradition:

1. The term “Tariqa” in Sufism denotes the path of spiritual realization.

2. The “Pir” acted as the spiritual master guiding disciples.

3. “Sama” refers to physical austerities practiced by Sufis.
   Which of the above statements are correct?
   (A) 1 and 2 only
   (B) 2 and 3 only
   (C) 1 and 3 only
   (D) 1, 2 and 3
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   Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
   

42. The Sufi concept of “Fana” refers to______
(A) Pilgrimage to Mecca
(B) Union with the Divine by annihilating the self
(C) Reading of the Quran
(D) Practice of austerity
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43. The term “Silsilah” in Sufism means______
(A) Chain of spiritual succession of Sufi teachers
(B) A religious text
(C) A place of worship
(D) A type of devotional song
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44. Which term refers to a Sufi’s hospice or resting place where disciples gathered for spiritual training?
(A) Madrasa
(B) Khanqah
(C) Zawiya
(D) Dargah
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45. The Chishti Sufi practice of “Sama” refers to______
(A) Charity and almsgiving
(B) Recitation of the Quran
(C) Devotional music and poetry
(D) Pilgrimage to saints’ tombs
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46. The ‘Chishtia Sufi Order’ in India was established by______
(A) Khwaja Badaruddin
(B) Khwaja Muinuddin
(C) Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi
(D) Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya
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47. Who was the founder of Chishtia branch of Sufism?
(A) Shaikh Muhiuddin
(B) Shaikh Jiauddin Abuljiva
(C) Khwaja Abu-Abdal
(D) Khwaja Baha-ud-Din
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48. Who was the first Sufi saint of the Chishtia sect to settle in Ajmer?
(A) Shaikh Muinuddin Chishti
(B) Shaikh Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki
(C) Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya
(D) Shaikh Salim Chishti
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49. Whose disciple was Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti?
(A) Khwaja Abdal Chishti
(B) Shah Wali Ullah
(C) Mir Dard
(D) Khwaja Usman Haruni
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50. Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya was the disciple of______
(A) Shaikh Alauddin Sabir
(B) Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti
(C) Baba Farid
(D) Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi
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51. The Dargah of Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya is situated in_______
(A) Agra
(B) Ajmer
(C) Delhi
(D) Fatehpur
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52. Which Sufi Saint was called ‘Mehboob-e-Ilahi’?
(A) Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti
(B) Baba Farid
(C) Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki
(D) Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya
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53. Which one of the following Sultans of Delhi was refused an audience by Nizamuddin Auliya?
(A) Jalaluddin Khalji
(B) Alauddin Khalji
(C) Ghiyasuddin Tughluq
(D) Muhammad bin Tughluq
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54. The famous saint Shaikh Salim Chishti lived in______
(A) Delhi
(B) Ajmer
(C) Fatehpur Sikri
(D) Lahore
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55. Who among the following was given the title of Shaikh-ul-Hind?
(A) Baba Fariduddin
(B) Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki
(C) Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti
(D) Shaikh Salim Chishti
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56. Which Sufi order was known for its orthodox views and rejection of music?
(A) Chishtiya
(B) Suhrawardiya
(C) Naqshbandiya
(D) Qadiriya
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57. Which of the following Silsilas of Sufism was against music?
(A) Chishtiya
(B) Suhrawardiya
(C) Qadiriya
(D) Naqshbandiya
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58. From the given pairs, identify the incorrect pair:
(A) Chishti – Delhi and Doab
(B) Suhrawardi – Sindh
(C) Auliya – Madhya Pradesh
(D) Firdausi – Bihar
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59. The most orthodox Sufi order was______
(A) Chishti
(B) Suhrawardi
(C) Naqshbandi
(D) Qadiri
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60. Which of the following Sufis regarded Krishna among the Auliyas (saints)?
(A) Shah Muhammad Ghaus
(B) Shah Abdul Aziz
(C) Shah Waliullah
(D) Khwaja Mir Dard
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61. Which of the following is not related with Sufism?
(A) Ulema
(B) Khanqah
(C) Shaikh
(D) Sama
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62. The thoughts of which Sufi saint have been incorporated in the religious book ‘Adi Granth’ of the Sikhs?
(A) Shaikh Moinuddin Chishti
(B) Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki
(C) Fariduddin Ganj-i-Shakar
(D) Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya
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63. Which Sufi saint’s tomb is located in Gulbarga (Karnataka)?
(A) Sayyid Muhammad Gesudaraz
(B) Nizamuddin Auliya
(C) Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki
(D) Shaikh Salim Chishti
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64. Every year a fair is held at the tomb of the famous Sufi saint Haji Waris Ali Shah at______
(A) Fatehpur Sikri
(B) Kaliyar
(C) Dewa Sharif
(D) Garhmukteshwar
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65. Among the following, who was not a proponent of the Bhakti cult?
(A) Nagarjuna
(B) Tukaram
(C) Tyagaraja
(D) Vallabhacharya
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66. Who was known as the ‘Father of Carnatic Music’ and also a Bhakti poet-saint?
(A) Tyagaraja
(B) Purandaradasa
(C) Kanakadasa
(D) Annamacharya
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67. Who among the following Bhakti saints is known as ‘Jagadguru’?
(A) Shankaracharya
(B) Ramanujacharya
(C) Vallabhacharya
(D) Nimbarkacharya
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68. The composition ‘Gitagovinda’ was written by_____
(A) Jayadeva
(B) Kabir
(C) Surdas
(D) Tulsidas
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69. The theme of Jayadeva’s Gitagovinda revolves around the love of_______
(A) Krishna and Radha
(B) Rama and Sita
(C) Shiva and Parvati
(D) Vishnu and Lakshmi
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70. The movement which emphasized that God can be realized through love and devotion rather than rituals is known as________
(A) Bhakti Movement
(B) Reform Movement
(C) Revival Movement
(D) Arya Samaj Movement
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71. Which Bhakti Saint propagated the philosophy of “Dvaitadvaita”?
(A) Nimbarkacharya
(B) Vallabhacharya
(C) Ramanujacharya
(D) Madhvacharya
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72. The famous Sufi Saint Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi was a follower of which order?
(A) Chishtiya
(B) Suhrawardiya
(C) Naqshbandiya
(D) Qadiriya
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73. Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi was known by which title?
(A) Mujaddid Alf Sani
(B) Shaikh-ul-Islam
(C) Mehboob-e-Ilahi
(D) Pir-e-Kamil
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74. Which Sufi Saint was contemporary to Emperor Akbar and opposed his policy of religious tolerance?
(A) Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi
(B) Shaikh Salim Chishti
(C) Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti
(D) Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya
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75. The book ‘Maktubat’ is a collection of letters written by_______
(A) Kabir
(B) Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi
(C) Amir Khusrau
(D) Baba Farid
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76. Who among the following propagated the Sufi order known as Qadiri?
(A) Abdul Qadir Jilani
(B) Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi
(C) Shah Waliullah
(D) Khwaja Muinuddin
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77. Shah Waliullah translated the Quran into which language?
(A) Persian
(B) Urdu
(C) Hindi
(D) Arabic
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78. Who among the following was the first to translate the Upanishads into Persian?
(A) Dara Shikoh
(B) Shah Waliullah
(C) Akbar
(D) Prince Salim
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79. The Persian translation of the Upanishads was known as________
(A) Sirr-e-Akbar
(B) Kitab-ul-Hind
(C) Majma-ul-Bahrain
(D) Ain-i-Akbari
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80. Dara Shikoh’s ‘Majma-ul-Bahrain’ is based on________
(A) Sufi and Hindu philosophies
(B) Islamic and Christian teachings
(C) Buddhist and Jain philosophies
(D) Vedic and Islamic laws
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81. Which Mughal emperor was most closely associated with Sufi ideas?
(A) Akbar
(B) Aurangzeb
(C) Jahangir
(D) Shah Jahan
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82. The Din-i-Ilahi of Akbar was inspired by_________
(A) The Sufi concept of Sulh-i-Kul
(B) Teachings of Kabir
(C) Hindu Vedanta
(D) Jain doctrine of Anekantavada
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83. The doctrine of ‘Sulh-i-Kul’ means_________
(A) Peace with all
(B) Love of God
(C) Spiritual discipline
(D) Service to humanity
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84. Which one of the following Bhakti Saints belonged to Maharashtra?
(A) Vallabhacharya
(B) Namdev
(C) Narsinh Mehta
(D) Chaitanya
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85. Who among the following was a contemporary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu?
(A) Guru Nanak
(B) Kabir
(C) Tulsidas
(D) Surdas
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86. The Bhakti Saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was the worshipper of__________
(A) Rama
(B) Shiva
(C) Krishna
(D) Vishnu
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87. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu belonged to which region?
(A) Maharashtra
(B) Gujarat
(C) Bengal
(D) Tamil Nadu
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88. Who among the following Bhakti Saints propagated the worship of Rama and Krishna through Kirtans in Bengal?
(A) Narsinh Mehta
(B) Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
(C) Surdas
(D) Vallabhacharya
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89. The songs composed by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his followers in Bengal are known as_________
(A) Bhajans
(B) Kirtans
(C) Abhangs
(D) Dohas
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90. Match the following Sufi Orders with their founders:

1. Chishtiya — (a) Abdul Qadir Jilani

2. Suhrawardiya — (b) Shaikh Shihabuddin Suhrawardi

3. Qadiriya — (c) Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti
   Select the correct answer:
   (A) 1–a, 2–b, 3–c
   (B) 1–c, 2–b, 3–a
   (C) 1–b, 2–a, 3–c
   (D) 1–c, 2–a, 3–b
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   Answer: (B) 1–c, 2–b, 3–a
   

91. Match the following Bhakti Saints and their main teachings:

1. Kabir — (a) Nirguna Bhakti

2. Vallabhacharya — (b) Pushti Marg

3. Chaitanya — (c) Krishna Bhakti
   Select the correct answer:
   (A) 1–a, 2–b, 3–c
   (B) 1–c, 2–a, 3–b
   (C) 1–b, 2–c, 3–a
   (D) 1–a, 2–c, 3–b
   View Answer......Hide Answer

   
   Answer: (A) 1–a, 2–b, 3–c
   

92. Arrange the following Bhakti saints in chronological order:

1. Ramanuja

2. Ramananda

3. Kabir

4. Tulsidas
   Select the correct sequence:
   (A) 1, 2, 3, 4
   (B) 2, 1, 4, 3
   (C) 3, 1, 2, 4
   (D) 1, 3, 2, 4
   View Answer......Hide Answer

   
   Answer: (A) 1, 2, 3, 4
   

93. Assertion (A): Bhakti saints rejected ritualism and caste hierarchy.
Reason (R): They believed devotion and love were the only ways to reach God.
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the explanation
(C) (A) true, (R) false
(D) (A) false, (R) true
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94. Assertion (A): The Sufi and Bhakti Movements contributed to communal harmony.
Reason (R): Both emphasized devotion to one God and condemned religious orthodoxy.
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the explanation
(C) (A) true, (R) false
(D) (A) false, (R) true
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95. Assertion (A): Sufism spread in India because of its liberal and humanist outlook.
Reason (R): Sufism emphasized social service, love, and brotherhood instead of orthodoxy.
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the explanation
(C) (A) true, (R) false
(D) (A) false, (R) true
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96. The key difference between Bhakti and Sufi Movements lies in_________
(A) The concept of God
(B) The method of worship
(C) The social base
(D) All of the above
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97. The teachings of both Bhakti and Sufi saints were similar because________
(A) Both emphasized inner purity and devotion to one God
(B) Both opposed idol worship
(C) Both were atheistic
(D) Both were confined to South India
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98. Which statement correctly differentiates between the Bhakti and Sufi movements?
(A) Bhakti saints came from Hindu background, Sufis from Muslim background
(B) Bhakti emphasized knowledge, Sufism emphasized devotion
(C) Bhakti supported caste, Sufism rejected it
(D) Bhakti saints lived in monasteries, Sufis didn’t
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99. The Bhakti and Sufi Movements in India were responsible for__________
(A) Promoting vernacular literature and local languages
(B) Strengthening orthodoxy
(C) Increasing feudal privileges
(D) Isolating Hindu–Muslim relations
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100. The common essence of both Bhakti and Sufi movements was__________
(A) Devotion and unity of all faiths
(B) Idol worship
(C) Social inequality
(D) Political loyalty
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