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Q80 (CDS-I/2007) History & Culture › Medieval India › Medieval religious movements Answer Verified

What were the Khanqahs in the Medieval India ?

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Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: A
Explanation

In Medieval India, Khanqahs were Sufi institutions that served as lodges, hospices, and centers for spiritual practice. They were established by Sufi shaikhs to provide a communal living space for their disciples and to facilitate the spread of Sufi teachings [t1][t2]. These complexes often functioned as multipurpose centers, accommodating travelers and providing social services to the masses regardless of their background [t2][t6]. While the term 'dargah' specifically refers to the tomb-shrine of a saint, the khanqah was the active hospice where the living shaikh resided and taught [c1][c2]. Over time, these institutions became central to the religious and social life of the subcontinent, often receiving patronage from rulers and attracting pilgrims [c3][t3]. They are synonymous with terms like 'ribat' or 'zawia' in other parts of the Islamic world, representing the organized 'path' or silsilah of Sufi orders [t1][t7].

Sources

  1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > 6.1 Khanqahs and silsilas > p. 153
  2. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > 7.4 Sufis and the state > p. 159
  3. [3] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > 7. The Chishtis in the Subcontinent > p. 155
  4. [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufism_in_India
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