Prelims 1996 · archive
MediumThe sufi saint who maintained that devotional music was one way of coming close to God was:
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) Muin-ud-din Chisti
The Chishti order made sama (mystical music) integral to its practice, and Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti, who founded the order in India, is the saint the question points to.
- ✓ (a) The Chishti silsila, introduced to India by Muinuddin Chishti, treated sama as a way to ecstasy and nearness to God.
- ✗ (b) Baba Farid was a Chishti but is known for his verses, not as the answer here.
- ✗ (c) Gesudaraz was a later Deccan Chishti.
- ✗ (d) Shah Alam Bukhari belonged to the Suhrawardi line.
Remember · Chishti sama (devotional music) began with the order's founder in India, Muinuddin Chishti; Amir Khusrau added the qaul.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part II, Ch 2 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 12 · Themes in Indian History, Part II, Chapter 2 “The sufis remember God either by reciting the zikr (the Divine Names) or evoking His Presence through sama' (literally, "audition") or performance of mystical music. Sama' was integral to the Chishtis”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 1996, General Studies paper. UPSC did not publish an answer key for 1996: the answer shown is the generally accepted one, and the sources above explain the facts behind it. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 24 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·