Which one of the following statements is not correct? [CDS 2018 (I)]
A. Al-Biruni Identifies the Sufi doctrine of divine love as self-annihilation with parallel passages from Bhagawad Gita.
B. According to Al-Biruni, Sufi theories of Soul were similar to those in Patanjali's Yoga Sutra.
C. The Hatha Yogic treatise Amrita Kunda had lasting impact on Sufism.
D. Hujwiri's conversation with the Yogis shows that he was impressed with their theory of the division of the human body.
Answer: Hujwiri's conversation with the Yogis shows that he was impressed with their theory of the division of the human body.
Option d is the correct answer.
Hujwiri's conversation with the yogis does not show that he was impressed with their theory of the division of the human body. In fact, Hujwiri was critical of the yogis' view of the body, and he argued that the Sufis should not adopt their beliefs. In his book The Kashf al-Mahjub, Hujwiri writes: "The yogis say that the body is composed of five elements, and that these elements are subject to decay and dissolution. They therefore conclude that the body is an obstacle to the attainment of union with God. But the Sufis say that the body is a temple of the spirit, and that it is through the body that the spirit can attain union with God."
Important Tips
Al-Biruni, an Islamic scholar, compares the Sufi doctrine of divine love with self-annihilation to parallel passages from the Bhagavad Gita, in his book, India.
Al-Biruni also notes the similarity between Sufi theories of the soul and those found in Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, suggesting commonalities between Sufism and yogic philosophy.
The Hatha Yogic treatise Amrita Kunda did have a lasting impact on Sufism, as certain practices and techniques from Amrita Kunda were incorporated into Sufi practices over time.