[Solved] Al-Biruni's Study of Sufism and Yogic Philosophy

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

[CDS 2018 (I)]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Al-Biruni was a pioneer of comparative religion, using his knowledge of Sanskrit to find philosophical commonalities between the Islamic and Indian intellectual traditions.

Authentic Source Evidence

In his Kitab-ul-Hind, Al-Biruni compared Sufi concepts of 'Fana' (annihilation) to the Bhagavad Gita and aligned Sufi soul theories with Patanjali's Yoga Sutra.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Options A, B, and C are historically correct. The Amrita Kunda (a Hatha Yoga text) was indeed translated and influenced Sufi 'breath control' techniques.

Logic 2: Option D is incorrect. Al-Hujwiri (author of Kashf al-Mahjub) was actually critical of the yogis' physiological views, arguing that Sufis should treat the body as a temple of the spirit rather than focusing purely on its physical/elemental composition.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What was the significance of the Amrita Kunda translation?"

It helped integrate Indian Hatha Yogic practices into the spiritual physical training of Sufi orders in India.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"Medieval Islamic scholars like Al-Biruni were among the first to view Indian philosophy not as 'heathen' myths but as sophisticated metaphysical systems."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Analysing authentic CDS (I)previous year questions is non-negotiable for serious aspirants. Thoroughly decoding past exam trends related to Comparative Philosophy helps you understand the examiner's mindset. Mastering specific entities like Al-Biruni and Sufism builds the analytical intuition needed to clear the exam. Practice Previous Year Questions here →