BCS Islamic History & Culture case studies
BCS Islamic History & Culture · Put your knowledge to work in context.
Islamic History & Culture is one of the optional subjects in Bangladesh's BCS (Bangladesh Civil Service) examination, chosen by candidates who want a subject with narrative coherence and strong overlap with current affairs, heritage, and South Asian history. It is used by candidates from many academic backgrounds, not only madrasa or Islamic studies graduates, because the syllabus rewards structured reading rather than prior specialization. The BCS Islamic History & Culture case studies are 5 cases and about 2,553 words.
1The Qibla of a Converted Church
In 750 CE, the Muslim community of a small Syrian town acquires a disused Byzantine church to convert into a mosque. The building is rectangular, oriented east-west, with an apse at the eastern end.
553 words, about 3 min2The Translation Movement and Its Patrons
In the early 9th century, the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun establishes the House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikma) in Baghdad. He funds the translation of Greek, Persian, and Indian scientific and philosophical works into Arabic.
494 words, about 2 min3Sufi Practice and Orthodoxy in the Delhi Sultanate
In 14th-century Delhi, the Sufi shaykh Nizamuddin Auliya has a large following among both commoners and nobles. The Sultan, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, is known for his erratic policies and strict enforcement of sharia.
495 words, about 2 min4The Ming Dynasty Muslim Astronomer
In 15th-century Ming China, a Muslim astronomer named Ma Yize serves at the Imperial Observatory in Beijing. He has been trained in both Chinese and Islamic astronomy, and he uses a zij (astronomical handbook) based on the Maragha school.
460 words, about 2 min5The Bengal Sultan's Mosque and Temple Reuse
In 1450, the Sultan of Bengal, Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah, orders the construction of a new mosque in a provincial town. The site chosen includes the ruins of a Hindu temple, which has been abandoned for decades.
551 words, about 3 min