The Arabic work of al-Biruni that presents a detailed account of the Indian subcontinent is called by which of the following names?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Kitab - Al Hind

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to medieval Indian history and world travel literature. Al-Biruni was a Persian scholar who visited India and wrote an important work describing its society, culture, religion and sciences. Knowing the Arabic name of this book is a standard item in general knowledge questions about historical sources on India.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The author mentioned is al-Biruni, a medieval scholar.
  • The work is an Arabic account of the Indian subcontinent.
  • Several similar sounding titles are provided, mixing Arabic and Indic words.
  • You must choose the correct historical title.


Concept / Approach:
Al-Biruni's famous work on India is generally known as "Kitab al-Hind" or "Tahqiq ma li-l-Hind", which translates roughly to "Book of India" or "Researches on India". The key words to recognise are "Kitab" (book) and "Hind" (India). Options combining "Pustak" (a Hindi word for book) with Arabic elements are incorrect, because the original work was in Arabic, not in a hybrid modern Indo Arabic title.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that "Kitab al-Hind" is the historically accepted Arabic name for al-Biruni's book on India. Step 2: Look at the options and identify which one most closely matches this known title. Step 3: Option a, "Kitab - Al Hind", is very close to "Kitab al-Hind", and represents the same phrase in a slightly different transcription. Step 4: Option b, "Kitab - Al Bharat", incorrectly mixes Arabic "Kitab" with the Sanskrit derived "Bharat". Step 5: Options c and d use the Hindi word "Pustak" along with Arabic sounding words, which does not match the actual Arabic title. Step 6: Option e, "Safar Nama - Al Hind", suggests a travelogue title, but al-Biruni's book is not typically called a "Safar Nama". Step 7: Therefore, the correct answer is "Kitab - Al Hind".


Verification / Alternative check:
Standard history textbooks on the Delhi Sultanate and early medieval India mention al-Biruni's account as "Kitab al-Hind". They also explain that it is one of the most important non Indian sources for understanding early medieval Indian society and knowledge systems. The repeated use of this specific title in academic references confirms that "Kitab - Al Hind" is the correct option among those provided.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Kitab - Al Bharat" and "Pustak - Al Bharat" mix languages incorrectly and do not represent authentic historical titles. "Pustak - Al Hind" also uses a Hindi word instead of the Arabic "Kitab". "Safar Nama" is a generic term for a travelogue, but al-Biruni's work is not commonly titled in this way. Therefore, none of these options genuinely reflect the accepted Arabic name of his book on India.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners may be tempted by "Bharat" because it is a familiar Indian name for the country, but the historical context is an Arabic scholarly work, not a modern Hindi book. Another pitfall is to pick "Safar Nama" because al-Biruni did travel to India, yet his major work is not usually referred to with this phrase. Always pay attention to the language and authenticity of historical titles rather than relying on familiar modern words.


Final Answer:
The Arabic work of al-Biruni on India is called "Kitab - Al Hind".

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