Al-Biruni questioned the story of a wooden idol that supposedly lasted for 216,432 years. Which idea about travellers does his response best show?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Travellers did not always believe what they were told
Option (1) Travellers did not always believe what they were told — Correct. Al-Biruni asked how wood could last so long in a wet place. This shows that travellers did not always believe what they were told; they tested claims by reason.
Option (2) Travellers saw language as the first barrier to understanding — Incorrect. Al-Biruni treated language as the first barrier to understanding, yet the wooden idol story concerns an improbable claim, and his reply shows doubt about what he heard.
Option (3) Travellers looked for parallels in other societies to explain customs — Incorrect. Al-Biruni looked for parallels in ancient Persia when he explained the caste system; his reply on the wooden idol shows doubt about an improbable claim.
Option (4) Travellers judged Indian beliefs by the rules of Islamic law — Incorrect. His doubt came from the nature of wood, air and soil. Religious law played no part in it.
NCERT (2026-27): “4.2 Al-Biruni’s description of the caste system … |