Pilgrimage to tombs of Sufi saints is termed as
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Ziyarat
Option (1) Urs — Incorrect. Urs is the death anniversary of the saint (literally, marriage, signifying the union of his soul with God). Pilgrims gathered at the grave particularly on that day, but the word names the occasion, not the pilgrimage.
Option (2) Ziyarat — Correct. When a shaikh died, his tomb-shrine (dargah) became the centre of devotion for his followers, which encouraged the practice of pilgrimage or ziyarat to his grave.
Option (3) Salat — Incorrect. Salat (namaz) is offering prayers five times a day, one of the five “pillars” of Islam.
Option (4) Shahada — Incorrect. Shahada is the pillar of faith that there is one God, Allah, and Prophet Muhammad is his messenger.
Note: A same/similar question was asked in CUET (UG) in the papers below.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| – | – | – | 05-06 S1* 05-06 S2 | – |
* A similar question.
NCERT (2026-27): “6.1 Khanqahs and silsilas … When the shaikh died, his tomb-shrine (dargah, a Persian term meaning court) became the centre of devotion for his followers. This encouraged the practice of pilgrimage or ziyarat to his grave, particularly on his death anniversary or urs (or marriage, signifying the union of his soul with God). This was because people believed that in death saints were united with God, and were thus closer to Him than when living.… 5.2 The popular practice of Islam … All those who adopted Islam accepted, in principle, the five ‘pillars’ of the faith: that there is one God, Allah, and Prophet Muhammad is his messenger (shahada); offering prayers five times a day (namaz/salat ); giving alms (zakat); fasting during the month of Ramzan (sawm ); and performing the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj ).…” |