Qutub Minar, one of the earliest Islamic monuments in Delhi, came to be associated with which revered Sufi saint?

The correct option is Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki.

Explanation

The Qutub Minar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a quintessential example of early Indo-Islamic architecture in India. Construction began under Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the founder of the Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty, and was continued by his successor Iltutmish.

Historical Association:

• Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki: The Qutub Minar was named in honor of this revered Sufi saint of the Chishti Order. Qutb-ud-din Aibak was a devotee of the saint, and the monument was dedicated to his memory. He was a contemporary of Aibak and Iltutmish and played a significant role in establishing the Chishti order in Delhi.
• Other Options:
  • Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya: A prominent Sufi saint of the Chishti order who lived during the later period of the Delhi Sultanate (associated with the Tughlaqs), long after the Qutub Minar's initial construction.
  • Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti: The founder of the Chishti Order in the Indian subcontinent, whose dargah is located in Ajmer. He was the spiritual master of Bakhtiyar Kaki.
  • Shah Waliullah: An Islamic scholar and reformer from the 18th century, historically unrelated to the construction of the Qutub Minar.

Key Takeaway:

Although commissioned by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the Qutub Minar derives its name from the Sufi saint Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, not the Sultan himself.