Hello Fellows,

I want to appear in 2011 CSS exams. I have selected the optionals and the books after going through this forum. I have some queries regarding preparation of Islamiat(I have decided to go in English). Please answer them

1. IN the past till 2008, the paper was quite typical but in recent times, the examiner sets the questions from contemporary issues. So what is the strategy to answer the questions? How long should be the answer?

2. Where do i start ? From questions of the past papers or from topics in the books like Khurshid Ahmad's etc? What should be the preparation strategy?

3. Notes making: I am asking this on every other subject forum as well that should we make notes for this or just take the important points down and prepare topic wise?

4. How many days are required to cover this subject fully?

5. I have also opted for Islamic History and Civilization in the optionals so would that help me?

Please reply all people

Will you attempt this paper in English or Urud??

__________________
Thanks & Regards
Faseeh

1. okay u may go in english.it is comparatively easy to attempt in this language

2.ya contemprory issues are there but questions from syllabus are also asked. go through the syllabus and then question papers u will realize this fact.

however, u should read the current islamic issues as well especially friday features available on the forum. for answring the questions i think be presice, descriptive, quote maximum ayats and hadiths but they should be relevant, and maintain a balance for all questions

3.first read topics from books clear ur concept and then go for solving questions
making notes is important but if u can explain mere facts by ur own then just memorize the important events, facts and figures and then explain them in ur exam

4. it is just like current affairs paper whose preparation is not bounded by time.
read newspapers regularly especially islamic issues

5.in mcqs portion only

regards

__________________
"pattering your life around others opinion is nothing more than slavery"

@faseeh

I am attempting in English

@Marilatif

Thanks for ur reply. I want a clarification regarding notes... I have selected like 3-4 books for Islamiat. Lets say that i dont for notes.. Then should my strategy be that, i should select a topic and then see its material in different books and just memorize important events, sequence of events and etc...

Also, u said its time in not limited... I mean, i will start preparation soon... Hopefully that leaves me with quite a time.. you say that i should prepare it all this time till the exams????

ya u r right select any topic like any beleif or any pillar of islam, go through different books, sort out some ahadiths, and some verses regarding the topic.

and then reglarly read iaslamic issues from newspapers.like muslems are persecuted, suicide is allowed in islam or not, whether taliban are on right or wrong path etc. these topics can be well prepared from newspaper. sicnce many eminent writers write on such topics which are not limited to any time. so keep on reading newspapers and magaziens regarding such issues.

more querries are welcome

regads

__________________
"pattering your life around others opinion is nothing more than slavery"

@marilatif

I understand that reading contemporary issues is like a regular thing. But some the core/traditional part cannot be neglected or can i skip it?? If i have to prepare that, how much time you think i should spend on it?

You can't skip the tradational part, I donot know about the Islamiat books in English but as far as Khursheed Ahmed's book in urdu is concerned, it does't have that much tradational stuff. you will not be memorizing, "Haj aur manasik e Haj, roza aur us kay faraiz or us ko saqit karny ki conditions etc" but you will be focusing on the social and moral benefits one can obtain, on individual basis & impacts on the society.

For corelating contemporary issues with the fundamental beliefs of islam it is essential that you master the Quranic Ayyah & Hadith that are cited in your book. because it will be easier for you to anwer if you had a hadith or ayyah in your mind addressing a specific situation.

Reading articles from various sources as mentioned by marilatif will help you to collect additional Ayyah & Hadiths and will make your task easir by shapening your own opinion.

__________________
Thanks & Regards
Faseeh

Hey Camran!

It seems like our learned friends have already given you enough to get started on the prep very well. I had a very linear approach in preparation for Islamiyat as I had not studied it since fsc, which makes it about 8 years. However, I found a very useful book with an exceedingly exceptional mix of both contemporary topics and currently relative topics concerning islamic studies. Its called Advanced Concepts in Islamic Studies by Imtiaz Shahid and Hammad Raza. It covers pretty much the entire syllabus, sans the surah's and their translations. In addition, I kept a register Friday Feature articles from Dawn, especially the ones written by that Engineer guy. This should cover your subjective type completely. For mcq's, Professor Khalid Naeem's book, published by Kaarvan was quite handy even though it was in urdu. And remember one more thing, this paper has five instead of four questions like all others. So practice writing!

Well if you are attempting in English then you must go through the Islamic articles in Friday Dawn...


i cant guide you about the typical prepation of Islamiat paper...
bcoz never prepared for it....never read any suggested books....

I just went through the past papers and understood the nature of the questions.....

Actually if you know the very basics of Islam then the Islamyat paper is very easy to handle...specially the questions on current issues in the perpectctive of Islam....

I appeared in 2010 and that was my strategy.

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"Age wrinkles the body, but disobeying Allah wrinkles the soul."

How much score did you get in Islamic Studie and when did you appear?
I am asking because current trend is altogether different because examiner use to ask current issues on Islamiat?And you better know that these books would cover current issues or not.