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CSS Islamic History & Culture Syllabus
Islamic History & Culture is a 100-mark Group IV optional subject in the CSS written exam, examined in one three-hour paper. Below is FPSC's official syllabus, word for word: every section, topics and suggested readings.
- Marks
- 100
- Papers
- 1
- Time
- 3 hours a paper
- Group
- Group IV
- Subject code
- 27
The paper
100 marks- I.Pre-Islamic Near East: An Overview
- •Political, Social, Cultural, Religious and Economic Conditions in the Near East including Arabia before the dawn of Islam
- II.The Dawn of Islam: The Prophetic Age (570-632)
- •Biography of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): A Chronology of the Major Events in his Life
- •Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a Motivator (Daa’i), Major points of his mission
- •Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a Military Leader/Strategist
- •Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a Political Leader/Head of the State
- III.The Pious Caliphate (632-660)
- •Caliph Abu Bakr (632-34): Apostasy Wars and Consolidation of Islam
- •Caliph Umar b.Khattab (634-44): Establishment of Administrative System and Expansion of Muslim Empire
- •Caliph Uthman b.Affan (644-56): Problems and Issues in the Muslim Community
- •Caliph Ali b.Talib (656-660): Rise of Factionalism
- •Abdication of Imam Hasan and Establishment of Umayyad Dynasty (660)
- IV.Political System of Islam under the Prophet (PBUH) and the Pious Caliphate
- •Nature of Islamic State
- •Form of the Government
- •Functions of the Islamic State
- •Sovereignty of God
- •Caliphate or Vicegerency of Man
- •Appointment of Caliph
- •Shura or the Consultative Body and its Role
- V.Institutional Development of the Muslim Civilization:The Early Phase (622-660)
- •Development of Law and Judiciary in Early Islam
- •Administration and State Conduct
- •Defense in Early Islam
- •Educational System
- •Propagation of Islam
- •Financial Administration
- •Heritage and Culture
- VI.The Umayyads in Power (660-749)
- •Political History of the Umayyad Dynasty
- •Statecraft and Administration under the Umayyads
- •Society and the Development of Arabic Literature.
- •Cultural Achievements
- I.The Abbasids of Baghdad (749-1258)
- •The Abbasid Revolution and the Establishment of the Abbasid Dynasty
- •Administrative Structure under the Abbasids
- •Development of Scientific Knowledge under the Abbasids
- •Muslim Philosophy under the Abbasids
- •Cultural Achievements
- II.Spain under the Muslim Rule
- •Spain under the rule of the Arabs and Moors (711-1492)
- •Political Fragmentation and the Fall of Granada (1492)
- •Muslim Contribution in the Realm of Culture, Arts and Architecture
- III.The Crusades against Islam
- •Major Encounters and Actors (1092-1228)
- •Impact of the Crusades on Muslim-Christian Relations
- IV.The Ottoman Empire
- •Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Turks (1299-1923)
- •State, Society and Economy under the Ottomans
- •Treatment with the Religious Minorities
- •Contribution towards Culture, Arts and Architecture
- V.Sufism as an Institution of the Muslim Society
- •Origin and Development of Sufism
- •Contribution of the Sufis to the Muslim Civilization
- •Relationship of the Sufis with the State and Political Authorities.
- •A Critical View of Sufism
- VI.Islam and Modernity in Contemporary World
- •The Emergence of Islamic Modernism
- •Intellectual, Political, Economic, Social and Educational Aspects of Islamic Modernism
- •Dissemination of Muslim Learning in the West
Suggested readings
- 1.Discovering Islam—Making Sense of Muslim History and SocietyAhmad, Akbar
- 2.Islam: Ideology and Leading IssuesAli, Anwar.
- 3.The Spirit of IslamAli, S. Ameer
- 4.Aspects of Islamic Civilization: As Depicted in the Original TextsArberry, A. J.
- 5.The Preaching of Islam—A History of the Propagation of the Muslim FaithArnold,T.W.
- 6.The History of Philosophy in IslamDe Boer,T. J.
- 7.The History of Islamic PeoplesBrockelmann, Carl (ed)
- 8.Spanish IslamDozy,R.
- 9.Studies on the Civilization of IslamGibb,Hamilton A.R.
- 10.The Religion of Islam, Vol. I & IIGaqwash,Ahmad A.
- 11.Classical Islam:A History 600—1258Von Grunebaum, G.E
- 12.The Cambridge History of IslamHolts, P. M., Lewis, Bernard, Ann KS Lambton
- 13.Islam Resurgent: The Islamic World TodayIrving,T.B.
- 14.Islam: From the Prophet Mohammad to the Capture of Constantinople.Lewis, Bernard
- 15.Islam in History.Munir, Muhammad
- 16.Islam and The Modern WorldNadvi, Abu Hasan Ali.
- 17.The Making of the Past: the Spread of IslamRogers, Michael
- 18.A History of Medieval IslamSaunders, J.J.
- 19.Introduction to Islamic CivilizationSavory, R.M. (ed)
- 20.The Legacy of IslamSchacht, Joseph& Bosworth, C.E (eds)
- 21.Islamic History—A New Interpretation AD 750—1055Shaban, M.A.
- 22.The Abbasid RevolutionShaban, M.A.
- 23.A History of Muslim PhilosophySharif, M.M.
- 24.Muslim Thought :Its Origin and AchievementsNadvi Muhammad Hanif
- 25.Studies in Islamic HistorySiddiqi, Amir Hasan.
- 26.The Revolution which Toppled the Umayyads’: Neither Arab nor AbbasidAgha, Saleh Said
- 27.Sirat un Nabi Vol. I & IINomani, Shibli
- 28.Rasol-e-Akram ki Siasi ZindagiHamidullah, Dr. Muhammad
- 29.Khilafat-o-MalokiatSyed Abul Aala Maudoodi
- 30.Ahd-e-Nabawi main Riyasat ka Nash o IrtaqaAhmad Nisar
- 31.Siddiq-e-AkbarAkbarabadi, Saeed Ahmad
- 32.Al-FarooqNomani, Shibli
- 33.History of IslamNajeebabadi, Akbar Shah
- 34.Painting in IslamArnold, Thomas.
- 35.Early Islamic PotteryLane, Arthur
- 36.Muslim CalligraphyZiauddin, M.
- 37.Islamic Art & ArchitectureKuhnel, E.
- 38.Daira Ma’arif e Islamia (relevant articles)University of Punjab
- 39.The Cultural Atlas of IslamIsma’il Raji al-Faruqi & Lois Lamya’ al-Faruqi
Past papers
FPSC's Islamic History & Culture papers from 2016 to 2026, as text. Open a year, or see them all.