CSS 2019 – Islamic History & Culture: Examiner’s Feedback and Student Guide
Introduction
Islamic History & Culture is a prestigious optional that attracts aspirants because of its rich content, overlap with Islamiat, and lessons for governance and society. However, the examiner’s report for CE-2019 showed that most candidates failed to utilize its scoring potential. Weak analytical skills, narrative writing, and lack of contemporary relevance were the main reasons for underperformance.
Examiner Feedback (2019)
The examiner observed:
- Performance was unsatisfactory overall.
- Most candidates gave narrative-style answers, listing events and rulers without critical evaluation.
- Very few candidates connected Islamic history with modern-day lessons in governance, tolerance, or interfaith harmony.
- Candidates relied heavily on rote learning and guidebooks, producing repetitive answers.
- Some ignored large portions of the syllabus, focusing only on political history while neglecting cultural and intellectual contributions.
- A handful of candidates who gave multi-dimensional answers with analysis, Qur’anic references, and modern applications performed well【Examiner-Reports-CE-2019.pdf†L197-L204】.
Common Mistakes by Candidates
- Narrative answers
- Writing long stories of dynasties and battles without analyzing causes, impacts, or lessons.
- Ignoring cultural and intellectual aspects
- Few candidates discussed contributions in philosophy, literature, architecture, or sciences.
- No modern relevance
- Lack of connection between Islamic history and contemporary governance, justice, or interfaith harmony.
- Over-reliance on notes
- Repetition of low-quality, stereotypical academy material.
- Weak structure and expression
- Poorly organized answers with weak English diluted good content.
Practical Preparation Strategies
- Cover syllabus holistically
- Political history: Early Caliphate, Umayyads, Abbasids, Ottomans, Muslim Spain.
- Cultural/intellectual: Philosophy, science, literature, architecture, Islamic civilization.
- Focus on analysis, not narration
- Instead of narrating events, analyze causes, impacts, and lessons.
- Example: Instead of just describing Abbasid decline, explain institutional weaknesses, Mongol invasions, and intellectual stagnation.
- Link with modern lessons
- Show relevance to today: governance, tolerance, justice, education, and decline of civilizations.
- Use authentic sources
- Books by Philip K. Hitti, Mazhar-ul-Haq, and Jurji Zaydan provide depth.
- Incorporate Qur’anic and Hadith references
- Use selectively to strengthen arguments about Islamic governance and ethics.
- Organize with clarity
- Intro → historical context → analysis → lessons for today → conclusion.
- Add diagrams/timelines
- Timelines of dynasties or maps of Islamic expansion can enhance presentation.
Encouraging Closing Note
The CSS 2019 examiner’s report confirms: Islamic History & Culture rewards analytical, lesson-oriented answers, not rote storytelling. Candidates who narrated battles failed, while those who drew lessons for governance, justice, and civilization stood out.
Remember: This subject is not about memorizing rulers — it’s about understanding how Muslim civilization developed, flourished, and declined, and what lessons it holds for us today.
Stay motivated: every dynasty you analyze, every cultural contribution you study, every lesson you connect with the modern world takes you closer to mastering this subject. With depth and analysis, this optional can become one of your most scoring assets.