Every CSS aspirant assumes this paper is straightforward. Study Islamic Studies, sit the paper, move on. What most candidates don’t realise until much later in their preparation is that this compulsory subject actually has two separate versions, and FPSC’s own examiner reports treat them as two distinct academic challenges with two very different failure patterns.
ICEP CSS Institute teaches this compulsory subject under Dr. Asim Akhtar, a retired professor holding a PhD in Islamic Studies with over 20 years of teaching experience in higher education and competitive exam preparation. His approach is built around understanding exactly which version a candidate will sit, and preparing for the specific weaknesses examiners have flagged in each.
Two Papers, One Compulsory Slot
Islamic Studies is one of six compulsory subjects in the CSS written examination, carrying 100 marks like every other compulsory paper. What makes it different from English Essay or Current Affairs is that not every candidate sits the same paper.
Muslim candidates appear in Islamic Studies. Non-Muslim candidates appear in Comparative Study of Major Religions instead, sitting in place of Islamic Studies rather than alongside it. Both versions carry the same 100 marks, and both may be answered in English or Urdu. Neither can be substituted for the other. A Muslim candidate cannot opt into Comparative Religion, and a non-Muslim candidate does not sit Islamic Studies. This structure has remained unchanged since 2016 and continues through the current CSS cycles, with no revised compulsory syllabus notification issued by FPSC.
This distinction matters more than most preparation guides admit. The two papers test different content entirely. Islamic Studies covers Quranic injunctions, Hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, contemporary Islamic issues, and the historical relationship between Islam and Pakistan’s founding. Comparative Study of Major Religions covers the beliefs, practices, and comparative frameworks of major world religions. A student preparing for one gains almost no transferable content for the other, which is why treating this as one generic subject during preparation is a mistake.
What Examiners Report About Islamic Studies
FPSC’s examiner observations for this paper point to a specific, recurring weakness: a significant number of candidates did not have a clear sense of the essentials of a comprehensive essay or the features which differentiate a full, standard answer from a surface-level one. Candidates often know religious content but cannot structure it into the analytical, examiner-standard answer format the exam demands.
This is not a knowledge problem. Most CSS aspirants preparing for Islamic Studies have a genuine familiarity with the subject matter from their upbringing and education. The gap is in translating that familiarity into an academically rigorous, examiner-oriented answer that demonstrates conceptual clarity rather than general religious awareness. FPSC expects candidates to know the standard expected by the Commission in a competitive examination, which is a different bar from general religious knowledge.
What Examiners Report About Comparative Study of Major Religions
The examiner observations for this paper are more direct, and considerably more concerning for candidates who treat it as an easier alternative. The report states plainly that understanding of the subject was very poor, and that candidates appeared to have never consulted proper textbooks, relying instead on superficial information despite the availability of a prescribed syllabus and FPSC’s recommended books.
The report also notes that candidates were largely unaware of both modern issues and historical perspective within the field, which reflects a genuine depth gap rather than a formatting or structure problem. This paper cannot be prepared casually. It requires the same disciplined study of prescribed sources that any compulsory subject demands, and the examiner report is unambiguous that most candidates historically have not treated it that way.
Why This Paper Gets Under-Prepared
Both versions of this compulsory subject suffer from the same underlying problem, for different reasons. Islamic Studies gets under-prepared because candidates assume prior familiarity is enough, and skip the structured, examiner-oriented answer training that other compulsory subjects receive. Comparative Study of Major Religions gets under-prepared because it is a smaller candidate pool, less commonly discussed in general CSS preparation content, and often approached without proper textbook study simply because fewer resources exist around it.
In both cases, the fix is the same: treat this paper with the same seriousness as English Essay or Current Affairs, not as a subject that can be picked up informally in the final weeks before the exam.
How ICEP Structures Preparation for Both Versions
Dr. Asim Akhtar’s teaching methodology is built around conceptual clarity first, applied specifically to whichever version a student is preparing for. For Islamic Studies, classes focus on a Quranic and Hadith-based analytical approach, critical evaluation of Islamic political, economic, and social systems, and structured answer-writing techniques aligned with FPSC’s examiner expectations, rather than general religious discussion.
For candidates preparing Comparative Study of Major Religions, preparation follows the same principle of structured, source-based study that the examiner report identifies as missing. Students are guided toward the prescribed syllabus and FPSC’s recommended books directly, with an emphasis on both historical grounding and contemporary relevance across major world religions, addressing the exact gap FPSC’s examiners have documented.
Across both versions, the methodology emphasises examiner-oriented answer writing over content recitation, since content knowledge alone has consistently proven insufficient to score well in either paper.
Preparation discipline in this subject mirrors what candidates need across the rest of the compulsory papers. The same precision in answer writing that matters here applies directly to General Science and Ability, where examiners similarly reward focused, well-structured answers over long, unfocused ones. Building a defensible argument in Islamic Studies also draws on the same reasoning skills covered in English Essay preparation, since both subjects reward a clear position over descriptive writing. Candidates balancing this subject with knowledge-heavy papers often ask how it compares in preparation load to Current Affairs, and the honest answer is that both demand structured, source-based study rather than last-minute revision, a distinction explored further in the role Current Affairs plays across the CSS exam. Sentence-level clarity, taught in depth through English Precis and Composition, also carries directly into how well a candidate can express complex religious or comparative arguments within a strict word count.
Fee and Batch Information
Islamic Studies and Comparative Study of Major Religions are both taught as part of the CSS Annual Plan 2027 and the CSS Prime Session 2026, and are available as standalone modules for students who need focused preparation in either version alongside self-study for other subjects. Classes run in morning, evening, and weekend batches at the New Garden Town campus, with online sessions available for students preparing outside Lahore. Fee depends on the program and format selected, so the confirmed figure requires a direct call to ICEP at +92 309 1447989.
Why ICEP for This Compulsory Subject
Dr. Asim Akhtar’s PhD in Islamic Studies and over two decades of teaching experience give this subject the academic depth FPSC examiners are explicitly asking for, in both its Muslim and non-Muslim versions. His methodology treats each version as its own subject requiring its own preparation strategy, rather than a single generic religious studies course, directly addressing the structural and depth gaps FPSC’s examiner reports have documented.
ICEP CSS Institute is located at 22-B New, Ali Block New Garden Town, Lahore, 54000, opposite Barkat Market. Call +92 309 1447989 to ask about the next batch.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who teaches Islamic Studies at ICEP?
Dr. Asim Akhtar teaches Islamic Studies at ICEP. He holds a PhD in Islamic Studies with over 20 years of teaching experience in higher education and competitive examination preparation.
Do all CSS candidates sit the same paper for this compulsory subject?
No. Muslim candidates sit Islamic Studies, while non-Muslim candidates sit Comparative Study of Major Religions instead, in place of Islamic Studies. Both carry 100 marks and may be answered in English or Urdu.
Why do candidates struggle with Comparative Study of Major Religions specifically?
FPSC’s examiner report notes that understanding of the subject has historically been very poor, with candidates relying on superficial information instead of consulting the prescribed syllabus and FPSC’s recommended textbooks. ICEP structures preparation around direct engagement with those recommended sources.
Is prior religious knowledge enough to score well in Islamic Studies?
Not on its own. FPSC’s examiner report notes that many candidates lack a clear sense of what separates a comprehensive, examiner-standard answer from general religious knowledge. ICEP focuses on structured, analytical answer writing rather than content recitation alone.
What is the fee for Islamic Studies or Comparative Religion classes at ICEP?
Both are included in the CSS Annual Plan 2027 and CSS Prime Session 2026, and are also available as standalone modules. The exact fee depends on the program and format chosen, so contact ICEP at +92 309 1447989 for the current figure.
Are online classes available for students outside Lahore?
Yes. Classes for both versions of this compulsory subject are available online alongside in-person batches at the New Garden Town campus, with morning, evening, and weekend timings.