Islamiat and Pakistan Studies
What this section tests
Two halves in one paper. Islamiat covers the Quran and Sunnah, the five pillars, the Prophet's life (Seerat), the Caliphs and Islamic ethics. Pakistan Studies covers the freedom movement, constitutional development, geography and national institutions.
Islamiat anchors
- The Quran has 114 surahs, revealed over about 23 years; the first revelation came in the cave of Hira in 610 CE.
- Five pillars: Shahadah, Salah, Sawm, Zakat, Hajj. Zakat is 2.5% on wealth held for one lunar year above the nisab threshold.
- The Hijra (622 CE) marks the start of the Islamic calendar; the Battle of Badr was fought in 2 AH.
- The four Rightly Guided Caliphs in order: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali (may Allah be pleased with them).
Pakistan Studies anchors
- Allama Iqbal's Allahabad Address, 1930; the Lahore (Pakistan) Resolution, 23 March 1940; independence, 14 August 1947.
- Objectives Resolution, 1949; first constitution, 1956; present constitution, 1973.
- Quaid-e-Azam was the first Governor-General; Liaquat Ali Khan the first Prime Minister.
Worked example
“The Lahore Resolution was moved by --.” Reconstruct the session: it was presided over by Quaid-e-Azam, moved by Maulvi A. K. Fazlul Huq and seconded by Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman. The answer required is the mover, not the presider - a distinction examiners rely on.
Traps
- Confusing 23 March 1940 (Resolution) with 14 August 1947 (independence) and 23 March 1956 (first constitution promulgated).
- Mixing the 1956, 1962 and 1973 constitutions - only the 1973 Constitution is the present one, and it has been amended many times.