Marking Scheme Prophets PBUH Life

Prophet’s ( سلم و عليه الله life (صلى

4 (a) Give an account of the Prophet’s life up to the time the revelations began.

[10][O/N/2014]

(b) Despite living through the days of ignorance, the Prophet remained true to hismission. What lessons can Muslims learn from this today?

[4]

(a) Candidates should write a detailed narrative elaborating on any of the points mentioned below. He was born in the year of the elephant; his parents were Amina and Abdullah; as with the custom of the time, he was sent to the desert with a wet nurse; Halima Sa’adia narrates that they had good fortune with the arrival of the Prophet in their household, and ask he stay with them another two years; during this time the incident of the angels coming to clean his heart happened; Halima returned him to his mother; his mother died when he was six on the way back from Yathrib; his grandfather looked after him and then Abu Talib when he was eight; he went on trade journeys with Abu Talib and this is where Bahira the monk saw him; he picked up arrows in the sacrilegious wars, and was present at the subsequent Fudul confederacy; he was employed by Khadija to go on a trade journey to Syria and on account of his honesty she sent a marriage proposal to him; they had six children together; he helped resolve the issue of the fixing of the black stone; he spent longer periods in the cave of Hira and at age of 40 the angel Jibril came with the first revelation.

(b) Candidates could choose one or two events from the life of the Prophet and explain how he was not swayed by falsehood and would only exemplify good character, even when under pressure from others. By losing his parents at young age he was growing up to be independent. Despite living in age of immorality, he was known as ‘al-amin’, the trustworthy. Candidates could explain how when Muslims today can be under pressure to be dishonest in business or become less committed to their prayers, they can remain the example of the Prophet and look up to his steadfastness in very challenging circumstances and use this as a model to follow. These are just some examples, candidates could offer their own but must give a reason to explain what they have written.

[ER] [11]Question 4(a) The answers to this question varied from satisfactory to very good. Those who gave satisfactory answers wrote about a few events in the Prophet’s life, such as him being left an orphan, his trade journeys and his marriage to Khadija. Those who answered it well gave detailed and relevant information about the Prophet’s life from his childhood to when he attained prophethood.

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(b) Most answers to this question were poor, suggesting that candidates misunderstood the question. Candidates often focused on the ignorance of the Quraysh and the fact that the Prophet had to deal with lots of abuse, which he dealt with patiently.There were some good, thoughtful answers that said that Muslims face many distractions and problems today but they should not succumb to them; rather, they should be good examples of Islam, and also use modern tools such as the Internet for good, such as teaching or spreading Islam.3 (a) Write about the life of the Prophet up until the first revelation.

[10](M/J/10)

Candidates can provide details of any events related to the Prophet Muhammad’s life up until he received the first revelation. However, good answers will write a narrative naming key figures, important events and sequence them in the order in which they happened. Candidates could talk about the Prophet’s parents, his guardianship under his uncle Abu Talib, and his relationship with the Quraysh. They could mention special events that occurred in his childhood, e.g. the angels washing his heart. They should also mention his trade journeys, and related to this, his subsequent marriage to Khadija, as well as the meeting with Bahira. Better answers may also give elaborations about his character and mention his increasing seclusions just before revelation – with any relevant supporting quotations.

(b) Why was his relationship with his wife Khadija important for him? [4]

Good answers to this part will mention Khadija’s support of the Prophet, financially andspiritually, and being the first Muslim. They could also mention that her support allowed him to spend time in seclusion and that his seclusion prepared him for receiving revelation. They could also mention that her maturity allowed her to console and believe in the Prophet when he received revelation [reference to Sura 93:8]. Candidates should look to give thoughtful and insightful explanations as to why this was important to the Prophet and the subsequent development of Islam.

Question 3 [ER]This question was a popular choice with candidates out of the three optional questions and was well answered.(a) Where candidates answered this very well, they gave detailed and chronological descriptions of the main events of the Prophet’s life from infancy to prophethood.The best candidates wrote at length on the life of the Prophet but there was often littlediscrimination between major, significant events and trivial detail. Some candidates wrote two pages on details of rearing the infant Muhammad and then moved directly to his marriage to Khadija. There was a lot of confused chronology, which made the answers appear confused. However, it was good to see that the more perceptive answers attempted to demonstrate how the events of his early life showed the formation of his character and his predestination as a prophet. A few answers wrote about the Prophet’s revelation showing they did not read the question properly.

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(b) This was the best answered of the part (b) questions. Khadija’s support and assistance to the Prophet and the importance of this to the development of his mission was analysed fairly well, although some candidates only managed to explain the nature of her support and not its importance. Most answers talked about her wealth and the implications for the Prophet of not having financial worries. There were a lot of answers that wrote about her wealth but offered no evaluation about its significance.

4 (a) Describe the events relating to the Prophet’s experiences in caves.

[10](M/J/10)

Candidates should be able to give an in-depth narrative of the Prophet’s experiences in the two caves, namely Cave Hira and Cave Thawr/Saur. They should be able to name the caves and give details of what happened in each cave.They should also be able to name the key figures involved, e.g. Jibra’il and Abu Bakr. Related to Cave Hira, candidates could mention why the Prophet was in the cave, the appearance of the angel, the quotation of Sura 96:1–5, as well as a description of what happened to the Prophet when he left the cave. Related to Cave Thawr/Saur, candidates could mention why the Prophet found himself in the cave, who he was with, details about Abu Bakr’s role as well as a reference to the Qur’anic verse relating to this incident.

(b) Explain the significance of one of these experiences for the development of Islam.

[4]

Candidates should try to show some understanding of the importance of one of theseincidences, and try to relate its significance to Muslims today. Cave Hira This event started God’s final guidance for mankind as it was when the Prophet was given the first revelation of the Qur’an, which is the most important book for Muslims to get guidance. The event was also significant for the Prophet as he was given his prophethood. It highlighted the transition from polytheism to monotheism. Candidates should try to reflect upon these reasons and their significance to themselves or the wider community of Muslims. Cave Thawr This event was significant because there was a threat to the Prophet in Makka and God gave permission to leave. Candidates should mention that at this time, the Prophet had to have trust in God as well as his followers to escape the threat. If he hadn’t trusted them and if he had been captured Islam would not have developed. It was the beginning of a new phase for the Muslims because they left everything behind. Candidates should try to reflect upon these reasons and their significance to themselves or the wider community of Muslims.

Question 4 [ER]This question was also popular with candidates to answer.(a) This was generally a well answered question, with candidates being able to give details about the two caves, Hira and Thawr, and the main events that happened. Hira was usually described better than Thawr. The descriptions of what happened at Thawr

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were sometimes vague and incomplete with candidates failing to refer to key Qur’anic teachings when describing the events in this cave. Some candidates mixed up the names of the caves. Also, some candidates, instead of describing events that happened inside the caves, wrote about what happened outside the caves before and after the actual events in the caves. For example, candidates gave a brief description of therevelation inside the cave of Hira, but had written a lot about the social situation of the Makkans at that time before revelation, or, they wrote about the plot to kill the Prophet rather than giving details of what happened when the Prophet and Abu Bakr entered the cave. However, most candidates scored highly in this question.

(b) There were some good answers to this part of the question. There were some perceptive answers particularly on the significance of the events at Thawr and the importance of the migration to Madina for the development of Islam. The most common mistakes were to write vaguely that Islam began with the revelation in cave Hira or that it spread widely after that event. However a number of candidates mistakenly attempted to write about both experiences instead of just one, as the question asks.

2 (a) Give a brief description of the Prophet’s experiences in caves. [12] (O/N/07)

The Prophet had two experiences in caves. His experience in the valley of Abu Talib during the Makkan boycott does not count.

(i) The cave on Mount Hira – allow up to 6 marks• This incident took place in 610; Muhammad was 40.• Muhammad had withdrawn to the cave to meditate and pray.• A figure appeared and ordered him “Recite!”• Muhammad protested that he could not recite.• The figure squeezed him tightly.• This squeezing and the command happened three times in all.• Then the figure recited to him Sura 96.1-5.• He returned home to Khadija, confused and afraid.• (No details of the rest of the story.)

(ii) The cave of Thawr – allow up to 6 marks• This incident took place in 622; Muhammad was 52.• After his followers had left Makka, Muhammad departed with Abu Bakr.• When the two knew they were being pursued they hid in the cave of Thawr.• The pursuers saw two nesting birds at the mouth of the cave and saw no need tolook inside.• Abu Bakr was bitten by a scorpion or snake but did not cry out.• Muhammad reassured Abu Bakr by telling him God was with them.• Abu Bakr's daughter brought them food.

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(b) Explain why one of these experiences was important in the history of Islam. [4]

(i) Mount Hira• This was the occasion on which the Qur’an was first sent down.• It marks the beginning of God’s final guidance for humans, telling them how to livetheir lives.• It marked the change from polytheism to monotheism.• Muhammad was changed and was chosen for prophethood.(ii) Thawr• If Muhammad had been captured Islam might not have developed.• The success of his mission depended on his leaving his home.• He had to trust to God and to his followers for survival.• It shows that meeting force with force is not always the way to success.• The importance of the incident is such that the Qur’an refers to it.

Question 2 [ER](a) This part was answered well by many candidates, although there was more weight given to the Prophet’s experience in Mount Hira over Mount Thawr. In this question, good answers focused on the significant events in these two caves. The best answers began their narration from the Prophet’s first visit in Mount Hira at the age of 40 by the angel Jibra’il, an account of the conversation between them, and the Prophet returning home to his wife shaken and asking to be covered, without giving details about his life before prophethood or what happened after he returned home. Then the answers would continue with the story of the Prophet leaving his house with Abu Bakr for Madinah, staying in Mount Thawr to escape their enemies, and the relationship between the Prophet and his companion in the cave. Candidates should be careful in these answers not to present too much information that is not related to the question, and Examiners also look for accuracy of facts. Some candidates were confusing the names of the two caves, or giving the wrong names completely, and some gave the name of Abu Bakr’s daughter who brought them food as Ai’shah. Candidates again should read the question carefully, as it asks for the Prophet’s experience in caves (plural), but a few candidates only related an account of one cave.

(b) There were some good answers to this part, but generally answers were vague or repetitive. Here, candidates were expected to show how these events were important, not just the time they happened, but in later years. The experience at Mount Hira was important because not only was the Qur’an first sent down, but it was the beginning of God’s final guidance. It also changed the way the people of the time were living and its teachings were also important for future generations. The experience at Mount Thawr was important because if the Prophet had not left his home in Makkah, he may have been killed and Islam would not have spread and flourished. He also had to put a lot of trust in God and his followers which is a significant lesson for building future communities.

Question 4 (O/N/02)

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Most candidates answered this question reasonably well, identifying the cave on Mount Hira’ and the cave of Thawr as the two places associated with the Prophet.

(a) Marks were given for concise and accurate accounts of the experience of the Prophet in each, and candidates were faced with having to decide the point at which to begin and end their description. The best accounts began with the Prophet’s retreats in the cave of Hira’ in his middle age and ended with his return to Khadija, and then with his departure from Mecca and after three days his onward journey to Medina, and covered the main incidents between each. Marks were particularly given in each case for relevant quotations from the Qur’an.

(b) Marks were given for such comments as: Muhammad’s experience on Mount Hira’ was the beginning of his career as a prophet; this was the first revelation of the Qur’an; his experience in the cave of Thawr showed that God was with him; his survival there meant that the growth of Islam went ahead. The main difficulties candidates appeared to encounter were concerned with having to decide what points to put in part (a) and what to put in (b). In questions such as this, it is generally safest to give only descriptionsin (a) and explanatory comments in (b).

(a) Outline the Prophet’s experiences in the caves of Hira and Thawr.

[10][O/N/2014]

Candidates have to write about both caves, and the answers should generally be of equal volume.

Cave Hira is where the Prophet received the first revelation, when he was 40. He had been spending longer periods of time there. One night, an angel appeared in the form of a man and said “Iqra” (read/recite). The Prophet replied, I cannot recite. This happened three times, the third time the Angel Jibril squeezed the Prophet and recited the words of surah Alaq, verses 1-5. The Prophet felt the words were imprinted on his heart. He ran out the cave and could see the Angel on the horizon. He ran home and asked his wife to cover him and narrated what had happened.

Cave Thawr is where the Prophet hid with his companion Abu Bakr when they left Makka on the migration to Madina. They were followed by men hired by the Quraysh to kill the Prophet. They stayed in the cave for three days. Abu Bakr entered to clear the cave for the Prophet; while the Prophet slept on his lap, something stung Abu Bakr but he did not cry out. A spider wove its web at the entrance, and birds made a nest, so when the Quraysh got to the cave they did not go in. Abu Bakr was scared and the Prophet reassured him that God was with them (9.40). After three days they left the cave for Madina. Abu Bakr’s son would come to give them news of Makka and his daughter brought them food for their journey.

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Candidates should expand on these details to gain the highest level.

(b) In what respects were the Prophet’s experiences in the cave of Thawr important for his prophethood?

[4]

The events in the cave of Thawr were important to the Prophet because it gave himreassurance that God was looking after him, as the web that was spun on the cave saved his life, so Islam was spread. It also confirmed the loyalty of Abu Bakr to the Prophet, as Abu Bakr was afraid but did not give himself or the Prophet away to the Quraysh. These are not the only valid answers, and candidates should be credited where they give reasons for their answer.

[ER][12]

Question 4(a) This was also a popular question, and was well attempted by the candidates. However, many candidates focused on the events of Hira and less so those at Thawr. For those who mentioned Thawr, the information was not always wholly accurate. Many answers wrote more in detail about the events leading up to the incident in Thawr, and less about the actual incidence in the cave, the latter information being more relevant than the former for this question.(b) Most of the answers were good, and candidates understood that this experience increased theProphet’s faith in God and the confidence in his mission, and how it could have resulted in the end of his own life and the end of Islam consequently. There were a few candidates who wrote about the importance of Abu Bakr’s enduring supporttowards the Prophet. A few mistakenly wrote about the experience in Hira.Weaker candidates merely mentioned that the incident of Thawr ensured that he was not killed and was able to continue with his mission.

2 (a) Give an account of the Prophet's first experience of receivingrevelation. [10] (O/N/04)

(b) Explain the significance of the actions of the angel and Waraqa lbnNawfal in this event. [2 x 3]

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(a) For full marks answers should include all the points marked *.• *Muhammad was meditating in a cave on Mount Hira.• This was when he was 40.• *A being unknown to him but later identified as Gabriel appeared.• *This being seized him and crushed him, and gave him the order 'Recite!'• *He could not, and the crushing and order were repeated twice (three times in all).• *Then the being itself recited ‘Recite, in the name of your Lord who created’, etc.• (give one mark for a reference to the Qur'anic verses, and 2 marks for a full quotation).• Muhammad left the cave and returned home.• On the way he again saw the being as a giant figure astride the horizon.• He went to his wife Khadija in confusion.• She took him to her relative Waraqa lbn Nawfal for an explanation of what had happened.• He said the being was the Angel of the Law.

(b) • The angel was performing the duty he had previously performed with othermessengers.• He was the first to alert the Prophet to his new career.• His appearance is a sign that the revelations were truly from God.• Waraqa was the first to explain to the Prophet the significance of his experience.• He helped him realise that he had been visited by the angel who had appeared to other messengers.• This helped the Prophet understand the responsibilities to which he had been called.

Question 2(a) This part was answered very well by many candidates, though some answers were fuller than others. The fullest detailed the triple crushing of the Prophet, quoted the verses revealed to him, referred to his second vision of the angel after leaving the cave, his comforting by Khadija and his visit to Waraqa. In descriptive questions, the Examiners look for accuracy and completeness, and candidates often lose marks by getting basic facts wrong or leaving them out altogether. The need for planning answers is paramount. There were some surprising interpretations in a few answers. One was that the angel did not crush the Prophet but held him in order to reassure him, and another was that the angel first visited the Prophet six months before coming to him in the cave with the first revelation. If any teachers know an authentic source for such interpretations, they are asked to share them in the Discussion Group (see above). The Hadith preserved by al-Bukhari is generally taken as the most reliable source;this is quoted in full in the Islamiyat textbook, pages 10-12 (see above).

(b) There were some good answers to this part, though many candidates were unable to say why the two characters of the angel and Waraqa were important. The best answers explained that the angel who appeared was

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God’s messenger to all Prophets, and was the first to inform the Prophet Muhammad of this new career that had been chosen for him, and that Waraqa helped him to understand what this new career was, who the angel was, and the difficulties that lay ahead.2 (a) Write about the Prophet’s different experiences of revelation, after the first revelation.

[10] [O/N/12]

Answers here should not give a narrative of the first revelation in the cave of Hira, though brief mention of it is fine. Candidates should also focus on the Makkan period, i.e. the first 13 years of revelation.Candidates should mention that the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet over a period of 23 years, and not as a complete book. After the first revelation, sura al-‘alaq, revelation stopped for a period which caused the Prophet to worry. Once they started again they came strongly and frequently.Candidates could mention that there were different ways in which the verses were revealed to the Prophet, sometimes the Angel Jibra’il brought the revelations and sometimes they were revealed like the ringing of a bell. They were not within his control (sura 75:16-19) and he had no idea when they were coming. Candidates could give specific examples of verses that were revealed to the Prophet in Makka in different circumstances. They could also mention that the main task of the Prophet in Makkawas to call people to Islam and so the Makkan suras are primarily based on the Oneness of Allah and righteous conduct. Better candidates will include specific examples and quotations to support their answers.

(b) Explain the significance of the Qur’an being revealed over a period of time. [4]

Good answers here will give a thoughtful insight as to the reasons for the Qur’an being revealed over 23 years, rather than at the same time. Answers could include that they strengthened the heart of the Prophet by addressing him continuously and whenever the need for guidance arose; that it eased the burden of revelation upon him due to it’s intensity; that it allowed the new Muslims to gradually implement God’s orders; and it made it easier for them to understand, apply and memorise the revelation.Candidates could offer other valid answers which should be credited accordingly.

Question 2 [ER]

(a) It was important for candidates to write about the different ways in which the Prophet received revelation. Most candidates wrote about the first revelation in the cave of Hira, and some were able to write about the Prophet receiving revelation in different circumstances, e.g. at the battle of Badr. Many candidates did not write about the Angel Jibra’il coming to the Prophet as an angel and sometimes as a man, or that the Prophet received the revelation as the ringing of a bell, and that it weighed down heavily on him. Candidates could also have written about the difference between the Makkan and Madinan revelations. Most of the candidates who did write about these details, wrote briefly about them. There were a few higher scoring candidates who were able to

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mention these events amongst others, and gave good examples and quotations of when the revelations came, e.g. that the Prophet’s leg was on another companion’s leg and when revelation came the companion thought his leg would get crushed.

(b) In part (b) many candidates gave a thoughtful answer to the reason the Qur’an was revealed over a period of time, from easing the burden on the Prophet’s heart, to allowing the new Muslims time to implement the new teachings. There were a number of candidates though who focused on the importance of the Qur’an and the teachings that it contains.

2 (a) Give an account of how the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet.

[10]

(b) Was it significant that the Qur’an was revealed to someone who could not read or write? Give reasons for your answer.

[4] [M/J/2014]

Part (a) tests AO1, and part (b) tests AO2.

(a) Good answers will focus on the revelation in the cave of Hira. Candidates could start by writing about the Prophet’s increasing solitude in the cave; when he was 40 the revelation came to him; the angel Jibril came to him and instructed him to read, iqra, and the Prophet replied he could not; the angel squeezed him and said it again; after a third time the angel recited the first three verses of sura alaq (96); the Prophet came out of the cave and saw the angel on the horizon; he was confused and shaken; he ran home and told his wife who consoled him and took him to see her cousin, who confirmed his Prophethood. Development of these points is required for higher levels.

(a)Answers could say that being unable to read or write it would not have been possible for the Prophet to have composed the Qur’an himself; the implication is that not being able to compose the Qur’an himself, it shows that the Qur’an is from God; the Arabs had a strong oral tradition which allowed the Qur’an to be preserved through memory alone; he showed his faith in his companions when he allowed them to write down the verses revealed to him. Whichever reason the candidates choose to write about they should elaborate on it to emphasise the importance or significance of it.

[ER]

Question 2

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(a) This question was generally well answered. Most candidates were able to provide a good outline of the revelation in the cave of Hira. Weaker candidates did not develop the points with relevant details, such as quoting the first revelation or what Khadija said or did when the Prophet narrated the event to her. Better candidates wrote about the conditions at the time of the Prophet’s increasing seclusion, provided a detailed narrative about the Angel Jibril coming to the Prophet and how Khadija reacted to the news, and gave relevant quotations.

(b) Part (b) proved challenging for many candidates, with some candidates not understanding the aim of the question. Weaker answers mentioned that God giving the Qur’an to someone who could not read or write showed how He can make someone read if He wants, and did not provide reasons for the answer provided. Better answers wrote about the importance of poetry and language at that time which helped people see that someone who could not read or write could not produce this kind of work.

2 (a) The Angel Jibril brought the revelation of the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad at different times and places. Give examples to show how this took place.

[10]

(b) What was the significance of the Prophet being given the revelation by word rather than in writing?

[4][M/J/2015]

Part (a) tests AO1, and part (b) tests AO2.

(a) Answers here should not give a narrative of the first revelation in the cave of Hira, though brief mention of it is fine.Candidates could mention that the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet over a period of 23 years, and not as a complete book. After the first revelation, sura al-‘Alaq, revelation stopped for a period which caused the Prophet to worry. Once they started again they came strongly and frequently.More detailed answers will mention that there were different ways in which the verses were revealed to the Prophet. Sometimes the Angel Jibril would come in the form of a man, which the companions witnessed, and a few times the Prophet saw the Angel in his original form, e.g. on the night journey (sura najm). The most difficult was when they came as the ringing of a bell, and this would weigh down on him, so much so that his camel could not withstand the weight.They were not within his control (sura 75:16–19), he had no idea when they were coming and they were safeguarded by God.

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Candidates could also give specific examples of verses that were revealed to the Prophet in different circumstances, or narrate stories related to these revelations, such as the pressure that it put on Zayd’s thigh when he was sitting next to the Prophet during one of the revelations, or that the revelations were responses to specific events, e.g. the revelation during the migration when Abu Bakr was worried (sura tawba:40).Better candidates may mention that the Prophet also received revelation directly from God during the night journey.

(b) Candidates should be careful not to give statements, but try to qualify their answers with some reasoning. Candidates could say that the Arabs at the time had an oral tradition and it was in keeping with that. As people committed things to memory it was a more reliable way of ensuring the Qur’an’s preservation. Had it been delivered in a book, it would have been harder to check if any changes had been made. If the Prophet had been given it in written form, he would not have been able to read or write it, and because of this the oral revelation allowed the message to be memorised by him and committed to heart, again ensuring there were no errors. It is significant because the Qur’an is primarily a book of worship, in a vocative tone, rather than a legal written guide.

[ER/11]

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3 (a) Give an account of the way in which the Prophet started to preach Islam in the first few years after he began to receive the revelation. [10]

(b) Was it significant that the Prophet began preaching the message in secret?

[4][M/J/2015]

(a) Answers should focus on the Prophet’s deliverance of the message, and not theevents of the revelation itself, although brief mention of it is fine. After the Prophet received his first revelation in the cave of Hira, he only told his wife Khadija and her cousin Waraqa bin Nawfal, about the event. Khadija was the first to accept themessage. Waraqa confirmed the prophethood, and for some days there was a break inrevelation. After verses from sura Mudaththir were revealed to him, the revelation camefrequently and regularly. The main message at this point was to reject idols and believe in one God. For three years the Prophet taught and practised in secret. The first converts were those who were close to him in his household, such as Khadija, Zayd bin Harith and ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib. After this Abu Bakr the Prophet’s close friend, converted. Abu Bakr invited many people to Islam, and many prominent companions became Muslim through him. The Prophet would meet and teach these new converts in secret from the revelations he was continuing to receive. The Muslims prayed twice a day and would retreat to the mountains to do so. After there were more than 40 or so converts it could not be kept a secret any more. Then sura 26:214 was revealed to preach the message openly. He called his own clan to dinner; Abu Lahab rejected the message while Abu Talib promised protection. Then the Prophet called the people of Makka to the mount of Safa and told them about the new faith and believing in one God. His message was rejected. After this persecutions started on the early converts but Makkans continued to convert to Islam. Candidates should give details in their answer and need to avoid giving a narrative about the persecutions.

(b) Candidates could say that it was significant because the message was new and so the Prophet and his closest followers needed time to get used to it. Also, they did not know how the Quraysh would react so it was better to wait until they had some strength in numbers before openly preaching. It was also better to wait until they were guided by God to preach Islam openly. Candidates could also say that it was not significant, for example, because they were only preaching in secret because they were unsure about the message, or had very little to tell people in terms of what had been revealed.Candidates can offer their own answers but need to give reasons.

[ER/12]

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2 (a) Write an account of the major difficulties encountered by(i) the Prophet, and [6](ii) his followers [6]during the years when they lived in Makka.(b) Explain how their reaction to these difficulties can set an example for Muslims today.

[4](M/J/07)

(a) (i)• The Quraysh rejected Muhammad when he began his preaching (1 extra mark forthe full story).• An old woman regularly pelted him with rubbish on his way to prayer.• He was once nearly strangled while praying.• The Quraysh subjected him to temptation, insults and verbal abuse (1 mark for amention or brief story, 2 marks maximum).• The death of his uncle Abu Talib deprived him of protection.

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• He was rejected and assaulted when he preached at al-Ta’if.• He and his family were boycotted and forced to live in a narrow valley outside Makka(1 extra mark for comments about their steadfastness - credit this point eitherhere or in (ii) but not in both).• The death of Khadija discouraged him.

(ii)• Many of his followers were subjected to torture (1 extra mark for the story of Bilalor of Sumayya).• Some followers were forced to flee to Abyssinia to the protection of the king (1 extramark for comments about the pursuit by Quraysh and their reception by the king).• They were boycotted and forced to live in a narrow valley outside Makka (1 extramark for comments about their steadfastness - credit this point either here or in(i) but not in both).• They were prevented from worshipping at the ka`ba.• Their means of livelihood were taken away.

(b) Main points include:

• Muhammad was not deflected from preaching even when offered bribes.• He retained dignity and patience at all times.• His followers preferred to undergo hardships and death rather than give up their faith.• Muhammad showed concern for his persecutors and forgiveness towards them.• Muslims under persecution should remain loyal to one another.(Allow up to 2 marks for mention of moral points such as these.Allow 1 extra mark for one lesson derived from these points.Allow 1 extra mark for more than one lesson.)

Question 2 [ER]This asked about the difficulties encountered by the Prophet and his followers while they lived in Makka, and how their reaction can provide lessons for Muslims today.In part (a) candidates were asked for accurate accounts of the personal difficulties of the Prophet, including the insults and abuses he suffered in Makka and al-Ta’if, the boycott, and the problems presented by the deaths of Abu Talib and Khadija; and also for equally detailed accounts of the difficulties faced by the first Muslims, including the tortures inflicted on some of them, the difficulty of worshipping in public and the necessity to flee to Abyssinia. Many candidates gave full accounts, and this tended to be a high-scoring question. Inaccuracies seen in some papers were that the Prophet was stoned until his shoes filled with blood while in Makka not al-Ta’if, that he himself took part in the flight to

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Abyssinia, and that during the boycott the Muslims took refuge in the cave of Thawr (which is where the Prophet and Abu Bakr hid during their migration to Madina).

Part (b) was more demanding, asking candidates to reflect on the facts given in part (a) and to make a connection between the response of the early Muslims to their difficulties and Muslims today. Good answers would have referred to the first Muslims’ steadfastness and refusal to abandon their faith, the dignity they maintained, their unfailing loyalty towards one another, and the concern shown by the Prophet himself for his persecutors. The best answers would have gone on to add comments about the lessons these reactions can teach Muslims now. A shortcoming seen in some answers to this part was that they gave general comments about Muslim behaviour without connecting these to the conduct of the Prophet and his first followers. Candidates whogave answers such as these had clearly not thought about the Question.

3 (a) Describe the main difficulties encountered by the Prophet himself during his time in Makka after his call to prophethood.

[10] (O/N/10)

Candidates should write a detailed account of the difficulties faced by the prophet, andshould write about the events as they happened. Candidates could give a brief description of the Prophet beginning to preach openly after years of secret worship, including an account of when he stood on the hill and made his speech declaring his faith, and the reaction of the Quraysh. They could go on to give a description of the subsequent mocking and torture he faced, mentioning the key figures involved in the persecutions, and mention of the tolerance and patience of the Prophet. They could also include relevant references from the Qur’an.

(b) How does his conduct in one of these difficulties provide an example for Muslims today?

[4]

Candidates should take one of the incidents mentioned in part (a) and comment on how it can be used as an example to Muslims. They should give a brief mention of one incident, e.g. throwing intestines on Prophet, preaching at Ta’if, etc., and elaborate by saying how the Prophet reacted and the characteristics displayed e.g. patience, tolerance, forgiveness. They should then go on to give an example of how this could be related to a present day situation. Better answers will be able to give a detailed explanation of how the prophet’s morals give guidance for the contemporary situation.

Question 3 [ER]This question was a popular choice with candidates out of the three optional questions.(a) Overall this part was answered well, with most candidates writing about the difficulties faced by the Prophet once he was given the order to preach openly. Excellent answers provided a clear and detailed narrative of the key events, the main people

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involved in the persecution as well as giving relevant quotations. As well as showing that they had knowledge of the topic (mentioning a lot of the key events relating to the persecution of the Prophet, e.g. the events at Ta’if, the mocking and boycott) candidatesneeded to give details of what happened and mention specific names of those involved.The persecution inflicted upon the companions of the Prophet was not required for this question. There were a few candidates who seemed to have memorised a completely different answer, usually about the wars the Prophet took part in, and simply narrated that without checking what the actual question was asking.

(b) Answers for this part were too general. Many candidates were able to pick out the Prophet’s conduct, e.g. his forgiveness. This then needed to be linked with Muslims today. General statements such as the Prophet showed forgiveness and so Muslims today should also needed more detail. The best answers showed a mature reflection on behaviour and attitude to events today rather than just a general comment about behaviour, e.g. linking the Prophet’s patience or forgiveness to the situation in Kashmir.

5 (a) Describe the difficulties faced by the followers of the Prophet in Makka.

[10] (M/J/11)

Candidates should give a detailed narrative of the persecutions faced by the early converts in the days after the Prophet started preaching Islam. Good answers will be able to name key figures involved in the persecution, and the names of the Muslims who were being persecuted, stating that it included slaves and those without tribal protection. They could talk about the type of difficulties they faced and give an account of the persecutions. Good answers will be able to present their narratives in a clear and comprehensive manner without confusing details.

(b) What can these stories teach Muslims in their everyday lives today? [4]

Answers should reflect on the accounts the candidates have given in part (a) and be able to put their answers in a modern context. They may be able to say e.g. that Muslims should remain steadfast under all circumstances, or that they should not retaliate, but the better answers will be able to give clear examples from the lives of the candidates or the world they live in. Better answers will refer to (a) but not repeat the description, rather will explain the accounts/stories in a modern context or related to their everyday lives.

Question 5 [ER](a) Where chosen, this question was answered reasonably well, and again where candidates did not gain the highest level marks it was due to a lack of detail in their answers. Most candidates wrote about the persecution of various companions, giving

17

their names and the way in which they were tortured. Some included mention of the boycott and the migration to Abyssinia. The better answers wrote about all this, giving names and clear details about these events. There were a significant number of candidates who concentrated on the persecutions upon the Prophet, some starting with the companions then concentrating on the Prophet and others only talking about the treatment of the Prophet. Candidates should always keep the focus of the question in mind when preparing answers, and perhaps a minute spent planning their answer would aid this.(b) This part of the question was not so well answered with most candidates repeating the fact that the followers of the Prophet were steadfast, and that Muslims today also need to be steadfast. There was not much attempt at evaluation.Better candidates gave real life examples whether personal, national or global.

5 (a) Describe the persecution faced by the first Muslims in Makka. [10] [O/N/12]

Candidates should give a detailed narrative of the persecutions faced by the first Muslims in the days after the Prophet started preaching Islam.Good answers will be able to name key figures involved in the persecution, and the names of the Muslims who were being persecuted, stating that it included slaves and those without tribal protection. They could talk about the type of difficulties they faced and give an account of the persecutions. Good answers will be able to present their narratives in a clear and comprehensive manner without confusing details.Some of the information that could be mentioned: Abu Jahl put foetus of camel on theProphet’s back; Abu Lahab flung stones on the Prophet and made his sons divorce theProphet’s daughters; ‘Uthman was wrapped in leaves by his uncle and set on fire; Bilalseverely beaten by his master Umaiyah, and deprived of food and drink etc; Ammar binYasser, beaten severely and made to lie on hot embers; his father died due to severetortures, his mother Sumayyah was bayoneted to death; Harith bin Hala, blacksmith, tortured and killed; there was the boycott to Shib i Abi Talib and the migration to Abyssinia.

(b) What can Muslims in modern times learn from these stories? [4]

Answers should reflect on the accounts the candidates have given in part (a) and be able to put their answers in a modern context. They may be able to say e.g. that Muslims should remain firm in their faith under all circumstances, but the better answers will be able to give clear examples from the lives of Muslims or the world they live in as to how and in what circumstances they should remain steadfast. Better answers will refer to (a) but not repeat the description, rather will explain the accounts/stories in a modern context or related to everyday lives.

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Question 5 [ER](a) This was the most popular of the optional questions.Most answers were a little above average but few were excellent or very good. The main reason was that candidates seemed to focus their answer on the persecution faced by the Prophet, with some mention of Bilal, without focusing on the early Muslim converts who faced harsh persecutions from the non-Muslims. Candidates could have talked about ‘Uthman, Ammar bin Yasser, his mother and father, Harith bin Hala (amongst others), the need for migration to Abyssinia, and the boycott to Shib Abi-Talib.Candidates who answered this question well answered it very well and gave details of many converts who were tortured as well as mentioning the migration and boycott.

(b) Most answers here wrote about being patient and steadfast in difficult times like Bilal, which is a general answer, and so most answers were satisfactory. Better answers could have elaborated by saying that Muslims need to be patient and keep their faith in times of difficulty like in Burma or Palestine, or that Muslims should not get angry when people make films of the Prophet which insult him. Reference to current issues and relating them to the question are a good way to gain high levels in part (b) questions.5 (a) Give an account of the persecutions faced by the early converts to Islam in Makka. [10][M/J/2013]

(b) How are these accounts relevant to Muslims now? [4]

(a) Candidates should give a detailed narrative of the persecutions faced by the first Muslims in the years after the Prophet started preaching Islam.Good answers will be able to name key figures involved in the persecution, and the names of the Muslims who were being persecuted, stating that it included slaves and those without tribal protection. They could talk about the type of difficulties they faced, e.g. the physical torture, and give an account of the persecutions. They could also mention the migration to Abyssinia and the social and economic boycott.Good answers will be able to present their narratives in a clear and comprehensive manner without confusing details. Answers about the Prophet’s persecution will not be credited.

(b) Answers should reflect on the accounts the candidates have given in part (a) and be able to put their answers in a modern context. They may be able to say e.g. that these stories tell Muslims to remain patient in times of difficulty, but the better answers will be able to show depth and understanding, e.g. Muslims facing hardships now should look at these examples to compare the difficulties they faced/these examples allow Muslims to reflect on how they behave in times of difficulty or oppression. These stories can be a source of encouragement and comfort if Muslims can see that the first generation of Muslims went through these hardships. Better answers will be able to give definite examples from the lives of Muslims or the world they live in. Better answers will refer to (a) but not repeat the description.

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[ER]Question 5(a) This question was attempted by most of the candidates and the level was mostly good. Most of them wrote in depth about the persecutions faced by early converts along with the details of different types of physical tortures inflicted on them. Able candidates mentioned the names of prominent figures, such as Walib ibn Mugheerah, Utba, Abu Jahl, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, for the persecutors as well as those persecuted, such as Bilal. It was important to respond to the question for converts, not the Prophet (pbuh) himself.

In part (b) the best candidates drew parallels between the situation then and the situation now. Some mentioned Palestine, Burma and Kashmir. Most stressed on the need to be steadfast in religion.2 (a) Write brief accounts of the following two incidents in the life of the Prophet:

(M/J/05)

(i) his attempt to preach to the people of al-Ta’if; [5]• Muhammad went to al-Ta’if when the persecution at Mecca was intense.• He was looking for a new place where his teachings would be accepted.• The townspeople rejected his message.• Boys pelted him with stones as he left.• He was badly injured.• Angels offered to destroy the town for him, but he forgave the people.(1 mark for quotation of his words: I was sent as a blessing to the worlds…)

(ii) his conquest of Mecca. [5]• By 630 Muhammad had grown powerful in Arabia.• He decided to attack Mecca because the people had broken their treaty.• He promised that those Meccans who did not resist would be safe.• He approached Mecca with a great army.• There was no resistance when he entered.• He spared all who sought his pardon.• He executed a few stubborn people who resisted him.• He cleansed the ka`ba of its idols.

(b) What lessons can Muslims today learn from the Prophet’s conduct in each of these incidents?

[2 x 3]

[Candidates should make at least 3 comments about each incident, e.g.:](i) • Muhammad attempted to find a realistic solution to his difficulties in Mecca.• He did not try to resist the people of al-Ta’if when they rejected him.• He responded to cruelty with forgiveness.• He attempted to understand the people’s ignorance of who he was and what hesaid.

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[Reserve the third mark for clear applications of these lessons to contemporaryconditions.]

Question 2 [ER](a) This part was generally well answered. Nearly all candidates gave full accounts of the Prophet’s failure in al-Ta’if, though some thought he went there from Madina rather than Makka, and some thought he went with an army to conquer the town. Most candidates also gave full accounts of the Prophet’s conquest of Makka, explaining why he gathered an army against it, how he approached the town, and what he did when he got there. Some candidates gained full marks for their concise and full answers to this part.(b) This more challenging part was on the whole not answered so well. Good answers would have commented on the Prophet’s reaction of forgiveness in al-Ta’if to the people’s rejection and his refusal to allow revenge; also his peaceful approach to Makka, his willingness to allow his enemies every chance to abandon their resistance and his concern to instate Islamic practices. And they would have made links between these examples from the Prophet’s life to their own lives. While a number of candidates did exactly this, many more made general comments about the Prophet being a perfect example of forgiveness without showing how this quality was brought out in the two stories in (a), and without making links with contemporary situations. It is important in this part to be specific in identifying precise elements in the Prophet’s conduct, and showing exactly how these can be applied in actual situations today.

3 (a) Describe the events of the Prophet’s visit to Ta’if. [10][O/N/2014]

(b) How can Muslims apply in practice the lessons learnt from the Prophet’s behaviour in this situation?

[4]

(a) The Prophet had been preaching to the people of Makka for ten years and they had faced many hardships; the number of Muslims was relatively small; his greatest supporters Khadija and Abu Talib had passed away; he looked out of Makka to preach his message and went to Ta’if with Zaid bin Haritha; he thought people would be favourable to his message but they were hostile towards him; he stayed ten days there delivering the message to the people, but he was abused and jeered; they were chased out by being pelted with stones til blood flowed down the Prophet’s legs; Zaid was injured too; they took refuge in an orchard a few miles away; seeing his condition, Rabi’a’s two sons sent their servant with a tray of grapes; Jibril later appeared with

21

another angel and asked the Prophet for permission to bury the city; the Prophet refused and instead prayed for believers to be born from their progeny. The best answers will be able to expand and give depth to these events, and whilst not all of the above needs to be mentioned, highest level answers will describe and elaborate on most of these details.

(b) Candidates can present any lesson that’s relevant to the events of Ta’if, but thoughtful answers will present the lesson within the context of a situation.Examples could be, that the Prophet did not give up his faith in times of difficulty, despite few conversions and losing his wife and uncle, but rather he persevered. Muslims should learn to persevere in times of difficulty, when they have lost family members or they are living in difficult circumstances in their community; the Prophet did not curse or wish the worst for those people who had treated him so badly, but rather prayed for them. So Muslims now should not get angry and wish bad things towards those who insult Islam or the Prophet, but should try to do or say good things for them.

[ER] [11]

Question 3(a) This was a popular question from the optional questions. Most of the candidates gave good, detailed accounts of the events at Ta’if. There were some candidates who wrote very briefly about this event.(b) Most of the candidates wrote general comments about being forgiving and patient. Those who gave good answers wrote about how Muslims can forgive those who have wronged them and gave examples from their lives, or wrote that this example of mercy is a good way to attract people to Islam and so Muslims should think about this when they interact with others.Question 2 (M/J/03)In part (a) candidates were expected to give a concise but accurate account of the main difficulties experienced by the young Muslim community in the years between the first revelation to the Prophet Muhammad and the hijra. An immediate challenge was to decide when to start and when to finish the account. Good answers would not have started with the first revelation itself, but with the Prophet’s first public preaching and the rejection he encountered. Answers should have concluded at the point of the hijra, but should not have described it, since the Prophet left Mecca at this time. They would have included, e.g. the sufferings of Muhammad’s followers, especially Bilal and others known to have been tortured; the insults and physical assaults on the Prophet himself; the flight to Abyssinia; the boycott imposed on the Prophet’s family; the deaths of the Prophet’s wife and uncle. Examiners looked for sharp accounts of these sufferings, and there were many very full answers, leading to high scores in this part. However, some candidatesomitted a number of these events, others brought in events from the Prophet’s youth or the hijra, and one or two wrote about the battles waged between the Prophet’s forces and the Meccans in the years following 622. Part (b) was answered very well by some candidates, and a few were able to draw moral comparisons between the events of the Prophet’s time and

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events taking place in the Arab world at the time of the examination itself. This is exactly what the Examiners wish to encourage, since it shows a lively ability to see in the crucial happenings of the Prophet’s life lessons for Muslims today. Others wrote more generally about the examples of patience and acceptance set by the first Muslims, though some continued to give facts about the period referred to in the question without addressing the question asked in (b) itself.

3 (a) Give an account of the events of the Prophet’s night journey and ascension [‘Isra wa mi’raj].

[10] (M/J/11)

Candidates should talk about the events of the night journey as they happened, and be able to provide an in-depth narrative of the journey. They could talk about the Prophet being woken from his sleep and taken on al-Buraq from Makka to Jerusalem by the angel Jibril They could mention all the things that he saw on his way, the prophets that he met, the questions that he asked Jibril, and the fact that he led the prophets in prayer. They should also go on to mention that he was taken through the heavens and was finally in the presence of his Lord. Answers should also mention that this all took place in one night, and what the people of Makka said when he told them about his journey.

(b) Explain the importance of this event to the Prophet himself. [4]

Good answers here will be able to mention the conditions for the Prophet in Makka at this time that he had lost his closest supporters and was being mocked for being left by God. They should talk about the importance of physical and spiritual support needed by the Prophet. The events reassured him of his closeness with God and his status among other messengers, and gave him spiritual support. His physical support came from his companions who believed that if the Prophet said it happened, then it did.

Question 3 [ER](a) This part was answered well, with most candidates being able to write about some of the key events of this journey. Many answers narrated different aspects of the story. More detail was needed for the higher levels. Excellent answers provided a clear and detailed narrative of the key events, from the Prophet being awoken in Makka by Jibra’il, being taken to Jerusalem, his journey to the heavens, his meeting with God, giving details of what happened at the different stages, as well as including relevant quotations.Some responses focused too much on what happened at each level of the skies at the expense of e.g. mentioning the stop at Masjid al-Aqsa and the gift of prayers, and there were a few confused scripts where the events were totally out of sequence or major and important parts missed or not well covered.

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(b) It was important to write about the significance of this journey in answering this question not just to give a general answer. Good answers showed how this event was important to the Prophet e.g. it was to boost his morale especially after the loss of his wife and uncle, he found support amongst his companions such as Abu Bakr, or in fact that it was a vindication for the prophet’s claim that he was a messenger of god.

3 (a) Write about the Prophet’s night journey and ascension [al-‘isra wa-mi’raj].

[10](b) How did this journey help the Prophet in his mission? [4] [O/N/2013]

(a) Candidates should talk about the events of the night journey as they happened.They could talk about the Prophet being woken from his sleep and taken on al-Buraq from Makka to Jerusalem by the angel Jibril. They could mention all the things that he saw on his way, the prophets that he met, the questions that he asked Jibril, and the fact that he led the prophets in prayer. They should also go on to mention that he was taken through the heavens and was finally in the presence of his Lord. He was given the five daily prayers. Answers should also mention that this all took place in one night, and what the people of Makka said when he told them about his journey.

(b) Candidates should give thoughtful answers as to how this event could have been beneficial for the Prophet. They could mention that it gave him comfort after a period of difficulty in Makka, and he realised God had not left him. It gave him the encouragement he needed to carry on preaching in the face of continued opposition. It allowed him to see what he, and all Muslims, should be striving for which gave him renewed strength.He realised his status amongst prophets (as seal of the prophets, he led them in prayer), and realised the blessings God had given his community (by giving the five prayers). It confirmed his prophethood as he met with God, going further than anyone else had been.Candidates do not have to mention all of the above, but should have some depth to any answers they give.

[ER] Question 3

(a) This question about the night journey and ascension was averagely answered, with candidates knowing that the Prophet was taken from Makka to the heavens to meet God. However, many of the significant details were missing from their answers, and so answers could not reach higher levels. The best answers gave details of Jibra’il coming to the Prophet, washing his heart, takinghim to Jerusalem on Buraq to lead the prophet’s in prayer, the things that he saw and the conversations that he had when he ascended the heavens, his dialogue with God and the reaction of the Quraysh when he returned. Average answers mentioned only a few of these things, without many details.

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(b)This was satisfactorily answered, with most candidates saying that it consoled the Prophet after the death of his wife. Better answers went on to say that this event was to console him and show God’s love and protection for him, as well as showing his status amongst all the prophets. It showed his closeness to God which allowed him to gain confidence in his preaching again.

4 (a) Write an account of the first migration (hijra) of the Muslims to Abyssinia.

[10](M/J/09)

Good answers should be able to narrate the story of the migration to Abyssinia withconsiderable detail, being able to name the main Muslims involved. Answers could give an account of the persecution faced by Muslims in Makkah and why these persecutions had increased on the Prophet’s followers; that the Prophet ordered some followers to go to Abyssinia to seek protection from it’s just king; they were led by the Prophet’s cousin, Ja’far Ibn Abu Talib; the Quraysh followed them and asked the king to return them; what happened when Sura Maryam was recited to the king. Excellent answers will give in-depth details of the story as it happened, as well as saying why these particular Muslims took part.

(b) Why did the people of Makka pursue these Muslims? [4]

Good answers here will be able to give reasons for the migration rather than repeat the story again. They could say why the Makkans wanted to destroy the new faith, as it threatened their own religious and economic stability, and therefore didn’t want the Muslims to escape and for Islam to flourish. Excellent answers will show a clear understanding of the threat the Makkans felt and the fears they had due to the increasing number of Muslims.

Question 4 [ER]This question was also popular with candidates to answer.(a) This was generally well answered, and good answers were able to give a detailed and concise narrative about the migration to Abyssinia, from the persecution of the new Muslims to the events in King Negus’s court. Many candidates gave an excellent account including the names and number of migrants, the difficulties faced during the hijra and the acceptance of Islam. Candidates made the connection between Christianity and Islam being similar and also pointed out why they thought so.Some lower level answers were unbalanced with a lot of detail about persecution and a lack of detail of about why they decided to go (lack of protection/vulnerability) as well as what happened in Abyssinia. Unfortunately a significant minority of candidates wrote at length about the Hijra to Madinah.

(c) This part was answered well on the whole, but there was some confusion with a number of candidates misunderstanding that the question was referring to the pursuit by the Quraish of the Muslims

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who escaped to Abyssinia. Many answers were further descriptions of the persecution of the Muslims in Makkah, possibly because candidates confused the word ‘pursue’ with ‘persecution’. Again, candidates should do their best to read the question carefully and understand it before attempting to answer it.

3 (a) Write about the Prophet Muhammad’s interaction with the Quraysh while he lived in Makka, before and after revelation.

[10] (O/N/2011)

Good answers will be able to provide a detailed and concise narrative of events that occurred between the Prophet and the Quraysh. Candidates should talk about the Prophet’s status in the community prior to Islam. They could talk about the fact that the Prophet was known as ‘Al-Amin’ or the trustworthy. They could mention, using examples, that prior to his Prophethood, the Quraysh used to consult him in important matters, trust him with their goods, and look to him for advice. For example they could mention that when the Prophet was younger he was chosen by the Quraysh to settle the dispute of who should replace the sacred black stone to its position at the Ka’ba.Answers should also mention that after Prophethood, the Prophet Muhammad was rejected when he invited the Quraysh to Islam. He was taunted, mocked and openly humiliated by different members of the Quraysh. The best answers will include details of events before the period of revelation and after revelation.

(b) Why did the Quraysh feel they needed to reject the Prophet’s message? [4]

Good answers here will be able to mention that the Quraysh had their own belief system and that they worshipped many idols opposed to the Prophet Muhammad’s message ofmonotheism. By changing their ways, they faced losing their status and position as leaders and keepers of the Ka’ba. They also faced losing income, felt threatened by the Prophet’s influence upon the youth of Makka, and his growing support. This should not just be a description of the reasons, candidates should include evaluation.

Question 3 [ER]

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(a) This part was well answered by most candidates. Many candidates understood that they needed to write about the Prophet’s character but from the viewpoint of the Quraysh. Many wrote about the major events before prophethood for e.g. the flooding of the Ka’ba and how the resolving of the dispute highlighted the Quraysh’s respect for the Prophet’s decision making. Many candidates also wrote that the relation altered after prophethood, detailing the persecution he faced and continued to highlight the nobility of the Prophet’s character by mentioning he was still entrusted with the Quraysh’s goods.Some candidates were able to mention the events before and after prophethood, but without details. Some answers focused on the question being about persecution or the Prophet’s character being al-sadiq or al-amin, which it was not. Some candidates narrated the childhood and life of the Prophet; others made general comments re the Prophet’s interaction before the revelation of the Qur’an without reference to specific events.

(b) Part (b) was generally well answered by candidates, with most being able to write about the main reasons the Quraysh rejected the Prophet’s message; not wanting to renounce their religion, losing the economic benefit of Ka’ba as a house of polytheism, not being able to give up their un-Islamic way of life and not accepting power from one lower in status than them. Good answers wrote and reflected upon these points.

3 (a) Write about the changes in the relationship between the Prophet and the Quraysh in the years between his marriage to Khadija and the death of Abu Talib.

[10]

(b) Why is it significant that the Quraysh were still willing to keep their belongings with the Prophet after he started to preach Islam? [4][M/J/2015]

(a) Candidates should talk about the Prophet’s status in the community prior to him becoming a prophet. He was known as ‘Al-Amin’ or the trustworthy. Candidates should mention, using examples, that prior to his prophethood, the Quraysh used to consult him in important matters, trust him with their goods, and look to him for advice. For example they could mention that when the Prophet was younger he was chosen by the Quraysh to settle the dispute of who shouldreplace the sacred black stone to its position at the Ka’ba. Answers should also mention that after revelation, the Prophet Muhammad was rejected when he invited the Quraysh to Islam. They still trusted him but did not want to believe in his message. He was taunted, mocked and openly humiliated by different members of the Quraysh. The best answers will include details of events before the period of revelation and after revelation.

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Candidates should not mention only one or two events, such as the boycott, but give a wider narrative of events before and after prophethood. Details about the events themselves should be credited.

(b) Candidates can offer a variety of answers, but they should try to explain their answers with reasoning. They could say that despite the message he was preaching, they still knew that his character would not have changed because they had never found any discrepancies in his character. Despite not liking what the Prophet was saying they still valued their belongings and wanted to keep them where they knew they would get them back. The reasons the Quraysh changed were political and social, not because the Prophet had changed, or because they felt he was lying/spreading falsehood.

[ER/11]

4 (a) Describe the main events relating to the first migration (hijrah) of Muslims to Abyssinia.

[10] [M/J/12]

(b) What was the importance of making this migration at that time? [4]

(a) Good answers should be able to narrate the story of the migration to Abyssinia withconsiderable detail, being able to name the main Muslims involved. Answers could give an account of the persecution faced by Muslims in Makkah and why these persecutions had increased on the Prophet’s followers; that the Prophet ordered some followers to go to Abyssinia to seek protection from it’s just king; amongst the first group was ‘Uthman and Ruqayyah; the second group was led by the Prophet’s cousin, Ja’far Ibn Abu Talib; the Quraysh followed them and asked the king to return them; what happened whenSura Maryam was recited to the king.Excellent answers will give in-depth details of the story as it happened, name the Muslims who migrated, as well as saying why these particular Muslims took part.

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(b) Candidates could mention that the Muslims being persecuted meant they could not establish their religion in Makka, and moving to Abyssinia allowed them religious freedom. Those not willing to renounce Islam were in danger of torture or death. The migration therefore safeguarded the new converts to Islam and the future Muslim community. Importantly, it was the Prophet who encouraged them to go.

Question 4 [ER] [M/J/2012]

(a) This was generally a well answered question. There were some very good, developed answers to this question. The main events of the migration were well known and some candidates described or highlighted the importance of Ja’far’s speech and recitation of Sura Maryam. Many candidates who answered this question were very good with quoting the Qur’anic instruction to migrate, gave the names and number of emigrants, names of Quraysh who pursued them, were able to report the speech of Ja’far, quoted the name of the sura (some even quoted the verse) and the king’s response. Occasionally candidates were confused about who went to Abyssinia (some thought the Prophet had) and whether Abu Talib and the Prophet’s wife Khadija had died by this time. Most understood that it was a Christian land the emigrants had gone to.

(b) This question was answered quite well. Candidates needed to do more than repeat elements from part (a). Good answers mentioned the fact that the immigrants were considered to be in Jihad, that they were able to practice their religion freely, they founded a society without the presence of the Prophet and that it paved the way to a bigger migration to Madina.

4 (a) Give an account of the migration of the early Muslims to Abyssinia. [10](b) What was the significance of this migration for the early Muslim community?

[4] [O/N/2013]

(a) Good answers should be able to narrate the story of the migration to Abyssinia withconsiderable detail, being able to name the main Muslims involved.Answers could give an account of the persecution faced by Muslims in Makka and why these persecutions had increased on the Prophet’s followers; that the Prophet ordered some followers to go to Abyssinia to seek protection from its just king; ‘Uthman and Ruqayya went in the first migration, and later the second delegation was led by the Prophet’s cousin, Ja’far Ibn Abi Talib; the Quraysh followed them and asked the king to return them; and what happened when Ja’far spoke and then recited verses of Sura Maryam to the king. Excellent answers will give in-depth details of the story as it happened, name the Muslims who migrated, as well as saying why these particular Muslims took part.

(b) Candidates could mention that the Muslims being persecuted meant they could not establish their religion in Makka, and moving to Abyssinia allowed them religious freedom. Those not willing to renounce Islam were in danger

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of torture or death. The migration therefore safeguarded the new converts to Islam and the future Muslim community. Importantly, it was the Prophet who encouraged them to go. They migrated to Madina once the Prophet had completed his hijra.

[ER]

Question 4(a) This was averagely answered with most candidates giving only a general outline of the migration to Abyssinia and the security given by the King. Many candidates did not give details of the number who migrated, and did not give details of the dialogue that took place between the King, the Quraysh and the Muslim migrants. Generally it was said that the Muslims recited verses from suraMaryam and the King said that this and the bible were lights of the same candle. The better candidates gave details of the speech of Ja’far, the verses he quoted and the subsequent response of the King and the Quraysh.

(b) Candidates wrote about the Muslims escaping persecution and finding safety, but many of the answers were general and did achieve the higher level.

3 (a) Write about the Prophet’s activities in spreading Islam outside Makka, before the migration to Madina.

[10][O/N/2014]

The two main events related to this are the visit to Ta’if and the Pledges of Aqaba.Candidates should write about both events to reach higher levels. As the number of converts to Islam was not increasing, and due to the persecution by the Quraysh, the Prophet turned his attention to communities outside Makka. He first went to Ta’if, where he called the people to Islam for ten days. The people of the city chased the Prophet and Zaid bin Harith out, pelting them with stones. Blood flowed down his legs and Zaid was injured too. They took refuge in an orchard. God sent the Angel Jibril, with the angel of the mountain, to crush the town and its inhabitants with the mountains surroundingit, with the Prophet’s permission. The Prophet instead prayed for them that they becomeMuslim. The Prophet then focused on preaching to pilgrims coming to Makka for the pilgrimage. In the eleventh year of prophethood, six men from Yathrib listened to the Prophet’s message. They accepted Islam and went back to Yathrib and preached the message of Islam. The following year, twelve men came to offer their allegiance to the Prophet. They pledged to worship one God, not steal or commit adultery, nor kill their children. The Prophet sent Musab bin ‘Umair to teach the people of Yathrib. In the following year, over 70 pilgrims came to Makka from Yathrib and swore allegiance tothe Prophet. In this pledge they agreed to listen and obey the Prophet, to spend when they had lots and when they had less, to enjoin good and forbid

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evil, to fear no one, and to defend the Prophet. After this the Prophet gave the Muslims permission to start migrating to Madina.

(b) Choose one quality shown by the Prophet in these activities and explain how Muslims today can learn from it.

[4]

Candidates could, e.g. write about the forgiveness shown by the Prophet. He had anopportunity to have revenge on those who had harmed him but instead he chose to pray for them. Muslims can learn that prayer can be more powerful than retaliation. That it is not necessary to fight violence with violence. In difficult circumstances, such as oppression, or when people are harming you, forgiveness can be a powerful tool. Muslims should learn to be more forgiving in all circumstances, e.g. if someone has stolen from them, or has called them names. Candidates can choose to write about other qualities, but they need to justify their answer with an example.

[ER] [12] Question 3

(a) This was a popular question from the optional questions. Most of the candidates gave good, detailed accounts of the events at Ta’if but fewer gave detailed accounts of the pledges of Aqaba. On occasion, the details of the pledges were lacking and the names of the figures involved were wrong. Some did not make a clear distinction that there were in fact two pledges. There was a general confusion on the number of people who made the pledges, or details and conditions of the actual pledges themselves.There seemed to be great focus on the Muslims seeking refuge in Abyssinia and using this as a means to spread Islam. However, the question asks about the Prophet’s activities in spreading Islam outside Makka - the Prophet did not migrate to Abyssinia.(b) Most of the candidates wrote about the Prophet’s remarkable magnanimity towards the people of Ta’if after the treatment he received from them.A few also mentioned his perseverance in giving dawah, even though the outcomes were meager and how Muslims should persevere in doing dawah, despite the negative outcomes. Many candidates wrote general comments about being forgiving and patient.

5 (a) Trace the events that led up to the Prophet’s migration (hijra). [10] (O/N/09)

For this answer an account should be given about the events before the prophet migrated to Madina, not the actual journey or events of migration itself.Answers could briefly discuss the persecution of the Muslims by the Makkans and theirmigration to Abyssinia which later encouraged them to make the migration to Yathrib. The boycott of the Banu Hashim clan by the Qur’aysh followed by the deaths of Abu Talib and Hazrat Khadije are points that candidates can discuss when answering this question. Answers could also talk about the prophet’s reaction to the loss of protection and his attempts to spread Islam elsewhere. The prophet met six men in Makka, who had come from Yathrib for the

31

annual pilgrimage. They became Muslim and returned to Makka the following year with more people who took an oath at ‘Aqaba in 621. The following year more people came to take the oath with the prophet. They invited the prophet to come to Yathrib as their leader. The best answers will be able to give details of the number of pledges, the number of Yathribites/Madinans involved, some brief details of what was in the pledges, and an indication of the result of the pledges. (b) Explain the importance of the Pledges of ‘Aqaba to the Prophet in the period leading up to the migration.

[4]

Good answers should be able to talk about the prophet’s vulnerability at this time, and his attempt to gain support from other places (e.g. in Al-Ta’if). They could also mention the tribal system of the time and the difficulties the prophet faced without protection within this system. Also, the pledges gave hope to the Muslims and the prophet as they found support and protection from a different, but willing, source.

Question 5 [ER]For this Part (a) answer an account had to be given about events before the Prophet migrated to Madina, not the actual journey. Some candidates did make the mistake of writing the latter in great detail. Very few discussed the point that the migration to Abyssinia gave the Prophet and Muslims in general the encouragement to make the greater migration to Madina. Even from those who mentioned the migration toAbyssinia, many failed to point out the link that its success encouraged the greater migration. Candidates should be encouraged to think for themselves and link answers to the question being asked. Also, in this answer the Pledges of Aqaba had to be discussed in detail to get good marks. The question was well done on the whole by those who attempted it.

In Part (b) of this question many focused on writing a detailed account of the Pledges of Aqaba (even if they had not done so in Part (a) where it would have earned them marks) which was not what was being asked. Good answers needed to talk of the Prophet’s vulnerability at this time and the difficulties he was facing due to lack of tribal support and how, due to the pledges, the Prophet found support and protection from a different but willing source.

3 (a) Give an account of the events surrounding the Pledges of ‘Aqaba and the main details in them.

[10] [O/N/12]

Good answers will be able to provide a detailed and concise narrative of events that occurred between the Prophet and the people of Yathrib.Answers could talk about the Prophet’s attempts to spread Islam outside Makka withoutsuccess. Soon after the events of al-Ta’if he met six men in Makka, who had come fromYathrib for the annual pilgrimage. They became Muslim and returned to Makka the following year with more people (12) who took an oath at ‘Aqaba

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in 621 which is known as the First Pledge of ‘Aqaba. Musab bin Umair sent with them to teach them about Islam. The following year more people came to take the oath with the Prophet (70). They invited the Prophet to come to Yathrib as their leader. The Prophet told Muslims to start migrating. Initially the six men said they would go back and tell people about the Prophet. The first pledge had details relating to worshipping one God, not stealing, committing adultery, killing their children, not slandering or disobeying the Prophet. The second pledge was to listen to and obey the Prophet, to spend in plenty as well as scarcity, to enjoin good and forbid evil, fear no one but Allah and defend the Prophet if he needs it.The best answers will be able to give details of the number of pledges, the number ofYathribites/Madinans involved and the names of some key figures, the main details of what was in the pledges, and an indication of the result of the pledges.

(b) How were these pledges important for the future community of Muslims? [4]

Good answers could give some insight as to what important lessons they provide forMuslims. Candidates could mention that the pledges set the foundation for a Muslim community to live in harmony and with religious freedom. They brought a change to the conditions of the Muslims and allowed Islam to be established. Ideas in the pledges still hold true for today, like the pledge to not kill their children.

Question 3 [ER]

(a) This part was generally well answered by most candidates, but few candidates managed to get to a level four answer. Most candidates were able to mention some of the key points about the pledges, the number of people who came to ‘Aqaba, and the subsequent migration. Few candidates were able to give details as to what was pledged (not taking partners with God, not killing their children, protecting the Prophet, etc.).Most answers focused on the events at Ta’if beforehand and the subsequent migration, with a short paragraph in between about the pledges, and a significant minority of candidates wrote about the Prophet’s attempts to spread Islam from the moment he received revelation. This was not only unnecessary but led to a shift away from what the actual question was about.

(b) For part (b) most candidates were able to give some reasons as to why the pledges were important to the future Muslim community, saying that they allowed them religious freedom which they never had in Makkah, that they allowed Islam to be established and some candidates were able to relate it to Muslims now, saying that these pledges allowed Islam to have a base and spread to other places.

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3 (a) Abu Talib died in 619. Describe the events following this that led to the Prophet’s migration (hijra) to Madina.

[10][M/J/2013]

(b) Why was this migration important for the Muslim community? [4]

(a) For this answer an account should be given about the events before the Prophet migrated to Madina, not the actual journey or events of migration itself. Good answers will be able to tell the story fully and concisely, with a clear starting point (e.g. the death of Abu Talib and the loss of protection for the Prophet, or they could start from thefailure at Ta’if), and end point. Answers could talk about the Prophet’s reaction to the loss of protection and his attempts to spread Islam elsewhere. The Prophet met six men in Makka, who had come from Yathrib for the annual pilgrimage. They became Muslim and returned to Makka the following year with more people who took an oath at ‘Aqaba in 621. The following year more people came to take the oath with the Prophet. They invited the Prophet to come to Yathrib as their leader. In Makka there was a plot to assassinate him, and eventually there was a sura revealed telling him to migrate.The best answers will be able to expand and give depth to these events.

(b) Good answers will be able to mention that the difficulties in Makka meant that Muslims could not freely practice their new faith, and that this new religion had stopped expanding. They could talk about how the migration would provide them with an opportunity to expand, and provide religious freedom. It also made the Prophet the leader of a community allowing Islam to be established. Candidates can give any number of reasons, but they should develop the answer to show the importance of what they are saying, e.g. not by writing: ‘the migration gave the Muslims freedom’, but expand on it by saying they were free from the persecutions or that they couldproperly learn and implement the laws. The Prophet’s life was threatened and so migrating allowed him to escape further persecution and possible death, and establish Islam.

[ER] Question 3

(a) A popular question and well answered mostly, although it was important to note that answers needed to be within the scope of the questions to be credited. Some candidates described the actual journey from Makka to Madina and the hurdles faced by the Holy Prophet (pbuh) before he reached Madina. Most candidates gave a good report of the failure at Taif and the Pledge of Aqaba with accurate dates and figures along with some of the terms of the pledge. Also the attempt to murder the Prophet (pbuh) and God’s revelation was discussed by able candidates.

(b) This question was very well answered. The vast majority listed the importance of migration for the Muslim community, such as to escape persecution, to safeguard the life of the Prophet (pbuh), in order to be able to practice their religion freely.

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2 (a) Describe the events that immediately led up to the Prophet’s migration, the hijra. [10] (O/N/05)

(a) Suggest three reasons why he decided to move from Mecca to Medina.

[6]

(a) [The problem here concerns exactly what events led up to the hijra.Candidates have to decide when to start the story.]• Muhammad had incurred the enmity of Quraysh by his preaching. [This isbackground and for any general information of this kind allow 1 mark.)]• His wife Khadija and uncle Abu Talib died in 619 leaving himdefenceless.• He sought acceptance by preaching at fairs in Mecca and elsewhere.• A small group from Yathrib (later renamed Medina) listened and acceptedhis preaching.• The next year they swore allegiance to him (the first pact of al-`Aqaba,the oath of women, not involving fighting for him).• The following year 73 men from Yathrib swore to defend him (the secondPact of al-`Aqaba). [1 mark, but 2 marks for details of numbers etc.]• Muhammad gradually sent Meccan Muslims north to Yathrib.• He himself went on the same night when the Quraysh planned to murderhim.• He departed with Abu Bakr.• He left `Ali in his bed as a decoy, and in order to return items people hadleft with him.• The Prophet received a divine instruction to migrate.

(b)• He was defenceless at Mecca, because Abu Lahab the head of his clanafter Abu Talib's death was his enemy. [1 mark, but 2 marks for fulldetails.]• His attempts at persuading the people of Mecca to accept his teachingshad met with little success,• except for a small group of followers.• These followers were under threat, and some had experienced long

35

persecution.• The people of Medina appeared to welcome him.• They recognized his mission and accepted him as a religious leader.• They also offered him and his followers protection.

Question 2 [ER](a) This part was answered very well by many candidates, though some answers started their account of the hijra from the beginning of revelation. In descriptive questions, the Examiners look for accuracy and completeness, and candidates often lose marks by getting basic facts wrong, leaving them out altogether or even starting their answer from too early a point. This results in the answer being more general than specific to the question. The need for planning answers is paramount. There were a few candidates who wrote about the events in Madinah immediately after the hijra, which again emphasises the need for the candidates to read the questions properly. Overall, those candidates who answered this question well showed accurate details of the events,particularly those relating to the Pledges of al-‘Aqaba. (b) Most candidates were able to give some general comments stating the reasons the Prophet moved from Makkah to Madinah. However, Examiners were looking for some elaboration on these pointsfor candidates to be able to earn the full six marks. Also, some candidates simply repeated comments made in part (a) in this section. There were some good answers to this part where candidates expanded on the basic points, e.g. explaining that the Prophet’s small group of followers had faced lots of persecution which was a threat to the development of a Muslim community in Makkah.

2 (a) Describe the main events of the Prophet’s migration from Makka to Madina.

[10] (M/J/08)

(b) Explain why he thought it important to make this journey. [6]

(a) [Candidates have to decide what the main events are.]

• Either Muhammad had incurred the enmity of Quraysh by his preaching [This isbackground and for any general information of this kind allow 1 mark]Or A small group from Yathrib (later renamed Madina) listened to his preaching andinvited him to their town [This is also background but more specific, so 1 mark for suchdetails]• He departed from Makka on the same night that the Quraysh planned to murder him• He departed with Abu Bakr

36

• He left `Ali in his bed as a decoy/in order to return items people had left with him• The Makkans sent riders to pursue the two migrants• They took refuge in the Cave of Thawr• The Prophet reassured Abu Bakr who was frightened• Abu Bakr allowed himself to be bitten rather than shout and wake the sleeping Prophet• A spider wove a web/two birds built a nest over the entrance, which showed there wasno-one inside• The two made their way to Madina when they knew they were safe• They stayed at Quba on the way to Medina and established the first mosque/`Ali joinedthem there• The people of Medina welcomed the Prophet publicly• The Prophet was given a revelation to leave Makka

(b)• He was in danger of his life in Makka• He had no clan protection• His preaching met with little success• He was assured of acceptance at Madina• Here he might put the teachings he was receiving into effect• His migration was in order to save Islam[Credit the last point in (a) if not already credited]

Question 2 [ER]This asked for an account of the Prophet’s hijra, and the reasons why the hijra was important for him.In part (a) candidates were asked for accurate accounts of the Prophet’s journey north to Madina. A few marks were allowed for background circumstances, but most were given for details of the journey itself, including the parts played by Abu Bakr and ‘Ali, the miracle of the spider and birds at the cave of Thawr, the pursuers from Makka, the halt at Quba, and the arrival at Madina. A number of candidates gave full and detailed accounts, but some understood the question to be about the events leading up to the hijra, or the events that took place after it.

Part (b) was more demanding, asking candidates to reflect on the reasons why this journey was important for the Prophet. Good answers included points such as: the danger to his life in Makka, his assurance of acceptance in Madina, his wish to put the teachings of Islam into effect, the divine instruction to depart. Some candidates wrote descriptively about the Prophet’s failure at al-Ta’if, or gave long accounts of thepledges of the Madinan pilgrims. However, these were not answers to the question itself because they did not address the issue of the importance of the journey.

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5 (a) Outline the main events of the Prophet’s journey from Makka to Madina. [10]

(O/N/10)

Candidates should be able to write a detailed narrative tracing the main events as theyoccurred on his journey to Madina. Candidates could give brief background information relating to the threat in Makka and his departure, and mention by name the key figures involved in the threat and his departure. They should mention that he left with his companion Abu Bakr, and give a detailed account of their journey and their stay in Cave Thawr. They could also mention their stay at Quba as well as giving some details of their arrival in Madina. Better answers will be able to mention all the key figures involved, the events as they unfolded and be able to quote relevant Qur’anic verses.

(b) What was the significance of this journey for the Muslims? [4]

For this part, candidates should look to show some reflection and understanding behind the reasons for leaving Makka, and not repeat the narrative provided in (a). They could give a basic mention of the threat to the Prophet and the believers and why there was little success with preaching. They could mention that the Madinans were inviting him and give reflections on how his migration saved Islam for future generations – any insight shown as to why the migration was important for that generation of Muslims, as well as future generations, should be credited.

Question 5 [ER](a) Where chosen, this question was answered reasonably well. Excellent answers gave some brief background information about the threat posed to the Prophet by the Quraysh, and then gave details about him leaving with Abu Bakr, their stay in the cave and what happened when the Quraysh pursued them, their stay in Quba and their reception in Madina, as well as naming the key figures involved and giving some relevant quotations. Many candidates were able to write about these events, but with fewer details about what happened or who was involved. There were a few candidates who wrote about the migration to Abyssinia, and some who focused their answer on what happened after the Prophet arrived in Madina.

(b) This part of the question was well answered with many candidates being able to show some insight into why it was important for the Muslim community to migrate.

3 (a) Give an account of the hijra of the Prophet from Makka to Madina. [10]

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(b) What is the significance of the Prophet establishing mosques as a first task after thehijra? [ 4][M/J/2014]

(a) For this answer an account should be given about the events of the actual journey; only briefmention should be made about events before the Prophet left Makka and his arrival inMadina.Year is 622; in Makka there was a plot to assassinate the Prophet; Quraysh met at Dar al-Nadwa; a man from each tribe was sent to kill the Prophet; Jibril came giving the ProphetGod’s permission to migrate; Muslims had started to migrate; Abu Bakr, ‘Ali and the Prophetwere left; the Quraysh came to the Prophet’s house to kill him at night, v8.30; the Prophettold ‘Ali to sleep in his bed; the Prophet came out of his house and threw dust at theassassins, v36.9; Abu Bakr went with him; they took refuge in Cave Thawr; Abu Bakr went into make sure it was clean and safe; Abu Bakr’s foot was stung by an insect; they stayed inthe cave three nights; Abu Bakr’s son and daughter visited them; the Quraysh set a price of100 camels for their capture; some reached the mouth of the cave; the Prophet reassuredAbu Bakr; Suraqa almost caught up with them but his horse kept stumbling; they stopped inQuba; stayed there for four days; they established a mosque; ‘Ali caught up with them here;they arrived in Madina and the people welcomed the Prophet; he stayed with Ayyub al-Ansari; his camel showed them the place to build his mosque.The best answers will be able to expand and give depth to these events, and whilst not all ofthe above needs to be mentioned, highest level answers will describe and elaborate on mostof these details.

(b) Mosques are the centre of a community; they allow people to meet and to worship God; theProphet established a mosque in Quba to emphasise this; it was also because they werenow free to worship together and in the open, unlike in Makka; establishing a mosque inMadina provided a focal point for the Muslims.

[ER]

Question 3

(a) This was generally well answered by most candidates, and was a popular choice from the optional questions.Weaker answers focused on the persecution of the Muslims, wrote about the migration toAbyssinia, or gave a brief description of the migration then went on to write at length about theconstruction of the mosque, etc. on arrival in Madina.Good answers discussed the events of the migration in chronological order, the main personalitiesand their roles in the migration, and provided accurate and relevant Qur’anic quotations.

(b) Where this was well answered, candidates wrote about the first mosques being a sign of theimportance of prayer, that Muslims now had the freedom to worship which was denied in Makka,and that it was the focal point to unite the early community and promote Islam.

3 (a) Write about the events of the first year following the Prophet’s arrival in Madina. [10][M/J/2013]

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(b) What lessons can Muslims learn from the brotherhood that was created in Madina?

[4]

(a) Good answers will be able to provide a detailed and concise narrative of events that occurred once the Prophet arrived in Madina, and not the events of his journey.Candidates could write about how on arrival from Quba, the Prophet was greeted joyfully by the people of Yathrib, with children singing as he arrived. As the Prophet passed through the city many people requested that he stay with them, but he told them his she-camel would make the decision. They could also mention where the camel stopped and that the Prophet purchased the land where the mosque would be built, as well as mentioning that he stayed with Ayyub al- Ansari while the mosque and his house were being built. He himself took part in the construction. Other points could be that a treaty was made with the Jews and that the Ansar and Muhajirun were made brothers. The adhan was introduced. The city was re-named Madina tun-Nabi.Excellent answers will expand on these points and give an in-depth narrative.

(b) Candidates could write about the concept of sharing their wealth and family and giving up material possessions, welcoming other people, in particular other Muslims, into their lives, creating unity, and/or about equality. Good answers will be able to give a thoughtful answer as to the merits the brotherhood created, and how they can be relevant to the lives of Muslims.

[ER]

Question 3(a) This was a popular and well answered question. Good responses gave details about the building of the first mosque and referenced events within a time frame from first arrival to the end of the first year. Battles such as Badr came after this time period so were not relevant in this answer.

(b) Again, this question was well answered and candidates expanded on the theme of forming good relations with others, just as the first Muslims in Medina formed strong ties of brotherhood with their fellow inhabitants of the city.

5 (a) Write about the brotherhood that developed between the new community of Muslims in Madina.

[10][O/N/2013]

(b) How is this brotherhood a good example for Muslim communities now? [4]

(a) Candidates should be able write about the brotherhood created by the Prophet in Madina between the Ansar and Muhajirun. Good answers will be able to write about the first Muslim community in Madina, saying who the

40

Ansar and Muhajirun were, giving brief details about the emigrants and their difficulties in Makka. They could mention how the emigrants arrived in Madina without many belongings. The people of Madina (the Aws and Khazraj tribes), who had invited the Prophet to their city, were happy to welcome the migrating Muslims. To unite the two groups, the Prophet made them brothers, pairing each of the Ansar with the Muhajirun. Candidates could mentionsome of the companions who were made brothers of each other, e.g. Abdul Rahman ibn Awf was made the brother of Sa’ad ibn Al-Rabee (of the Ansar); the Prophet took Ali as his brother. In this way the Madinans gave protection and material assistance to their Makkan brothers. The Makkans gave spiritual support to the Madinans, by virtue of the fact they had spent time with the Prophet. The Makkans did not want to be a burden on their hosts as they were used to being traders and so wanted to carry on their work in Madina (e.g. Abu Bakr). Candidates could give details of this relationship using examples of what they shared, and how their relationship developed.Candidates could also make reference to any Qur’anic ayat relating to these events (9:20; 9:100).

(b) Answers here should reflect upon the relationship between these two groups and write about how it can be relevant to Muslim communities. Candidates could write about being selfless, sharing material belongings with others (whether to friends/family or charity), or they could mention giving loyalty and protection to others. Good answers will not only give reference to these qualities but will say how they can help improve the Muslim community.

[ER]Question 5(a) This question on the brotherhood between the migrants and helpers was averagely answered as many answers lacked details of the actual support given by each side. Many answers focused on the migration to Madina and left little time to write about the brotherhood that developed.

(b) There was not much evaluation in this question with most answers saying that Muslims should help each other and share their belongings with each other. Better answers said that Muslims should help feed and clothe those who are escaping persecution in neighboring countries and ensure that they are looked after and not living in poverty.

4 (a) The Prophet paired Muslims from Makka and from Madina after the migration (hijra). Give examples to show the character of the relationship between various Emigrants and Helpers. [10]

(b) Today Muslims often seek refuge in neighbouring countries. Show how the example of the Emigrants and Helpers

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can still provide a model today. [4][M/J/2015]

(a) Candidates should be able to say who the al-Ansar (Helpers) were and who the al-Muhajirun (Emigrants) were. Good answers will be able to write about the first Muslim community in Madina, giving brief details about the emigrants and their difficulties in Makka. They could mention how the emigrants arrived in Madina without many belongings. The Muslims of Madina (mainly from the Aws and Khazraj tribes), who had invited the Prophet to their city, were happy towelcome the migrating Muslims. To unite the two groups, the Prophet made them brothers, pairing each of the Ansar with the Muhajirun. The Prophet took ‘Ali as his brother. Sa’d bin ar-Rabi and Abdur Rahman bin Awf were made brothers and Sa’d was willing to share half his property and divorce his wife for Abdur Rahman to marry. He refused, preferring to work himself. The Ansar wanted to share their date palms with the Muhajirun but the Muhajirun refused, so the Ansar offered them to work in their orchards and in return they were givendates. In this way the Madinans gave protection and material assistance to their Makkan brothers and the Makkans came with their faith to share and spread in Madina. Candidates should give details of this relationship using examples of what they shared, and how their relationship developed.Candidates could also make reference to any Qur’anic ayats relating to these events (9:20; 9:100; 9:117; 59:8–9).The best answers will write about the character of the relationship in terms of cooperation and selflessness, etc.

(b) Candidates can provide any examples that are relevant but should develop the answers they give and not just provide statements.They could say that Muslims should look to people coming to their country andneighbourhood from other places, especially if they have had to leave their belongings behind, e.g. from Afghanistan or Syria, and should help provide them with food and shelter if they can. Muslims should always look to what they have and what they can offer other people who are in need, like warm clothes in the winter. Giving up extra items has more reward than keeping them and will create better relations in the community.

[ER/11]

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2 (a) Give descriptions of the main events of the battles of Badr and Uhud. [12](b) Explain why the people of Makka fought against the Muslims of Madina. [4]

(M/J/06)

(a) • Badr occurred in 624, the second year after the hijra.• The Muslims had heard of a Makkan caravan passing near Madina, and they waitedfor it near the wells of Badr.• The caravan summoned troops from Makka.• The two armies were badly mismatched, 300 Muslims against over 1000 Makkans.• Despite the odds the Muslims won.• The Prophet surprised everyone by treating the captured Makkans honourably.• The Muslims saw in the victory God’s support for their cause, when he sent angels tohelp them.• Uhud occurred in 625.• An army of 3000 from Makka came to destroy the Muslims.• The Prophet’s army was smaller, and was decreased further by the desertion of someMadinans.• In the fighting the Muslims gained the upper hand.• But then some Muslims who had been ordered to guard a pass left their posts forspoils.• Some Makkans saw an advantage and attacked from behind.• The Muslims were nearly defeated and some leading men killed.• The Prophet himself was injured.• The Muslims realised they should obey the Prophet.

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(b) • They could see that the Muslims were a threat.• They threatened their livelihood since they might attack their caravans.• They also threatened their religion with their belief in only one God.• They saw Islam as a threat to their leadership in Arabia.

Question 2 [ER](a) Good answers would have given the dates of the two battles, the circumstances immediately before them, the main events of the battles, and the aftermath.Many answers contained most major elements of the battles, and a good number of high marks were gained for this part. Some candidates clearly knew the events of the battles thoroughly, but some omitted to mention such details as the numbers of the two sides at Badr, the way in which the prisoners after Badr were treated, and the effects of the reversal at Uhud.

(b) Some answers to this were excellent, explaining the threat the Muslims were thought to pose to Makkan trade, the differences in religion between the two sides, the threat they saw to their leading position in Arabia. However, these answers were in a clear minority, and some candidates appeared to have no idea why these battles took place, suggesting they had learnt the facts without understanding their significance.

Question 2 [ER] (O/N/03)The majority of candidates appeared to know a great deal about these two battles, and many scored highly in part (a). The best answers carefully described what happened in the battles, and included such details as their dates and the names of leading individuals whose actions are remembered. There were some excellent answers to (b), containing comments on the religious and economic reasons for the hostility of the Meccans to the Prophet and their fears for their own position in Arabia. Most candidates were able to give some reasons for the enmity based on religious differences.

3 (a) Give an account of the battles of Khandaq (Trench) and Khaybar [10] [M/J/12]

(b) What lessons can Muslims learn from either of these battles?[4]

(a) Good answers will be able to give relevant details of both battles with dates and names of keys figures involved, being careful to avoid general answers that could be attributed to any battle fought in the Prophet’s lifetime. Khandaq: took place in 627; Banu Nadir had broken their treaty agreements and planned to kill the Prophet; they planned an attack with the Makkans and gathered an army of 10 000; Salman al-Farsi suggested the Muslims dig a trench to keep the army out; hypocrites in Madina joined the Makkans; the army could not get in and after a storm which prevented them from fighting, the siege ran into weeks and they eventually gave up; there were only minor squirmishes; Banu Qurayza were punished for their treachery. Khaybar: fought in 629 against the Jews who had broken their

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agreements with the Muslims; a small Muslim army caught the oasis by surprise; captured 2 forts then went for main fort of Qamus, which was heavily guarded; the Prophet sent ‘Ali, who is said to have moved a door by himself which would have taken 40–50 men to move; he was given the title of ‘Lion of Allah’; Jewish leader was killed; Jews requested they stay in the oasis and in return give half their produce to the Muslims.Excellent answers will expand on these points and give an in-depth narrative.

(b) There could be various answers given for this part and any relevant and detailed answers should be credited accordingly. Some suggestions of what candidates could write are, that in times of difficulty to keep hope like when the Muslims were hungry and weak during the battle of Khandaq and Khaybar (allowance was made to eat non-halal food if there was no other option); Muslims should remain strong and patient and work hard for their victory; despite victory, Muslims should remain fair and trustworthy (keeping their promise to the Jews to allow them to remain in Khaybar); they should have faith in God at all times; it is important to be open to suggestions from others (e.g. the Prophet taking advice from Salman al-Farsi).

Question 3 [ER] [M/J/2012]

(a) This part was generally well answered by most candidates, and was a popular choice from the optional questions. Candidates gave many accurate facts about the battles and the best answers addressed both battles in equal proportion. Accounts of Khandaq tended to be more accurate. It was important for candidates to know the details about each battle and not confuse details. Good answers went into considerable detail about Khandaq and were able to illustrate the antecedents of the conflicts and why a new tactic of warfare had to be tried and the role of Salman al-Farsi in suggesting the idea of a trench. Some mention of the hardships the Muslims endured was noted, the betrayal of Jewish tribes and the behaviour of the hypocrites, with some candidates being able to give Qur’anic references. Khaybar tended to be not so explicitly treated, however most made mention of Qamus and ‘Ali killing the Jewish warrior. It was important to write about the main events of the battles, and to go into detail. It was also important not to confuse these battles with others, e.g. Uhud and the conquest of Makka.

(b) For part (b) most candidates recognised that the skill was to evaluate the lessons to be learned and interpret how they might be applied in life. The majority of candidates successfully identified what should be admired about the behaviour of the Muslims or the Prophet but did not complete the second half of the answer about how these lessons might be applied. Some good answers mentioned the importance of Shura. Others mentioned the ijma’ and taking the opinion of others. The majority of candidates discussed the importance of faith and patience. A few candidates mentioned the allowance made by the Prophet to eat non-halal food. The best answers for part (b)went beyond simple conclusions about the battles and expanded on these in detail applied to modern situations.

4 (a) Write about the main events of the battles of Khaybar and Mu’ta. [10]

(b) Choose one of these battles and explain why it was important for the Muslims ofMadina to fight in it? [4] [M/J/2014]

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(a) Khaybar: fought in 628 (7AH) against the Jews who had broken their agreements with theMuslims; Muslim army caught the city by surprise; ‘Ali was given the banner to carry; Muslimsattacked the first fort of Naim; this was taken and the Muslims carried on until they reached themost powerful fort, An-Nizar; ‘Ali is said to have moved a door by himself which would havetaken many men to move; Jewish leader was killed; Jews requested they stay in the oasis andin return give half their produce to the Muslims; battle strengthened the Muslims and theProphet’s leadership.

Mu’ta: this was the fiercest battle during the Prophet’s lifetime; fought in 629 (8AH); TheProphet had sent Al-Harith bin ‘Umair al-Azdi carrying a letter to the ruler of Basra; he wasintercepted and killed by the governor of al-Balqa’; the Prophet mobilised an army of 3000men; people near the scene of al-Harith’s murder would be invited to Islam and if theyaccepted no battle would ensue; Zaid bin Haritha was to lead the army, Ja’far bin Abi Talibwould replace him, and ‘Abdullah bin Rawaha would replace Ja’far if he fell; Heraclius sent100 000 troops with another 100 000 from tribes allied to the Byzantines; Zaid led the battleuntil he was fatally stabbed; Ja’far succeeded him and both his hands were cut off; thenAbdullah took the banner and he too was killed; Khalid bin Walid stepped up to takeleadership and showed his skills as a strategist; the Muslims gradually retreated and theByzantines, thinking they were entrapped, stopped their pursuit allowing the Muslims to incurminimal casualties; the Muslims did not avenge al-Harith’s murder but they proved they werea force to be reckoned with.Not all of the above needs to be mentioned, but most of points should be made as well asdevelopment of the points to give depth to the answer.

(b) Candidates should only choose one battle to write about and should attempt to give reasonswhy the Muslims needed to engage in that battle.

Khaybar: As peaceful settlements were not accepted, the Prophet had to carry out a militarycampaign to prevent further disruptions upon the Muslims from these parts, as they did notwant to be continually fighting in minor skirmishes. It was therefore a matter of survival forthe Muslim community. Had they not fought, it could have led to insecurity as they would nothave known when the next attack would come from there. It was also important as God hadpromised them abundant spoils from this campaign (sura 48.20).

Mu’ta: At that time, killing envoys and messengers was considered a terrible crime, andamounted to a declaration of war. The Prophet therefore had to respond otherwise theMuslims would have looked weak had they ignored such a clear threat. Ignoring the killing ofenvoys would have led to their reputation being challenged, and the battle also showed thatthey were a serious presence that was emerging out of Arabia.Candidates should draw principles from the details they have written such as fightingfor security of Islam, believing God’s promises, showing strength, defending honour, etc.

[ER]

Question 4(a) This was the least popular of the optional questions and was answered reasonably well. Goodanswers described each battle in detail, mentioned the numerical aspect of each battle, gaveaccurate details about the main individuals involved and their roles, as well as providing thereasons for the battle and the outcomes. Where it was not well answered candidates mixed up details of the battles and often wrote about one battle in depth, with very little about the other

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one. Regarding the battle of Mu’ta the majority of candidates incorrectly said that the Muslims won this battle.

(b) This was reasonably well answered, with most candidates writing about Khaybar and saying that the Muslims had to fight to ensure stability. Few mentioned the financial gains from this campaign.

4 (a) Write about the main events of two of the following battles: Khaybar, Mu’ta, Hunain, Tabuk.

[10]

(b) Choose one of the four battles mentioned and explain what Muslim leaders now can learn from it.

[4][M/J/2015]

(a) Khaybar: fought in 628 (7AH) against the Jews who had broken their agreements with the Muslims; Muslim army caught the city by surprise; ‘Ali was given the banner to carry; Muslims attacked the first fort of Naim; this was taken and the Muslims carried on until they reached the most powerful fort, An-Nizar/Qamus; ‘Ali is said to have moved a door by himself which wouldhave taken many men to move; Jewish leader was killed; Jews requested they stay in the oasis and in return give half their produce to the Muslims; battle strengthened the Muslims and the Prophet’s leadership. Mu’ta: this was the fiercest battle during the Prophet’s lifetime; fought in 629 (8AH); The Prophet had sent Al-Harith bin ‘Umair al-Azdi carrying a letter to the ruler of Basra; he was intercepted and killed by the governor of al-Balqa’; the Prophet mobilised an army of 3000 men; people near the scene of al-Harith’s murder would be invited to Islam and if they accepted no battle would ensue; Zaid bin Haritha was to lead the army, Ja’far bin Abu Talib would replace him, and ‘Abdullah bin Rawaha would replace Ja’far if he fell; Heraclius sent 100,000 troops with another 100,000 from tribes allied to the Byzantines; Khalid bin Walid stepped up to take leadership and showed his skills as a strategist; the Muslims gradually retreated and the Byzantines, thinking they were entrapped, stopped their pursuit allowing the Muslims to incur minimal casualties. Hunain: The sects of Hawazin and Thaqif did not want to submit to Islam so they decided to fight against the Muslims; the Prophet marched to meet them with 12,000 men; the enemy were already waiting for the Muslim army, hiding and waiting to hurl stones and arrows at them; when this happened, the enemy attack became fierce

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and the Muslims started to retreat; the Prophet called his troops back and they went on to defeat the army; because their leader Malik bin ‘Awf had told everyone to take their families and belongings with them, the Muslims captured huge spoils of war. This battle is mentioned in sura tawba, v25. Tabuk: took place in 9AH; the Byzantines were wary of the growing Muslim power and wanted to defeat them before they became too big or powerful to conquer; the Nabateans brought news to Madina of a big and powerful army that Heraclius was preparing; the Prophet made a decision to go to war and meet the Byzantines on their border; they marched to Tabuk with 30,000 men; the Muslims had donated generously for this expedition; they faced many hardships on the way; once at Tabuk they stayed some days, but the Byzantine army did not arrive; the Prophet took control of some of the tribes on the border; on return to Madina the Muslim’s reputation as a powerful force reached far and wide, and many delegations came to visit him after this event. Not all of the above needs to be mentioned, but most of points should be made as well as development of the points to give depth to the answer.(b) Candidates can choose any battle to write about, even if they have not written about it in part (a). They can offer a number of lessons for Muslim leaders, but they should try to give detail/explain their answers in an evaluative manner.

[ER/12]

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3 (a) Describe the events of two of the battles fought by the Prophet while he was leader of the community at Madina.

[10] (M/J/09)

Candidates may choose any two battles, but will probably write on Badr, Uhud or Khandaq (the Trench). Some may choose Hunayn or Khaybar.Whichever two battles candidates choose, they should be able to name them and describe them in detail giving dates and important points. Better answers will also narrate the events as they unfolded rather than giving confused details; excellent answers will give an in-depth narrative.

(b) How does his conduct in one of these battles provide a model for Muslims today when they face difficulties? [4]Answers could give an account of the part played by the Prophet in the particular battle they choose to talk about. Good answers could identify the qualities shown by the Prophet by his actions in the battle, his reaction to danger or his enemies and draw some conclusion from it, e.g. “Muslims today should act like this when they face an enemy”. Excellent answers could be able to identify and discuss how these qualities can be transferred to situations today, and give an example of how Muslims may follow his way of acting. There may also be a relevant quote from Qur’an or Hadith.

Question 3 [ER]This question was a popular choice with candidates out of the three optional questions.(a) Overall this part was answered well, with most candidates choosing to talk about the battles of Badr and Uhud and giving good, detailed information about them. Some candidates also chose to work on the Battle of Khandaq. There were a few unusual answers with the battle of Mutah, Hunain, Conquest of Makkah and Tabuk as well which were not well thought out enough to gain higher marks. Lower level answers wrote inaccurately or padded out their answer with irrelevant detail. (b) Answers for this part often failed to achieve the higher levels because they were too general. So although many candidates were able to pick out the Prophet’s conduct from one battle, e.g. hispatience, they were not able to relate it to their own lives or current affairs. The best answers showed a mature reflection on behaviour and attitude to events today rather than just a general comment about behaviour.

4 (a) Describe the Prophet’s conduct as leader in two of the battles he fought in.

[10](O/N/2011)

Candidates can mention his conduct in any two battles, but should remain focused on the Prophet’s conduct rather than giving a narrative of the whole battle. Basic answers will describe the actual events in which the Prophet

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took part. Better answers will describe his conduct as leader rather than focussing on the actual events of the battles.Some points that candidates should mention include: that the Prophet constantly turned to God for help, that he would take opinions from others, he was patient and did not fight out of anger, that he treated captives/prisoners of war well, and that he took part in all the battles himself. Candidates could also mention other points as long as they are relevant to the battles and to his position as leader. Good answers will be able to relate examples and events and give the names of the battles they happened in.

(b) What can Muslim leaders today learn from the Prophet’s conduct in their relations with other states?

[4]

Good answers here will be able to take at least one of the examples of the Prophet’s conduct and show some evaluation of how that conduct is relevant to modern lives and in particular the way in which Muslim leaders deal with others. Candidates should show how the Prophet’s way of dealing with things is still relevant today.

Question 4 [ER]

(a) This was a popular one of the optional questions, but was not well answered. It was not to give an account of two battles, but rather to give an account of the Prophet’s conduct in two battles. This difference was picked up by only a few candidates.Many gave a thorough narrative of the whole battles (usually Badr and Uhud) but very few wrote about the Prophet’s conduct as leader in detail. Candidates did write about the fact that the Prophet turned to God for help in the battle of Badr, and took opinions from others in the battle of Uhud but again not in detail. A few candidates wrote about the Prophet’s treatment of captives. Good candidates focused on the strategies the Prophet employed during the battles, e.g. having numerical inferiority but remaining strong and boosting comrades, emphasising the rules of engagement, always acting in defense never instigating the war, praying to God for help, consulting companions and accepting other viewpoints, and treating prisoners of war well.

(b) Answers to this part varied. Very good answers included the lessons derived from the Prophet’s conduct with other states and contemporized these lessons by, for example, linking it to the relations between Pakistan and India. Those candidates that offered evaluation gave good comparisons and examples.

a) Describe the events of the Conquest of Makka. [10][M/J/2013]

(b) Why are the actions of the Prophet after the conquest important for Muslims to learn from?

[4]

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(a) Good answers should be able to narrate the story of the events of the Conquest of Makka, leading up to it and immediately after, and give detailed information as well as name the key figures involved. Details and accuracy will take candidates up the levels.The Quraysh had broken the terms of the Treaty of Hudaybiyah, by attacking Banu Khuza’ah who had allied with the Muslims. Realising the seriousness of the situation the Quraysh sent Abu Sufyan to ensure the treaty was intact, but he left Madina without doing so. After making preparations for war, the Prophet set out with 10,000 soliders. Abu Sufyan became Muslim and his house was made a safe place. The Prophet entered Makka, with there being only minor squirmishes, and destroyed the idols. Apart from nine people, the Quraysh were pardoned, including Wahshi and Hind.(b) Candidates could write about the Prophet’s destruction of the idols, or the forgiveness he showed to his enemies. Candidates should expand on the significance of any of these events, and how Muslims can learn from them or apply them in their own lives. They could, e.g., write about the importance of forgiving people who have wronged/hurt you, even if their actions were awful, just as the Prophet forgave Wahshi and Hind, as it is better to forgive than hold animosity in your heart.

[ER]

Question 4(a) The events of the conquest of Makka were generally described well and in detail by candidates who attempted this question. Good answers began with the breaking of the treaty of Hudaybiyah and narrated the events through, in order, to the destroying of the idols in the Ka’ba and the pardoning of Wahshi and Hind.

(b) Many candidates drew points about the Prophet’s forgiveness of his enemies from the conquest, and how Muslims today should be patient when facing difficulties then forgive their enemies when they overcome them. Some drew parallels from zones of conflict including Muslims in the modern world.

4 (a) Write about the Prophet Muhammad’s interaction with non-Muslims in Madina. [10][M/J/2013]

(b) What can Muslims learn from this interaction? [4]

(a) Candidates should only write about the Prophet’s interaction with non-Muslims once he had migrated to Madina, and not write about events before this time.Candidates could write about how the Prophet made a Constitution for the citizens ofMadina, including non-Muslims, about their rights and responsibilities as part of the

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community. The non-Muslims had the following rights: equal political and cultural rights,autonomy and freedom of religion; they would fight with the Muslims against the enemy of the community and have the same responsibilities in war as others.

The Prophet was always fair in his dealings with the non-Muslims, e.g. when a Muslim and non-Muslim were having a dispute, the Prophet sided with the non-Muslim as it was the just thing to do. Candidates could also talk about the various Jewish tribes, and how their relationships developed with the Prophet over time, as well as his relationship with the hypocrites in Madina.

(b) Candidates should show some reflection on the situations they have described in part (a) and relate them to their own personal relationships with non-Muslims, or the relationship of Muslims in general with non-Muslims. They could talk about the moral significance of the Prophet’s actions and this should be used to highlight Muslim conduct. A clear parallel should be drawn between the Prophet’s example and related situations, and specific examples given.

Question 4 [ER](a) It is important for candidates to distinguish between religious and tribal affiliation and the complexity between the two. Some candidates’ answered on the assumption that non-Muslims meant Jewish tribes and the tribal conflict which ensued. Such answers were limited as there was so much more that could have been written.There were some who explained well the different clauses of the “Charter of Madina” with non-Muslims and relations with the 3 Jewish tribes. The treatment of the hypocrites under the leadership of Abdullah bin Ubayy was also well explained. Only a few mentioned the relationship with the Christians of Najran and the Prophet’s show of respect in day-to day life, such as standing when a funeral bier of a Jew passed by, and taking the side of the oppressed Jew. Some discussed the interaction with non-Muslims in Makka as well, detailing the different battles, and the Treaty of Hudaibiyah and conquest of Makka.

(b) This was a relatively well answered question with candidates saying that Muslims have to be patient, tolerant and protect the rights of non-Muslims in their daily lives, treating them as equals and showing respect to them.2 (a) Outline the changes in the Prophet's relations with the Jewish tribesand the ‘hypocrites' in Medina in the years between 622 and 632.

[12]

(b) Suggest reasons why his relations with the Jewish tribes changed.

[4] (M/J/04)

(a) [Ensure that marks are divided between comments on the Jewish tribes and the

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munafiqun, hypocrites.]

• At first the Prophet treated all parts of Medinan society equally.• He devised the Covenant of Medina as an agreement in which all in Medina,Muslims, non-Muslim Arabs and Jews, were given privileges and responsibilities. (2 marks for a detailed comment here)• Gradually the Jews distanced themselves from him: they persistently mockedthe revelations, and doubted his claims to prophethood.• Muhammad expelled the three major tribes in three stages after they showedtreachery in fighting and sided with the Quraysh. (up to 3 marks for dates andfull details)• These tribes were Qaynuqa', Qurayza and Nadir. (1 mark for all three names)• He punished them for their treachery. (2 marks for details)• There remained Medinans who did not become sincere Muslims oracknowledge Muhammad.• They showed their disloyalty most strongly in withdrawing when the Qurayshattack led to the battle of Uhud.• They remained persistent opponents of Muhammad.• The Muslims later attacked the banished Jews in their fortress at Khaybar.

(b)• He gradually became aware that the Jews did not respect his position.• They refused to acknowledge that he was a Prophet like the one in theirscriptures.• They openly made fun of him, especially when the qibla was changed.• An important turning point was when they subjected a Muslim woman to publichumiliation.• They broke the Covenant by not defending Medina.• Their treachery in conspiring with the Quraysh threatened the security ofMedina.• This was also a threat to the survival of Islam.

Question 2 [ER]This question is nearly always concerned with the life and significance of the Prophet. In this paper it asked about the period of his life in Medina, and Examiners were looking for accurate accounts of his relations with the three major Jewish tribes and with the non-Muslim Arabs of the oasis. In part (a), they credited factual details about the developments that took place, including the names of the tribes and their changes inconduct that led to their exclusion, and also the main actions of the non-Muslim Arabs against the interests of the Muslims.

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In part (b), they credited precise reasons for the deterioration in relations between the Muslims and Jews from the time of the Covenant of Medina to the attack on the fortress of Khaybar, including their mocking of the Prophet and his followers, their siding with the Meccans and their breaking of the Covenant. In answers to part (a), most candidates showed impressively detailed knowledge of the exploits of the Jews in Medina, though many thought that the Covenant of Medina was no more a treaty made specificallybetween the Prophet and the Jews in which he allowed them freedom. When teaching this aspect of the Prophet’s life, teachers should make clear the true nature of this Covenant, which was intended to include all the tribes and clans in the oasis in an equal agreement with shared privileges and responsibilities, with the Jews named among them. Many candidates said almost nothing about the ‘hypocrites’, those Medinan Arabs who appeared reluctant to side with the Muslims and withdrew their support at Uhud. This is strange, given that in past years when a question on Uhud has appeared candidates have usually written a great deal about the force that withdrew from the Prophet’s army before the battle, giving its number and the names of its leaders.

In answers to part (b), many candidates were able to give four good reasons for the change in the Prophet’s relations with the Jewish tribes, most importantly their siding with the Meccans and desertion of their Covenant obligations. However, there were, unfortunately, many critical and insulting remarks about the Jewish tribes of Medina. Few candidates appeared to be aware that one reason for the change in relationswas that the Prophet gradually saw that his proclamation was not accepted by the Jews as agreeing with theirs. This is a religious rather than political reason.

4 (a) Describe the events of the final year of the Prophet’s life. [10][O/N/2013]

In 10AH, the Prophet performed his final pilgrimage; at ‘Arafah he addressed the peoplegathered there; this is considered his farewell speech, in which he indicated he may not be there the following year; he also gave instructions relating to unlawful shedding of blood; usury was forbidden; the obligation towards looking after wives was emphasised as well as the kind treatment of women; equality of humankind was emphasised; brotherhood was established; he told them the Qur’an and sunna were left for them, and mentioned the five pillars; then the verses 5.3 were revealed (today your religion has been perfected); the Prophet completed his pilgrimage and returned to Madina; he increased his seclusion; Jibril reviewed the Qur’an twice with him; his illness began 13 days before his death; he moved into A’isha’s apartment for the last week; he continued leading the prayers and would give the congregation advice; he called for Fatima, Hassan and Hussain and his wives; Abu Bakr led prayers in

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the last days; the Prophet passed away on 12th Rabi al-Awwal, 11AH. Shi’a candidates may say that on the way back from Makka the Prophet chose ‘Ali as his successor.Candidates could go on to mention the grief of the Companions and the speech that AbuBakr gave them to remind them about worshipping God, but it is not necessary for a fullanswer.Not everything mentioned above is required, but answers must show development of themain events written about to be able to go up to the higher levels.

(b) Explain how any two teachings given in the Prophet’s Farewell Sermon can help Muslim communities today.

[4]

The last sermon is considered a summary of the main elements of faith, as it includes the five pillars, equality of humankind, ethics and morality. It can be used in relation to many modern day issues such as racism, inequality of women, the financial structure (dealing in interest), adultery, responsibility of actions (particularly in crimes), treating other Muslims as brothers, treating slaves/servants well, and worshipping God.Candidates can choose any two of these to write about but should elaborate on how these points in the sermon can address and solve current issues.

[ER] Question 4

(a) This was averagely answered with candidates ether focussing on the final sermon or the Prophet’s time in Madina after that.Most candidates were able to write about a couple of the lessons from the Final Sermon, mainly the treatment of wives or slaves. The more able candidates managed to quote most of the sermon and also went on to describe the Prophet’s illness and final days in Madina. A significant number wrote about the Conquest of Makka, or some of the other battles in the later years of the Prophet’s life.

(b) Candidates wrote about treating wives and slaves/servants well, but many of the answers were general.

2. (a) Outline four of the Prophet's personal qualities that make him a model for Muslims to follow.

[4 x 3] (O/N/06)(b) Choosing two of these qualities, give one example in each case to show how Muslims can put them into practice in their own lives. [2 x 2]

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(a) [Look for four of the Prophet's qualities that can be a model for Muslims.Do not give marks for qualities unique to the Prophet, e.g. that he is a blessing for humankind.In each case award 1 mark for:• identification of the quality,• examples of how it was shown in the Prophet's life,• possible supporting quotations from the Hadith, Qur'an and remarks of his Companions.]

(b) [In each case:Give 1 mark for the basic outline of a Muslim putting the chosen quality into practice.Give a further 1 mark for an example fully worked through.]

Question 2 [ER](a) This part was answered reasonably well by many candidates, although equally, many candidates wrote about the same quality more than once, thereby losing out on vital marks. Good answers would have chosen four specific qualities, given a different example for each of them from the Prophet’s life (rather than a general description of the quality) and included a quotation for each quality. Some examples of the types of qualities Examiners look for are: honest/truthful, forgiving/merciful and trustworthy, but not that the Prophet prayed all his prayers or learnt the Qur’an by heart. Many candidates did not realise that honesty and truthfulness were in effect the same quality, and so gave similar examples under two separate headings. A few candidates alsoconfused some of the stories from the life of the Prophet resulting in the wrong example being given for a chosen quality. Other candidates did not realise that truthful and trustworthy are different qualities and so used them interchangeably.

In descriptive questions candidates often do not gain marks by getting basic facts wrong or by allowing themselves to become distracted by what they have just written. This results in the answer being more general than specific to the question, or it results in the candidates not completing the question. For example, some candidates wrote about two/three qualities of the Prophet and gave many examples of these qualities, but were unable to gain more marks because they overlooked the need to mention another one/two qualities. The need for planning answers is paramount.

(b) There were some good answers to this part, but many candidates did not show how the two chosen qualities could be applied to their own lives/the modern world and instead repeated examples of how these qualities were shown in the Prophet’s life. Excellent answers showed, for example, how honesty can be used in school/at work no matter what the consequences, and then went on to give an example of how students should not lie about their homework if they have not done it. This kind of answer shows that the

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candidate has thought about the relevancy of these qualities in their own lives, which is what the evaluative part of each question often looks for.

3 (a) Describe three qualities of the Prophet Muhammad that make him a model forhumankind. [10] [O/N/12]

Candidates can write about any three qualities of the Prophet that show how he can be a role model for others. Examples they can choose are: his forgiveness, for example when he forgave his enemies after the conquest of Makka and his mercy, for example when he went to preach at al-Ta’if, he showed mercy to the inhabitants when the Angel Jibra’il offered to crush them between the mountains [there has to be a clear distinction between forgiveness and mercy for them to be two separate qualities, otherwise they should only be counted as one]; his fairness, for example when he judged in a favour of a Jew over a Muslim during a disagreement between the two; his patience, for example when the Quraysh mocked him when there was a break in revelation.Candidates can offer other qualities, but they should give examples to show what the Prophet said/did and how it made him stand out from other people.Good answers will provide detailed examples with relevant quotations.

(b) How can Muslims put one of these qualities into practice? [4]

Good answers for this part will take one of the qualities described in part (a) and show how it can be put into practice in the lives of Muslims, or how it can be demonstrated in wider society. Better answers will give more detailed examples and cite specific situations, rather than saying something general like, Muslims should be forgiving to others who have wronged them.

Question 3 [ER](a) This was a popular question with the candidates and most were able to answer it to a satisfactory or good level. Many candidates were able to pick out three qualities and write about them. The amount of detail in the answer varied considerably and most answers mentioned the quality with a brief description of what the Prophet said or did.Some candidates wrote about the Prophet’s ‘purification’ as a quality which is not a quality as such, especially as candidates were writing about the fact that he performed ablution before prayer and kept himself neat and tidy. The best answers were able to choose three qualities and write detailed narratives that showed how the Prophet behaved, e.g. choosing the quality of forgiveness and giving details of what happened at the Conquest of Makka when the Prophet forgave everyone including those who hadkilled his uncle at the battle of Uhud.

(b) For part (b) most candidates recognised that the skill was to evaluate the lessons to be learned and interpret how they might be applied in life and they did this with varying degrees of success. The majority of candidates successfully identified what should be admired about the behaviour of the Prophet but did not complete the second half of the

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answer about how these lessons might be applied. So candidates may have written that they could be forgiving in their lives but did not give a clear application of how they could be forgiving, e.g. if someone has stolen from them, or hurt a member of their family, it would be better to forgive than seek revenge.

2 (a) Briefly describe four actions or qualities of the Prophet Muhammad that would make clear to the people who lived with him that he was the Messenger of God.

[4 x 3](O/N/08)[In each of the four cases look for a clear and specific action or quality that distinguished the Prophet from ordinary people. So it is not enough to say e.g. that he was loving unless the quality of his love is shown to be far superior to love in other people. Examples might be: his quality of forgiveness, shown at the capture of Makka; his periodic receiving of revelations; his Night Journey. In each case give 1 mark for a basic identification; 1 extra mark for a fuller description which introduces some details; and the final 1 mark for a full and rounded description with all expected details, and maybe quotations from the Qur’an or Hadith]

(b) Explain what Muslims mean by the title ‘Seal of the Prophets’. [4]

• This is a title of the Prophet found in the Qur’an.• It means he completes the line of prophets that stretched up to him.• Just as a wax seal closes a letter, so his prophethood closes the line.• It also means he is a prophet for all times and places unlike the local prophets beforehim.

Question 2 [ER](a) This part was either answered very well, or very poorly. Candidates had to use their own reasoning more than just relying on teachers’ notes that they may have learnt.There were many examples that candidates could choose from, but the key was to be able to support their answers to show that this was a quality of the Messenger of God, not just of any other human being. Some examples that could have been used are forgiveness, trustworthiness, honesty, justice, patience and the miracles that he was awarded. Of these, a good answer for forgiveness/mercy would be where candidates showed that this was a quality of the Messenger of God because he was able to forgive people in remarkable ways. So, at the conquest of Makka he forgave his enemies, even those that had persecuted him and his followers for years, and also when he went to Ta’if he showed one of the greatest examples of his mercy for others where he didnot call for the people who hurt him to be crushed between the mountains, but for them to be saved in case even one of them would later become Muslim. Good answers would be able to mention the quality and give full explanations of how that quality was related to the Prophet specifically. Some candidates also mentioned things like “he received revelations”, which in itself would count as an action or quality specific to the Prophet, but many did not expand on it or give any details as to how the revelations happened or

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that they were significant because the prophet could not read or write, or that these revelations addressed specific people or events happening at the time. Also, saying that the Prophet was a “model of excellence” was too general a comment. The better candidates did very well in this question and lots of good examples were brought outfrom the Seerah of the Prophet like the conversation of Heraclius with Abu Sufyan about the Prophet’s trustworthiness. Candidates who did not perform as well were not able to mention four qualities, or mentioned four but two were the same, e.g. they gave truthful as one quality and honesty as another but gave similar examples for each. Also, many candidates wrote the qualities but did not give examples.

(b) Answers in this part were average, with most candidates earning two marks. Good answers would have mentioned that this is a title given to the Prophet by Allah, that he closes the line of prophets that was sent by Allah, and that he is a Prophet for all times and places.

3 (a) Give an account of the Prophet's first experience of receiving revelation. [10]

(S/P/09)L1 for a bare account of the basic outlineL2 for a fuller account, including names of e.g. Jibril, Khadija and WaraqaL3 for a full and accurate account including the Prophet’s threefold crushing and thedialogue between him and the presenceL4 for a full account that includes quotations from the Qur’an (esp. Sura 96.1-5 infull) and allusions to the Hadith which contains the account

(b) Explain the meaning of the title ‘Seal of the Prophets’. [4]L1 for saying the Muhammad was the last of the prophetsL2 for adding that he was the end and climax of the line of prophetsL3 for adding that his prophethood was universal whereas earlier prophets weresent to single communitiesL4 for explaining the metaphor of a seal that closes and confirms something that isSent

3 (b) Explain the meaning of the title ‘Seal of the Prophets’. [4]

Answer 1Almighty Allah sent Hazrat Mohammad to be the last prophet on this earth. He delivered to us the holy Qur’an which he completed. The Qur’an contains everything to guide Muslims in their life on this earth. The holy Prophet also gave his example for us to follow so that we can live good lives for Allah.

Level: 1

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This answer is largely irrelevant. It makes one statement about the significance of the Prophet Muhammad at the beginning, but all that follows does not answer the question.

Answer 2Our Prophet Muhammad came into the world at a very important time when the world needed a prophet. He was the last Prophet whom Allah had sent, and he completed the line of Allah’s prophets that had begun with Hazrat Adam. He was the last in this line and there was no prophet after him because he completed the line.

Level: 2There is a clear indication here that Muhammad was the last prophet, and some awareness that there was no need for any prophet after him. The answer is, however, very repetitive.

Answer 3Hazrat Muhammad was sent by Allah to the whole world. He was the last of the prophets sent by Allah, and he completed the line of messengers that had started with Hazrat Adam. Hazrat Adam and the other prophets such as Hazrat Abraham and Hazrat Musa were sent to their own communities to teach them. But our prophet Hazrat Muhammad was sent to all the world.

Level: 3This candidate clearly realizes the difference between Muhammad and other prophets, and brings out his universal relevance against their local relevance quite clearly. He also gives suggestive hints about knowing the names of individuals in the line of prophets.

Answer 4Hazrat Muhammad is called the Seal of the Prophets in the holy Qur’an because he came at the end of the line of prophets sent from Allah and he completed this line. A seal is used on a letter to close it firmly. This is why our Prophet is called the seal of the prophets. Hazrat Muhammad came after Hazrat Adam, Hazrat Ibrahim, Hazrat Musa, Hazrat Isa and the other prophets. They were sent by Allah to their communities, but our Prophet Muhammad was sent to everyone in the earth. This is why he is called the Seal of the Prophets, because he ended the line of prophets and was for the whole earth.

Level: 4This answer not only refers to the Prophet in relation to earlier prophets, some of whom it names, and explains clearly the difference between him and predecessors, but it also gives some explanation of the metaphorical nature of the title itself. It is a confident response to a question that requires careful thinking.

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3 (a) The Prophet Muhammad is said to have been patient and trustworthy. Write about events in his life that illustrate these qualities. [10]

(b) Choose one of these qualities and explain why it was important for the Prophet to possess it.

[4] [M/J/2014]

(a) Candidates should write about events that show these traits in the Prophet, and they should give a detailed narration of the event rather than list a few occurrences. His patience: This was shown through the persecutions, when he was abused and ridiculed, but he did not give up preaching; he did not react when rubbish was thrown on him; when he was offered bribes by the Quraysh he refused and persevered, even through the boycott; he waited until God guided him to migrate; he was patient when revelations stopped for periods of time; he showed patience when the Quraysh ridiculed him after the death of his son.Trustworthiness: He had always been trusted by the Quraysh even before prophethood, being called al-amin; the Quraysh kept their belongings with him even after prophethood; when he migrated to Madina he returned the belongings to their owners (through ‘Ali); he kept his promises, e.g. as part of the Treaty of Hudaibiya, the Prophet sent back Muslims to Makka who had not sought consent to leave.These are some answers that could be offered but candidates may have others that they can develop.

(b) Candidates should choose one of the above qualities and give reasons as to why it was necessary for the Prophet to have that quality. For example, the Prophet needed to be patient because he was going to endure years ofhardships and becoming angry or giving up would not have been suited to a Prophet and would not have allowed Islam to endure. Or, being trustworthy at all times allowed people to have faith in him and his message when he started to preach as they knew that his quality of being trustworthy was unshakeable.Candidates could give any relevant example of why the Prophet should have had that quality but the development of the answer is what will give the candidate higher marks.

[ER]

Question 3

(a) This answer varied from being really well answered to being satisfactory. For those who answered it well, they were able to take two or three events from the Prophet’s life, for each quality, and give details about how that event showed that

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quality. The details and development of each event were what enabled candidates to score well. Those answers that did not provide more than one or two events, or that mentioned the event without providing details of what happened and how it showed the Prophet’s patience or trustworthiness, were not able to score highly.

(b) Candidates tended to write about the importance of patience and trustworthiness in general, rather than why it was important for the Prophet to have that quality. Good answers were able say that the Prophet needed to be patient because all prophets are tested and it takes a long time for people to accept the message, or that he had to be trustworthy so that people were able to have faith in his word when he brought the new message.

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