Discuss how Muslim leaders can promote justice and human rights. Refer to either women or non-Muslims in your answer.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. 10 marks AO1 – Knowledge and understanding
2. 15 marks AO2 – Analysis and evaluation
3. Mark according to the levels of response marking grids for AO1 and AO2. Answers may refer to any religious theory or teaching. Candidates may propose, analyse and evaluate some of the following arguments. All relevant arguments must be credited.
4. Candidates can start by explaining that leaders should promote justice and human rights when dealing with everyone under their rules. The word justice (adl) is to give everyone their rights whatever their gender or religion.
5. Candidates could explain different ways that leaders can ensure that they treat people in society justly. The best ways to do that is through following the commands in the Qur'an about not oppressing others.
6. Qur'an 4.58 talks about acting justly to all. 'Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing.'
7. Many places in the Qur'an warn against acting unjustly to others, therefore leaders should take heed of these warnings and should promote justice and human rights.
8. The Prophet (pbuh) sent Muadh to Yemen and said, 'Be afraid, from the curse of the oppressed as there is no screen between his invocation and Allah.' (Bukhari). By remembering the advice of the Prophet leaders can shun any idea of doing injustice to the people.
9. In a Hadith the Prophet (pbuh) has warned against killing non-Muslims; ‘Whoever killed a person who is granted the pledge of protection by the Muslims (Mu'ahid) shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise though its fragrance can be smelt at a distance of forty years (of traveling).' (Bukhari)
10. In his last sermon, the Prophet (pbuh) put lots of stress on the treatment of women with justice and warned severely against oppressing them. Therefore leaders, following this, can pass laws or take actions to ensure that women are not oppressed in society.
11. Muslim leaders can also learn from the bad end that happened to oppressors/tyrants who lived in the past, and fear the wrath of God. A good example is that of Pharaoh (Qur'an 7.137) or Qarun (Qur'an 40.24).
12. Another way leaders can promote justice is by surrounding themselves with good advisors, who will keep check on them and bring them back to the right path when they are deviating. A Hadith in Ahmad says ‘Whoever intends to advise one with authority, he should not do so publicly. Rather, he should take him by the hand and advise him in private. If he accepts the advice, all is well. If he does not accept it, he has fulfilled his duty.'
13. Consulting (shura) with others in decision making can also help a leader promote justice and human rights, and this was the model set by the Four Rightly-Guided Caliphs.
14. Good answers will discuss the different ways and discuss how effective they are in promoting justice and human rights.