Discuss the extent to which calling to Islam (da'wah) is limited for Muslims living in a country where they are a minority.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2024). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] 10 marks AO1 – Knowledge and understanding
2. [1] 15 marks AO2 – Analysis and evaluation
3. [1] Mark according to the levels of response marking grids for AO1 and AO2. Answers may refer to any Islamic religious theory or teaching. Candidates may propose, analyse and evaluate some of the following arguments. All relevant arguments must be credited.
4. [1] A definition of what calling to Islam (da ‘wah) means can be given, e.g. by quoting the Qur’anic verses that mention it: ‘Who is better in speech Than one who calls (men) To God, works righteousness, And says, “I am of those Who bow in Islam”?’ (Qur’an. 41.33)
5. [1] Living as a minority in a country where the majority are from other faiths can pose many challenges to Muslims.
6. [1] One of the challenges could be that the Muslims being weak in number compared to the majority population, do not feel confident in calling others to Islam (da ‘wah). They might not want to attract attention to the fact that they are Muslims/practising a different faith from the majority.
7. [1] Some Muslims might be scared of being wrongly accused of Islamism/terrorism if they are too assertive in calling others to Islam (da ‘wah).
8. [1] There could be laws in non-Muslim countries which prevent Muslims from calling others to Islam (da ‘wah), e.g. street da ‘wah could be banned in some countries.
9. [1] In a country where Muslims are in minority, it can be more challenging for the Muslims to practise their own religion and the task of calling others to Islam can thus not be considered as a priority.
10. [1] The extent to which calling others to Islam (da ‘wah) is done is not important, what is most important is that it is done.
11. [1] Qur’an: 3.104: Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity.’ This verse shows that the amount of people calling to Islam does not have to be big, even if a handful of people do it, that is sufficient.
12. [1] The Prophet (pbuh) and the early Muslims lived in a polytheistic society, but still they carried on calling others to Islam (da ‘wah), both clandestinely and overtly, despite the torture and abuse that they received. Muslims today can take them as models for persevering in this work, even in the face of adversity.
13. [1] On the other hand, being a minority can give more scope for Muslims to call others to Islam (da ‘wah), as the people from other faiths would be more receptive of inclusion and diversity and in learning about what the minority believe in.
14. [1] Also, calling others to Islam (da ‘wah) does not have to be preaching, just by being good Muslims and showing how beautiful and caring Islam is as a religion, Muslims are calling others to Islam (da ‘wah).
15. [1] A judgement should be made as to the extent Muslims in a non-Muslim country can or cannot call others to Islam (da ‘wah) and whether there are more limitations or more opportunities in such communities where Muslims are a minority.