Describe how Islamic beliefs and values are expressed in one significant writing.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [10] Mark according to the AO1 – 10-mark levels of response marking grid for knowledge and understanding.
2. Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited.
3. The works listed for study in the syllabus are: Ibn Tufayl's work Hayy ibn Yaqzan, Al-Ghazali's Incoherence of the Philosophers, Ibn Khaldun's work on social science, The Muqaddimah, the mystical poetry of Rabiʻa al-'Adawiyya, Al-Biruni's work on comparative religion, History of Religions, a published work chosen by the candidate.
4. Islamic beliefs and values might be focused by the candidate on particular areas according to the focus of the work they have chosen. For example, in Hayy ibn Yaqzan, the logical deduction of belief in a single creator God by the boy Hayy, marooned on a desert island, from his observations of the world around him. This is an example of belief derived through rationalism.
5. Al-Ghazali makes the point that rationalism has flaws and incoherence and to him, acceptance of revealed belief and mystical, inner experience from Sufi practices are the best way to find Islamic beliefs and values.
6. Al-Biruni's work on comparative religion takes an objective, neutral stance towards the Indian religions Biruni observed on his travels. This contrasts with the faith-based, devotional bias of most writers at the time. Al-Biruni's work is therefore referred to as the first study of comparative religion in the modern sense.
7. Ibn Khaldun's work refers to history and social science and he makes the point that objective truth is important in study. He wrote about hadith, dream interpretation and fiqh, particularly the five categories of action as the basis for the beliefs and values of Islamic society.
8. Good answers might include brief, relevant quotes and explanations from the key word chosen. Better responses will draw out the particular approach to beliefs and values made by the writer and give a clear and full explanation of this in their account.