EITHER 3

Mark scheme

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

1. [10] (a) A Sunni Imam is any person who leads Muslims in prayer. For most Sunnis, the Imam is a person who is educated, trained and employed by a main mosque to lead the prayers. The Imam conducts marriages and funerals and give sermons and teachings.
2. [10] (a) The Prophet (pbuh) said: “The person who can best read the Book of Allah will lead the people (in prayer). If they are equal in reading (the Qur'an), then the one who has more knowledge of the Sunnah."
3. [10] (a) Therefore, Imams should be able to recite the Qur'an well. Some may have been trained as a beautiful reciter (qari). Generally, Imams are expected to have learned the Qur'an by heart (hafiz) and be able to read it and teach it to others.
4. [10] (a) They should have good knowledge of the Sunnah of Muhammad (pbuh) and apply this in their lives to set a good example for the people, and gain respect.
5. [10] (a) The Prophet (pbuh) that the Imam should be liked by the people. This helps to encouraged them to come together to pray, and prayer in congregation gains more reward both for the people and for the Imam leading.
6. [10] (a) Leaders should be compassionate on the needs of people, so they must understand them. The prophet (pbuh) advised that the Imam should not lengthen the prayer because there might be old, weak or people with other commitments reading behind the Imam.
7. [10] (a) The merits and education needed to become a Sunni Imam today varies by group and by country. Some modern universities have been set up to train Sunni Imams, and other training seminaries, taking a traditional approach, have also spread to qualify Imams to apply to local mosques to be their leader.
8. [10] (a) The appointment process may include the meeting of a mosque committee and verification of the qualification and skills of the Imam, such as checking of references and quality of recitation of the Qur'an for prayer.
9. [10] (a) Some mosques may look into the moral background of the Imam and ask their previous mosques for references to check they are known as people of good standing who will be respected by the congregation and can therefore lead sermons with authority and respect.
10. [15] (b) Definitions: The Prophet's family might be defined as his wives and children and their descendants. Names might be given, and the importance of 'Ali and his line to Shi'i Muslims mentioned, with his sons Hassan and Husayn.
11. [15] (b) Similarities: In practical terms Shi'i and Sunni Imams lead prayers, given sermons (khutbahs) and guide their people, helping conduct marriages and funerals and encouraging them in their faith.
12. [15] (b) Similarities: The importance of the examples set by the Prophet's family as sources of authority is recognised because they both saw Muhammad (pbuh) and followed what he did so they are reliable sources for the Sunnah. Both Shi'i and Sunni Muslims recognise and follow their teachings.
13. [15] (b) Similarities: Both sets of Imams attend their own training colleges which cover similar subjects such as Islamic recitation and jurisprudence, and both frequently mention traditions from the companions during their training.
14. [15] (b) Differences: Shi'i Imams are from the family of the Prophet (pbuh) as they believe spiritual authority was passed on in a line of twelve Imams and Imams today are practicing temporarily in place of the twelfth Imam, who has disappeared and will re-appear in future.
15. [15] (b) Differences: Any educated, pious Muslim may act as an Imam and apply to be an Imam of a mosque, regardless of family of spiritual authority passed down.
16. [15] (b) Differences: Muharram is the busiest time of the year for Shi'i Imams who lead daily prayers and sermons, to recall and mark the death of Husayn, the Prophet's grandson, at Karbala. This event is not marked by Sunni Imams who are busiest leading Ramadan (taraweeh) prayers, not usually followed by Shi'i Imams.
17. [15] (b) Conclusions: Conclusions might draw together the response and make an overall judgement about the ways in which they are similar and different in various respects.