'Modesty does not prevent Muslim women from achieving in life.' Discuss this statement by referring to two women you have studied, including one modern woman.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2024). 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 Islamic religious theory or teaching. Students may propose, analyse and evaluate some of the following arguments. All relevant arguments must be credited.
4. Definition
5. Modesty in Islam can be referring to Muslim women's attire or the way they conduct themselves in society. Also, a definition of ‘achieving' can be given, such as succeeding in an aim, or doing well financially/socially.
6. Agree
7. God has commanded Muslim women to cover themselves and to apply modesty in their life. Qur'an 24.31 'And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, ...'
8. The Prophet (pbuh) has also laid stress on women adopting modesty. Hadith: 'O Asma, when a woman reaches the age of maturity, it is not proper for her to show anything but this and this,' and the Prophet (pbuh) pointed to his face and hands. (Sunan Abu Dāwūd).
9. And in another Hadith, about both men and women: “Verily, Allah Almighty is forbearing, modest, and protective. He loves modesty and protection. Thus, if one of you washes himself, let him protect himself with a screen.'
10. Since modesty is a command from God it follows that it will be for the benefit of women, therefore it cannot prevent them from attaining good.
11. Candidates can refer to two women they have studied who, whilst being modest in their attire and manners, still achieved well in life.
12. They can refer to one of the modern women they have studied such as Malala. While living in Europe as a student and an international speaker/activist for the education of women, she always wore her headscarf and dressed in a modest way. They can give the background of how she has come far from where she started in her small village in Swat to be nominated as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and all along she was seen wearing the traditional salwar kameez.
13. Candidates could also refer to a woman of the past, such as Khadija/ 'Aisha who were modest in their attire, being wives of the Prophet (pbuh) but still achieved high status in the society they lived in, Khadija being a successful businesswoman and 'Aisha, a reputed scholar in her time who was teaching the Companions.
14. Disagree
15. Modesty can prevent Muslim women from succeeding in some societies to some extent. For example, in some countries, girls/women wearing headscarves cannot attend school or work in public offices. It is not the fact that they are modest which is preventing them from doing well, but rather the restrictive laws of these countries.
16. Socially being dressed modestly can affect women negatively. They might be looked down by other men and women because of the fact that they adopt the Islamic dress code.
17. Wearing modest clothes can also prevent women from applying for jobs of their choice, such as air hostess or policewomen.
18. It can also affect women psychologically, diminishing their confidence to express themselves outwardly in some situations, such as job interviews.
19. Conclusion
20. A judgement is to be made on whether the fact that women are modest in Islam affects/prevents them from achieving in the society they live in or on the contrary it helps them to succeed.