Compare the challenges faced by Muslim leaders today with those faced by leaders in the past in applying the Sunnah.

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. Applying Sunnah means that Muslims follow the ways of the Prophet (pbuh) in all aspects of their lives.
6. Leaders of the past
7. Leaders in the past were closer to the generation of the Prophet (pbuh), and it was easier for them to follow the example of the Prophet (pbuh) as a leader. 'The best people are those of my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them. Then, there will come people after them whose testimony precedes their oaths and their oaths precede their testimony.' Bukhari
8. Examples of good leadership could be given from the Four Rightly- Guided Caliphs, who were very pious, simple and good models in following the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh).
9. Some of the leaders who came much later, e.g. Umar Ibn Abdul Aziz of the Umayyad dynasty, adhered strictly to the Sunnah.
10. The general impression is that people from the past were better Muslims, however this is not completely true. From the leaders of the past there were many who were corrupt and reputed for their non-adherence to the Sunnah, for example some of the Umayyad Caliphs who were known for their drinking of wine or indulging in a luxurious life.
11. Leaders of the past had different challenges to overcome from today's leaders, but that does not mean that their tasks were any easier.
12. Leaders today
13. Muslims now live in a different world with new technological advancements and new challenges and the leaders may find it more challenging to follow the Sunnah than the leaders of the past.
14. Leaders of today face different challenges, for example atheism and materialism in some countries, influencing countries where Muslims are in majority. To keep up with the developed world, many leaders have no choice but to accept certain laws which might go against Islamic principles.
15. The rise of materialism and secularism in modern society has made it harder to follow Islamic principles, not only for leaders but for all people.
16. The challenge for leaders in the first few decades of Islam was made easier by the presence of living companions who knew the Sunnah well. Today the challenge for leaders is harder because defining the Sunnah with the absence of scholars who knew the Prophet (pbuh) makes it more difficult.
17. Alternatively, today with the easy access to information, it might be easier for leaders to learn about Islam and to adhere to the Sunnah, than in the past where people had to travel long distance just to get one Hadith.
18. Conclusion
19. Conclusions might draw together the response and make an overall judgement as to whether it is easier or harder for the leaders of today to adhere to Sunnah than the leaders of the past, or whether both have lots of challenges.