In Madina, the Helpers (Ansar) and Emigrants (Muhajirun) were made brothers. Give an account of the main developments of this relationship.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [10] (a) Use the AO1 Mark Grid. A comprehensive answer will provide an account of the way in which the Prophet (pbuh) paired the Ansar and Muhajirun, as well as the reactions to the pairings and the relationships that developed.
2. [Content] When the Muslims of Makka first arrived in Madina they were without many belongings. The Muslims of Madina (mainly from the Aws and Khazraj tribes), who had invited the Prophet (pbuh) to their city, were happy to welcome the migrating Muslims.
3. [Content] To unite the two groups, the Prophet (pbuh) made them brothers, pairing each of the Ansar with the Muhajirun. This was to help each other materially and spiritually. The Ansar had already been eager to help their migrating brothers and sisters with accommodation and food.
4. [Content] The Prophet (pbuh) gathered the two groups and started calling out the name of one Ansar and one Muhajir. The Prophet (pbuh) took 'Ali as his brother.
5. [Content] 'Ali had complained that he had been left out of the pairings, to which the Prophet said, you are my brother in this world as well as the Hereafter.
6. [Content] Sa'd bin ar-Rabi and Abdur Rahman bin Awf were made brothers and Sa'd was willing to share half his property and divorce one of his wives for Abdur Rahman to marry. He refused, saying 'direct me to the nearest marketplace so that I may make my fortune with my own hands.'
7. [Content] The Ansar wanted to share their date palms with the Muhajirun but the Muhajirun refused, so the Ansar offered them to work in their orchards and in return they were given dates. In this way the Madinans gave protection and material assistance to their Makkan brothers and the Makkans came with their faith to share and spread in Madina.
8. [Content] Some Ansar specified an amount for their Muhajir brother to inherit and happened until the verse was revealed 'Blood relatives are nearer to one another regarding inheritance' [8.75].
9. [Content] The virtue of these two groups has been mentioned in the Qur'an, e.g. 'Those who believed and emigrated and carried out jihad in the way of Allah with their wealth and lives are greater in rank in the sight of Allah, and it is they who are the successful.' [9.20].
10. [4] (b) Muslims can help by looking to see what they can offer others. Help can be in any form, e.g., financial assistance to poor, youth services, challenging social injustice etc.
11. [Content] Muslims may live in areas where people from another country have come to settle, whether it be because they are fleeing from persecution or to seek work. Muslims can help them by finding out about them, asking if they need any help, providing food/clothing/information and /or by helping them to integrate.