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O-LevelIslamiyatMajor themes of the Quran2058/11 · May/June 2020 · Q18 Marks

Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and: (1) وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الأرْض خَلِيفَة قالوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءِ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءِ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاء هَؤُلاءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ فَلمَّا أنبأهُمْ بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ قالَ ألم أقل لكمْ إِنِّي أعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَى وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّة وكلا مِنْهَا رَغَداً حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلا تَقْرَبَا هَذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ فَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ وَقُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إلى حين فَتَلَقَّى آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ (i) 30. Behold, your Lord said to the angels: 'I will create a vicegerent on earth.' They said: 'Will You place there one who will make mischief there and shed blood?- whilst we celebrate your praises and glorify your holy (name)?' He said: 'I know what you do not know.' 31. And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: 'Tell me the names of these if you are right.' 32. They said: 'Glory to You, of knowledge we have none, save what You have taught us: In truth it is You who are perfect in knowledge and wisdom.' 33. He said: 'Adam! Tell them their natures.' When he had told them, Allah said: 'Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and I know what you reveal and what you conceal?' 34. And behold, We said to the angels: 'Bow down to Adam'. And they bowed down. Not so Iblis: he refused and was haughty: he was of those who reject faith. 35. We said: 'Adam! You and your wife dwell in the Garden; and eat of the bountiful things in it as You wish. But do not approach this tree, or you will run into harm and transgression.' 36. Then Satan made them slip from there, and got them out of what they had been in. We said: 'Go down, with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling-place and your means of livelihood, for a time.' 37. Then Adam learnt from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord turned towards him; for He is often-returning, most merciful. (Sura 2.30–37) (ii) وَالضُّحَى وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَى مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَى وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنَ الأُولى وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَى أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَآوَى وَوَجَدَكَ ضَالًّا فَهَدَى وَوَجَدَكَ عَائِلًا فَأَغْنَى فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّتْ (ii) 1. By the glorious morning light, 2. And by the night when it is still, 3. Your Lord has not forsaken you, nor is He displeased. 4. And truly the Hereafter will be better for you than the present. 5. And soon your Lord will give you so that you will be pleased. 6. Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter? 7. And He found you wandering, and He gave you guidance. 8. And He found you in need, and made you independent. 9. Therefore, do not treat the orphan with harshness, 10. Nor drive the beggar away; 11. But tell about the bounty of your Lord! (Sura 93) (iii) إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ (iii) 1. To you have We granted abundance. 2. So pray to your Lord and sacrifice. 3. For he who hates you, he will be cut off. (Sura 108)

  1. (a)briefly describe the main theme(s) in each passage[4]
  2. (b)briefly explain the importance of these themes in a Muslim's life today.[4]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [4] For part (a) (total for two chosen passages):
  2. Sura 2.30-37 The main themes are: God as Creator; His relationship and care of His prophets; God giving knowledge and status to whom He wishes.
  3. Candidates will develop these themes in their own way, e.g., saying God created Adam, as well as everything else (angels, etc.), and granted him a high position, which suggests God values humans above angels.
  4. God gives knowledge to who He wants and He gives the special status of prophethood to whom he wishes.
  5. When Satan misled Adam, God did not leave him or allow any obstacle to prevent him from making Adam His representative on earth, in other words God looks after His prophets.
  6. Sura 93 The main themes are, God as companion; He helps His prophets, in this case the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh); teaches being grateful to God.
  7. Candidates will develop these themes in their own way, e.g., It is God who helps in need so when distressed, Muslims should turn to Him.
  8. This sura is directed to the Prophet (pbuh) himself showing how God helped him, in this case with shelter, guidance and independence; gives message of being kind and helpful to others in need, like orphans and beggars, and realising that a person's benefits all come from thanking God.
  9. A person may think that God has deserted them, or He does not seem to be there, but He is always present and with them.
  10. Sura 108 The main themes are: God's mercy; God's generosity; His relationship with the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
  11. Candidates will develop these themes in their own way, e.g., saying in His mercy, God granted the Prophet (pbuh) success, and because of this the Prophet (pbuh) and all Muslims should continue to worship God even in times of difficulty.
  12. God remains near to His prophets. It was also revealed as a consolation to the Prophet (pbuh) and foretold the destruction of his opponents.
  13. Themes may be the same for some suras, but they will be expressed differently.
  14. A reference to the background of the sura can help distinguish one sura from another but should not be the main body of the answer.
  15. Answers must be qualified to get higher marks – candidates must expand on them.
  16. [4] For part (b) (total for two chosen passages):
  17. Sura 2.30-37 The importance is that Adam was the first prophet of God, who was made His representative on earth.
  18. This gives Muslims a sense of their connection to God as Adam is called the father of humankind and everyone is descended from him.
  19. God showed Adam's importance by making the angels bow to him, and forgiving him when he disobeyed.
  20. This should make humankind understand their status, they should seek forgiveness from God and worship Him.
  21. It also shows God's care and direct relationship with every individual.
  22. Sura 93 These themes tell humans to not worry when others oppose or hurt you; God gave blessings to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), despite people saying that he had been forgotten by God.
  23. Muslims should look at their own lives to see their blessings and not think they have been given nothing; they should not constantly want more than what they have.
  24. They should be grateful to God through prayers, giving charity and helping those less fortunate than themselves and they should make people aware of the ways in which God helps them.
  25. Sura 108 The teachings give an insight into how the relationship between God and the Prophet (pbuh) has lessons for Muslims.
  26. Muslims today are that future generation of followers that was given to the Prophet (pbuh), and so this sura gives hope to people in times of need.
  27. God always intervenes in times of difficulty so Muslims should always remember to look to Him for help and support, and not feel disheartened in times of difficulty, e.g. during illness or oppression.
  28. Muslims should try to remain steadfast despite the difficulties or mockeries that they face.

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About this question

Topic
Major themes of the Quran, O-Level Islamiyat (syllabus 2058). Structured question, 8 marks.
Source
O-Level Islamiyat, May/June 2020 Paper 1 Variant 1, question 1.

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