Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and: وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ لا تَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلا لِلقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ (i) Sura 41.37 37. Among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Adore not the sun and the moon, but adore Allah, who created them, if it is Him you wish to serve. لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ تَكَادُ السَّمَاوَاتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِن فَوْقِهِنَّ وَالْمَلائِكَةُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ أَلَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ (ii) Sura 42.4-5 4. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: and He is most high, most great. 5. The heavens are almost rent asunder from above them, and the angels celebrate the praises of their Lord, and pray for forgiveness for beings on earth: Behold! Verily Allah is He, the oft-forgiving, the most merciful. يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فِرَاشًا وَالسَّمَاء بِنَاء وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاء مَاء فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ ِرزْقًا لَكُمْ فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (iii) Sura 2.21-22 21. O people! Adore your Guardian-Lord, who created you and those who came before you, so that you may have the chance to learn righteousness; 22. Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens; and by it brought forth fruits for your sustenance; then do not set up rivals to Allah, when you know.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [Sura 41.37 (a)] [AO1] God creates and controls everything, in this verse specifically the sun and the moon.
2. [Sura 41.37 (a)] [AO1] The order and cycle of the sun and the moon are God's signs for humankind of His power.
3. [Sura 41.37 (a)] [AO1] As the Creator only He should be worshipped (tawhid).
4. [Sura 41.37 (a)] [AO1] It is a negation of paganism – the sun and moon are not to be worshipped.
5. [Sura 42.4-5 (a)] [AO1] God is the owner of everything because He created everything.
6. [Sura 42.4-5 (a)] [AO1] Due to His greatness above them, the heavens are almost torn apart.
7. [Sura 42.4-5 (a)] [AO1] The angels praise God and pray for forgiveness of humans on earth as part of their duties.
8. [Sura 42.4-5 (a)] [AO1] Humans are reliant on God's mercy as He is the most forgiving, the most merciful.
9. [Sura 2.21-22 (a)] [AO1] God is the Creator of humankind so they should only worship Him.
10. [Sura 2.21-22 (a)] [AO1] He also created what is for the benefit of humankind (guidance, fertile earth, shade and water from sky), so they should be grateful to God.
11. [Sura 2.21-22 (a)] [AO1] God has not only created but has also made arrangements for the sustenance of His creations.
12. [Sura 2.21-22 (a)] [AO1] Humankind should not commit the greatest sin of associating partners/rivals with God, for He is the only Creator and Sustainer.
13. [Sura 41.37 (b)] [AO2] The importance of these verses is that believers should acknowledge and reflect on the fact that created things are not permanent.
14. [Sura 41.37 (b)] [AO2] They should realise they need to look to one God for their answers, rather than looking to created things for guidance.
15. [Sura 41.37 (b)] [AO2] They should ponder on His signs, the perfection of His creations and nature in order to strengthen their faith.
16. [Sura 42.4-5 (b)] [AO2] The importance here is that God tells humankind of His power and control over all things so they should remember that they do not have any power in comparison hence be humble.
17. [Sura 42.4-5 (b)] [AO2] God is Merciful, even when Muslims have committed wrong actions, so Muslims have someone to turn to in times of need.
18. [Sura 42.4-5 (b)] [AO2] As God is merciful to humankind, they in turn should be grateful and also try to be forgiving of others, even if they have been hurt or injured.
19. [Sura 42.4-5 (b)] [AO2] Humans should not despair of Him or give up on His mercy – even if they have sinned, they should turn back to Him and He will forgive.
20. [Sura 42.4-5 (b)] [AO2] The obedience of angels to God can encourage humans to be obedient to God too.
21. [Sura 2.21-22 (b)] [AO2] The natural world is a comfort for humankind, and so they should look after it.
22. [Sura 2.21-22 (b)] [AO2] God provides the world for humankind so humans should be responsible for looking after their environment, which can be done in many ways.
23. [Sura 2.21-22 (b)] [AO2] Humans should acknowledge who their sustenance has come from and rely on God for everything as well as be grateful.
24. [Sura 2.21-22 (b)] [AO2] Strong belief/reliance on God should make Humans confident and courageous.