Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and: (i) Sura 99 إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا وَأَخْرَجَتِ الْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا وقَالَ الْإِنسَانُ مَا لَهَا يَوْمَئِذٍ تُحَدِّثُ أَحْبَارَهَا بِأَنَّ رَبَّكَ أَوْحَى لَهَا يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصْدُرُ النَّاسُ أَشْتَانًا لِّيُرَوْا أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ 1. When the earth is shaken to her utmost convulsion, 2. And the earth throws up her burdens, 3. And man cries out: 'What is the matter with her?', 4. On that day will she declare her tidings: 5. For that your Lord will have given her inspiration. 6. On that day will men proceed in companies sorted out, to be shown their deeds. 7. Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good see it! 8. And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil shall see it. (ii) Sura 5.110 إِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ ادْكُرْ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَى وَالِدَتِكَ إِذْ أَيَّدتُّكَ بِرُوحِ القُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلَا وَإِدْ عَلَّمْتُكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالإِنجِيلَ وَإِدْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ بِإِدْنِي فَتَنفُخُ فِيهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِدْنِي وَتُبْرِىءُ الأَكْمَهَ وَالأَبْرَصَ بِإِدْنِي وَإِذْ تُخْرِجُ المَوتَى بِإِدْنِي وَإِذْ كَفَفْتُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَنكَ إِدْ جِئْتَهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْهُمْ إِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ Then will Allah say: 'Jesus son of Mary! Recount my favour to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the holy spirit, so that you spoke to the people in childhood and maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel. And behold! You make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by my leave, and you breathe into it and it becomes a bird by my leave, and you heal those born blind, and the lepers, by my leave. And behold! You bring forth the dead by my leave. And behold! I restrained the Children of Israel from you when you showed them the clear signs, and the unbelievers among them said: 'This is nothing but evident magic.' (iii) Sura 2.30-37 وَإِدْ 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 الأَسْمَاء كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاء هَؤُلَاءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ قالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ فَلَمَّا أَنبَأَهُمْ بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ قالَ ألم أقل لكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَى وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّة وكلا مِنْهَا رَغَداً حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ فَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ وَقُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقِرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إلى حين فَتَلَّقَى آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ 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 names.' 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.
- (a)briefly describe the main theme(s) in each passage[4]
- (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 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.
- Sura 99 Themes:
- God's relationship with the created world.
- The signs of the Last Day.
- The earth will be shaken, destroying what He created - He has the power to give life and death. Everything will be destroyed.
- The earth will give testimony to what occurs, from environmental abuse to neglect of resources.
- People will be responsible for their actions on earth and given their accounts.
- Humans will be accountable to God.
- God will be judge and justice will be done.
- He will decide rewards and punishments.
- Sura 5.110 Themes:
- God's assistance and guidance to His prophets, in this case Jesus was helped by the holy spirit, the Book and the wisdom, the Law and the Gospel.
- God supports Prophets in their mission by giving them miracles.
- Jesus did great things but only with God's permission, “by my leave”, hence real power lies with God.
- Prophets face opposition and persecution. In this case Jesus was rejected with claims of magic.
- Sura 2.30-37 Themes:
- God's prophets.
- God created Adam, as well as everything else (e.g. angels), and made him a vicegerent (khalifa), which suggests God values humans above angels.
- God gives knowledge to who He wants, and He gives the special status of prophethood to whom He wishes.
- 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.
- Adam was forgiven when he repented, God's forgiveness and mercy extends to all.
- Sura 99 Importance:
- The verses reaffirm Muslim belief in the Day of Judgment.
- It creates a sense of accountability, reminding Muslims to stay on the correct path.
- Good deeds will be rewarded, encouraging Muslims to do good at all times, e.g. following the Pillars, being honest and helping others.
- It keeps them away from unpleasant things, e.g. lying, cheating, gossiping and not obeying God's commandments.
- It helps Muslims understand the temporary nature of the world which stops them being distracted by worldly things, e.g. fashion or money.
- Muslims feel comforted by God's justice that no good deed will go unnoticed, or bad deed unpunished.
- Sura 5.110 Importance:
- These teachings reaffirm for Muslims the prophethood of Jesus and the power of God.
- The teachings show humans are capable of great feats, but it is God who gives permission, strength and assistance for these. For example, the moon landings and space travel.
- Muslims should use these as signs of God's grace and believe in His power to control everything and allow things to happen.
- They should therefore remember Him often, by praying, supplicating or doing good deeds to ensure they are counted as believers.
- Sura 2.30-37 Importance:
- This gives Muslims a sense of their connection to God as Adam is called the father of humankind and everyone is descended from him.
- God made the angels bow to Adam. This showed his elevated status amongst God's creatures and that of humanity in general.
- God granted forgiveness to Adam. This should make humankind believe in God's mercy and forgiveness and they should repent.
- Shows God's care and direct relationship with every individual.
- Makes one realise the importance of knowledge and learning.
- Teaches people to stay away from arrogance and pride.
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