Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an. (i) قُلْ أَعُودُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ، مَلِكِ النَّاسِ، إِلَهِ النَّاسِ، مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَ النَّاسِ Sura 114 1. Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind, 2. The King of mankind, 3. The God of mankind, 4. From the mischief of the whisperer who withdraws, 5. Who whispers into the hearts of mankind, 6. Among jinns and among mankind. (ii) وَإِدْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الأرْض خَلِيفَة قالوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءِ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الأَسْمَاءِ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاء هَؤُلَاءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ قالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنبِئُهُم 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 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 مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إلى حين فَتَلَقَّى آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ Sura 2.30–37 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. (iii) إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ Sura 108 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.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [4] (Sura 114) God's refuge – only He can help in times of need, in this case from jinn and men.
2. [4] (Sura 114) Seek help only from Him. He created everything so controls everything, even mischief makers.
3. [4] (Sura 114) It's a warning of those who whisper evil/bad ideas to humans, and then disappear and leave them on their own
4. [4] (Sura 114) God is a protector from these things and this sura makes up one of the suras of protection.
5. [4] (Sura 2.30-37) God created Adam, as well as everything else (angels, etc.), and made him a vicegerent on earth (khalifa), which suggests God values humans above angels.
6. [4] (Sura 2.30-37) God gives knowledge to who He wants and He gives the special status of prophethood to whom He wishes.
7. [4] (Sura 2.30-37) 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.
8. [4] (Sura 2.30-37) God shows His mercy to His prophets and humankind.
9. [4] (Sura 108) It was revealed as a consolation to the Prophet (pbuh) and foretold the destruction of his opponents.
10. [4] (Sura 108) God has given the Prophet (pbuh) Kawthar, which has various meanings. Most common is a river in paradise, but also has the meaning of progeny, guidance in abundance, success and his followers.
11. [4] (Sura 108) God commands His followers to pray to Him.
12. [4] (Sura 108) To show his gratitude the Prophet (pbuh) in particular, and Muslims in general, are expected to worship God and display the spirit of sacrifice, determination and good character.
13. [4] (Sura 114) Through these verses Muslims get to know the kind of evils/mischief they have to be wary of, e.g., jinn, humans or internal whisperings such as jealousy.
14. [4] (Sura 114) This means they should be aware of what's happening to them so they can recognise the signs of mischief and temptations.
15. [4] (Sura 114) Praying and doing good deeds strengthens reliance on God. Reciting this Sura with the other quls is a source of protection.
16. [4] (Sura 114) God is the King so it is Him who people should seek refuge with.
17. [4] (Sura 2.30-37) The importance is that Adam was the first prophet of God, who was made his representative on earth. This gives Muslims a sense of their connection to God as Adam is called the father of humankind and everyone is descended from him.
18. [4] (Sura 2.30-37) God showed Adam's importance by making the angels bow to him and forgiving him when he disobeyed. This should make humankind understand their status, they should seek forgiveness from God and worship Him.
19. [4] (Sura 2.30-37) It also shows God's care and direct relationship with every individual.
20. [4] (Sura 108) The teachings give an insight into how the relationship between God and the Prophet (pbuh) has lessons for Muslims. 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. Future hope is also given with the promise of the Kawthar in paradise.
21. [4] (Sura 108) 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. Muslims should remain steadfast despite the difficulties or mockeries that they face.
22. [4] (Sura 108) Even prophets were tested and faced hardships but remained steadfast so Muslims should not despair of God's mercy when facing hardships.