Write an account of the life of Fatima and the life of any one other of the Prophet's daughters.

Mark scheme

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

1. [10] Fatima: She was the youngest daughter and born a few years before prophethood. She was the only daughter to outlive the Prophet (pbuh). In her youth she spent a lot of time with the Prophet (pbuh). She was upset over the treatment he faced by the Quraysh in Makka and would help clean the Prophet (pbuh) when the Quraysh would throw impurities on him. She also suffered in the boycott to Shib-i-Abi Talib along with her parents. The Prophet (pbuh) showed his affection for her and would visit her before he left on a journey and upon returning. She was married to 'Ali and had three sons and two daughters; she suffered hardships in her marriage and when she went to ask the Prophet (pbuh) for help in the household, he replied saying he will give her something better, and gave her some adhkar to recite after prayers. When the Prophet (pbuh) was ill, she was upset that he was dying but happy when he told her she would be joining him soon. She died six months after the Prophet (pbuh) and was buried in Janatul Baqi.
2. [10] Zaynab: She was the eldest daughter born in the 5th year of marriage when the Prophet (pbuh) was 30. She was married to Abu al-'As ibn Rabi, and had two children, Ali and Umaymah. She became Muslim but her husband initially did not. She stayed behind with him when the other Muslims migrated to Madina. He fought in the Battle of Badr against the Muslims and was captured. Zaynab sent her mother's necklace for his ransom, and upon seeing the necklace, the Prophet (pbuh) asked for the necklace to be returned to her on the condition that she be allowed to go to Madina. Her husband was freed and returned to Makka and she returned to her father in Madina. The first time she tried to leave Makka she was forcibly brought back by some of the Quraysh and injured, which caused her to miscarry. When she was better, Abu al-'As sent her to Madina under the protection of his brother Kinana. She did not remarry hoping Abu al-'As would become Muslim, which he did after she offered him protection in her house following a caravan raid. She died a year later in 8AH.
3. [10] Ruqayya: She was three years younger than Zaynab and was married to Utbah, Abu Lahab's son. She wasn't yet living with him when Sura Lahab was revealed, whereupon Abu Lahab told his son to divorce her. She then married 'Uthman and they migrated to Abyssinia where she had a son, Abdullah, who died aged six in Madina. Ruqayya and 'Uthman migrated to Madina before the Prophet (pbuh) and so she was given the name 'The lady of the two migrations'. She was ill when the Muslims were leaving for the Battle of Badr and 'Uthman was told to stay with her. She died before the Prophet (pbuh) returned from battle. He led her funeral prayer, and she was buried in Janatul Baqi.
4. [10] Umm Kulthum: The third daughter of the Prophet (pbuh) was born not long after Ruqayya and it is said they grew up as though they were twins. She was married to Utaybah, Abu Lahab's son. Like Ruqayya she was divorced by her husband before she went to live with him. She lived through the severest periods of persecution and suffered the boycott to Shib-i-Abi Talib. She stayed behind in Makka when her father migrated but joined him later in Madina with her sister Fatima. She married 'Uthman after Ruqayya's death. She had no children and died in 9AH.
5. [4] Lessons could be that it is important for fathers to be compassionate with their daughters, that they should love and respect them, and for daughters to show respect for their fathers.
6. [4] Examples of how this could be done should be given.