O-LevelIslamiyatMajor themes of the Quran2058/11 · May/June 2015 · Q116 Marks

Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and:

(a) (i)briefly describe the main theme(s) in passage (1) Sura 2.30–37: وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الأرْض خَلِيفَة قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءِ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاء كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاء هَؤُلَاءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنيتهم بأسْمَائِهِمْ فَلمَّا أنبأهُمْ بِأسْمَائِهِمْ قَالَ ألم أقل لَكُمْ 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 مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَى حِينٍ فَتَلَقَّى 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. (Sura 2.30–37)[4]
(b) (i)briefly explain the importance of these themes in a Muslim's life today for passage (1) Sura 2.30–37.[4]
(a) (ii)briefly describe the main theme(s) in passage (2) Sura 5.110: إِذْ قَالَ اللهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ ادْكُرْ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَى وَالِدَتِكَ إِذْ أَيَّدتُكَ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلاً وَإِدْ عَلَّمْتُكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَة وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالإِنجِيلَ وَإِدْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ بِإِذْنِي فَتَنفُخُ فِيهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِي وَتُبْرِىءُ الأَكْمَهَ وَالأَبْرَصَ بِإِذْنِي وَإِذْ تُخْرِجُ المَوتَى بِإِذْنِي وَإِذْ كَفَقْتُ 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 in 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.' (Sura 5.110)[4]
(b) (ii)briefly explain the importance of these themes in a Muslim's life today for passage (2) Sura 5.110.[4]
(a) (iii)briefly describe the main theme(s) in passage (3) Sura 108: إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ 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)[4]
(b) (iii)briefly explain the importance of these themes in a Muslim's life today for passage (3) Sura 108.[4]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2015). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[4] The main themes are: God as Creator; his relationship and care of His prophets; God giving knowledge and status to whom He wishes. 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; 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.
[4] 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. 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. It also shows God's care and direct relationship with every individual.
[4] The main themes are: God and His prophets; that humans need God; that God gives signs to humankind. Candidates will develop these themes in their own way, e.g., saying that God gives to His prophets to help them, in this case Jesus got the holy spirit, the Book and the wisdom, the Law and the Gospel; humans can do great things but only with God's permission, “by my leave"; God gives humankind signs through prophets of His existence, which separates those who believe and those who don't.
[4] These teachings reaffirm for Muslims the prophethood of Jesus and the power of God. Humans are capable of great feats but it is God who gives permission for these; moon landings, space travel, etc. 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, etc. to ensure they are counted as believers.
[4] The main themes are: God's mercy; God's generosity; His relationship with the Prophet Muhammad. Candidates will develop these themes in their own way, e.g., saying in His mercy, God granted the Prophet success, and because of this the Prophet and all Muslims should continue to worship God even in times of difficulty. God remains near to His prophets. It was also revealed as a consolation to the Prophet and foretold the destruction of his opponents.
[4] The teachings give an insight into how the relationship between God and the Prophet has lessons for Muslims. Muslims today are that future generation of followers that was given to the Prophet, 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 – Shi'i candidates may refer to this future hope as being Fatima. 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.