Write about the Prophet's activities in spreading Islam outside Makka, before the migration to Madina.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2014). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. (a) The two main events related to this are the visit to Ta'if and the Pledges of Aqaba.
2. (a) Candidates should write about both events to reach higher levels.
3. (a) As the number of converts to Islam was not increasing, and due to the persecution by the Quraysh, the Prophet turned his attention to communities outside Makka.
4. (a) He first went to Ta'if, where he called the people to Islam for ten days.
5. (a) The people of the city chased the Prophet and Zaid bin Harith out, pelting them with stones.
6. (a) Blood flowed down his legs and Zaid was injured too.
7. (a) They took refuge in an orchard.
8. (a) God sent the Angel Jibril, with the angel of the mountain, to crush the town and its inhabitants with the mountains surrounding it, with the Prophet's permission.
9. (a) The Prophet instead prayed for them that they become Muslim.
10. (a) The Prophet then focused on preaching to pilgrims coming to Makka for the pilgrimage.
11. (a) In the eleventh year of prophethood, six men from Yathrib listened to the Prophet's message.
12. (a) They accepted Islam and went back to Yathrib and preached the message of Islam.
13. (a) The following year, twelve men came to offer their allegiance to the Prophet.
14. (a) They pledged to worship one God, not steal or commit adultery, nor kill their children.
15. (a) The Prophet sent Musab bin 'Umair to teach the people of Yathrib.
16. (a) In the following year, over 70 pilgrims came to Makka from Yathrib and swore allegiance to the Prophet.
17. (a) In this pledge they agreed to listen and obey the Prophet, to spend when they had lots and when they had less, to enjoin good and forbid evil, to fear no one, and to defend the Prophet.
18. (a) After this the Prophet gave the Muslims permission to start migrating to Madina.
19. (b) Candidates could, e.g. write about the forgiveness shown by the Prophet.
20. (b) He had an opportunity to have revenge on those who had harmed him but instead he chose to pray for them.
21. (b) Muslims can learn that prayer can be more powerful than retaliation.
22. (b) That it is not necessary to fight violence with violence.
23. (b) In difficult circumstances, such as oppression, or when people are harming you, forgiveness can be a powerful tool.
24. (b) Muslims should learn to be more forgiving in all circumstances, e.g. if someone has stolen from them, or has called them names.
25. (b) Candidates can choose to write about other qualities, but they need to justify their answer with an example.