O-LevelIslamiyatThe life and importance of the Prophet Muhammad2058/12 · Oct/Nov 2014 · Q414 Marks

Outline the Prophet's experiences in the caves of Hira and Thawr.

(a)Outline the Prophet's experiences in the caves of Hira and Thawr.[10]
(b)In what respects were the Prophet's experiences in the cave of Thawr important for his prophethood?[4]

Mark scheme

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

(a) Candidates have to write about both caves, and the answers should generally be of equal volume.
(a) Cave Hira is where the Prophet received the first revelation, when he was 40.
(a) He had been spending longer periods of time there.
(a) One night, an angel appeared in the form of a man and said "Iqra” (read/recite).
(a) The Prophet replied, I cannot recite.
(a) This happened three times, the third time the Angel Jibril squeezed the Prophet and recited the words of surah Alaq, verses 1-5.
(a) The Prophet felt the words were imprinted on his heart.
(a) He ran out the cave and could see the Angel on the horizon.
(a) He ran home and asked his wife to cover him and narrated what had happened.
(a) Cave Thawr is where the Prophet hid with his companion Abu Bakr when they left Makka on the migration to Madina.
(a) They were followed by men hired by the Quraysh to kill the Prophet.
(a) They stayed in the cave for three days.
(a) Abu Bakr entered to clear the cave for the Prophet; while the Prophet slept on his lap, something stung Abu Bakr but he did not cry out.
(a) A spider wove its web at the entrance, and birds made a nest, so when the Quraysh got to the cave they did not go in.
(a) Abu Bakr was scared and the Prophet reassured him that God was with them (9.40).
(a) After three days they left the cave for Madina.
(a) Abu Bakr's son would come to give them news of Makka and his daughter brought them food for their journey.
(a) Candidates should expand on these details to gain the highest level.
(b) The events in the cave of Thawr were important to the Prophet because it gave him reassurance that God was looking after him, as the web that was spun on the cave saved his life, so Islam was spread.
(b) It also confirmed the loyalty of Abu Bakr to the Prophet, as Abu Bakr was afraid but did not give himself or the Prophet away to the Quraysh.
(b) These are not the only valid answers, and candidates should be credited where they give reasons for their answer.