Write about the changes in the relationship between the Prophet and the Quraysh in the years between his marriage to Khadija and the death of Abu Talib.

Mark scheme

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

1. [10] Candidates should talk about the Prophet's status in the community prior to him becoming a prophet. He was known as 'Al-Amin' or the trustworthy. Candidates should mention, using examples, that prior to his prophethood, the Quraysh used to consult him in important matters, trust him with their goods, and look to him for advice. For example they could mention that when the Prophet was younger he was chosen by the Quraysh to settle the dispute of who should replace the sacred black stone to its position at the Ka'ba. Answers should also mention that after revelation, the Prophet Muhammad was rejected when he invited the Quraysh to Islam. They still trusted him but did not want to believe in his message. He was taunted, mocked and openly humiliated by different members of the Quraysh. The best answers will include details of events before the period of revelation and after revelation. Candidates should not mention only one or two events, such as the boycott, but give a wider narrative of events before and after prophethood. Details about the events themselves should be credited.
2. [4] Candidates can offer a variety of answers, but they should try to explain their answers with reasoning. They could say that despite the message he was preaching, they still knew that his character would not have changed because they had never found any discrepancies in his character. Despite not liking what the Prophet was saying they still valued their belongings and wanted to keep them where they knew they would get them back. The reasons the Quraysh changed were political and social, not because the Prophet had changed, or because they felt he was lying/spreading falsehood.