Choose any two of the following Hadiths and: (1) مَا أَكَلَ أَحَدٌ طَعَاماً قط خَيْراً مِّنْ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ يَدِهِ. (i) No one eats better food than that which he eats out of the work of his hand. (ii) كُلُّ سُلاَمَى مِنَ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ صَدَقَةٌ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ تَطْلُعُ فِيهِ الشَّمْسُ : تَعْدِلُ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ صَدَقَةٌ؛ وَتُعِيْنُ الرَّجُلَ فِي دَابَّتِهِ فَتَحْمِلُهُ عَلَيْهَا أَوْ تَرْفَعُ لهُ عَلَيْهَا مَتَاعَهُ صَدَقة؛ وَالْكَلِمَةُ الطَّيِّبَة صَدَقَهُ؛ وَبِكُلِّ خَطْوَةٍ تَمْشِيهَا إلى الصَّلاةِ صَدَقة؛ وتميط الأذى عن الطريق صدقة. (ii) Every person's every joint must perform a charity every day the sun comes up: to act justly between two people is a charity; to help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it is a charity; a good word is a charity; every step you take to prayers is a charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity. (iii) بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَبَا مُوسَى وَمُعَادَ بْنَ جَبَلٍ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ، وَبَعَثَ كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا عَلى مِخلَافٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَسِّرَا وَلاَ تُعَسِّرًا وَبَشِّرًا وَلَا تُنَفِّرًا. (iii) The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) sent Abu Musa and Mu'adh ibn Jabal to Yaman, and he sent each of them to govern a part. Then he said: ‘Be gentle and do not be hard, and cause rejoicing and do not alienate'. (iv) رَحِمَ اللَّهُ رَجُلًا سَمْحًا إذا بَاعَ ، وَإِذَا اشْتَرَى، وَإِذَا اقْتَضَى. (iv) May God show mercy to a man who is kindly when he sells, when he buys, and when he demands his money back.

Mark scheme

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

1. [4] (a) Hadith (i): This Hadith promotes the concept of earning lawfully through hard work and discourages reliance on others which includes begging. Muslims are encouraged to earn an honest livelihood for themselves and their families and are taught that respect is earned not by how much you earn but how you earn it.
2. [4] (b) Hadith (i): Muslims should always endeavour to work hard and honestly. Examples could be given from the Prophet's time of how he earned a simple living as a shepherd or from present day examples that the candidates know of showing the practical application of the teachings of this Hadith.
3. [4] (a) Hadith (ii): This Hadith's teaching is explaining to Muslims the broader meaning of charity. Charity is not the privilege of the rich restricted to just helping someone out financially but should be practised by each and every Muslim as is brought out by the various examples given in this Hadith. Every Muslim must endeavour to act kindly and be a source of benefit to all those around him in whichever way they can in order to earn God's pleasure.
4. [4] (b) Hadith (ii): Muslims can put the teachings of this Hadith into action by doing what they can to ease the burden of their fellow beings. Small acts of charity or even a kind word are as significant as any big acts of charity. Candidates can give examples of helping someone cross the road, donating clothes to victims of natural disasters etc. to highlight how the Hadith can be acted upon.
5. [4] (a) Hadith (iii): Though this Hadith is addressing two individuals specifically the teaching it contains is universal and is for all those people who are in a position of power and responsibility, e.g. government officials, parents, the police, teachers etc. Ultimate power lies with God alone and human beings as his deputies should promote peace and prosperity in their communities and be careful to not cause undue suffering.
6. [4] (b) Hadith (iii): By being gentle and kind and by spreading good will one can implement the teachings of the Prophet's Hadith. People in power and positions of responsibility should always conduct themselves fairly and with kindness. Again in this Hadith as in the previous ones examples showing how to act upon the Hadith will earn the candidates higher levels.
7. [4] (a) Hadith (iv): Mercy is an attribute of God which every Muslim must try to emulate and practise. In this Hadith there is a clear teaching that God wants his servants to show mercy and to act kindly in whatever a Muslim does which includes all financial dealings. That mercy shown to fellow beings is rewarded by Allah himself is a teaching of this Hadith.
8. [4] (b) Hadith (iv): Muslims need to show mercy to all of God's creatures. Even when it comes to trade and financial dealings Muslims must conduct themselves kindly as God looks favourably upon those who show respite to others in their hour of need. Hadiths to support the one given can be cited to gain higher levels.