Give an account of the lives of 'Ali ibn Talib and Zayd bin Harith during the life of the Prophet.

Mark scheme

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

1. [10] (a) Answers for this part should give accounts of the lives of both these companions, while the Prophet was still alive and before they became caliphs. 'Ali ibn Talib: the Prophet's cousin, he went to live with the Prophet at a young age to alleviate the hardship on his father; was one of the first to accept the message of Islam at the age of ten; when the Prophet started open preaching, he called his clansmen to Islam and it was only 'Ali who stepped forward to accept it; the Quraysh laughed at 'Ali being made an emir that they should obey; he stood by the Prophet during the persecutions and the boycott in Makka; he was entrusted with the Quraysh's belongings to be returned to them when the Prophet migrated to Madina, and he met the Prophet and Abu Bakr at Quba; in Madina ‘Ali was made the brother of the Prophet; he married the Prophet's daughter Fatima and they had four children; ‘Ali was a prominent fighter in all the battles (except Tabuk), commanding the Muslim army at Khaybar; he was one of the scribes of the Prophet, writing down the Qur'an as well as the Treaty of Hudaibiyah; 'Ali rode next to the Prophet on the final pilgrimage; 'Ali and Abbas washed the body of the Prophet when he died. Zayd bin Harith: He was eight years old when he was captured as a slave; he was bought by Khadija's nephew and given to Khadija; she then gave him to the Prophet who freed him; his family never stopped looking for him; they heard he was in Makka and arrived with a ransom to free him; the Prophet gave him a choice to go with his father and uncle or to remain with him; Zayd chose to remain with the Prophet, after which the Prophet declared Zayd his son and heir; he was called Zayd bin Muhammad until the revelation 33.5 was revealed after which he was called Zayd bin Harith; he was the third person said to have accepted Islam; he accompanied the Prophet when he tried to preach to the people of Ta'if and was injured as well; he was amongst those who went back to Makka to accompany the remaining Muslims to Madina; he married several times, once to the Prophet's cousin Zainab, a marriage that ended in divorce (verse 33.37); he was close to the Prophet and fought in many battles, including Badr, Uhud, Trench and Khaybar; he commanded seven military expeditions; at the Battle of Mu'ta he was the standard bearer, and was killed on the battlefield.
2. [4] (b) These stories can tell Muslims that it is not just immediate relations that are important, and that Muslims should look after other family members as well. 'Ali was not his son but the Prophet looked after him like he was, and so if there is a need in your family, then it is encouraged to help family members by treating their children the same as you would your own, rather than giving your own children better things than other relatives. Adoption is also important in Islam and candidates could write that adopted children are to be given the same treatment in the family as other children. Although God later changed the inheritance of adopted children, their treatment within the family should be like your own children.