Write about the lives of two of the Prophet's wives whom he married after the death of Khadija.

Mark scheme

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

1. [10] (a) Candidates should give a detailed narrative about two wives and should not be awarded marks for writing about Khadija. They should expand on the points below and add to the detail. Candidates can choose from: Sawda bint Zam’a: Prophet’s second wife; she was widowed and older than the Prophet; known for her generosity, died ten years after the Prophet. Aisha bint Abu Bakr: married at young age; they were married for nine years; involved in many important events and battles; verses from sura Nur, 11–19 revealed about her; she became one of the greatest narrators of Hadith; took part in Battle of Camel after the Prophet’s death. Hafsa bint ‘Umar: widowed at young age; memorised Qur’an; mushaf was kept with her; was a narrator of Hadith. Zaynab bint Khuzayma: husband was martyred at Badr; known for her generosity; died after being married to Prophet for 8 months. Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya: husband died at Uhud; rejected proposal of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar then accepted proposal by Prophet; memorised Qur’an; outlived all other wives. Zaynab bint Jahsh: the Prophet’s cousin; married to Zayd bin Haritha but marriage ended in divorce; then married the Prophet. Juwayriya bint al-Harith: the daughter of the chief of Banu Mustaliq; taken captive after successful campaign against them; Prophet proposed to her, and due to this the booty was returned and captives freed; married for six years; died 39 years after his death. Umm Habiba Ramla bint Abi Sufyan: one of the early Muslims; migrated to Abyssinia with husband who then became Christian; could not live with him so stayed in Abyssinia; Prophet sent proposal and marriage was conducted by Negus; went to Madina after six years; lived with Prophet for four years before he died. Safiyya bint Huyayy: brought to the Prophet after the Muslim victory at Khaybar; daughter of the chief of Banu Nadir; Prophet invited her to Islam then proposed to her; other wives did not always think favourably of her but Prophet always defended her. Maymuna bint al-Harith: related to the Prophet and had always wanted to marry him; sent proposal through her brother-in-law; Prophet accepted and they married when the Muslims performed ‘Umra after the treaty of Hudaybiyya; after their marriage verse 33.52 revealed. Maria al-Qibtiyya: sent as a gift from the ruler of Egypt; was a slave-girl; accepted into the household of the Prophet after the treaty of Hudaybiyya; gave birth to the Prophet’s son Ibrahim, who died when he was 8 months old; a solar eclipse coincided with his death to which the Prophet clarified they are not related events.
2. [4] (b) Candidates can offer any suggestions they want but should give explanation and reasoning for their answers, which should be thoughtful and evaluative. They could say, e.g., that the Prophet encourages men to look after their wives and that those with good character treat their wife better than they treat others. Muslims should not compete in jobs or wealth but rather in how well they treat their wife and family. Those who treat their wife well are those who should have most respect. Candidates could go on to say that now many Muslims do not treat their wives well, they treat them like slaves, or they beat them, but this is not what the example of the Prophet teaches Muslim men about their relationship with their wives.