Choose any two of the following Hadiths, and: (i) قِيْلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَفضَلُ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ): مُؤْمِنٌ يُجَاهِدُ في سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ. It was said: O Messenger of Allah, who is the most excellent of men? The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless and give him peace) said: ‘The believer who strives hard in the way of Allah with his person and his property.' (ii) مَا أَكَلَ أَحَدٌ طَعَاماً قطُّ خَيْراً مِّنْ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ يَدِهِ. No one eats better food than that which he eats out of the work of his hand. (iii) إِنما مَثَلُ صَاحِبِ القُرآن كَمَثَلِ صَاحِبِ الإبل المُعَقَّلَةِ : إِنْ عَاهَدَ عَلَيْها أَمْسَكَهَا، وَإِنْ أَطلَّقَهَا ذهَبَت. He who studies the Qur'an is like the owner of tethered camels. If he attends to them he will keep hold of them, but if he lets them loose they will go away. (iv) أَنَّ رَجُلًا سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) فَقَالَ : أرأيت إذا صَلَّيْتُ الْمَكْتُوبَاتِ، وَصُمْتُ رَمَضَانَ، وَأَحْلَلْتُ الْحَلالَ ، وَحَرَّمْتُ الحَرَامَ، وَلَمْ أَزِدْ عَلى ذلِكَ شَيْئاً ، أَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةِ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ. A man asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless and give him peace): Do you think that if I perform the obligatory prayers, fast in Ramadan, treat as lawful that which is lawful and treat as forbidden that which is forbidden, and do nothing further, I shall enter paradise? He said: Yes.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2017). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. 1(a)(i) The main teaching of this Hadith is that the best amongst believers are those who are engaged in always trying to earn the pleasure of God. They will fulfil all their obligations towards God and will not only use their person to accomplish this, but use their resources and wealth with which God has provided them with to fulfil their obligations (to God and the community).
2. 1(b)(i) Muslims must at all times endeavour to do righteous deeds and be God conscious. A Muslim must never hesitate to serve the cause of Islam by using his person and resources. With a strong iman a Muslim will try to please his Lord all the more and go on to offer say tahajud prayers which are not obligatory or be willing to sponsor Islamic charities or use his/her resources to help fellow Muslims in war torn countries. Examples bringing out the implementation of the teaching of the Hadith will help give substance to the answer.
3. 1(a)(ii) The instruction in this Hadith to Muslims is that they must all strive to earn a living for themselves and their families. Reliance on others and begging are discouraged in Islam. Earnings are better than a fortune that has not been lawfully earned. It is not how much a person earns but how he/she earns it that matters.
4. 1(b)(ii) By earning one's living honestly and through hard work a Muslim can put into practise the teaching of this Hadith. All illegal earnings must be shunned by Muslims and no job should be looked down upon. Examples of how many of the prophets of God were shepherds including the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in his early life could be cited as proof of dignity of labour in Islam.
5. 1(a)(iii) The Qur'an is the book of guidance for all Muslims. It is only by reading it, understanding its teachings that a Muslim can understand his/her faith and live righteously. Muslims need to refer to the Qur'an throughout their lives so they can take benefit from its teachings. Just like the bedouins tied the fore legs of their camels to stop them from wandering off, regular connection with the Qur'an keeps Muslims from going astray.
6. 1(b)(iii) Muslims must engage with the Qur'an, they should not only read it but endeavour to understand and put into practise God's message. Teaching and explaining its teachings to others is also an honourable way of putting into practice the teaching of this Hadith. Muslims must be mindful that this all important guidance is not simply to be kept on the highest shelf in a Muslims home but rather referred to in the daily lives of all Muslims.
7. 1(a)(iv) The teaching of this Hadith is that Islam is a simple religion to follow, it clearly states what a Muslims obligations to God are and that obedience of these obligations is what earns Muslims God's mercy and pleasure and will enable them to get to Paradise in the akhira. Islam also very clearly states which things are unlawful and forbidden to Muslims, by following the Pillars of Islam and keeping away from the unlawful a Muslim is guaranteed Janna according to this Hadith of the Prophet (pbuh).
8. 1(b)(iv) By practising the Pillars, by staying away from the things God has forbidden Muslims from is how to implement this Hadith. The teachings of this Hadith can be put into practise by Muslims fulfilling the Pillars of Islam. Zakat and hajj are only incumbent on those Muslims who have resources. However, all Muslims need to believe in tawhid, perform the five obligatory prayers daily and fast in the month of Ramadan and stay away from what has been deemed unlawful for Muslims. Examples will help substantiate the answer.