Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and: (1) وَكَذَلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِينَ فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ رَأَى كَوْكَبًا قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى القَمَرَ بَازِعًا قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي فَلمَّا أقلَ قالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لأكونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَة قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي هَذا أَكْبَرُ فَلمَّا أفلت قالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ (i) 75. So also did We show Abraham the power and the laws of the heavens and the earth, so that he might have certainty. 76. When the night covered him over, he saw a star: He said: 'This is my Lord.' But when it set, he said: 'I do not love things that set.' 77. When he saw the moon rising in splendour, he said: 'This is my Lord.' But when the moon set, he said: 'Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among those who go astray.' 78. When he saw the sun rising in splendour, he said: 'This is my Lord; this is the greatest.' But when the sun set, he said: ‘O my people! I am indeed free from your giving partners to Allah.' 79. 'For me, I have set my face firmly and truly towards Him who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah.' (Sura 6.75–79) (ii) إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ (ii) 1. To you have We granted abundance. 2. So pray to your Lord and sacrifice. 3. For he who hates you, he will be cut off. (Sura 108) (iii) وَالضُّحَى وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَى مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قُلَى وَالآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنَ الأُولى وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَى أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَآوَى وَوَجَدَكَ ضَالًا فَهَدَى وَوَجَدَكَ عَائِلًا فَأَغْنَى فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ (iii) 1. By the glorious morning light, 2. And by the night when it is still, 3. Your Lord has not forsaken you, nor is he displeased. 4. And truly the Hereafter will be better for you than the present. 5. And soon your Lord will give you so that you will be pleased. 6. Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter? 7. And He found you wandering, and He gave you guidance. 8. And He found you in need, and made you independent. 9. Therefore, do not treat the orphan with harshness, 10. Nor drive the beggar away; 11. But tell about the bounty of your Lord! (Sura 93)

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2018). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [Max 2 marks per Sura for chosen two passages for (a)] Sura 6.75-79: The main themes are: God's power, His signs in creation, and His Oneness. Candidates will develop these themes in their own way, e.g., saying His power is shown through His ability to control the sun and the moon, and that the sign of His power is that He does not fade or die away, whilst things in creation do. The passage also shows His relationship with His prophets, as Ibrahim was searching for God, and that He uses these signs to guide them. Therefore these verses tell Muslims to worship God alone. They strengthen belief in His Oneness.
2. [Max 2 marks per Sura for chosen two passages for (a)] Sura 108: The main themes are: God's mercy; God's generosity; His relationship with the Prophet Muhammad. Candidates will develop these themes in their own way, e.g., saying in His mercy, God granted the Prophet success, and because of this the Prophet and all Muslims should continue to worship God even in times of difficulty. God remains near to His prophets. It was also revealed as a consolation to the Prophet and foretold the destruction of his opponents.
3. [Max 2 marks per Sura for chosen two passages for (a)] Sura 93: The main themes are, God as companion; He helps His prophets, in this case the Prophet Muhammad; teaches being grateful to God. Candidates will develop these themes in their own way, e.g., it is God who helps in need so when distressed, Muslims should turn to Him; this sura is directed to the Prophet himself showing how God helped him, in this case with shelter, guidance and independence; gives message of being kind and helpful to others in need, like orphans and beggars, and realising that a person's benefits all come from thanking God. A person may think that God has deserted them, or He does not seem to be there, but He is always present and with them.
4. [Max 2 marks per Sura for chosen two passages for (b)] Sura 6.75-79: The importance of these verses is to strengthen belief by showing that created things are not permanent. The prophets have asked God for guidance and so Muslims should take this guidance too. They should realise they need to look to one God for their answers, rather than looking to created things for guidance.
5. [Max 2 marks per Sura for chosen two passages for (b)] Sura 108: The teachings give an insight into how the relationship between God and the Prophet has lessons for Muslims. Muslims today are that future generation of followers that was given to the Prophet, and so this sura gives hope to people in times of need. Future hope is also given with the promise of the Kawthar river in paradise. God always intervenes in times of difficulty so Muslims should always remember to look to Him for help and support, and not feel disheartened in times of difficulty, e.g. during illness or oppression. Muslims should remain steadfast despite the difficulties or mockeries that they face.
6. [Max 2 marks per Sura for chosen two passages for (b)] Sura 93: These themes tell humans to not worry when others oppose or hurt you; God gave blessings to the Prophet Muhammad, despite people saying that he had been forgotten by God. Muslims should look at their own lives to see their blessings and not think they have been given nothing; they should not constantly want more than what they have. They should be grateful to God through prayers, giving charity and helping those less fortunate than themselves and they should make people aware of the ways in which God helps them.