O-LevelIslamiyatThe life and importance of the Prophet Muhammad2058/12 · Oct/Nov 2019 · Q214 Marks

Write about the Prophet Muhammad's first experience of revelation.

(a)Write about the Prophet Muhammad's first experience of revelation.[10]
(b)The Prophet (pbuh) could not read or write. In what way has this always been significant for Muslims?[4]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[10] (a) A comprehensive answer will provide an account of the key events in the cave when Jibril came to Muhammad (pbuh), what was said, and how he reacted.
(a) The Prophet (pbuh) had increased the time he spent in solitude in the cave of Hira, taking little food and water with him. At the age of 40, Muhammad (pbuh) went to the cave during the month of Ramadan, and during one of the nights the first revelation came to him.
(a) The angel Jibril appeared and instructed Muhammad (pbuh) to read, iqra, and the Prophet (pbuh) replied he could not. The angel squeezed Muhammad (pbuh) and said it again and again the Prophet (pbuh) replied he could not.
(a) After a third time the angel released the Prophet (pbuh) and recited the first few verses of Sura Alaq (96): 'Read! in the name of thy Lord, Who created. Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: Read! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful, He Who taught (the use of) the pen, Taught man that which he knew not.'
(a) The Prophet (pbuh) came out of the cave and heard a voice saying, 'Muhammad (pbuh), you are the Messenger of God and I am Jibril.' He looked up and saw the angel on the horizon, and wherever he looked he could see the angel.
(a) Muhammad (pbuh) was confused and shaken, and he ran home and asked his wife to cover him. She consoled Muhammad (pbuh), saying God would not disgrace him, and went to see her cousin Waraqa bin Nawfal, who confirmed Muhammad's prophethood.
[4] (b) It was important because being unable to read or write shows that it would not have been possible for the Prophet (pbuh) to have composed the Qur'an himself; the implication is that not being able to compose the Qur'an himself, shows that the Qur'an is from God.
(b) God did not want anyone else to be the Prophet's teacher, as that would have meant someone was superior to him in his knowledge of God. It was a miracle of God.