Choose any two of the following Hadiths, and: (i) The world is the believer's prison and the unbeliever's paradise. الدُّنْيَا سِجْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَجَنَّهُ الْكَافِرِ. (ii) 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.' قِيلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَفْضَلُ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى الله عَليهِ وسَلَّمَ): مُؤْمِنٌ يُجَاهِدُ في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ. (iii) May God show mercy to a man who is kindly when he sells, when he buys, and when he demands his money back. رَحِمَ اللَّهُ رَجُلًا سَمْحًا إِذا بَاعَ ، وَإِذَا اشْتَرَى، وَإِذَا اقْتَضَى. (iv) The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless and give him peace) sent Abu Musa and Mu'adh ibn Jabal to Yaman, and he sent each of them to govern a part. Then he said: 'Be gentle and do not be hard, and cause rejoicing and do not alienate.' بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَبَا مُوسَى وَمُعَادَ بْنَ جَبَلٍ إِلى اليَمَنِ، وَبَعَثَ كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا على مخلاف. ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَسِّرًا وَلاَ تُعَسّرًا وَبَشِّرًا وَلَا تُنَفَّرًا.

Mark scheme

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

1. [4] For Hadith (i) 'The world is the believer's prison and the unbeliever's paradise': The teaching of this Hadith for Muslims is to treat this world as a temporary place and not to get too attached to it or its charms as a person's final dwelling is in the Hereafter and to attain paradise in the next world should be the objective of every believer. A believer has to live his/her life according to the laws of God and his/her life in this world has been compared to a prison where rules have to be followed. A disbeliever lives his/her life in self-gratification whereas the believer abides by God's laws to please Him and gain rewards.
2. [4] For Hadith (ii) 'The believer who strives hard in the way of Allah with his person and his property': This Hadith gives the teaching of striving in the way of God to all Muslims with whatever means they can employ with the purpose of establishing a just and righteous society. Striving hard could be seen to have more than one meaning and candidates can refer to them to expand on their answer.
3. [4] For Hadith (iii) 'May God show mercy to a man who is kindly when he sells, when he buys, and when he demands his money back': The clear teaching in this Hadith is that God wants His believers to act kindly and to show mercy in all aspects of life including all business and financial dealings. Candidates could expand on the explanation by referring to the instruction given in the Qur'an on how trade should be conducted (Al Isra, 17:35).
4. [4] For Hadith (iv) 'Be gentle and do not be hard, and cause rejoicing and do not alienate': The Hadith specifically signifies the responsibilities of Muslim rulers and how they should work for the welfare and prosperity of their people. Leaders in the Prophet's time also performed the duties of religious leaders and so the teaching in the Hadith has a broader meaning instructing that religious instruction should be given with gentleness in order to make people more inclined towards the faith.
5. [4] For Hadith (i) 'The world is the believer's prison and the unbeliever's paradise': By living according to laws set by God, Muslims can put the teaching of this Hadith into practice. Candidates could elaborate their answer by saying how they should stay away from the forbidden foods and drinks, practise modesty in their lives and not engage in transactions that are not permissible in Islam. All valid responses should be credited.
6. [4] For Hadith (ii) 'The believer who strives hard in the way of Allah with his person and his property': A Muslim's every action should be to please God and he should constantly endeavour to struggle in God's way. This can be done in several ways, namely by preaching Islam, living righteously, caring for the community, striving to remove evil from society or even by migrating for the sake of God if the need arises as the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions did. Each answer needs to be read for its own merit and marked accordingly.
7. [4] For Hadith (iii) 'May God show mercy to a man who is kindly when he sells, when he buys, and when he demands his money back': Showing mercy and acting with kindness is at the core of Islamic teaching and can be practiced by all Muslims. Talking to others kindly, asking about the health of a sick friend, neighbour, visiting orphanages are some ways in which a person can be kindly. Even in business/trading kindness can be shown, forgiveness is an aspect of kindness which should be practiced by forgiving the mistakes of others.
8. [4] For Hadith (iv) 'Be gentle and do not be hard, and cause rejoicing and do not alienate': All those in a position of authority should know that ultimate authority lies with God. Muslim governments should be fair in their actions and should base their authority on Islamic principles. Examples will help substantiate the answer.