Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and (i) بسم اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ الْحَمْدُ للهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ (i) 1. In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful. 2. Praise be to Allah, the cherisher and sustainer of the worlds; 3. Most gracious, most merciful; 4. Master of the day of judgment. 5. You we worship, and your aid we seek. 6. Show us the straight way, 7. The way of those to whom You have given your grace, not those who earn your anger, nor those who go astray. (Sura 1) (ii) وَكَذَلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِينَ فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ رَأَى كَوْكَبًا قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِعًا قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لأكونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَة قَالَ هَذا رَبِّي هَذا أَكْبَرُ فَلمَّا أفلتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ (ii) 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) (iii) إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ (iii) 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)

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [4] (a) Sura 1: This passage is from the theme of God's relationship with the creation. Saying it is God who presides over judgment and controls the worlds. God is worthy of praise as he is the one who is the Sustainer, Cherisher and Master of mankind. God gives guidance to those who ask. God will preside over the day of judgement but as He is Merciful and Compassionate, humans have the hope that they can seek His forgiveness. He is the one to ask for help, and it is He who can grant it for anything. He is Master of all creation so only He is deserving of worship.
2. [4] (a) Sura 6.75-79: This passage is from the themes of God's messengers. 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. God's prophets always believed in and professed Tawheed.
3. [4] (a) Sura 108: This passage is from the themes of God's messengers. Saying in His mercy, God granted the Prophet (pbuh) success. Because of this the Prophet (pbuh) 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 (pbuh) and foretold the destruction of his opponents.
4. [4] (b) Sura 1: This is recited in every prayer. 'No prayer is accepted without Fatiha', and it is a conversation with God and He is the Creator, and God is replying to each verse. Through it humans communicate with God. Muslims use this to ask for guidance (given in the Qur'an and Sunna), for mercy and help, even outside the prayer. Submitting to God brings humbleness into lives, and because Muslims are accountable to God. They pray to be guided on the straight path. Fear of God's accountability also forces Muslims to live their lives in accordance with God's commands.
5. [4] (b) Sura 6.75-79: The importance is that it creates a strong link with God and strengthens belief in His Oneness, so Muslims should not look up to anything/anyone else, famous people, money, etc., to help them in their lives and solve their problems. It shows Muslims how God guided His messengers, in this case Ibrahim. Humans should use their minds to ponder upon God. God's signs invite Muslims to observe their environment. It creates awe and wonder to help get closer to Him. It reminds humankind that He is the creator of all things, and this realisation helps them turn to Him only in times of need.
6. [4] (b) Sura 108: The teachings give an insight into how the relationship between God and the Prophet (pbuh) has lessons for Muslims. Muslims today are that future generation of followers that was given to the Prophet (pbuh), and so this sura gives hope to people in times of need. Future hope is also given with the promise of the Kawthar in paradise – candidates may refer to this future hope as being Fatima. 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. Even prophets were tested and faced hardships but remained steadfast so Muslims should not despair of God's mercy when facing hardships.