Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and: (i) Sura 2.255 اللهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لاَ تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلاَ نَوْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلا بِمَا شَاء وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَلَا يَؤُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ Allah. There is no god but He, the living, the self-subsisting, eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permits? He knows what is before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass any of His knowledge except as He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme. (ii) Sura 99 إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا وَأَخْرَجَتِ الْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا وقَالَ الْإِنسَانُ مَا لَهَا يَوْمَئِذٍ تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا بِأَنَّ رَبَّكَ أَوْحَى لَهَا يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصْدُرُ النَّاسُ أَشْتَانًا لِّيُرَوْا أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ 1. When the earth is shaken to her utmost convulsion, 2. And the earth throws up her burdens, 3. And man cries out: 'What is the matter with her?', 4. On that day will she declare her tidings: 5. For that your Lord will have given her inspiration. 6. On that day will men proceed in companies sorted out, to be shown their deeds. 7. Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good see it! 8. And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil shall see it. (iii) Sura 93 وَالضُّحَى وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَى مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قُلى وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنَ الْأُولَى وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَى أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَآوَى وَوَجَدَكَ ضَالًّا فَهَدَى وَوَجَدَكَ عَائِلًا فَأَغْنَى فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّتْ 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!

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. Use the AO1 Marking Grid
2. (i) Sura 2.255 The main theme is God in Himself:
3. Oneness of God/Tawhid, God is the Creator/Lord of everything in the heavens and earth.
4. He is The Ever Living and The Sustainer, The Self-Subsisting hence all creations are dependent on Him, but He is independent.
5. He does not have human qualities so does not sleep or get tired in what He does.
6. Everything in the universe is His kingdom and under His power and authority.
7. His knowledge is limitless, and humans only know what He allows them.
8. His throne is understood as His majesty, uniqueness, knowledge and having total power. It emphasises how He is the only one who can make decisions about His creation yet is transcendent – completely independent from His creation.
9. He is the Highest authority.
10. (ii) Sura 99 The main theme God's relationship with the created world:
11. The signs of the Last Day,
12. The earth will be shaken and the inescapable quaking will baffle humans.
13. Everything will be destroyed as God has the power to destroy His own creation (Al-Mumit “The Destroyer).
14. The earth will give testimony on what occurred, from environmental abuse to neglect of resources.
15. People will be responsible for their actions on earth and given their accounts.
16. God will be the Judge.
17. Decision about the eternal life will be made by God, only He has the power to do so.
18. Every little act of goodness or sin will be taken account of by God while complete justice will be done.
19. (iii) Sura 93 The main theme is God's Messengers:
20. God helps those who are in distress, prophets, and Muslims.
21. This sura is directed to the Prophet (pbuh) himself showing how God helped him, in this case with shelter, guidance and independence.
22. He is always present and with them through the hardships they endure, and He supports them.
23. God reminds the Prophet (pbuh) of the worthlessness of worldly life and the eternal bounties awaiting him in Akhirah. All prophets preferred afterlife over their earthly abode.
24. Special instruction for good treatment of the needy and the poor are also given.
25. Prophet (pbuh) is also asked to show gratitude and gratefulness.
26. Use the AO2 Marking Grid
27. (i) Sura 2.255 The importance of these themes is that these verses allow Muslims to learn and understand something about God in a way relevant to them.
28. The theme of God's self-subsistence shows how certain attributes that affect humans do not affect Him, for example, sleep, so they can rely entirely on Him.
29. He has the knowledge and power over all things, and this could make Muslims more cautious of their practices.
30. It can be considered as one of the best passages of the Qur'an, and Muslims often recite it daily for protection.
31. Candidates could say how they use Ayat al-Kursi in their own lives.
32. (ii) Sura 99 The verses reaffirm Muslim belief in the Day of Judgment.
33. It creates a sense of accountability, reminding Muslims to stay on the straight path.
34. Good deeds will be rewarded which encourages Muslims to always do good, for example, following the Pillars or being honest and helping others. It keeps them away from displeasing things like lying, cheating, gossiping and not obeying God's commandments.
35. It helps Muslims understand the temporary nature of the world which stops them being distracted by worldly things, such as fashion or money.
36. Muslims feel comforted by God's justice that no good deed will go unnoticed, or bad deed will go unpunished.
37. (iii) Sura 93 These themes tell humans not to worry when others oppose or hurt you.
38. A person may think that God has deserted them, or He does not seem to be there when they go through hard times in their lives, but these themes assure them that He is always present and with them.
39. God gave blessings to the Prophet (pbuh), 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.
40. These themes also encourage people to be kind and compassionate to the vulnerable members of the society, particularly orphans and destitute.
41. These themes also create appreciation and gratitude in Muslims.