Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and (i) وَكَذَلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِينَ فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ رَأَى كَوْكَبًا قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي فَلمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِعًا قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي فَلمَّا 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 (i) Sura 6.75-79 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.' (ii) إِذْ قَالَ اللهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ ادْكُرْ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَى وَالِدَتِكَ إِذْ أَيَّدتُّكَ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلَا وَإِدْ عَلَّمْتُكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالإِنجِيلَ وَإِذْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ بِإِذْنِي فَتَنفُخُ فِيهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِي وَتُبْرِىءُ الأَكْمَهَ وَالأَبْرَصَ بِإِذْنِي وَإِذْ تُخْرِجُ المَوتَى بِإِذْنِي وَإِدْ كَفَفْتُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَنكَ إِدْ جِئْتَهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْهُمْ إِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ (ii) Sura 5.110 Then will Allah say: 'Jesus son of Mary! Recount my favour to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the holy spirit, so that you spoke to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel. And behold! You make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by my leave, and you breathe into it and it becomes a bird by my leave, and you heal those born blind, and the lepers, by my leave. And behold! You bring forth the dead by my leave. And behold! I restrained the Children of Israel from you when you showed them the clear signs, and the unbelievers among them said: 'This is nothing but evident magic.' (iii) قُلْ أَعُودُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ، مَلِكِ النَّاسِ، إِلَهِ النَّاسِ، مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَ النَّاسِ (iii) Sura 114 1. Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind, 2. The King of mankind, 3. The God of Mankind, 4. From the mischief of the whisperer who withdraws, 5. Who whispers into the hearts of mankind, 6. Among jinns and among mankind.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [4] 1(a) briefly describe the main theme(s) in each passage
2. Use the AO1 Levels of Response.
3. Sura 6.75-79: The main theme is Allah's Messengers.
4. Candidates will develop these themes in their own way, e.g. Power: God's power is shown through His ability to control the sun and the moon.
5. Unchanging: His signs are in creation, and the sign of His power is that He does not fade or die away, whilst things in creation do.
6. Guidance: The passage also shows His relationship with His prophets, as Ibrahim was searching for God, and that He uses these signs to guide them.
7. Oneness (tawhid): His Oneness is pointed to through these signs and His power and so these verses tell Muslims to worship God alone.
8. Sura 5.110: The main theme is Allah's Messengers.
9. Candidates will develop these themes in their own way e.g. Guidance: God's assistance and guidance to His prophets, in this case Jesus was helped by the Holy Spirit, the Book and the wisdom, the Law and the Gospel.
10. Power: Jesus did great things but only with God's permission, “by my leave".
11. Support: God supports Prophet's in their mission by giving them miracles.
12. Protection: God provides protection to his chosen people.
13. Challenges: Prophets face opposition and persecution. In this case Jesus was rejected with claims of magic.
14. Sura 114: The main theme is Allah's relationship with the created world.
15. Candidates will develop these themes in their own way, e.g. Sovereignty: God establishes Himself as Master (Rabb), King (Malik) and true God (llah).
16. God's refuge: Only He can help in times of need, in this case from jinn and humans. Seek help only from Him.
17. Control: He created everything so controls everything, even mischief makers.
18. Warning: It's a warning of those who whisper evil/bad ideas to humans, and then disappear and leave them on their own
19. Protection: God is a protector from jinn and humankind.
20. [4] 1(b) briefly explain the importance of these themes in a Muslim's life today.
21. Use the AO2 Levels of Response.
22. 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, to help them in their lives and solve their problems.
23. It shows Muslims how God guided His messengers, in this case Ibrahim. Humans should use their minds to ponder upon God and look up to God for guidance.
24. 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 at all times.
25. Sura 5.110: These teachings reaffirm for Muslims the prophethood of Jesus and the power of God.
26. The teachings show humans are capable of great feats but it is God who gives permission, strength and assistance for these, whether it is moon landings, space travel, etc.
27. Muslims should use these as signs of God's grace, and believe in His power to control everything and allow things to happen. They should therefore remember Him often, by praying, supplicating or doing good deeds, etc. to ensure they are counted as believers.
28. Sura 114: Through these verses Muslims get to know the kind of evils/mischief they have to be wary of, e.g. jinn, humans or internal whisperings such as jealousy.
29. This means they should be aware of what's happening to them so they can recognise the signs of mischief and temptations.
30. Praying and doing good deeds strengthens reliance on God.
31. Reciting this sura with the other 'qul's' is a source of protection.
32. God is the King so it is Him who people should seek refuge with.