(a) Write an account of Muslim belief in the oneness of God (tawhid). (b) How do signs from the natural world strengthen a Muslim's belief in God?

Mark scheme

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

1. Candidates could begin their answer by stating that belief in the Oneness of God is the fundamental teaching of Islam. Without believing in the Oneness of God one cannot be a Muslim. Candidates need to describe the three aspects of tawhid, which are Oneness of the Lordship of God; Oneness in worship of God; and Oneness of the names and attributes of God.
2. Belief in the supremacy of God's Lordship means that Muslims believe that the universe, the heaven and earth all belong exclusively to God as He created them. They are dependent upon Him for their conservation and continuation, and He alone has the power to bring all that He has created to an end just as He has the power to sustain everything He has created.
3. Belief in Him as the supreme Lord also means to acknowledge Him as the supreme law giver and judge. God alone has the power to make laws, determine acts of worship, decide morals and set standards of human behaviour.
4. No one should be worshipped other than Him and no one can be worshipped along with Him. He has no partners and no associates in His worship and this has been the message of all prophets sent by God to humanity: surrender to His will and worship only Him.
5. The names of God indicate His majesty and perfection. Candidates can give some of the 99 names of God and say what they mean and how they help Muslims to understand His qualities and love Him. As only God is perfect no one should be named or identified with His names or attributes.
6. Muslim belief in God is strengthened when they observe the natural world. Simply by looking at the universe, mankind has evidence of its Creator, for such a well organised and well-coordinated world could not have come into existence on its own. There is a harmonious and systematic arrangement in the universe. Examples of night following day or the planets in orbit could be given to develop this point.
7. Nature, the change of seasons, plant life etc. all point towards a Creator. The life cycle of a plant demonstrates the order of life and the balance created in nature and the environment.