Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and: (a) briefly describe the main theme(s) in each passage (b) briefly explain the importance of these themes in a Muslim's life today. (1) اللهُ لا إلهَ إِلا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لاَ تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلا نَوْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاء وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَلَا يَؤُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ (i) 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. (Sura 2.255) (ii) بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ تَكُن لَهُ صَاحِبَةٌ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ذَلِكُمُ اللهُ رَبُّكُمْ لا إلهَ إِلا هُوَ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَاعْبُدُوهُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَوَكِيلٌ لا تُدْرِكْهُ الْأَبْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الأَبْصَارَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ (ii) 101. To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth: how can He have a son when He has no consort? He created all things, and He has full knowledge of all things. 102. That is Allah, your Lord! there is no god but He, the Creator of all things: then worship Him: and He has power to dispose of all affairs. 103. No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things. (Sura 6.101–103) (iii) 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 (iii) 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)

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2016). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [4] (a) What are the main teachings? Candidates should describe main themes from two chosen passages out of the three options. (i) Sura 2.255: The main themes are Tawhid, One God; that He is unlike creation; that His knowledge is infinite; that the Throne represents His power. Candidates will develop these themes in their own way, e.g., saying that He looks after all the Heavens and earth and no-one is needed to look after Him; He does not sleep nor get tired in what He does; humans only know what He allows them; that 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. (ii) Sura 6.101–103: The main themes are God's power; His knowledge of everything; that people should turn to God and worship Him. Candidates will develop these themes in their own way, e.g., He is the only one to control the heavens and the earth. Everything originates with Him. Although humans cannot understand Him, He understands everything in creation. He is the one who has the power to help humans, and He hears and sees all that they do, therefore they should worship Him and pray to Him to reward their actions. (iii) Sura 1: The main themes are that God is the Lord of creation; He gives guidance to humans; He is the Merciful; He is One. Candidates will develop these themes in their own way, e.g., it is God who presides over judgement and controls the worlds. God gives guidance to those who ask. This sura is used as a prayer. He is the one to ask for forgiveness, and it is He who can grant forgiveness for anything. He is Master of all creation so only He is deserving of worship. These are examples candidates can write about; they should be credited for other, relevant answers. Candidates should show how the theme(s) they choose is distinctive in that passage. The best answers will have a few themes with development.
2. [4] (b) The importance of these themes: Candidates should explain the importance of themes from two chosen passages out of the three options. (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. The theme of God's self-subsistence shows how certain attributes that affect humans do not affect Him, e.g. sleep. He has the knowledge and power over all things and this passage is used as a prayer for protection. It was said by the Prophet to be one of the best passages of the Qur'an, so Muslims might recite it daily for protection. Candidates could say how they use ayat al-kursi in their lives. (ii) Sura 6.101–103: These teachings emphasise the importance of tawhid for Muslims. The only relationship He has is with His creation; he has no partners or offspring. Mankind is asked to worship Him as it says in this passage that only He can fulfil their needs, so Muslims should be careful to pray and fast, etc. to fulfil their obligation to Him. He also sees and hears all that humankind does, so Muslims should keep this in mind in all that they do and say. In a world where there are lots of distractions, this sura could remind Muslims that they should always remember their Creator as He is the ultimate authority over their affairs. (iii) Sura 1: This is recited in every prayer. 'No prayer is accepted without Fatiha.' 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. Candidates can mention other points with examples or personalising passages about their own/Muslims' lives. This could take them higher up the levels.