Choose any two of the following Hadiths. (i) الدُّنْيَا سِجْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَجَنَّهُ الكَافِرِ. The world is the believer's prison and the unbeliever's paradise. (ii) أَنَّ رَجُلًا سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ : أرأيت إذا صَلَّيْتُ الْمَكْتُوبَاتِ، وَصُمْتُ رَمَضَانَ، وَأحْلَلْتُ الحَلالَ، وَحَرَّمْتُ الحَرَامَ ، وَلَمْ أَزِدْ عَلى ذلِكَ شَيْئاً ، أَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةِ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ. A man asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace): Do you think that if I perform the obligatory prayers, fast in Ramadan, treat as lawful that which is lawful and treat as forbidden that which is forbidden, and do nothing further, I shall enter paradise? He said, Yes. (iii) أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ هَكَذَا ، وَقَالَ بِأَصْبَعَيْهِ السَّبَّابَةِ وَالوُسْطَى. 'I and the man who brings up an orphan will be in paradise like this.' And he pointed with his two fingers, the index finger and the middle finger. (iv) كُلُّ سُلَامَى مِنَ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ صَدَقَةٌ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ تَطْلُعُ فِيهِ الشَّمْسُ : تَعْدِلُ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ صَدَقَةٌ؛ وَتُعِيْنُ الرَّجُلَ فِي دَابَّتِهِ فَتَحْمِلُهُ عَلَيْهَا أَوْ تَرْفَعُ لَهُ عَلَيْهَا مَتَاعَهُ صَدَقة؛ وَالكَلِمَة الطَّيِّبَة صَدَقَهُ؛ وَبِكُلِّ خَطْوَةٍ تَمْشِيهَا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ صَدَقة، وتميط الأذى عَنِ الطَّرِيق صَدَقة. Every person's every joint must perform a charity every day the sun comes up: to act justly between two people is a charity; to help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it is a charity; a good word is a charity; every step you take to prayers is a charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [4] 1(a) Mark according to the marking grid for AO1 – Knowledge, given on page 4. Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited.
2. [4] 1(a)(i) The all-important teaching given in this Hadith is that this world is a place of temporary abode for all humanity, and that Muslims must live their lives in this world based on the sharia of God and follow the limitations imposed by Islam on their way of life. It is because of the restrictions that Islamic sharia lays upon its followers that the world has been compared to a prison where one's freedom and actions are restricted.
3. [4] 1(a)(i) The non-believers live their lives without the restrictions of Islamic sharia, so the freedom of their code of life has been compared to paradise, where one's every desire will be fulfilled.
4. [4] 1(a)(i) The core teaching of the Hadith tells believers that just as a prisoner does not make prison their home, a believer should not consider this duniya to be their permanent home. Believers must strive in this world to gain the eternal reward of paradise by living their lives according to the laws and requirements of their faith.
5. [4] 1(a)(ii) The teaching given in this Hadith refers to two primary requirements for attaining paradise. The first being the fulfilment of the Pillars of Islam and even from them the last two, zakat and hajj, are not given in the Hadith as they are obligatory only on those who can fulfil them. The second requirement is abiding by Islamic sharia.
6. [4] 1(a)(ii) Therefore, it could be said that Islam is a very simple religion to follow and practice and the given teaching is telling Muslims to simply complete the obligatory ibadah and abide by what God has made permissible and stay away from the forbidden acts in order to obtain God's ultimate reward of Jannat.
7. [4] 1(a)(iii) In the teaching of this Hadith the Prophet (pbuh) has promised a great reward to those who care for, and look after orphans, saying that they would indeed find themselves close to the Prophet (pbuh) in Jannat.
8. [4] 1(a)(iii) The broader teaching of this Hadith is that the true practice of Islam requires Muslims to show care and concern for others, especially the most vulnerable in society like orphans.
9. [4] 1(a)(iii) In several Hadiths and Quranic passages Muslims are asked to treat orphans with kindness and humility, for example in ad-Duha it says, 'Treat not the orphan with harshness'.
10. [4] 1(a)(iv) The all-important teaching given in this Hadith is for Muslims to show compassion and care in society and to perform acts of charity. In this Hadith, the Prophet (pbuh) has given a few examples of acts of charity (sadaqa) that Muslims can perform every day.
11. [4] 1(a)(iv) The teaching of this Hadith broadens the scope of what comes under charity and does not restrict it to just giving money but includes small everyday acts of kindness that would make the community stronger and increase awareness of God and His bounties.
12. [4] 1(a)(iv) Another important teaching of this Hadith is that worship of God is not restricted to just fulfilling the Pillars of, for example, salat or fasting but everyday acts of kindness also come under worship when they are performed with the intention of pleasing God.
13. [4] 1(b) Mark according to the marking grid for AO2 – Understanding, given on page 5. Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited.
14. [4] 1(b)(i) Muslims can put the teachings of this Hadith into action quite simply by living their lives according to the sharia and following the sunna of the Prophet (pbuh).
15. [4] 1(b)(i) Fulfilling the Pillars of Islam with sincerity, staying away from forbidden foods and drinks (all intoxicants), living modestly, for example lowering one's gaze in the company of the opposite sex, earning a living honestly and not taking interest on our earnings are some ways in which the teachings of the Hadith can be acted upon.
16. [4] 1(b)(i) An example from the life of the Prophet (pbuh) or a Companion can be given to develop the answer.
17. [4] 1(b)(ii) Muslims can put the teachings of this Hadith into action by putting into practice the tenets of Islam and wholeheartedly accepting God as their Creator and Master. By saying the prescribed salat five times a day and fasting in the month of Ramadan they can put into practice the given teachings. Muslims could fulfil the last two obligations if they have the means to.
18. [4] 1(b)(ii) Keeping away from food and drink that God has prohibited, not taking interest and following the principles of Islamic finance, not giving or taking bribes etc. are other ways in which the teachings of the Hadith can be implemented. Personal examples can be given to develop the answer.
19. [4] 1(b)(iii) There are many ways in which the teaching of caring for orphans given in the Hadith can be put into practice.
20. [4] 1(b)(iii) Muslims can provide food, shelter and the basic necessities to orphans and their adoptive families. If the orphan has no one to look after them they could be adopted or suitable arrangements for their safe living could be made.
21. [4] 1(b)(iii) If the orphan's father died leaving a debt it could be paid off by someone on behalf of the orphan or exonerated by the lender. If on the other hand an orphan is left with an inheritance it should be invested wisely on their behalf and given back to them when they come of age.
22. [4] 1(b)(iii) Facilitating the marriage to suitable partners and funding wedding expenses are also ways of putting this Hadith into practice.
23. [4] 1(b)(iii) Offering emotional support and advice on various matters to orphans is another way of putting into action the teachings given in the Hadith.
24. [4] 1(b)(iv) The teachings given in this Hadith can be acted upon by fulfilling one's role in society responsibly. By greeting others with a smile, removing a harmful thing from the path to prevent an accident, for example if you see a banana peel on the footpath that someone could slip on and hurt themselves remove it, and even that is considered a charity.
25. [4] 1(b)(iv) Giving good advice to someone or uniting two friends or siblings after an argument are also acts that can be seen as charity. Some other examples of how the teachings of this Hadith can be put into action are to feed the poor or to donate to orphanages.