Write an account of 'Uthman's administration and military achievements during his caliphate.

Mark scheme

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

1. [10] 3(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. [10] 3(a) Candidates need to give a two-part answer, but it is not expected that both parts will be covered in equal depth or that they will cover all the points given in the mark scheme. Furthermore, candidates may merge the two sections. However, they need to write about both parts: how ‘Uthman administered his caliphate and write an account of his military achievements.
3. [10] 3(a) 'Uthman's administration started in 644 and ended in 656. It could be said that he administered with mercy and generosity and proved skilful in handling the vast caliphate. He started his reign with a popular gesture by adding 100 dirhams to the annual stipends and at the same time he began to increase the central government's control over the affairs of the garrison cities.
4. [10] 3(a) 'Uthman launched a diligent inspection of accounts, started to overhaul the Diwan salary rolls and asked for the accounts and provisional surpluses to be forwarded to the treasury in Madina.
5. [10] 3(a) He continued with 'Umar's policy of gradually splitting up the immense authority exercised by the provisional governors, who also doubled as army commanders. He did this by creating the new post of financial administrators who exclusively looked after tax revenue.
6. [10] 3(a) For this he established a permanent secretariat and appointed a salaried 'Inspector of Markets', which remained a key position in future Islamic states.
7. [10] 3(a) He also relaxed the austere measures of living imposed by 'Umar and allowed the Arabs to acquire lands in the conquered territories.
8. [10] 3(a) Many other public works were carried out as well and candidates could mention a few of them.
9. [10] 3(a) Militarily 'Uthman was successful as well. Soon after the news of the death of 'Umar, revolts sprung up as the conquered nations thought this was the opportune time to win back their independence. In particular, Persia was rocked by countless local rebellions.
10. [10] 3(a) The distant principalities of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Caucasus repossessed their dominions and fought back the Muslim forces. Eventually 'Uthman was able to crush the revolts and win back these territories.
11. [10] 3(a) By 650 Muslim authority over Persia was re-established; the Muslim army had pushed into central Asia and Muslim outposts occupied the ancient cities of Herat, Merv, Balkh and Kabul. Two years later Yezdigard, the last heir of the Persians was killed in a miller's hut.
12. [10] 3(a) In the first year of 'Uthman's caliphate Egypt also flared up in revolt supported by the Byzantine Empire which was brought under control by Amr ibn al 'Aas.
13. [10] 3(a) In the following year 'Uthman ordered an assault on North Africa led by Abdullah, the reinstated governor of Egypt. The campaign convinced Abdullah of the need for a Muslim navy of which he convinced the caliph. The first joint naval attack of Cyprus in 649 led by Abdullah and Mu'awiya proved successful. Now besides defending the borders of the empire of the caliphate, Muslims were able to expand its influence in the Mediterranean, capturing Cyprus and Crete and raiding as far as Sicily.
14. [4] 3(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.
15. [4] 3(b) Candidates should select any one of ‘'Uthman's actions as caliph and say, why in their opinion, it was his greatest.
16. [4] 3(b) It could be said that his greatest act as caliph was that he managed to subdue all the revolts that started after the martyrdom of 'Umar and even managed to extend the frontiers of the Muslim empire thus ensuring the stability and prosperity of the Muslim empire.
17. [4] 3(b) Another great act candidates could write about was that he was the first caliph to establish a Muslim naval fleet. This went on to capture Cyprus and Crete and extend Muslim territories in the Mediterranean.
18. [4] 3(b) His achievement in overhauling the financial institutions of the empire could be selected or that he burned the incorrect copies of the Qur'an without fear of criticism and saved the umma from falling into factions over its recitations could be cited as his major act and supported with reasons for that choice.
19. [4] 3(b) Yet another act that could be chosen and written about is that he stood for what he believed was the right course of action even when the rebels surrounded his home. This shows his courage and faith in God that he did not give in to pressure.