Write about the lives of the Prophet's uncles, Hamza and Abu Sufyan.

Mark scheme

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

1. [10] (a) Hamza: he was an uncle and foster-brother of the Prophet; he was a warrior and sportsman and had little interest in the issues of Makkah; he hit Abu Jahl when he heard Abu Jahl had assaulted the Prophet; after that he became Muslim; it gave the Muslims a lot of strength and they were able to pray in public; in the battle of Badr, he killed leading men of the Quraysh including Hind's father Utbah; she vowed revenge and hired Washi to kill Hamza which he did at the battle of Uhud; he was given the title 'chief of Martyrs', and the Prophet led his funeral prayer. Abu Sufyan: he was a prominent and powerful figure among the Quraysh, and a staunch opponent of the Prophet and the Muslims. It was his caravan returning from Syria that was the basis for the battle of Badr, and candidates could give details of his involvement in this event. After the loss at Badr, revenge was sought and Abu Sufyan led the Quraysh army to Uhud. His wife Hind also went seeking revenge for the death of her father. After Uhud, Abu Sufyan vowed to fight again and the next time they met was at the Battle of the Trench. After the Quraysh broke the treaty of Hudaybiyya, Abu Sufyan went to Madina to attempt to restore the treaty, but without success; he subsequently converted when the Prophet marched towards Makka, and the Prophet honoured him despite his fierce opposition for many years. At Ta'if, Abu Sufyan lost an eye, and at Yarmouk he lost the other; he was made governor of Narjan; he died aged 90 in Madina.
2. [4] (b) Candidates could say, e.g. that their conversions show the importance of forgiveness in Islam, and that anyone, even if once an enemy of Islam, can become one of God's servants. This means that people should not judge others, or be cruel to them, as it is just as possible for them to become Muslim as anyone else. Or, that people should know that no matter what they have done in their lives, if they are sorry for what they have done then they can be forgiven by God. Wahshi and Hind are good examples of those who became Muslim. Candidates can write about other lessons, but they must give reasons for their answer.