Choose any two of the following Hadiths, and: (i) بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَبَا مُوسَى وَمُعَادُ بْنَ جَبَلٍ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ، وَبَعَثَ كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا عَلى مِخْلَافٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَسِّرَا وَلاَ تُعَسّرًا وَبَشِّرًا وَلَا تُنَفَّرًا. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) sent Abu Musa and Mu'adh ibn Jabal to Yaman, and he sent each of them to govern a part. Then he said: 'Be gentle and do not be hard, and cause rejoicing and do not alienate'. (ii) لا يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ مَنْ لَا يَرْحَمُ النَّاسَ. God will not show mercy to him who does not show mercy to others. (iii) قِيْلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَفْضَلُ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ): مُؤْمِنٌ يُجَاهِدُ في سَبِيْلِ اللَّهِ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ. It was said: O Messenger of Allah, who is the most excellent of men? The Messenger of Allah (May Allah bless him and give him peace) said: 'The believer who strives hard in the way of Allah with his person and his property'. (iv) مَا أَكَلَ أَحَدٌ طَعَاماً قَطُّ خَيْراً مِّنْ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ يَدِهِ. No one eats better food than that which he eats out of the work of his hand.

Mark scheme

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

1. (a) (i) Ultimate authority lies with God and is given to a ruler as a trust from him. The hadith focuses on Muslim leadership being helpful to those they are leading and that they should never lead by force but with kindness and encouragement.
2. (a) (ii) Mercy and kindness are integral to Islam and it could be said in the answers that the teaching of this hadith is that Muslims must show kindness to God's creation and in return God will be merciful towards them.
3. (a) (iii) A Muslim should always strive to gain God's pleasure and not hesitate to use his wealth or his person in this cause. The teaching of this hadith says that a Muslim who is willing to do this in God's cause is the best amongst believers.
4. (a) (iv) Lawful earnings, no matter how meagre, have a high position in Islam. Muslims are encouraged to earn their daily wage honestly and through their own efforts. Beggary, reliance on others and earning unlawfully are condemned in Islam.
5. (b) (i) Candidates could say that the hadith is referring to all those who are in a position of authority and is asking them to lead positively and to be fair. Examples such as governments, school teachers, parents could be given to demonstrate the implementation of this hadith.
6. (b) (ii) The teachings of this hadith could be put into practice by practising brotherhood. Examples from the Prophet's (pbuh) life or the modern world could be given to demonstrate how the teachings of the hadith could be practised in today's world. Some answers could also highlight the fact that the teaching of this hadith encompasses all mankind and that mercy should be shown to humanity at large, irrespective of faith and belief.
7. (b) (iii) Sacrificing one's time, money and, if need be, one's life in the way of God is one way of putting the teaching of this hadith into action. Further elaboration of this could be helping to fund the construction/upkeep of a mosque, teaching fellow Muslims to read the Qur'an, etc. These and many other examples could be given to support the answer.
8. (b) (iv) A Muslim can act upon this hadith by earning for themselves and their family an honest living through their own efforts. Examples from the life of the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions could be cited in the answers, or candidates could simply give examples of people conducting themselves honestly in the work place.