Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and: (i) قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ (i) 1. Say: He is Allah, the one and only; 2. Allah, the eternal, absolute; 3. He does not beget, nor is He begotten; 4. And there is none like Him. (Sura 112) (ii) وَكَذَلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِينَ فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ رَأَى كَوْكَبًا قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي فَلمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِعًا قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لأكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَة قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي هَذَا أَكْبَرُ فَلَمَّا أَفَلتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ (ii) 75. So also did We show Abraham the power and the laws of the heavens and the earth, so that he might have certainty. 76. When the night covered him over, he saw a star: He said: 'This is my Lord. But when it set, he said: 'I do not love things that set.' 77. When he saw the moon rising in splendour, he said: 'This is my Lord.' But when the moon set, he said: 'Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among those who go astray.' 78. When he saw the sun rising in splendour, he said: 'This is my Lord; this is the greatest.’ But when the sun set, he said: 'O my people! I am indeed free from your giving partners to Allah.' 79. 'For me, I have set my face firmly and truly towards Him who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah.' (Sura 6.75-79) (iii) وَالضُّحَى وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَى مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قُلى وَالآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنَ الأولى وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَى أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَآوَى وَوَجَدَكَ ضَائًا فَهَدَى وَوَجَدَكَ عَائِلًا فَأَغْنَى فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّتْ (iii) 1. By the glorious morning light, 2. And by the night when it is still, 3. Your Lord has not forsaken you, nor is he displeased. 4. And truly the Hereafter will be better for you than the present. 5. And soon your Lord will give you so that you will be pleased. 6. Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter? 7. And He found you wandering, and He gave you guidance. 8. And He found you in need, and made you independent. 9. Therefore, do not treat the orphan with harshness, 10. Nor drive the beggar away; 11. But tell about the bounty of your Lord! (Sura 93)
- (a)briefly describe the main theme(s) in each passage[4]
- (b)briefly explain the importance of these themes in a Muslim's life today.[4]
Mark scheme
Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2014). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.
- (1) Sura 112 This passage talks about tawhid and God's unique characteristics central to Islam. Candidates could elaborate on the importance of tawhid (no partners so no-one else to worship). What is the meaning of eternal and absolute? He is unique, no-one else can match His attributes. There is no-one like Him, which is related to the fact that He has no children or family.
- (2) Sura 6.75-79 This passage is about God's power over all things and His relationship with his prophets. These are signs of God in creation. These verses tell Muslims to worship God alone. They strengthen belief in His Oneness.
- (3) Sura 93 This is a consolation to the Prophet. God shows how He helps His prophets. He is there for those in need. It tells humankind to be grateful to God for what they have been given.
- The above answers are not the only answers that could be presented. Candidates should be allowed to develop/show other relevant themes of the passage. They could also give comparisons with themes of other passages. The highest level should be kept for well written answers offering a variety of themes.
- (b) The importance of these themes. (1) Sura 112 This passage gives a clear, yet brief, description of God. Muslims learn from this to only rely on God as He has no family that share his power and control. Recited to re-affirm faith, it is one of the four 'qul's' recited for protection, and reciting it gives the benefit of reciting a third of the Qur'an. Better candidates will be able to say that these verses help Muslims understand who they are worshipping.
- (2) Sura 6.75-79 These verses strengthen belief by showing that created things are not permanent. The prophets have asked God for guidance and so Muslims should take this guidance too. They should realise they need to look to one God for their answers.
- (3) Sura 93 God gave blessings to the Prophet Muhammad, despite people saying that he had been forgotten by God. Muslims should then also look at their lives to see their blessings and not think they have been given nothing. They should be grateful to God through prayers and worship and they should make people aware of the ways in which God helps them.
- These are not the only points candidates can mention, and personalising the passages to their own or Muslims' lives, or giving thoughtful answers with examples, could take them higher up the levels.
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