Choose two from the following passages and write in detail about the various ways in which the passages describe God and how He is unique: 6.101–103, 42.4–5, 112, 41.37.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2017). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [10] (a) Candidates must choose two of the passages mentioned in the question and should be able to say in some way what God's uniqueness is, showing how His uniqueness represents itself in that particular sura, avoiding general answers that could be relevant to any sura.
2. [10] (a) Sura 6.101-103 talks about His uniqueness through His Oneness and His full knowledge of everything He has created; whilst humans cannot see Him or comprehend His being, He sees everything that happens and is aware of everything that is done, whether it is said or thought (omniscient).
3. [10] (a) Sura 42.4-5 talks about God's uniqueness through the immense power He has over the heavens and the earth. The revelation He sends is so great that its power almost tears the heavens apart. He is also unique in His forgiveness as He is ready to forgive.
4. [10] (a) Sura 112 describes God's uniqueness in the most concise way; He is perfect in His attributes and action, therefore he is One and Only. He does not give birth nor die nor leave any inheritance, so He does not have a beginning or end. He cannot have anyone equal to Him so He does not have any partners or any offspring, as He cannot share His uniqueness or authority with anyone.
5. [10] (a) Sura 41.37 describes God's uniqueness through His ability power and control over everything He has created. He is unlike the things that He has created, so is unlike the sun and the moon because He does not change, rise or set. The things that He has created are there to show humans how to recognise and worship Him.
6. [10] (a) Better candidates will be able to expand on the suras and be able to cross reference them; e.g. they may say that God's uniqueness is shown in sura 2.255 through His knowledge – it is similar to sura 6.101–103, which also mentions His complete knowledge of everything, the first giving detail about their past, present and future and that their knowledge is limited to what God gives them.
7. [4] (b) Candidates can give a range of answers but must give a reason for their answer. The more detail there is in the reasoning the higher the marks will be.
8. [4] (b) They could say e.g. because Muslims are becoming detached from God and by learning about God's attributes allows them to have an understanding of Him which increases their understanding of the world around them, or their faith, etc.
9. [4] (b) Or they could say e.g. that because God is beyond humankind's knowledge/perception, understanding Him through what He says about Himself in the Qur'an allows humans to know why God is important to them in their lives.
10. [4] (b) Whatever they say they should be credited as long as they are able to give reasons for their answer.