Write an account of the events of the first revelation and the Prophet's reaction afterwards.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2018). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. 2(a) The Prophet (pbuh) had increased the time he spent in solitude in the cave of Hira. When he was 40 the revelation came to him, during the month of Ramadan. The angel Jibril came to him and instructed him to read, iqra, and the Prophet (pbuh) replied he could not, saying the angel squeezed him so hard until he could not bear it anymore. The angel squeezed him and said it again and after a third time the angel recited the first few verses of Sura Alaq (96).
2. 2(a) The Prophet (pbuh) stumbled out of the cave and saw the angel on the horizon, and the angel spoke to him. He was confused and shaken and he ran home and asked his wife to cover him. She consoled him, saying God would not disgrace him, and went to see her cousin Waraqa, who confirmed his prophethood.
3. 2(a) Elaboration of the events and points mentioned is required.
4. 2(b) God says in the Qur'an that had He sent the Qur'an upon a mountain it would have come apart (59.21). So had it been revealed as a whole to Muhammad (pbuh) it would have been too heavy for him to carry the burden.
5. 2(b) God was taking care of the Prophet (pbuh) and his followers by revealing it in parts, as it was sent to strengthen hearts (25.32), which could be done due to the partial revelations.
6. 2(b) God also sent it in this way to allow the Prophet (pbuh) and the early Muslims to ponder over its meanings and have time to implement the teachings in their lives.
7. 2(b) It was also sent in parts in response to the needs of different situations and times.