Cambridge & Pearson Edexcel Past Paper Questions

(a) Give an account of the Battle of Nihawand. (b) Why was the Battle of Nihawand known as the ‘Victory of Victories'?

(a) What are the benefits of prayer (salat) to an individual and to the community? (b) What is the importance of beginning to pray (salat) from a y...

(a) Write an account of the following two Articles of Faith: • belief in prophets • belief in God's predestination and decree. (b) How might the be...

Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an. (i) اقرأ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ...

Write about how God describes Himself using: (i) Sura 6.101–103 (al-An'am) (ii) Sura 41.37 (Fussilat) (iii) Sura 42.4–5 (ash-Shura).

Outline the growth of Islam in Makka from the first revelation until the migration to Madina.

Give an account of the Prophet's night journey and ascension (al-Isra' wal-Miʻraj).

Describe the conversion to Islam of Abu Bakr, Umar, 'Uthman and Ali.

Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an. (i) اللهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لاَ تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلا نَوْمٌ ل...

Using passages you have studied, describe God's relationship with His Messengers Jesus ('Isa) and Muhammad (pbuh).

Describe the boycott of Muslims to Shi'b Abi Talib.

Outline the tasks the Prophet (pbuh) undertook to overcome divisions and create unity in the first year in Madina.

Write about the lives of Bilal ibn Rabah and Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib.

Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and: (1) وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ لَا تَسْجُدُوا لِ...

Give an account of how the Qur'an developed into book form.

Write about the Prophet Muhammad's interaction with the Quraysh while he lived in Makka, before and after revelation.

Describe the Prophet's conduct as leader in two of the battles he fought in.

Write about the life of Aisha during the Prophet's lifetime.

Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and: (i) وَكَذَلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِ...

Write about the Prophet's different experiences of revelation, after the first revelation.

Describe three qualities of the Prophet Muhammad that make him a model for humankind.

Write about the Prophet's relationship with the following figures: Aminah, Halimah Sa'adiah and Abu Talib.

Write about the main points in the lives of Bilal and Abu Sufyan.

Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and: (i) قُلْ أَعُودُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ، مَلِكِ النَّاسِ، إِلَهِ النَّاسِ، مِن شَرِّ الْو...

Write about the experiences of two prophets you have studied in the Qur'an (not including the Prophet Muhammad).

Write about the Prophet's night journey and ascension [al-‘isra wa-mi'raj].

Give an account of the migration of the early Muslims to Abyssinia.

Write about the brotherhood that developed between the new community of Muslims in Madina.

Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and: (1) يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِن قَ...

Write about how the Qur'an is used with the other three sources in Islamic law.

Describe the events of the Prophet's visit to Ta'if.

Give an account of the Prophet's life up to the time the revelations began.

Write about the role played by Abu Bakr during the period between the first revelation and the death of the Prophet.

Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and: (I) وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ لا تَسْجُدُوا لِل...

Write about the methods used to compile the Qur'an into a book after the death of the Prophet.

Write about the Prophet's activities in spreading Islam outside Makka, before the migration to Madina.

Outline the Prophet's experiences in the caves of Hira and Thawr.

Give an account of the lives of Abu Sufyan and Khalid bin Walid during the time of the Prophet.

Choose any two of the following Hadiths and: (1) مَا أَكَلَ أَحَدٌ طَعَاماً قط خَيْراً مِّنْ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ يَدِهِ. (i) No one eats bett...

What do Muslims generally understand by the terms: • isnad and matn of Hadiths; • musannaf and musnad Hadiths?

What were the causes of the revolt against 'Uthman and what charges were made against him?

The Prophet said, ‘Between a person and disbelief is discarding prayer.' What benefits do Muslims find in regular prayer (salat)?

What are the moral, spiritual and other benefits of fasting in Ramadan?

Choose any two of the following Hadiths, and: (i) الدِّينُ النَّصِيحَةُ قُلْنَا: لِمَنْ؟ قَالَ: لِلهِ وَلَكِتَابِهِ، وَلرَسُولِهِ، وَلأَئِمَّةِ الْ...

Outline the main teachings of the set Hadiths about the conduct of Muslims in communal life.

Write an account of the Battle of Yamama fought during the caliphate of Abu Bakr, and the Battle of the Camel fought during the caliphate of 'Ali.

'Pilgrimage to the House is a duty people owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey.' (Al 'Imran 3:97) (i) For who is the annual pilgrimage (h...

Name the revealed books mentioned in the Qur'an, giving the names of the messengers they were revealed to and the message they contained.

Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur'an, and: (i) اقرأَ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ اقْرَأْ وَرَ...

Using Qur'an passages you have studied from the syllabus, describe how God guided His messengers to increase their belief in Him. Refer to at least...