The First Islamic Community

2017

55 (a) Write about the lives of Fatima and any one other of the Prophet’s daughters. [10]

Candidates should give some information about two daughters of the Prophet, and try to have a
balance in both answers.
Zaynab: was the eldest; born in 5th year of marriage when he was 30; married to Abu al-Aas bin
Rabi; died in 8AH; had two children, Ali and Umaymah; she became Muslim but her husband did
not initially; she stayed behind with him when the other Muslims migrated to Madina; he fought in
Battle of Badr against the Muslims and was captured; Zaynab sent her mother‟s necklace for his
ransom; she eturned to her father in Madina while her husband was freed and returned to Makka;
upon returning money to the people of Makka he became Muslim and asked the Prophet to allow
him to go back to Zaynab; she died a year later.
Ruqayya: three years younger than Zaynab; married Utbah, Abu Lahab‟s son; wasn‟t yet living with
him when surah Lahab was revealed; he was told to divorce her; she then was married to „Uthman;
they migrated to Abyssinia twice; they migrated to Madina before the Prophet; she had a son who
died at the age of 6 (after her own death); she was ill at the battle of Badr and „Uthman was told to
stay with her.
Umm Kulthum: third daughter and was married to Utaibah, Abu Lahab‟s son; like Ruqayya she
was divorced by her husband before she went to live with him; she was married to „Uthman after
Ruqayya‟s death; she suffered the boycott to Shib-i-Abi Talib; she stayed behind in Makka when
her father migrated; she had no children.
Fatima: youngest daughter and born a few years before prophethood; she was the only daughter to
outlive the Prophet; she was upset over the treatment he faced by the Quraysh in Makka; the Prophet
showed his affection for her and would visit her before he left on a journey and upon returning;
when the Prophet was ill, she was upset that he was dying but happy when he told her she would be
joining him soon; she was married to „Ali and had two sons and two daughters; she suffered
hardships after her marriage and took to grounding flour to earn money; she was the only daughter
to survive the Prophet.

b) Explain the importance of the statement, ‘Daughters are a mercy (rahma)’. [4]

Candidates could say, e.g. that in a time where daughters were not valued, the Prophet had four, and
was loving and kind to them. This shows the kind of relationship parents should have with their
daughters. They should protect them and be supportive of them. Education and work should be made
available to them, and all daughters should be provided for equally.
Daughters in turn bring softness and care to a family, and are a means of salvation for parents who
look after them; “Whoever brings up two girls till they reach the age of puberty, he and I will come
on the Day of Resurrection like this,” (and he joined his blessed fingers.)

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56 (a) Khadija bint Khuwaylid was the Prophet’s first wife. Write an account of her life in the
period she knew the Prophet. [10]

Candidates should write a detailed narrative elaborating on the points mentioned below. Khadija
was a successful businesswoman in her own right; she was twice widowed and had children from
her previous marriages; she employed the Prophet (before prophethood) as a merchant for her; she
sent her servant, Maysara, with him; after hearing of his trading skills and honesty as a merchant,
she sent a marriage proposal to him through Nafeesa; he accepted after consulting his uncle; she was
40 and he was 25; they had six children together, her two sons dying in infancy; when the Prophet
(S) received revelation he came to Khadija trembling; she reassured him that God would not
humiliate him; she took him to see her cousin who told the Prophet (S) about the angel and that he is
a messenger of God; she was the first to publicly accept Islam; she supported the Prophet (S)
financially; she died after the boycott to Shib-i-Abi Talib; the Prophet „s love for her caused
jealousy among his other wives (A‟isha); Jibr‟il is said to have sent greetings of peace to her,
through the Prophet (S), from God and himself; Khadija was Muhammad‟s first wife and he chose
not to marry any other woman during her lifetime.

(b) The Prophet’s employer was a woman who was successful in business. What lessons can be
derived from this for Muslims now? [4]

Candidates can offer various lessons and should give reasons for their answer. They could say, e.g.
that Muslims can learn that women can and should be allowed to work and can hold positions of
stature in the workplace. That men working for them should not feel that they are inferior in any
way, as how well a person does their job is more important than who employs them. Or that men and
women can work together and can, and should, maintain integrity and respect between each other.

57 (a) Write about the lives of the Companions Bilal ibn Rabah, Ja’far ibn Abi Talib and
Salman al-Farsi. [10]

Bilal ibn Rabah: he was originally from Ethiopia and he was a slave. After conversion he suffered
harsh persecution at the hands of his master, being laid on the hot sand for days; despite this he did
not give up his faith; he was one of the slaves freed by Abu Bakr; he migrated to Madina and fought
in all the battles. In Madina he was appointed as the first muezzin – Abdullah ibn Zayd had a dream
that he narrated to the Prophet, and the Prophet asked him to narrate it to Bilal and asked him to give
the call to prayer because he had a beautiful voice. At the Battle of Badr he killed his former master,
and fought at Uhud and Khandaq; he gave the adhan after the Conquest of Makka, and after the
death of the Prophet he was so grief stricken he refused to call the adhan again and left Madina; he
went to Damascus and died there.
Ja’far ibn Abi Talib: he was the son of Abu Talib and so the cousin of the Prophet; he was an early
convert to Islam, and went in the second delegation that migrated to Abyssinia; there he was a
spokesperson for the Muslims and spoke to the Negus when the Quraysh accused the Muslims of
abandoning their people; he replied saying before Islam they were uncivilised and Islam called them
to One God, speaking the truth and refraining from bloodshed; he also recited a portion of sura
Maryam; he was generous and became known as „the father of the poor‟; he fought at the Battle of
Mut‟a and died there.
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 Salman al-Farsi: from Isfahan in Persia, he grew up a Magian, became a Zoroastrian priest in charge
of a fire temple; he left his family to join a Christian group and travelled around the Middle East
visiting and learning from various priests; one of them told him about the Prophet Muhammad being
the final messenger; Salman found a group of Arab leaders to take him to Madina, but half way there
they made him a slave and sold him to a Jew, who eventually took him to Yathrib; he lived as a
slave there and then heard the news of the Prophet‟s arrival in Madina; he found the signs of the
priest to be true about the Prophet and submitted to Islam; the Prophet and companions helped him
buy his freedom from slavery; the Prophet himself planted the date plants; at the Battle of Khandaq
he had the idea of digging the trench; he was unique in that he was well versed in Christianity,
Zoroastrianism and Islam; he was the first person to translate the Qur‟an into a foreign language,
translating parts of it into Persian; he is said to have died during the reign of the Caliph „Uthman.

(b) In your opinion, what is the significance of the Prophet encouraging the liberation of Bilal
and Salman from slavery? [4]

Candidates could offer a variety of reasons, but should try to explain their significance. They could
say, e.g. that whilst slavery was permitted, it was to show that there is a preference for people to be
free, and if you can aid in freeing someone you should. It was also to show that even though
someone had been a slave, or was from another land/country, that their status in faith was the same
as everyone else, and that they should be treated equally. The equality of humans and their place in
the ummah is emphasised over their colour, ethnicity or background. These former slaves were
given prominence in the community to highlight this equality. Better candidates could also say that
this is significant for Muslims now who may not treat other Muslims the same because of their
background, ethnicity or social status.

2018
58 (a) Write an account of the main events in the life of Abu Bakr during the life of the
Prophet. [10]

Abu Bakr: he was the Prophet‟s childhood friend, and the first male to accept Islam. He was quick
to affirm the Prophet‟s prophethood, and did not hesitate to believe the Prophet (S) when he told the
people about his night journey and ascension. He was given the name al-Siddiq. He would buy
slaves and set them free. He guided others to accept Islam. He set off to Abyssinia but returned when
his friend offered him protection. He was the Prophet‟s companion during the migration to Madina,
and the Qur‟an mentions him as one of two in the cave, in reference to this journey (9.40). He gave
his daughter in marriage to the Prophet (S). He participated in all the major battles and gave his
wealth in the battle of Tabuk. He was a witness to the Treaty of Hudaibiyah. He led the prayers
during the Prophet‟s final illness. When the Prophet (S) passed away many companions refused to
believe it, and it was Abu Bakr who came to address them telling them that Muhammad (S) has
passed away but God is alive and will never die. He was elected as caliph soon after this, and is one
of the ten promised paradise.

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(b) How can Muslims use the example of Abu Bakr in showing loyalty to their friends and
colleagues? [4]

Candidates can offer various examples, some of which could be: Offering help and support to your
friends when they need it, even if you do not get something back in return, rather doing it just to
make them happy. Be honest with them, and do not try to hide things from them. Help them when
they need help with a project or work. Being there to support them when they are in a time of
difficulty. Supporting them when others are hurting/making fun of them, and not remaining silent. If
you see them going astray you can guide them back.

59 (a) Describe in detail the roles of Halima and Abu Talib in the early years of the Prophet’s
life.[10]

Halima Sa’adia: she was the Prophet‟s wet nurse. She had decided to take the baby Muhammad (S)
when no one else wanted to, as she did not want to go back to her home in the desert without a baby.
Her and her family‟s fortunes changed whilst the Prophet (S) lived with them. She asked to keep the
Prophet (S) for longer than the initial two year period because she felt a close bond to him. She was
shaken by the story of the two angels who came to clean the Prophet‟s heart, after which she
returned the Prophet (S) to his mother. The Prophet (S) was known to call Halima „my mother‟.
Abu Talib: he became the guardian of the Prophet (S) after the death of the Prophet‟s grandfather
and he loved the Prophet (S) like his own son, often preferring Muhammad (S) over his own
children. When in financial difficulty, Abu Talib‟s son Ali went to live with the Prophet (S). Abu
Talib took the Prophet (S) on trade journeys with him, and on one particular journey the monk,
Bahira, told Abu Talib that his nephew would be the final prophet. Abu Talib quickly sold his goods
and returned to Makka. When the Prophet (S) openly announced Islam, Abu Talib is generally
thought not to have become Muslim, but he did promise to protect the Prophet (S).

(b) From these relationships, what can be learnt about keeping family ties? [4]

Candidates can give their own lessons, but they could say that as in the case of Halima, blood
relations are not the only ones that have to be given love and time, as the Prophet (S) always
respected and visited Halima. Also, non-Muslim relations should not be severed, but given the same
respect as you would other relatives, as the Prophet (S) showed in the case of Abu Talib.

60 (a) Write a detailed account of the lives of the Prophet Muhammad’s daughters, Zaynab
and Fatima. [10]

Fatima: youngest daughter and born a few years before prophethood; she was the only daughter to
outlive the Prophet; she was upset over the treatment he faced by the Quraysh in Makka; the Prophet
showed his affection for her and would visit her before he left on a journey and upon returning;
when the Prophet was ill, she was upset that he was dying but happy when he told her she would be
joining him soon; she was married to „Ali and had two sons and two daughters; she suffered
hardships after her marriage due to poverty.
Zaynab: was the eldest daughter; born in 5th year of marriage when the Prophet was 30; she was
married to Abu al-Aas bin Rabi; she died in 8AH; she had two children, Ali and Umaymah; she
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became Muslim but her husband did not initially; she stayed behind with him when the other
Muslims migrated to Madina; he fought in Battle of Badr against the Muslims and was captured;
Zaynab sent her mother‟s necklace for his ransom; she returned to her father in Madina while her
husband was freed and returned to Makka; she did not remarry hoping Abu al-Aas would become
Muslim, which he did. He asked the Prophet to allow him to go back to Zaynab; she died a year
later.

(b) What can Muslims learn from the Prophet about the relationship between fathers and
daughters? [4]

Lessons could be that it is important for fathers to be compassionate with their daughters, that they
should love and respect them, and for daughters to show respect for their fathers. Examples of how
this could be done should be given.

61 (a) Two of the Prophet’s wives were Aisha and Hafsa. Write an account of their lives during
the lifetime of the Prophet. [10]

Aisha: she was the daughter of the Prophet‟s close companion, Abu Bakr; she was married to the
Prophet in Madina at a young age, and became his third wife; she was married to the Prophet for
nine years; she was known for her intelligence and sharp memory which is why she was able to
narrate so many saying of the Prophet .She was involved in many important events in the life of the
Prophet, and verses were revealed to the Prophet about her in relation to event of the necklace
(Nur:11–19); the Prophet passed away whilst he was with her.
Hafsa: she was the daughter of „Umar ibn al-Khattab and was widowed at a young age; like Aisha,
she memorised the Qur‟an by heart; she lived with the Prophet for eight years. She was quick
tempered like her father and was not shy to dispute with the Prophet. Revelation came after the
honey incident, where she told the Prophet his mouth didn‟t smell good after eating honey. She died
around 60 years old

(b) Both wives were narrators of Hadith. What can Muslims learn from this about women and
education? [4]

Muslims can learn that being wives of the Prophet, and being pious and close to God themselves,
they still valued being educated, knowing the way the Prophet did things, trying to understand the
teachings of Islam, and then teaching others the rules about Islamic rites and obligations, etc. This
should also mean that women now should value education too, and whilst they can still be good
wives and Muslims, learning and passing on that knowledge is a valuable thing to do, and should not
be neglected.

2019

62 (a) Write a detailed account of the lives of Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib and Khalid ibn
Walid during the lifetime of the Prophet (S). [10]
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 Candidates may include some of the following points. All other relevant points must be credited.
Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib: he was an uncle and foster-brother of the Prophet (S), and only two
years older than him. He was a warrior and sportsman and had little interest the issues of Makkah.
He hit Abu Jahl on the head when he heard Abu Jahl had assaulted the Prophet and asked him to hit
him back if he was brave enough. Hamza then declared that he had become Muslim. It gave the
Muslims a lot of strength and they were able to pray in public. He was also sent as a leader of an
expedition to seashore and was the first Muslim to be given a flag. In the battle of Badr he killed
leading men of the Quraysh including Hind‟s father Utbah; she vowed revenge and hired Washi to
kill Hamza which he did at the battle of Uhud. He was given the title “chief of Martyrs”, and the
Prophet led his funeral prayer.
Khalid ibn Walid: He was from a family who opposed the Prophet in Makka, and although he did
not take part in the Battle of Badr, he played a vital role in the Battle of Uhud against the Muslims,
turning the Muslim victory to defeat. He was sent with an expedition by Makkans to intercept
Muslim delegation at the time of Hudabiyah Treaty He converted to Islam after the Treaty of
Hudaybiyah. In 629, Khalid set out for Madina. On the way he met 'Amr ibn al- 'As and „Uthman
ibn Talha, who were also going to Madina to convert to Islam. After conversion he took part in the
Battle of Mu‟ta. It was the first battle between the Romans and the Muslims. He reported that the
fighting was so intense, that he used nine swords, which broke in the battle. Khalid took over after
Zayd ibn Haritha, then Ja‟far ibn Abi Talib, then Abdullah ibn Rawaha were killed. It was because
of him that the Muslims returned safely. He subsequently took part in the Conquest of Makka, Battle
of Hunain and the Battle of Tabuk. Candidates can give details of these events. He was at the
farewell pilgrimage of the Prophet. He died in 642 in Syria.

(b) Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib showed loyalty to the Prophet (S). How can Muslims show
loyalty in their everyday lives? [4]

Candidates should give examples of loyalty and elaborate on how that loyalty can be shown. They
could say, for example: They can show loyalty to their faith by not giving up in times of difficulty or
ease. They can show loyalty to their friends by always being there for them when they need it or
standing up for them. They can show loyalty to their families by helping them even when they do
not always want to. These are just some examples; candidates can use others and should be credited
for all relevant responses.

63 (a) In Madina, the Helpers (Ansar) and Emigrants (Muhajirun) were made brothers. Give
an account of the main developments of this relationship. [10]

A comprehensive answer will provide an account of the way in which the Prophet (S) paired the
Ansar and Muhajirun, as well as the reactions to the pairings and the relationships that developed.
Candidates may include some of the following points. All other relevant points must be credited.
When the Muslims of Makka first arrived in Madina they were without many belongings. The
Muslims of Madina (mainly from the Aws and Khazraj tribes), who had invited the Prophet (S) to
their city, were happy to welcome the migrating Muslims.

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To unite the two groups, the Prophet (S) made them brothers, pairing each of the Ansar with the
Muhajirun. This was to help each other materially and spiritually. The Ansar had already been eager
to help their migrating brothers and sisters with accommodation and food
The Prophet (S) gathered the two groups and started calling out the name of one Ansar and one
Muhajir. The Prophet (S) took „Ali as his brother
„Ali had complained that he had been left out of the pairings, to which the Prophet said, you are
my brother in this world as well as the Hereafter
Sa‟d bin ar-Rabi and Abdur Rahman bin Awf were made brothers and Sa‟d was willing to share
half his property and divorce one of his wives for Abdur Rahman to marry. He refused, saying
„direct me to the nearest marketplace so that I may make my fortune with my own hands.‟ The
Ansar wanted to share their date palms with the Muhajirun but the Muhajirun refused, so the Ansar
offered them to work in their orchards and in return they were given dates. In this way the Madinans
gave protection and material assistance to their Makkan brothers and the Makkans came with their
faith to share and spread in Madina Some Ansar specified an amount for their Muhajir brother to
inherit and happened until the verse was revealed „Blood relatives are nearer to one another
regarding inheritance‟ [8.75]
The virtue of these two groups has been mentioned in the Qur‟an, e.g. „Those who believed and
emigrated and carried out jihad in the way of Allah with their wealth and lives are greater in rank in
the sight of Allah, and it is they who are the successful.‟ [9.20

(b) How can Muslims apply this model of brotherhood to help their communities? [4]

Muslims can help by looking to see what they can offer others. Help can be in any form, e.g.,
financial assistance to poor, youth services, challenging social injustice etc. Muslims may live in
areas where people from another country have come to settle, whether it be because they are fleeing
from persecution or to seek work. Muslims can help them by finding out about them, asking if they
need any help, providing food/clothing/information and /or by helping them to integrate.

64 (a) Write about the lives of ‘Uthman and ‘Ali during the lifetime of the Prophet (S). [10]

Use the AO1 Mark Grid A comprehensive answer will provide an account of some key events from
both companions‟ lives, with a balance between the information provided for each companion.
Candidates may include some of the following points. All other relevant points must be credited.
‘Uthman ibn Affan:
he accepted Islam through Abu Bakr. He was wealthy in Makka, but still tortured by his relatives
after conversion, and was amongst those who migrated to Abyssinia.
He married the Prophet‟s daughter Ruqayyah. Ruqayyah fell ill before the Battle of Badr and so
he was excused from participating; she died while the Prophet (S) was at battle
. „Uthman later married the Prophet‟s other daughter, Umm Kulthum, and was given the name
„possessor of the two lights‟.
He went to Makka as the Prophet‟s emissary to allow the Muslims to perform the pilgrimage, and
was detained by the Makkans; this led to the signing of the Treaty of Hudaybiyya.
He took part in the battle of Uhud and at Tabuk „Uthman supplied the army with nine hundred and
forty camels, and sixty horses. He also brought ten thousand dinars to equip the army.
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He bought a well and donated it to be used by the rich, poor and travellers. He was considered to
be the most shy/modest among the Muslims. ‘
Ali ibn Abi Talib
: the Prophet‟s cousin, he went to live with the Prophet (S) at a young age to alleviate the hardship
on his father.
He was one of the first to accept the message of Islam at the age of ten.
When the Prophet (S) started open preaching, he called his clansmen to Islam and it was only Ali
who stepped forward to support him. The Quraysh laughed at „Ali being made an amir that they
should obey. He stood by the Prophet (S) during the persecutions and the boycott in Makka.
He was entrusted with the Quraysh‟s belongings to be returned to them when the Prophet (S)
migrated to Madina, and he met the Prophet (S) and Abu Bakr at Quba.
In Madina „Ali was made the brother of the Prophet (S). He married the Prophet‟s daughter
Fatima and they had four children.
„Ali was a prominent fighter in all the battles (except Tabuk), commanding the Muslim army at
Khaybar. He was one of the scribes of the Prophet (S), writing down the Qur‟an as well as the
Treaty of Hudaybiyya.
„Ali rode next to the Prophet (S) on the final pilgrimage. „Ali and Abbas washed the body of the
Prophet (S) when he died.

(b) From ‘Ali’s early life, what lessons can young people learn about their role in the
community? [4]

Lessons could be that they should not shy away from the truth and that their age does not mean they
cannot make right and mature decisions. They should follow the guidance of trustworthy people but
know that they also can have the strength to play an important role in the community even at a
young age. They should look to keep themselves in good company to be able to make the right
decisions. If a young person is able to lead the community because he is knowledgeable, whether it
be in prayer or guiding others, then he should not be prevented from doing so due to his age. Young
people can also be role models for others. Candidates can offer other lessons and valid answers
should be credited.

2020
65 (a) Give an account of the life of the Prophet’s wife Aisha during the lifetime of the Prophet
(S). [10]

She was the daughter of the Prophet‟s close companion, Abu Bakr; she was married to the Prophet
(S) in Madina at a young age and became his third wife. She was married to the Prophet (S) for nine
years. She was known for her intelligence and sharp memory. Whilst she was living with the
Prophet (S) she learnt a lot from him about revelations and the law, and later went on to teach Islam
and became a narrator of hadith. She initially stayed with Sawda after migration, while her living
quarters were built next to the mosque. She was involved in many important events in the life of the
Prophet, and Qur‟an verses were revealed to the Prophet (S) about her in relation to the event of the
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necklace (Nur:11–19). They relate to the incident where she was accompanying the Prophet (S) on
an expedition to Banu Mustaliq. The caravan had stopped on the return journey and she had dropped
her necklace whilst she had gone to relieve herself, and so went to look for it. The caravan left
without her and so she fell asleep while hoping for a search party to come and get her. Safwan As-
Salami found her and took her on his camel back to Madina. The hypocrites used this as a way to
slander Aisha which caused her great distress. The verses were revealed to prove her innocence. She,
at times, felt jealousy to the Prophet‟s other wives. She did not like that the Prophet (S) showed so
much love towards his first wife Khadija. She also did not like it when the Prophet (S) stayed longer
with his wife Zaynab on account of her having honey that he (S) liked. She was considered to be the
Prophet‟s favourite wife. He used to call her Humayra. The Prophet (S) chose her house to rest in
during his final illness and he passed away whilst he was with her.

(b) From the example of Aisha, what lessons can be learnt about education in Islam? [4]

Some lessons could be that it shows that education is important for men and for women, and that
men can learn from women and vice versa, as long as they keep proper etiquette as Aisha would
have. It also tells us that knowledge should be taken from authentic and reliable sources – Aisha
took her knowledge from the Prophet (S) and people took their knowledge from Aisha because of
her accuracy and reliability. Other relevant answers should be credited.

66 (a) Write an account of the life of the Prophet’s Companion Abu Bakr, during the
Prophet’s lifetime. [10]

Candidates may include some of the following points. All other relevant points must be credited.
Abu Bakr was the Prophet‟s childhood friend, and the first to accept Islam. He was a staunch
supporter of the Prophet (S), and was open about practising Islam. His original name was Abdul
Ka‟ba, and was later given the name Abu Bakr due to his fondness of camels. He was a cloth
merchant and quite wealthy. Before Islam, he did not worship other gods nor did he drink wine as
was customary for those of his status. He was honest in trade and used his wealth to help others.
When the revelation came, the Prophet (S) went to see Abu Bakr who became Muslim straight away.
Later the Prophet (S) would say “Whenever I offered Islam to any one, he always showed some
reluctance and hesitation and tried to enter into an argument. Abu Bakr was the only person who
accepted Islam without any reluctance or hesitation, and without any argument.” After conversion,
he would buy slaves and set them free. He guided important Companions to accept Islam. He
defended the Prophet (S) from persecutions and was persecuted himself. At one point he set off for
Abyssinia but returned when his friend offered him protection. He did not hesitate to believe the
Prophet (S) when he told the people about his night journey and ascension, which was when Abu
Bakr was given the title „Siddiq‟. He was the Prophet‟s companion during the migration to Madina,
and the Qur‟an mentions him as one of two in the cave, in reference to this journey. He gave his
daughter in marriage to the Prophet (S). He participated in all the major battles and gave his wealth
at the Battle of Tabuk. Abu Bakr led 300 Muslims to the pilgrimage in Mecca and led prayers during
the Prophet‟s illness. When the Prophet passed away many companions refused to believe it, and it
was Abu Bakr who came to address them telling them that the Prophet (S) had passed away but God
was alive and will never die. He was elected as caliph soon after this.

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(b) Abu Bakr used his wealth to help others. How can Muslims follow his example today? [4]

Candidates can use various examples to show how they can help others with their wealth. Some
could be, paying for a water well for those who do not have access to water, donating money to
someone needing medicine/hospital treatment, giving money to look after orphans. Relevant
answers should be credited and better answers will be able to say why it would be beneficial to use
their wealth for that reason.

67 (a) Describe the main difficulties faced by the early followers of Islam. [10]

After the revelation to warn his nearest relatives (26.214), the Prophet (S) took to Mount Safa and
invited the Quraysh to follow Islam publicly. They rejected him and feeling threatened by the new
message, because they could not dissuade the Prophet (S) from preaching it, they started to persecute
the Muslims. Those who had no protection were easy targets and felt the worst of the persecution.
Bilal was severely beaten by his master Umayah bin Khalaf and made to lie on the burning sand
with a rock on his chest, but he did not give up belief in one God. „Ammar bin Yasir, and his
parents, were made to lie on hot embers – both his parents were martyred, his father died due to
severe tortures, his mother Sumayyah was bayoneted to death. „Uthman ibn Affan was wrapped in
palm leaves and set fire to by his uncle. Khabab bin al-Arat was made to lie on burning coal with a
rock on his chest. Harith bin Hala, a blacksmith, was tortured and killed. Because of the
persecutions, the Prophet (S) allowed some people to migrate to Abyssinia. Later a social and
economic boycott was imposed on the Banu Hashim and they were to live in Shib-i-Abi Talib,
where they faced great hardships for many years.

(b) How can these events give hope to Muslims today? [4]

Candidates can give a variety of responses, but they must give reasons for why they have given
their answer. They may say that the persecutions show that Muslims in the past went through
difficulties as well, so they may get some reassurance from this that any difficulties now that they
face for being Muslim or practising Islam is not new. They could also say that they can use the
example of the early Muslims to show patience and perseverance with difficulties in their own lives.
Or that there will always be people around to help and support them so they should not lose hope.
God is always their protector so that should give Muslims hope in what they do.

68 (a) Write about the brotherhood in Madina that developed between the Helpers (Ansar)
and the Emigrants (Muhajirun). [10]

Candidates may include some of the following points. All other relevant points must be credited.
The residents of Makka, who had to leave all their belongings behind and migrate to Madina, due to
the persecutions of Makkans, are called Emigrants while their hosts, residents of Madina known as
Yathrib at that time, are called Ansars or Helpers (mainly from the Aws and Khazraj tribes). Ansars
had started to accept Islam as a result of Pledges of Aqaba and had invited the Prophet (S) to their
city. They welcomed Emigrants openheartedly. To unite the two groups, the Prophet (S) made them
brothers, pairing each of the Ansar with the Muhajirun. This was to help each other materially and
spiritually. The Ansar had already been eager to help their migrating brothers and sisters with
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accommodation and food. The Prophet (S) gathered the two groups and started calling out the name
of one Ansar and one Muhajir. The Prophet (S) took „Ali as his brother. Better answers will name
some prominent pairs. Sa‟d bin ar-Rabi and Abdur Rahman bin Awf were made brothers and Sa‟d
was willing to share half his property and divorce one of his wives for Abdur Rahman to marry. He
refused, saying „direct me to the nearest market place so that I may make my fortune with my own
hands.‟ The Ansar wanted to share their date palms with the Muhajirun but the Muhajirun refused,
so the Ansar offered them to work in their orchards and in return they were given dates. In this way
the Madinans gave protection and material assistance to their Makkan brothers and the Makkans
came with their faith to share and spread in Madina. The virtue of these two groups has also been
mentioned in the Qur‟an: „Those who believed and emigrated and carried out jihad in the way of
Allah with their wealth and lives are greater in rank in the sight of Allah, and it is they who are the
successful.‟ [9.20] Some candidates may also refer to the fact that Emigrants and Helpers also
inherited from each other till the practice was prohibited by the Quran 8:75.

(b) How can Muslims today show their brotherhood and sisterhood towards each other? [4]

Muslims can show their brother/sisterhood in various ways – by visiting each other and looking to
see how they can help each other. This may be food, their time, or company if they are on their own.
They can offer to share their belongings with others, especially if they do not have much of their
own. Candidates can offer other answers but they should elaborate on their answers and give specific
examples to show how brotherhood can be practised today. Candidates can talk about brotherhood at
local, national and international level.

2021
69 (a) Write about the life of the Prophet’s daughter, Fatima. [10]

Candidates may include some of the following information. All other relevant information must be
credited. Fatima was the Prophet Muhammad‟s youngest daughter, born a few years before
prophethood. She was upset over the treatment her father faced by the Quraysh in Makka; when he
was persecuted and the Quraysh threw animal entrails on him, she lifted it off and cleaned him. She
was married to „Ali and had two sons and two daughters (Hassan, Hussain, Zaynab and Umm
Kulthum). She suffered hardships after her marriage and did all the work at home herself, for
example, grinding flour and carrying water from the well. When she asked the Prophet (S) for a
share in the spoils of war after one of the battles, thinking she may be able to get a maid to help at
home, he said, I shall give you something better and told her to say Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah,
Allahu Akbar before going to sleep. One of her nicknames was Az-Zahra, the resplendent one. Aisha
said that she was the one who resembled the Prophet (S) the most. The Prophet (S) is reported to
have said, "Fatima is a part of me and whoever offends her offends me." The Prophet (S) showed his
affection for her and would visit her before he left on a journey and upon returning. When the
Prophet (S) was ill, she was upset that he was dying but happy when he told her she would be
joining him soon. She was the only daughter to outlive the Prophet (S) and passed away five months
after her father at the age of 29.

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(b) What can be learned from her life about the relationship between parents and children? [4]

Candidates may include some of the following information. All other relevant information must be
credited. The bond between the Prophet (S) and Fatima shows that mutual love and respect needs to
be nurtured between parents and children. Parents should love all their children, male and female,
and treat them well. The way the Prophet (S) showed love and respect for his daughter and the way
Fatima always stood by her father hold great lessons for Muslims.

70 (a) The first wife of the Prophet (S) was Khadija. Write about the main events of her life.
[10]

Candidates may include some of the following information. All other relevant information must be
credited. Khadija was the daughter of a wealthy businessman and inherited his wealth when he
passed away. She was married to Abu Hala and Atiq before she married the Prophet (S). She is
believed to have a daughter and two sons from her previous marriages. She became a successful
businesswoman in her own right and was well respected in Makka. She would employ different
people to go on trade expeditions for her, and she employed the Prophet (S) as a merchant on one of
these expeditions. She sent her servant, Maysara, with him. After hearing of his trading skills and
honesty as a merchant, she proposed marriage to him, which he accepted. At the time she was 40
and he was 25. They had six children together, their two sons dying in infancy, and then four
daughters. When the Prophet (S) received revelation, he came to Khadija trembling. She reassured
him that God would not humiliate him. She took him to see her cousin Waraqa bin Nawfal who told
the Prophet (S) that he is a messenger of God. She was the first to publicly accept Islam and she
supported the Prophet (S) financially. She endured the hardships faced by the Muslims when they
were boycotted by the Quraysh and died shortly after that. Jibril is said to have sent greetings of
peace to her, through the Prophet, from God and himself. After her death the Prophet (S) said about
her, „I have not yet found a better wife than her. She had faith in me when everyone, even members
of my own family and tribe did not believe me, and accepted that I was truly a Prophet and a
Messenger of Allah. She converted to Islam, spent all her wealth and worldly goods to help me
spread this faith, and this too at a time when the entire world seemed to have turned against me and
persecuted me. And it is through her that Allah blessed me with children.‟ The Prophet(S) is
reported to remember her often after her death and it used to cause jealousy, sometimes, amongst his
other wives.

(b) What does Khadija’s marriage to the Prophet (S) teach Muslims about family
relationships?[4]

Candidates may include some of the following information. All other relevant information must be
credited. Their marriage teaches Muslims that trust and loyalty are important parts of a family
relationship, which need to be nurtured to build good family relations. When in times of difficulty,
family members should offer each other physical, moral and financial support. Candidates could also
say that age should not be a barrier in a relationship and that advice and guidance can be sought and
given from those respected in the family, whether they are younger or older.

71 (a) Write about the lives of ‘Umar and ‘Uthman during the lifetime of the Prophet (S). [10]
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 Candidates may include some of the following points. All other relevant points must be credited.
‘Umar ibn al-Khattab:
„Umar was born in Mecca in the clan of Banu Adi. He was literate and a gifted orator. He
accepted Islam at the age of 26/27.
Before his conversion, he was on his way to attempt to kill the Prophet (S).
When he was told that his own sister and brother-in-law had converted; he went to her house. He
found them reciting verses from Sura Taha. „Umar was angry with them then asked to see the
writing which they were reading. His sister said only those who have been purified can read it, and
so „Umar made wudu‟ before being given the Qur‟an.
After his conversion, „Umar refused to keep Islam a secret, after which Muslims could pray
openly. Prophet (S) had made supplication for his conversion.
He didn‟t emigrate in secret.
He fought in all the battles, giving half his wealth for the campaign of Tabuk, and is one of the ten
promised paradise.
He was one of the witnesses for the Treaty of Hudaybiyya, although he was initially not satisfied
with the terms. On the Prophet‟s death, he said he would kill anyone who said that the Prophet (S)
had died.
‘Uthman ibn Affan:
He accepted Islam through Abu Bakr. He was a wealthy merchant in Makka, belonging to Banu
Ummaya but was still tortured by his relatives after conversion. He was literate and became one the
scribes of the Prophet (S). He was amongst those who migrated to Abyssinia.
He married the Prophet‟s daughter Ruqayyah. Ruqayyah fell ill before the Battle of Badr, so he
was excused from participating. She died while the Prophet (S) was at battle.
„Uthman later married the Prophet‟s other daughter, Umm Kulthum, and was given the name
„possessor of the two lights‟ (Dhu al-Nurayn)
. He went to Makka as the Prophet‟s emissary to allow the Muslims to perform the pilgrimage and
was detained by the Makkans; this led to the Bait e Ridhwan.
He took part in the battle of Uhud and at Tabuk „Uthman supplied the army with nine hundred and
forty camels, and sixty horses. He also brought ten thousand dinars to equip the army.
He bought a well and donated it to be used by the rich, poor and travelers. He was given the title
of Ghani. At the farewell pilgrimage, he escorted the wives of the Prophet (S).
He was considered to be the most shy and modest among the Muslims.

(b) What lessons can be learned from ‘Uthman’s life before he became Caliph? [4]

Candidates may include some of the following information. All other relevant information must be
credited. A descriptive note on the qualities of „Uthman is not required here. A few lessons can be
given, or elaboration can be written about on how to imitate them in one‟s own life. It can teach
people about patience and steadfastness as „Uthman kept his faith, despite the persecutions he faced.
„Uthman did not despair after his wives passed away, so patience and not losing hope are important
in times of tragedy. Migration is something that can be done for reasons of faith and security.
Migrating twice shows the spirit of sacrifice. The generosity of „Uthman in providing for fellow

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believers and Islam is something that can be emulated by being generous to others, not just with
wealth but by giving time and support to others.

72 (a) Write about the lives of two of the following Companions: Salman al-Farsi, Ja’far ibn
Abi Talib, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf. [10]

Candidates may include some of the following information. All other relevant information must be
credited. Salman al-Farsi: he was from Isfahan in Persia; he grew up a Magian then became a
Zoroastrian priest in charge of a fire temple. He left his family to join a Christian group and travelled
around the Middle East visiting and learning from various priests. One of them told him about the
Prophet Muhammad (S) being the final messenger. Salman found a group of Arab leaders to take
him to Madina, but half way there they made him a slave and sold him to a Jew, who eventually
took him to Yathrib. He lived as a slave there and then heard the news of the Prophet‟s arrival in
Madina. He found the signs of the priest to be true when he was looking for the seal of the Prophet
(S) and submitted to Islam. The Prophet (S) and companions helped him buy his freedom from
slavery and the Prophet (S) himself planted the date palms. At the Battle of Khandaq he had the idea
of digging the trench. He was unique in that he was well versed in Christianity, Zoroastrianism and
Islam. He was the first person to translate the Qur‟an into a foreign language, translating parts of it
into Persian. He is said to have died during the reign of the Caliph „Uthman, fighting as an army
commander.
Ja’far ibn Abi Talib: he was the son of Abu Talib and so the cousin of the Prophet (S), and was
raised in the household of his uncle Abbas. He was an early convert to Islam, and went in the second
delegation that migrated to Abyssinia, with his wife Asma bint Umays. There he was chosen as a
spokesperson for the Muslims and spoke to the Negus when the Quraysh accused the Muslims of
abandoning their people and asked the Negus to return them to Makka. The Negus asked the
Muslims about the religion they had entered into. Ja‟far replied saying that before Islam they were
ignorant and immoral and Islam called them to One God, to speak the truth and to refrain from
bloodshed. Ja‟far then recited a portion of sura Maryam. He lived with his family in Abyssinia for
10 years and then migrated to Madina. He was generous and considerate of the welfare of others and
became known as „the father of the poor‟. The following year he was sent to fight at the Battle of
Mut‟a and died there.
Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf: He was one of the first eight persons to accept Islam and was one of the
ten promised Paradise. His name in pre-Islamic days was Abu Amr. But when he accepted Islam the
Prophet (S) called him Abd al-Rahman - the servant of the Beneficent God. Abd al-Rahman faced
persecutions with the early Muslims by the Quraysh and remained firm in his faith. When some
Muslims left Makka for Abyssinia because of the continuous and unbearable persecution, Abd
alRahman also went. Soon after arriving in Madinah, the Prophet made brothers of the Muhajirin
and the Ansar. Abdur-Rahman made the brother of Saad ibn ar-Rabi'ah. Saad was willing to share
his wealth and family with Abd al-Rahman, but he wanted to work himself so asked to be shown the
marketplace. He was a great merchant and this led to him becoming a wealthy man. He fought at the
battles of Badr and Uhud, and at the Battle of Tabuk he donated generously for the expedition and
then spent money equipping those people who were too poor to equip themselves. At Tabuk he also
had the honour of being the only person to have led the Prophet (S) in prayer. His generosity was
well known, and in one incident he gave away all the wealth of his caravan to the people of Madina.
After the death of the Prophet (S), he took it upon himself to look after the needs of the Prophet‟s
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wives, fixing them stipends from his own money. When asked the secret of his wealth he said that
he never lifted a stone unless he expected to find gold or silver under it. He was one of the six
persons chosen by „Umar to form the council of shura to choose the Khalifa after his death. He died
around 653 at the age of 75.

(b) Even when they had wealth, some Companions lived simple lives. How can Muslims show
simplicity in their everyday lives? [4]

Candidates may include some of the following information. All other relevant information must be
credited. They can buy fewer clothes or wear the same clothes for longer before getting new ones.
They can give away more of their wealth to others and live more simply at home to allow for this.
They can eat less, waste less food and share their food more often with neighbours and friends.
These are just some examples, other examples should be credited where relevant.

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