a. State two religious traditions in the UK other than Islam (2)
b. Explain Sunni reasons why the six beliefs are important. 5)
c. Explain the reasons for the importance of the Sunni belief in Angels. (8)
d. ‘Belief in Tawhid is the most important of the six beliefs’ (15+3)
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
a. Describe one of the five roots of ‘Usal ad-Din’
b. Explain reasons why the five roots of ‘Usul ad-Din’ are important to Muslims (5)
c. Explain the reasons for the importance of the Shai belief in Imams Al – Imamah (8)
d. ‘There are more similarities than differences between Sunni and Shi’a beliefs’ (15+3)
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
a. Outline two Muslim beliefs about Allah (2)
b. Explain two reasons why the Characteristics of Allah are important for Muslims (5)
c. Explain two Muslim beliefs about Allah. (8)
d. ‘It is impossible to comprehend Allah’ (15+3)
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
a. Outline three things that Muslims believe about Risalah (2)
b. Explain two reasons why belief in the prophets is important for Muslims (5)
c. Explain two reasons why Muhammad is an important prophet in Islam. (8)
d. ‘Muhammad is the most important prophet in Islam’ (15+3)
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
a. Outline three reasons why holy books are important for Muslims (3)
b. Explain two Muslim attitudes to holy books (4)
c. Explain two reasons why Muslims believe that the Qur’an is perfect. (5)
d. ‘All Muslim holy books are equally important’ (15+3)
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
a. Outline three Muslim beliefs about angels (2)
b. Explain two reasons why angles are important for Muslims (5)
c. Explain two reasons why Jibril is important to Muslims. (8)
d. ‘Angels have no relevance today’ (15+3)
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
a. Outline three reasons why Muslims believe in predestination (2)
b. Explain two reasons why predestination is an important belief for Muslims (5)
c. Explain two reasons why Muslims believe in judgement and human freedom. (8)
d. ‘al-Quadr and human freedom are incompatible’ (15+3)
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
a. Outline three reasons why teachings about life after death affect the life of a Muslim today (2)
b. Describe two differences between Islam and the main religious tradition of Great Britain about the beliefs of paradise and hell (5)
c. Explain Muslim beliefs about life after death. (8)
d. ‘If there is no akhirah, religious teachings are meaningless’ (15+3)
Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
Exam practice, p.127
D-type question: ‘Belief in Allah is the most important Muslim belief.’ Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion or belief in your answer.)
Model answer: (This is just one way to answer and reflects the mark scheme for a Band 5 – detailed analysis; use of religious language; use of sources of wisdom; and shows an understanding of how beliefs influence individuals, communities and societies. Refer to the descriptors found on pp.153–158.)
The belief in Allah is the most important Muslim belief because Muslims recite this belief in the Shahadah, which is the first pillar of faith. It declares that ‘there is no god but God, and Muhammad is the prophet of God’. This pillar is seen as the central support for the other four pillars – Salah (prayer), Zakah (charity), Sawm (fasting) and Hajj (pilgrimage) – as they are each outward expressions of the belief in Allah. To many Muslims, all other beliefs follow from belief in Allah, and without belief in Allah no other religious beliefs make sense.
The way of life for all Muslims is called Shari’ah – the straight path. This is the set of moral and religious rules that puts the principles set out by the Qur’an and the Hadith into practice. By following Shari’ah Muslims know that they are obeying the will of God, and the most important aspect of that is the belief in and worship of Allah. In the Hadith there is an account of the last sermon by Muhammad in which he instructed his followers to be obedient to the teachings set out in the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
However, some Muslims believe that good deeds and social action (e.g. zakat) are more important than just belief in Allah. In addition, some Muslims would argue that belief in the afterlife (akhirah) is the most important belief, as some people do have belief about the afterlife without belief in Allah.