Mark schemes for recent exams
RSS10 World Religions 2
Section C Islam 1 The Way of Submission
9 (a) Examine how the Qur’an is used by Muslims in worship and everyday life.
Candidates might refer to some of the following points:
Worship
In prayer.
Sermon in the mosque.
Read at home during personal worship and at mosque.
Used as an aid during prayers.
To explore ways of acting out the Muslim life as a form of worship.
Used to meditate on during Ramadan, etc.
Everyday life
It is memorised and studied.
Knowledge / understanding of use of Qur’an in prayer at home, at the Mosque.
Expansion of the above with further elaboration, e.g. in public and private prayer.
Personal contemplation, religious, social, moral guidance.
Use as talisman, in education.
Used as a source of law and history; teaching about Islam.
Reading.
Mosque schools / madrassah.
Public use at key times.
Life is ibadah and Qur’an guides Muslims on the straight path.
Maximum Level 5 if only one of worship and everyday life included.
(30 marks) AO1
Religious Studies - AQA GCE Mark Scheme 2010 January series
16
9 (b) ‘The Qur’an is the only source of guidance that a Muslim needs.’
Assess this claim.
In support of the statement
Expect accounts of the status of the Qur’an as the Word of God and final revelation
to humanity.
There is a sense of uniqueness in its nature and authority.
Use as talisman to show power of God in life.
Reference may also be made to modernist movements in Islam, some of which
challenge or reject the value of the hadith and hence the traditional understanding of
Shari’a – a slogan for one such group is ‘God alone – Qur’an alone’.
Use in madrassah to show importance of learning verses in Arabic as sacred
language – all of which points to the fact that the Qur’an is the only source of
guidance a Muslim needs.
Against the statement
Answers may focus on the use of the sunnah / hadith alongside the Qur’an as a
source of holy law.
The role of the Ulema or Imam to counter the claim.
Modern day issues suggest a need for interpretation of the Qur’an for modern day
Muslims as new issues arise.
Qur’an was written for the Muslims at the time of Muhammad only.
Hadith has a more relevant nature to it for Muslims because it is the Qur’an in action.
(15 marks) AO2
Religious Studies - AQA GCE Mark Scheme 2010 January series
17
10 (a) Examine the significance of both Salah and Sawm for Muslims.
Candidates might refer to some of the following points:
Salah
Salah; five times a day, facing Makkah and rakahs, etc.
Support of whole ummah in practising prayer at same time, common sense of
shared faith, unity and purpose in commitment to Islam.
Public prayer is important for Muslims to worship God, meet together, and focus on
what is required to please God.
The call to prayer reminds believers of the primacy of God and of the actions of
believers throughout history.
It is also a reminder of the trumpet which heralds the Day of Judgement. This
inspires believers to greater jihad and motivates them to live Islamically.
Where possible Muslims should attend prayer with other believers to follow the
Madinan example and to support each other.
Hadith of the Prophet endorses public prayer.
It gives the opportunity to praise God, act on faith, pray for the wider community and
be re-orientated to life as an act of worship.
Sawm
Sawm; fasting during Ramadan, exemptions and rules, etc.
Both
It is likely that more would be written on Salah than on fasting.
Expect mainstream outline but be aware of differences within Islam.
For explanation there should be comments on why both are performed and why in
this way, and / or on the significance they have for Muslims and for the community,
for example, purification; self-discipline; commanded by God; strength and faith and
following practice of Muhammad.
Both are the foundation / support of faith as one of 5 Pillars; means of
communication with God.
Preparations indicate Muslims have marked out the time and space as special.
Muslims are responding to the command of God and the example of Muhammad.
Maximum Level 5 if only one of Salah or Sawm covered. Focus should be on
significance, not description.
(30 marks) AO1
Religious Studies - AQA GCE Mark Scheme 2010 January series
18
10 (b) ‘Following the Five Pillars is the most important duty for a Muslim.’
Assess this claim.
In support of the statement
Expect evidence of the claims made for correct practice of the pillars and their effect
on the life of a Muslim.
They may argue for a particular pillar’s importance, e.g. Shahadah (declaration of
faith).
Pillars reflect Iman.
It proves their faith and shows their desire to please God.
Genuine intention is tested; especially if they are not living close to other Muslims.
Against the statement
To counter this there could be emphasis on the importance of intention.
Recognition that not all Muslims can fast or perform the movements of prayer;
awareness of Islam as Din (faith).
Modern life may interfere with observance of religious ritual, e.g. if Muslims live in a
non-Muslim country they may find it harder to observe the fast.
Employers may not wish employees to have time for Eid celebrations; the nature of
employment may make it dangerous or impractical to fast.
Modern emphasis on secularism may detract from religious belief / practice.
Greater Jihad (striving) might be seen as more important than following the Five
Pillars.
(15 marks) AO2
Religious Studies - AQA GCE Mark Scheme 2010 January series
19
Section C Islam 1 The Way of Submission
17 Explain how the Qur’an is used as a source of law.
Muslims believe that by following Qur’an, they are living life the way Allah wants
them to.
The law is based on the Qur’an and the Sunnah and is used by Muslims to make
moral decisions.
Shari’ah explains how to put the principles of the Qur’an into practice.
The Qur’an is more than just law.
It is a complete code of Muslim conduct.
Only about 10% of the Qur’an applies specifically to law and conduct (mostly in the
late Madinan surahs).
There are some 500 or so verses in the Qur’an which possess definitive legal
elements used in Islamic courts of law.
The Qur’an is the final arbitrator for Muslims, e.g. dispute on the role of women
would be settled by the Qur’an not by the Hadiths as the Qur’an would claim to lift
the status of Muslim women.
The Qur’an is used as a source of law on encouraging people to record details of
loans or contracts.
Disagreements domestically on conceptual or practical materials is settled by
reference to the Qur’an.
It is the final authority on social, political and economic matters between different
group of Muslims, primarily seen through a Shari’ah court.
In family law it is used as guidance in marriage and divorce and promotes
development of disciplines in the field of law.
(30 marks) AO1
18 ‘The world has changed since the Qur’an was written, so the laws in the Qur’an
also need to change.’
Assess this claim.
In agreement with the statement
Candidates might suggest the Qur’an is over 1500 years old and the world has
clearly changed.
What was applicable to Muhammad’s society may not be now.
Adaptations of scriptures have always happened.
The Qur’an does not have that much law in and there has been a cancellation or
abrogation of certain verses so that Muhammad’s own words might be deemed more
suitable for today.
On the other hand
The Qur’an is the word of God.
It cannot be changed and even if there is only a small amount of law contained
within, it is God’s law.
Some might argue that the society that needed the Qur’an all those years ago is not
too dissimilar from ours today.
(15 marks) AO2
Religious Studies - AQA GCE Mark Scheme, 2009 June series
17
19 Explain the concept of Pillar in Islam.
Muslims often think of their faith as a kind of building for God held up by the five
pillars, called arkan.
These are five basic duties a Muslim must perform (candidates might well name
them).
Without the concept of ‘pillar’ it is doubtful that Islam would exist.
They are the framework for every Muslim’s life.
Sometimes the Qur’an is seen as Islam’s foundation and the five pillars are the
uprights or supports.
A pillar is the active expression of faith through prayer, alms, fasting and pilgrimage.
Completion of each daily duty demands right intent and shows total submission to
God.
Prayer and fasting in particular might get mentioned as both have spiritual and
physical aspects reflecting submission and devotion to God.
They also reflect Islam as a community of believers, united in common belief and
practice.
Only award up to maximum Level 5 for only writing about the 5 pillars.
(30 marks) AO1
20 ‘Following the Five Pillars is all that is necessary to be a good Muslim.’
Assess this claim.
In support of the statement
Candidates might argue it is the basis of all Islam and the ummah to follow the five
pillars of faith.
The first pillar alone – the declaration of faith – is sufficient to make one a Muslim.
The others make one ‘good’.
The spiritual significance of them means that it could be argued that to live by the
five pillars makes a Muslim what he or she is.
On the other hand
There are so many other aspects of Islam, e.g. following the Qur’an, family life,
greater jihad, etc. that it is not simply ‘you just need to follow the five pillars’.
In other words, Islam is all about peace and submission to the will of Allah, ensuring
your niyyah is well directed, etc.
(15 marks) AO2
Section C Islam 1 The Way of Submission
9 (a) Explain how the Qur’an is used both in worship and in everyday life.
Worship can be understood in a broad way as living according to God’s law
and in a narrow sense as carrying out specific acts, e.g. prayer and the
practice of fast in Ramadan. Key ideas could be expected from the following:
recitation, e.g. in prayer, private devotion and on public occasions; the
stylised form of recitation, its importance and the experience of hearing it;
memorisation and study of the Qur’an; how and why the book is treated with
respect; use of the Qur’an as a guide to life.
(30 marks) AO1
(b) Assess the view that the Qur’an is the only guidance a Muslim needs.
In support
Expect accounts of the status of the Qur’an as the Word of God and final
revelation to humanity. Answers may then focus on the use of the sunnah /
hadith alongside the Qur’an as a source of holy law, and / or the role of the
Ulema or Imam to counter the claim; reference may also be made to
modernist movements in Islam some of which challenge or reject the value of
the hadith and hence the traditional understanding of Shari’a – a slogan for
one such group is ‘God alone – Qur’an alone’.
(15 marks) AO2
10 (a) Explain how and why Salah and Sawm are celebrated in Islam.
Salah; five times a day, facing Makkah and rakahs, etc.
Sawm; fasting during Ramadan, exemptions and rules, etc.
It is likely that more would be written on Salah than on fasting. Expect
mainstream outline but be aware of differences within Islam. For explanation
there should be comments on why both are performed and why in this way,
and / or on the significance they have for Muslims and for the community, for
example, purification; self-discipline; commanded by God; strength and faith
and following practice of Muhammad.
(30 marks) AO1
(b) How far do you agree that carrying out the Five Pillars makes someone
a perfect Muslim?
In support
Expect evidence of the claims made for correct practice of the pillars and
their effect on the life of a Muslim. They may argue for particular pillar’s
importance, e.g. Shahdah (declaration of faith). Pillars reflect Iman.
Other views
To counter this there could be: emphasis on the importance of intention;
recognition that not all Muslims can fast or perform the movements of prayer;
awareness of Islam as Din.
(15 marks) AO2