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Past Papers
Day 08 (PAPER 02)
M/J 2019 (21)
3(a) Outline the reasons for the unrest against ‘Uthman and write an account of the
rebellion in Madina that led to his martyrdom. (10)
Answer [Learn and write]:
Reasons of unrest:
The first half of Hazrat Usman’s Caliphate was very peaceful. During that time, the Muslims attained
many victories. However, the years 651 to 656 were the years of trouble for the third caliph of Islam due to
following reasons.
• One of the main allegations against Hazrat Usman was that he had appointed his inefficient relatives
as governors. His reason for doing this was to ensure loyalty towards himself and to secure the unity
of the empire. But to many Muslims, this action appeared to be favoring his own family unfairly.
• Hazrat Usman (R.A) was very gentle and soft hearted person. The people who wanted to create
chaos among the Muslims took advantages of his soft nature. He sometimes overlooked the faults
of his governors and other officers in various provinces. His sympathetic nature also made the
provincial governors to ignore his orders. It was also alleged that he was too lenient and did not keep
a check on his governors.
• When he burnt the false copies of the Quran which had been gathered from the different parts of the
empire, when he circulated the official version prepared by Zaid Ibn Sabit, (this has been known as the
“uthmanic version” ever since). He was condemned for destroying the Word of Allah, though he may have
intended to ensure that only the correct version should be read.
• He was alleged to make unreasonable expenditure from Bait ul Maal on his relatives. His uncle Hakam
bin Aaas was given one lac dirhams from the public treasury. Similarly, his cousin Marwan bin Hakam
was given 1/5th of the spoils of war from north Africa. He decided to allocate to his governors the
wealth amassed in the campaigns(spoils), rather than divide it between the fighting men themselves.

Events of Revolt (Rebellion in Madina)

In 656 the protesters fulfilled their plans with admirable speed and efficiency. Three columns of men apparently
on their way to Makkah for the pilgrimage left the garrison cities of Kufa, Basra and Egypt. Once they reached
Madina they made separate bases in their accustomed camping grounds on the dry riverbeds that surrounded
the oasis. There was no violence, but the arrival of the armed men shocked the population into a renewed
support of the old caliph.
The rebels sent deputations to the three most respected members of the inner council of the companions Hazrat
Ali , Talha and Zubair however Abdur Rehman bin Awf was no longer alive. At first the companions rebuked the
rebels for coming armed, and uncalled for, to the holy city and refused to have anything to do with them.
As the deadlock intensified, Hazrat Ali agreed to act as the intermediary and advised Hazrat Usman that the
unpopular Abdullah bin Saad should be removed from the governorship of Egypt as this would be sufficiently
generous compromise and would send the rebels back. This policy was also backed by Hazrat Aisha who argued
for Amr to be reinstated. The rebels however, insisted the Muhammad bin Abu Bakr be made the governor. The
caliph reluctantly agreed, and the rebels prepared to march home.
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Three days into their march back, the rebels force from Egypt was overtaken by an African slave. He was pursued
and brought back and a single letter was found in his leather pouch with the caliph’s new seal on it. The letter
was opened: it requested Abdullah to arrest the ringleader and put them to death on their return.
The rebels were furious they turned around and rode hard to Madina. The rebels from Kufa and Basra also
joined them. Hazrat Ali once again agreed to arbitrate. Hazrat Usman denied all knowledge of the letter but
freely admitted that slave was from his household. The mystery surrounding the letter has never been solved
but its effect hardened the battle lines, for the rebels now feared for their lives if they left Madina with the
caliph still in place.
Hazrat Usman promised to listen to the grievance of the rebels and addressed them but he did not agree to step
down from the office of caliph. He however refused to call the army to flight his fellow Muslims. Eventually the
rebels entered his house and killed him when he was reciting the Quran.

3(b) ‘Umar and ‘Uthman stood by what they believed to be just and were martyred for the
position they took. Can lessons be learnt from their martyrdom? [4]
Hazrat ‘Umar went about conducting the affairs of the caliphate even though there was a threat to his life, he
did not increase the security around him, nor did he succumb to the demands of Abu Lulu who threatened his
life for not relieving him from paying a tax. Similarly Hazrat Usman did not surrender to the rebels even at the
cost of his life.
Muslims today should learn from Hazrat ‘Umar’s and Hazrat Usman’s actions and have complete faith in Allah
and believe that only He is the giver and taker of life. Leaders sometimes have to take unpopular decisions
which could cause them difficulty but they must never opt to take the easy option rather they should do what
is right; they must not shy away from their responsibilities for the sake of personal safety etc. They must not
give in to unjust demands of people and work honestly at whatever they do.

4(a) Write about the following:

• The benefits of private prayer (du’a) in a Muslim’s life.
• The times when God is thought most likely to accept du’a. [10]
Answer (Learn and write):
• Invocation (duʿāʾ) is a prayer of supplication or request. Muslims regard this as a profound act of
worship. Prophet Muhammad pbuh said, "Dua is the very essence of worship.” The word dua in Arabic means
calling. It is the act of remembering Allah and calling Him.
• Aside from the obligatory five daily prayers, Muslims are encouraged to call upon Allah for forgiveness,
guidance, and strength throughout their lives.
• It is considered a way by which we can change our situation by asking the help of Almighty Allah. Dua can
change destiny so try Dua in all situations because with Dua, you will always get closer to Almighty Allah.
• Dua is essentially a submission to the Creator and a demonstration of a person’s need for Allah. Allah says in the
Holy Qur’an: “When my servants ask you about me, (tell them), I am really close to them, I listen to the prayer
of each supplicant when he invokes me.” (2: 186).
• These personal supplications or prayers (dua) can be made in their own words and in any language.
• One can pray privately for one’s own affairs, to protect, guide, help, bless a relative, friend or even the entire
Ummah.
• Allah is not a distant or remote Being, uncaring or indifferent to the calls of His Creation. In fact, He is Rahman
and Raheem, and One who answers the sincere and true prayers of His believers.
• The Prophet (P.B.U.H) is reported to have said, “Allah does not turn away, empty-handed, the one who calls
upon Him in prayer.”
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• Muslims can call upon and supplicate their Creator wherever and however they may be, but it is recommended
that one supplicating in earnest, it is better to be in a state of wudu, facing the qiblah, and, ideally, while in
sujood (prostration), in humility before Allah.
• Muslims may recite dua before, during and or after formal prayer, or may recite them at various times
throughout the day. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Whoever desires that Allah respond to his Duas under
adverse and difficult conditions, he should make Dua abundant in the days of ease and comfort.”
Times of Dua:
There are few specific moments in life, when a Muslim’s dua is especially accepted. These opportune moments of
the acceptance of dua are given blow:
• While travelling.
• While sick or visiting the sick.
• Late at night (last third of the night).
• While prostrating (sujood)
• Between the Azaan and the iqamat.
• While experiencing injustice or oppression.
• On the Day of Arafat.
• During Ramadan/or during nafl fasts.

4(b) How does du’a bring a believer closer to God? [4]

Du’a is direct communication between the believer and his Creator. When a believer opens his heart to God
and asks for His mercy and bounty there are no barriers between them. In this way,, we are getting closer to
our Lord. Thus, Dua is a source of rapprochement of the supplicant to Allah the Almighty . Rather than treating
it as a ritual that is performed almost robotically without thought or meaning, the foundation for dua is the
faith that our Creator hears our every word, knows our every thought and every deed that we have enacted.
Even if we cannot express the words, our hearts will reveal what we are trying to say.
The Qur’an states: “Your Lord says, ‘Call on Me and I will answer you’.” (Surah Ghafir Qur’an 40:60)

5(a) Describe how Muslims observe the fast of Ramadan and how this month should be
spent. [10]
Answer (Learn and write):
Method of Fasting
• Fasting during the month of Ramadan is obligatory on all Muslim adults, male and female. The Quran says,
“ O you who believe ! Fasting is prescribed to you, as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you
may learn self restraint.” [2:183]
The hours of fasting are from first light (before dawn) until sunset.
It is desirable to have a meal before keeping a fast till dawn which is referred as Sehri.
Muslims should make an intention for the fast i.e. “I intend to keep this fast of Ramadan.”
• With this, a person is subject to all restrictions and prohibitions associated with a fast till the setting of the
sun. Muslims must abstain from food, drink etc. during daylight hours. They should also refrain from
smoking, sexual intercourse, medicines etc. This is known as Imsak.
They should live their lives as normal, making no concessions to lack of food. Muslims should be
particularly pious and visit mosques regularly. They should also refrain from evil actions. Prophet (p.b.u.h)
said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his
food and drink.”
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• Muslims break their fast with a meal at sunset in the evening reciting the prayer, “O Allah! I fasted for you
and I believe in you and I put my trust in you and with the sustenance you have given me, I now break the
fast.” This is known as Iftar. Many Muslims follow the Holy Prophet (PBUH)’s example of taking a drink and
eating a date and then pray. They follow this with a meal often eaten with friends.
Muslims should try to be present at recitations of the Holy Quran in the tarawih prayers during the course
of the month.
Rules of Fasting
• This to be conscious of keeping your mind and body clean, by avoiding wasting time useless pursuits, by
being conscious of eating only halal foods at sehri and iftar and to keep one’s tongue free of all verbal sins
like gossiping and swearing.
• Display of danger, aggression and violence is forbidden during the month of Ramzan, especially when one is
fasting. One should show patience and forbearance towards others and control one’s temper and tongue.
• More time should be spent in the recitation of the Quran, trying to complete the whole Quran at least once
during this month. Prophet (P.B.U.H) said, “Everything has a best season and the best season of the Quran
is Ramzan.”
• Being punctual regarding salat, making an effort to attend tarawih prayers, and spending as much time as
possible in worship is recommended. One should also, whilst fasting, keep busy in the dhikr of Allah,
practice taubah and seek Allah’s forgiveness. Praying during the nights of Qadr foe oneself and other are
activities that Muslim should observe during the fast and in the month of Ramzan. In Sura Baqarah Allah
states: “And when my servants asks you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer
of the supplicant when he calls upon Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me That they may
walk the right way.”(2:186)
• Be very charitable and generous, help the needy and the poor, participate in social and community welfare
projects etc.
• maintain cordial relations with all. Forget your quarrels and reconcile your difference in this month; do not
be involved in backbiting anything that is wrong. Be good to all.
• Ramzan is the month of reflection think, reflect, and plan to improve your moral and spiritual conduct.
Think how u can be better Muslim, and convert those thoughts into actions. Think how u can contribute to
the betterment of the Ummah and the world at large.

5(b) What is the purpose of fasting during the month of Ramadan? [4]
According to Quran, the purpose of fasting in Ramadan is to develop self-restraint. Fasting brings a person
closer to Allah, Allah says, “. Fasting is like a shield, and he who fasts has two joys: a joy when he breaks
his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord.” (Hadis Qudsi) Believers are ordered to observe fast to be near
Allah and gain piety. Fasting strengthens the spiritual powers of the believer; it protects from all kinds of
temptations. It helps in building up moral character. As Muslims fast, they should control own temper,
they should remain calm and refrain from harming others, verbally or physically. They should also refrain
from backbiting, stealing, cheating , gossip, lies, obscenity, vulgarity and physical, mental and spiritual sins.

M/J 2019 (22)

2(a) Write an account of the compilation of Hadiths during the period of the Successors of
the Successors (tabi’ altabi’in). [10]
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Answer (Learn and write)

Successor of the Successor (Taba’eTabe’een)
From the early third to the early fourth century A.H, a large number of scholars compiled hadiths. This period
that followed the Successors of the companions is considered the golden age of Hadith compilation. Hundreds
of thousands of hadiths were compiled by the Successors of the Successors in the form of Sunan / Sahih/
Musannaf books.
A sunan was organized topic wise and thus could easily be used as a large reference and it focused on Hadith
Nabvi (Prophetic Hadith) with full isnad. The scholars who compiled the sunnan, devoted great efforts in
ensuring the authenticity of its contents and only used Hadiths that were proven authentic.
This emphasis on authenticity led many of the collections produced in the sunan movement to be called sahih
books by the authors or the Muslims readers.
Foremost amongst the Muhadditheen(scholars) were Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari (d.870)
and his student Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (d.875). Their books were the first of ‘sahih movement’.
The Sahihayn (the two sahihs) of Bukhari and Muslim became the most famous books of Hadith in sunni Islam.

1. Sahih of Bukhari:
It was compiled by Muhammad bin Ismail al-Bukhari. He devoted 16 years to sifting the Hadiths that he
included in his Sahih(Bukhari) from a pool of 600000 hadiths. It contains 97 chapters according to topics.
There are 7397 full Hadiths with full isnad in Sahih of Bukhari however, these would only be 2762 if the
repetitions are excluded. Sunni Muslims regard it as the most authentic collection of Hadith.
2. Sahih of Muslim:
It was compiled by Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj.He traveled widely to gather his collection of ahadith and Out
of 300,000 hadith 9200 were accepted as authentic. There are a total of 2,200 hadiths without
repetition. It contains 54 chapters and does not have legal commentary like Bukhari. Muslims kept all
narrations of a certain hadith in the same section but without the commentary reports from
companions and later figures.
Other participants in the Sahih movement also focused on hadith with strong and reliable isnad but they also
included some weaker hadiths because they were widely used among jurists or because the authors. Four of
these books attained great renown:
3. Sunan of Abu Daud:
He was a close student of Ahmad Ibn Hanbal. He collected 500,000 hadith in 20 years research, but
included only 4,800 in this collection.He made a series of journeys to meet most of the foremost
traditionists of his time and acquired from them the most reliable hadiths, quoting sources through
which it reached him. He collected hadiths which no one had ever assembled together.
4. Jami of Tirmizi:
He was a disciple of Bukhari.It contains 3,956 Ahadith, and has been divided into 50 chapters according
to topics.His method was that of placing the heading first, then mentioning one or two Ahadith which
were related to the heading. His book bears the distinction of being one of the oldest texts dealing
with the difference of opinion amongst the various law schools. It also includes detailed discussion of
their authenticity
5. Sunan of al-Nasai:
He was a student of Bukhari It has about 5,270 hadiths, including repeated narrations. It contains 52
chapters. It contains the fewest da‘eef (weak) hadiths among the six books after Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih
Muslim There is not a single mawdhoo (fabricated) hadith in it.
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6. Sunan of ibn Majah:

It was compiled by Ibn Mājah. It is widely considered to be the sixth of the six collection of Ḥadīth .
7. It consists of 4341 ahadith in 37 chapters.It includes 1339 additional aḥādīth, which are not found in the
other five major books of Ḥadīth.
These four books together with the Sahihayn of Bukhari and Muslim have come to be known as the SihahSitta.
‘The Six Sound Collections’. With their compilation the Shaih/ Sunan movement and the Hadith tradition
reached its climax.
Shia Collections
Like Sunni Muslims Shia Muslims also accepted Hadiths as source of understanding the Quran and as guidance in everyday
matters. They however, only consider those Hadiths as most reliable that based on the authority of Hazrat Ali and the
twelve imams, who are the descendants of Hazrat Fatima and Hazrat Ali. The prominent Shia collections are:
1. Al-Kafi fi ilm al-din (The sufficient book) is a Shia collection of Hadith compiled by the Abu JafarMuhammad ibn
Yaqub al-Kulayni. It has three sections Usul al Kafi which is related to history morals and ethics prayers and
worship and the Quran, Furu al-Kafi which is about with practical and legal issues and Raudat al-Kafi which includes
various Hadiths transmitted from the imams. Altogether al-Kafi comprises over 16000 Hadiths.
2. Man la yahduruhu al-Faqihis a Shia Hadith collection by the famous scholar Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Ali ibn
Babuyah al Qummi commonly known as ibn Babuyah or Al shaykh al-Saduq. This collection has just over 9000
Hadiths.
3. Tahzib al-Ahkam has been compiled by the shia scholar Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Hassan Tusi commonly known
as sheikh Tusi. This work comprises close to 13600 Hadiths.
4. Al-Istibsar is a Hadith collection also by sheikh Tusi. It includes the same topics as Tahzib al-Ahkam but in a shorter
from.
All of these four collections were compiled during the period from the mid-fourth to mid-fifth centuries Hijri.

2(b) Why do you think the chain of narrators (isnad) of a Hadith is given so much importance in establishing
its genuineness? [4]

(a) Main teaching: [2] marks

• Two of God’s most quoted attributes are Rahman and Raheem. The Qur’an also repeatedly tells
Muslims about God’s mercy and forgiveness.
• The teaching of this hadith for Muslims is to develop the qualities of kindness and mercy in their
personalities, by show compassion to overlook their minor faults. Prophet (P.B.U.H) said, “He who is
devoid of mercy is devoid of all good.”
• The rights of fellow Muslims have been stressed upon by both Allah and His Prophet. A Muslim’s
treatment by Allah depends on how he treats others.
• Allah will reward Muslims for Showing compassion and mercy to His creation. That those who do not
practice mercy simply deprive themselves of Allah’s mercy is the clear teaching given by the Prophet
Muhammad (P.B.U.H).
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(b) Action: [2] Marks

• Muslims can practise the teaching of this Hadith in their daily lives by doing small acts of kindness
every day. Helping a blind man cross the road, feeding a hungry person, giving directions to a
traveller, forgiving the mistake of a fellow being are all examples of how mercy can be practised..
• All Muslims are part of one community and should profess brotherhood towards each other and all
humankind, which will be looked upon favorably by Allah.
• The Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) showed mercy even to his enemies; example of his mercy is that
at the conquest of Makkah, he issued a general pardon to all those who had persecuted and tortured
him and the Muslims for ten years.
• Keeping these Muslims must show forgiveness to those who wrong them.

(a) Main Teachings (2 Marks)

• This Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) focuses on the concept of brotherhood in Islam. It
teaches Muslims about community relations and how they should behave towards other fellow
believers.
• Muslims are joined in a fraternity by their common faith. Just as the head (brain) is the command
center and vital to humans, brotherhood is essential to Muslims. Islam stands for universal
brotherhood of all Muslims and wants to see them as a solid structure. The Quran says, “And hold fast
by the rope of Allah altogether and be not divided”.
• Every Muslim’s blood, property, and honour are sacred to their fellow Muslims; they should feel each
other’s pain and support each other in time of stress.
(b) Action [2] marks
• Muslims should always be aware of the sufferings of others around them, be it their friends, family,
community, or other Muslims around the world.
• The best example of brotherhood was seen at the time of migration Makkah to Madina when Ansar were
extremely generous to their brothers.
• Even today, when Muslims of one country or region are in distress or oppressed their pain is felt by the
entire Muslim community.
• For example Muslims of Kashmir, Syria, Palestine and Iraq etc. Afghan Muhajireen who have fled wars in
Afghanistan took refuge in Pakistan.