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GCSE · Islam

RS.IB6 Prophethood (Risalah)

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 55 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

This question checks key vocabulary used in Muslim teaching about prophethood.

(a)State what is meant by Risalah.(1)

(b)Give the Arabic term for 'prophet'.(1)

(c)Give the Arabic term for 'messenger', a prophet given a book of revelation to deliver.(1)

(d)State how many prophets are named in the Qur'an.(1)

(e)Give the title given to Muhammad as the final prophet.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 5 marks)

Give three prophets named in the Qur'an.

(Total for Question 2 is 3 marks)

Explain two reasons why prophets are important in Islam. Refer to the Qur'an in your answer.

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Explain two contrasting Muslim beliefs about the status of Muhammad compared with earlier prophets. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

This question is about prophethood in Islam. It is the AQA-style 24-mark, five-part question: parts (a) to (d) are worth 12 marks; part (e) is the 12-mark evaluation.

(a)State what is meant by Ulul Azm.(1)

(b)Give two of the five prophets Islamic tradition identifies as Ulul Azm.(2)

(c)Explain two ways Muhammad's life is used as a model for Muslims today. Refer to the Qur'an in your answer.(4)

(d)Explain two contrasting Muslim beliefs about why Allah sent many prophets throughout history rather than one final message from the start. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.(5)

(e)Evaluate this statement: 'Belief in the finality of Muhammad's prophethood is the most important belief about prophets in Islam.' In your answer you should: refer to Muslim teaching, refer to different points of view, reach a justified conclusion.(12)

(Total for Question 5 is 24 marks)

Explain two ways belief in prophethood might influence the daily life of a Muslim believer today.

(Total for Question 6 is 4 marks)

Give three ways Muslims show respect for the Prophet Muhammad.

(Total for Question 7 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.IB6 Prophethood (Risalah)

Question 1

(a) B1 prophethood, the belief that Allah sends messages to humanity through chosen prophets, oe
(a) Answer: Prophethood: the belief that Allah sends messages through chosen prophets.
(b) B1 Nabi, oe
(b) Answer: Nabi.
(c) B1 Rasul, oe
(c) Answer: Rasul.
(d) B1 twenty-five (25), oe
(d) Answer: Twenty-five.
(e) B1 the Seal of the Prophets (Khatam an-Nabiyyin), oe
(e) Answer: The Seal of the Prophets.

Question 2

B1 Adam, oe
B1 Ibrahim (Abraham), oe
B1 Musa (Moses) / Isa (Jesus) / Muhammad, any not already credited, oe
Answer: Any three: Adam; Ibrahim; Musa; Isa; Muhammad.

Question 3

B1 point 1: prophets are chosen by Allah to guide humanity and deliver his message, oe
B1 development: Qur'an 21:25 teaches that every messenger was told, 'There is no deity except Me, so worship Me', showing the shared purpose of the prophets' message, oe
B1 point 2: prophets set a moral example for believers to follow in their own lives, oe
B1 development: Qur'an 33:21 describes Muhammad as an excellent example ('uswa hasana') for believers to imitate, oe
Answer: E.g. prophets deliver Allah's unified message (Qur'an 21:25); Muhammad as an example to imitate (Qur'an 33:21).

Question 4

B1 belief 1: Muslims believe Muhammad holds a uniquely final and complete status as the Seal of the Prophets, after whom no further prophet will come, oe
B1 development: Qur'an 33:40 teaches that Muhammad is 'the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets', oe
B1 belief 2: at the same time, Muslims are taught to respect and believe in all the earlier prophets as genuine messengers of the same God, without ranking one above another in terms of truth, oe
B1 development: Qur'an 2:285 teaches that believers make 'no distinction between any of His messengers', which some see as sitting alongside, rather than against, Muhammad's unique finality, oe
B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority made accurately, oe
Answer: Contrast: Muhammad's unique finality as Seal of the Prophets (Qur'an 33:40) vs equal respect for all messengers (Qur'an 2:285).

Question 5

(a) B1 'those of firm resolve/determination', the title given to a small group of prophets shown particular patience and steadfastness, oe
(a) Answer: 'Those of firm resolve': the title given to a small group of especially steadfast prophets.
(b) B1 Nuh (Noah) / Ibrahim (Abraham), oe
(b) B1 Musa (Moses) / Isa (Jesus) / Muhammad, any not already credited, oe
(b) Answer: Any two of: Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, Muhammad.
(c) B1 point 1: the Qur'an describes Muhammad as sent as a mercy to all people, encouraging Muslims to act compassionately, oe
(c) B1 development: Qur'an 21:107 teaches, 'And We have not sent you [O Muhammad] except as a mercy to the worlds', oe
(c) B1 point 2: the Qur'an praises Muhammad's moral character, encouraging Muslims to imitate his conduct, oe
(c) B1 development: Qur'an 68:4 teaches, 'And indeed, you are of a great moral character', oe
(c) Answer: E.g. Muhammad as a mercy to all people (Qur'an 21:107); Muhammad's praised moral character (Qur'an 68:4).
(d) B1 belief 1: some Muslims emphasise that Allah, in his mercy, sent a prophet to guide every nation throughout history so that no people would be left without guidance, oe
(d) B1 development: this is linked to the widely held (though scholarly debated in its exact detail) tradition that Allah sent very many prophets across human history, of whom the Qur'an names only twenty-five, oe
(d) B1 belief 2: other Muslims emphasise that each earlier prophet's message needed renewing over time, as communities altered or forgot the original teaching, until a final, complete revelation was given, oe
(d) B1 development: this is linked to Qur'an 5:3, which describes Allah as having 'perfected' the religion of Islam through the final revelation to Muhammad, oe
(d) B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority made accurately, oe
(d) Answer: Contrast: prophets sent to guide every nation across history vs the need to renew/complete the message, ending in a final revelation (Qur'an 5:3).
(e) L4 (10-12): A well-argued, balanced answer that considers more than one point of view in a developed way, using accurate and detailed references to Muslim teaching and/or the Qur'an to support each point, and reaches a clear, justified conclusion.
(e) L3 (7-9): A clear and reasoned answer that considers more than one point of view, supported by relevant references to Muslim teaching and/or the Qur'an, though the justification of the conclusion may be less developed.
(e) L2 (4-6): A reasoned answer that considers at least one point of view, with some relevant supporting evidence, but with limited or no consideration of an alternative view.
(e) L1 (1-3): One or more relevant points are made, but with little or no supporting evidence and no reasoned conclusion.
(e) L0 (0): No relevant content.
(e) Indicative content:
- Agree: the Qur'an directly states Muhammad is 'the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets' (Qur'an 33:40), showing finality is a clearly stated, distinctive teaching about Muhammad.
- Agree: belief in Muhammad's finality underlies the completeness and permanence of the Qur'an, since no later revelation is expected to correct or replace it.
- Agree: without belief in his finality, the whole structure of Islamic law and practice, which relies on Muhammad's example (Sunnah) as the final guidance, would be less settled.
- Disagree: many Muslims argue that belief in Allah's Oneness (Tawhid) is the single most important belief in Islam, and that prophethood, including its finality, exists only to communicate Tawhid.
- Disagree: the Qur'an also instructs believers to make 'no distinction between any of His messengers' (Qur'an 2:285), suggesting equal respect for all prophets matters as much as Muhammad's unique status.
- Disagree: some might argue that following the moral example and teaching Muhammad brought, rather than the abstract fact of his finality, is what actually shapes a Muslim's daily life and practice.
- A balanced answer might conclude that Muhammad's finality is a genuinely distinctive and important belief, since it explains why Muslims regard the Qur'an as complete, but that it works alongside, rather than above, the wider belief in prophethood and Tawhid as a connected whole.

Question 6

B1 point 1: a Muslim might try to follow the Sunnah (example) of Muhammad in everyday matters, oe
B1 development: e.g. following his example in manners, greetings or the method of prayer, oe
B1 point 2: a Muslim might study the teachings of earlier prophets, such as Musa or Isa, as part of respecting all of Allah's messengers, oe
B1 development: e.g. drawing on their example of patience or trust in Allah when facing personal difficulties, oe
Answer: E.g. following Muhammad's Sunnah in daily manners; drawing on the example of earlier prophets such as Musa or Isa.

Question 7

B1 saying or writing 'peace be upon him' after his name, oe
B1 trying to follow his Sunnah (example), oe
B1 studying Hadith collections that record his sayings and actions, oe
Answer: Any three: saying 'peace be upon him'; following his Sunnah; studying Hadith collections.

Prophethood (Risalah) - Worksheets, Questions and Revision