Author: Gemma

Islam Revision Pack

How to use this pack:
For each sub topic (A-F) complete a Question sheet (3 sides)
Fill in the AO2 sheet for the 2 AO2 issues per sub topic
Extra Challenge: Choose one of your key questions and do a detailed revision quadrant on it.

Pages 2-5 list all the content you need to know for Islam
Pages 6-10 are all the printable templates you need. If you print out double sided this would be 2 sheets per sub topic, plus any quadrants you choose to do.
N.B. The templates are to teach you the Method– you do not need to do your revision onto template sheets , as long as you use the Q-E-C method.
Pages 11– 15 show you an example of the sheets filled in.

1) Topic Question Sheet

2) AO2 Sheet

3) Extra Challenge : Revision Quadrant Sheet

	Need to Know
Theme 1	Religious Figures and Sacred Texts
A:	1) Jahiliyya Period
Muhammad in Makkah	2) Night of Power
	3) The Secret Stage
	4) Muhammad’s Open Preaching
	5) Makkan reaction to the Message
AO2 Issues	To what extent did pre-Islamic Arabia influence the life and teaching of Muhammad? / To what extent was there a possibility of failure for Islam in Makkah?

	Need to Know
C:	1) Nature of the Qur’an
The Qur’an	2) Characteristics of the Qur’an
	3) The Compilation of the Qur’an
	4) Purpose of the Qur’an
	5) Treatment of the Qur’an
AO2 Issues	To what extent is the Qur’an eternally relevant? / Can the Qur’an be translated accurately?

	Need to Know
E:	1) Shari’a as Civil, Moral and Religious Law
Role of Shari’a	2) Shari’a around the world
	3) Role of Mujtahids
	4) Ijtihad
	5) Different views on Ijtihad
AO2 Issues	How far is it misleading to refer to Shari'a as ‘law’? / Are the doors to ijtihad closed?

B:	1) Persecution in Makkah
Muhammad in Madinah	2) The Hijrah
	3) Muhammad as a leader in Madinah
	4) Muhammad as a Political Leader
	5) Muhammad as a Military Leader
AO2 Issues	How far is Madinah the idea model for the establishment of Islam? / To what extent was Muhammad a complete leader in Madinah?

D:	1) What is Shari’a?
Sources of Shari’a	2) Qur’an and Hadith
	3) Ijma and Qiyas
	4) What is fiqh?
	5) The major law schools
AO2 Issues	To what extent is Shari’ah divine? / How far does human interpretation of Shari’a impair understanding?

F:	1) Different meanings of Jihad
Jihad	2) Importance of Greater Jihad
	3) Lesser Jihad
	4) Conditions for Military Jihad
	5) Western misinterpretations of Jihad
AO2 Issues	To what extent is the term Jihad misunderstood? / How relevant are teachings about Jihad for Muslims today?

	Need to Know
Theme 2	Religious Concepts
A:	1) Tawhid
Tawhid & Shahadah	2) Shirk
	3) The Shahadah
	4) Shahadah as recognition of Tawhid
	5) Shahadah: meaning and purpose
AO2 Issues	To what extent is the concept of Allah coherent in Islam? / How far is the Shahadah to do with personal faith rather than a public declaration?

	Need to Know
C:	1) Nature & purpose of Malaikah
Malaikah & / Akhirah	2) Specific roles of Jibril, Mikail & Israfil
	3) The Day of Final Judgement
	4) Akhirah in the Qur’an
	5) Submission & Reward
AO2 Issues	Does the Day of Final Judgement inspire fear or faith? / Is the concept of Malaikah essential for Islam?

	Need to Know
E:	1) Nature & Purpose of Giving
Zakah & Hajj	2) Reasons for Giving
	3) Importance of liberationist thinking
	4) The Hajj
	5) The role of hajj in uniting the ummah
AO2 Issues	To what extent is Islam based in support for the poor? / Is the hajj a more than just a journey of spiritual enquiry?

B:	1) The role of a nabi
Nabi & Rasul	2) Difference between nabi & rasul
	3) Associated rasuls and risalahs
	4) Muhammad as Seal of the Prophets
	5) Character is Muhammad
AO2 Issues	How far was Muhammad the ideal messenger? / To what extent has the concept of messenger been successful in Islam?

D:	1) Role & Significance of Salah
Salah	2) Other Prayers
	3) Niyat and Wudu
	4) Prayer Times
	5) Jummah Prayers
AO2 Issues	To what extent is salah simply a ritualistic act of piety? / Are Jummah prayers the most important of all prayers?

F:	1) Shari’a and the need for guidance
Five Categories	2) The Five Categories
	3) Examples of classified actions
	4) The role of Niyat
	5) Importance of the 5 categories
AO2 Issues	How successful are the 5 categories as a guide to Islamic living today? / Do the 5 categories bring clarity or cause confusion?

	Need to Know
Theme 3	Social & Historical Developments
A:	1) The structure of Madinah
Islamic States	2) Madinah as the ideal model
	3) Constitution of Madinah
	4) Shari’a in Islamic States
	5) Shari’a in Secular States
AO2 Issues	To what extent is Islam compatible with democracy? / How far is Shari’a an adequate guide for all aspects of society?

	Need to Know
C:	1) Muslims & Pluralism
Islam & Pluralism	2) Views about People of the Book
	3) Qur’an on Pluralism
	4) Religious Freedom
	5) Conversion in Islam
AO2 Issues	Has Islam responded successfully to the challenges of pluralism? / Is their a coherent view of conversion in Islam?

	Need to Know
E:	1) British Muslims
Immigration	2) Problems of Segregation
	3) Assimilation and Integration
	4) Food, Dress, Religion & Education
	5) The Muslim Council of Britain
AO2 Issues	How far is it possible for Muslims to assimilate into secular society? / How effective is the Muslim council of Britain?

B:	1) Islam & Science
Islam & Science	2) Islamic Creation
	3) Scientific Theories about Origins
	4) Science in the Qur’an
	5) Compatibility of Islam & Science
AO2 Issues	How far as Islam responding successfully to the scientific theories about the origins of the universe? / Is Islam compatible with science?

D:	1) Importance of the family in Islam
Family Life	2) Role of the Family in Islam
	3) Roles of men and women in Islam
	4) Islamic Feminism
	5) Aisha Abd Rahman & Haleh Afshar
AO2 Issues	To what extent is the family central to the Islamic religion? / How far are men and women equal in Islam?

F:	1) Issues of Bias and Misrepresentation
Western Perceptions	2) Inaccuracy & Islamophobia
	3) Political Views
	4) Views from traditional media
	5) Views from Online Media
AO2 Issues	To what extent does the media influence Western perceptions of Islam? / Is Islam accurately represented in Britain today?

	Need to Know
Theme 4	Religious Identity
A:	1) Functions of 1st Masjid
Masjids	2) Role of UK Masjids today
	3) Comparison of UK Masjids to Masjid al Nabawi
	4) Problems facing UK Masjids
	5) Role of Community in maintenance
AO2 Issues	To what extent is prostration the most important purpose of a masjid? / How far have masjids maintained the original functions of the Masjid al Nabawi?

	Need to Know
C:	1) Religious & Moral benefits of Ramadan
Id-ul Fitr	2) Ramadan & relationship to Allah
	3) Ramadan & Development of spirituality
	4) Importance of Morality
	5) Role of Community in Id-ul-Fitr
AO2 Issues	Is Id-ul-Fitr more of a social occasion than a religious one? / To what extent does fasting benefit the individual more than the community?

	Need to Know
E:	1) The Qutb
Sufism	2) The role of the teacher & use of parables
	3) Direct personal experience of God
	4) The role of asceticism
	5) Sufi Devotional Practices
AO2 Issues	How far is it possible to have direct personal experience of God in Islam? / How far are Sufi devotional practices valid within Islam?

B:	1) Ashura
Ashura	2) Historical significance of Ashura
	3) Role of Ashura in expressing Shi’a identity
	4) Themes of persecution & suffering
	5) Self Harm during Ashura
AO2 Issues	Does the focus on suffering misrepresent Shi’a identity? / Is self harm an excessive religious devotion?

D:	1) Shi’a interpretations off the 5 Pillars
Shi’ism	2) Significance of the historical dispute and the succession of Ali & martyrdom of Husayn
	3) Shi’a Imamate
	4) Shi’a Pilgrimage
	5) Muta and Taqiyya
AO2 Issues	To what extent is Islam a divided religion? / How far is Shi’ism a unique form of religion?

F:	1) Issues of Bias and Misrepresentation
Crime & Punishment	2) Inaccuracy & Islamophobia
	3) Political Views
	4) Views from traditional media
	5) Views from Online Media
AO2 Issues	To what extent does the media influence Western perceptions of Islam? / Is Islam accurately represented in Britain today?

T1: B Muhammad in Madinah	Answers
1) Persecution / Q:
Q:
Q:
Q:
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2) Hijrah	Answers
Q:
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T1: B Muhammad in Madinah	Answers
1) Persecution / Q:
Q:
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Q:
Q:

2) Hijrah	Answers
Q:
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3) Muhammad as leader	Answers
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4) Muhammad as political leader	Answers
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5) Muhammad as military leader	Answers
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2 Related Scholars/ Schools of Thought	2 Related quotes	Add as many related key words as you can:
		Connections to other topics?

AO2: Theme Topic Q:
Q:

I will argue: in support of / against the statement

AO2: Theme Topic Q:
Q:

I will argue: in support of / against the statement

Conclusion:

Conclusion:

Section 1
A
C
E

Section 2
A
C
E

Section 3
A
C
E

Section 1
A
C
E

Section 2
A
C
E

Section 3
A
C
E

Practise Writing out 1 of your sections :

Checklist
Does at least one of your 3 sections include a scholar/ school of thought?
Have you added examples?
Does each counter relate to the argument?
Have you evaluated each A/C pair and added a conclusion?

Practise Writing out 1 of your sections :

Checklist
Does at least one of your 3 sections include a scholar/ school of thought?
Have you added examples?
Does each counter relate to the argument?
Have you evaluated each A/C pair and added a conclusion?

T1: C The Qur’an	Answers
1) Nature of the Qur’an / Q:
Q:
Q:
Q:
Q:

2) Characteristics of the Qur’an	Answers
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3) The Compilation of the Qur’an	Answers
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4) Purpose of the Qur’an	Answers
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5) Treatment of the Qur’an	Answers
Q:
Q:
Q:
Q:
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2 Related Scholars/ Schools of Thought	2 Related quotes	Add as many related key words as you can:
		Connections to other topics?

AO2: Theme Topic Q:
Q:

I will argue: in support of / against the statement

AO2: Theme Topic Q:
Q:

I will argue: in support of / against the statement

Conclusion:

Conclusion:

Section 1
A
C
E

Section 2
A
C
E

Section 3
A
C
E

Section 1
A
C
E

Section 2
A
C
E

Section 3
A
C
E

Practise Writing out 1 of your sections :

Checklist
Does at least one of your 3 sections include a scholar/ school of thought?
Have you added examples?
Does each counter relate to the argument?
Have you evaluated each A/C pair and added a conclusion?

Practise Writing out 1 of your sections :

Checklist
Does at least one of your 3 sections include a scholar/ school of thought?
Have you added examples?
Does each counter relate to the argument?
Have you evaluated each A/C pair and added a conclusion?

AO2: Theme 1 Topic B Q: To what extent is the Qur’an eternally relevant?
Q:

I will argue: in support of / against the statement

AO2: Theme 1 Topic B Q: Should the Qur’an ever be translated?
Q:

I will argue: in support of / against the statement

Conclusion:

Conclusion:

Section 1
A
C
E

Section 2
A
C
E

Section 3
A
C
E

Section 1
A
C
E

Section 2
A
C
E

Section 3
A
C
E

Practise Writing out 1 of your sections :

Checklist
Does at least one of your 3 sections include a scholar/ school of thought?
Have you added examples?
Does each counter relate to the argument?
Have you evaluated each A/C pair and added a conclusion?

Practise Writing out 1 of your sections :

Checklist
Does at least one of your 3 sections include a scholar/ school of thought?
Have you added examples?
Does each counter relate to the argument?
Have you evaluated each A/C pair and added a conclusion?

Connections:

Related AO1 Question:
Write one paragraph as though you were writing an answer to your above exam question:

Examples/ Quotes:

1) Jahiliyya Period	Answers
Q: What is meant by the Jahiliyya period of pre-Islamic Arabia?	Days of ignorance, time in Arabia before Islam
Q: What are the main features of the Jahiliyya period?	Widespread immorality– gambling, drunkenness, idol worship, female infanticide, charging of riba, blood vendetta, ongoing tribal feuds , unequal distribution of wealth, Bedouins of Makkah had become stationary and some clans had become rich– they were losing sight of old tribal ethic to protect the weak and vulnerable
Q: Why were these seen as bad?	Shirk– assigning partners to Allah; exploitation of weak in society, violence, sin, inequality
Q: What was the moral and religious situation in the Jahiliyya period?	Mainly polytheistic, some Christians and Jews. Some emerging hanifs . Little concept of individual morality and status
Q: What was the economic and social situation in the Jahiliyya period?	Money mainly from trade routes and pilgrimage to Kaaba– Ummayads getting richer, weaker clans getting poorer. Very poor status of women

2) The Night of Power	Answers
Q: What is the Night of Power?	Around 27th Ramadan when Muhammad was praying in Cave Hira on Mt Noor. Angel Jibril appeared to him and ordered him to recite (iqra). Muhammad said he could not read and the angel squeezed him until eventually he was able to recite event is Muhammad’s first prophetic experience, the Revelation can be found in Sura 96 “Recite in the name of your Lord who created man from a clot ...Who taught by the pen, taught man what he knew not”
Q: Why was Muhammad chosen to be a rasul?	He was trustworthy– al Amin, hardworking, honest, kind. He was religious and saw the problems with the Jahiliyya period. Some traditions suggest he was special from birth and the prophetic signs had been predicted by various people– a Christian monk, the hanif Zayd ibn Amr are 2 such examples. He was also well places, as a member of the Quraysh tribe to deliver an Arabi message to the people of Makkah who had no revelation from God but who were much in need of guidance
Q: Why was Muhammad in Cave Hira during Ramadan?	Muhammad had taken to fasting and private contemplation during the sacred month of Ramadan. He was unhappy with the situation in Makkah at the time and recognized the issues of the Jahiliyya period.
Q: What impact did The Night of Power have on Muhammad?	He was terrified, worried he was going mad. Shi’a view is different and he immediately accepted prophethood.
Q: What did Muhammad do as a result of this event?	He sought advice from Khadijah who immediately comforted him and believed he was chosen. Her Christian cousin Waraqah confirmed this also

3) The Secret Period	Answers
Q: What is the secret period?	This period lasts from the initial call to prophethood in 610 CE to 613CE when Muhammad was ordered to ‘Arise and Warn’. During this time Muhammad kept his prophethood a secret from all but his closet family and friends.
Q: Who converted during this time?	Khadijah, Ali, Zayd ibn Harith, Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s daughters All together there were around 40 followers by 613 CE
Q: Why were these early converts attracted to Islam?	Loyalty and trust in Muhammad, concern for the poor, the weak and vulnerable who saw better rights for themselves in Islam, younger members of more powerful clans who felt failed by the clan system
Q: Why did Muhammad keep Islam largely secret at this time?	The decision to go public is a daunting one. As an intelligent man Muhammad no doubt foresaw some of the hostility he was to face when he eventually challenged the status quo, traditions and religion of his people.
Q: What is ‘Pause’?	The period of time between Laylat al Qadr and the second revelation– believed to be Sura 93 Your Lord has not forsaken thee nor does he despise thee. In this time Muhammad became very down as he felt he had made the whole thing up or that he had displeased God in some way. There are a variety of views about how long the pause lasted– 6 months, 2 years etc

4) Muhammad’s Open Preaching	Answers
Q: Why did Muhammad go public?	In 613 Muhammad received the revelation found in sura 74 “Arise and Warn your nearest of kin” Despite his reservations the command was clear– Muhammad had no choice but to take his message to the Quraysh.
Q: What were the key themes in Muhammad’s message at this time?	Rejection of idol worship, the sin of shirk, the threat of hell and the promise of reward in Jannah, concern for the poor and weak in society, Tawhid and the oneness of God
Q: Who converted to Islam at this time?	Younger members of more powerful clans, those moved by Muhammad’s character and personality, those inspired by the message of equality, family members
Q: What was the initial reaction of the Qurayshi leaders?	Derision, jealousy– why had Muhammad been chosen and not someone from a more influential clan within the Quryash, fear that their way of life, religion and income were under threat
Q: What religious elements were established at this time?	Embryonic versions of prayer, zakah, ritual purity, modesty

5) Makkan Reaction to Muhammad’s Message	Answers
Q: How did the Makkans react to Muhammad’s message?	With derision at first, but then when they saw he was serious and gaining followers with increasing hostility
Q: What persecution did Muhammad face at this time?	His daughters were divorced, litter was strewn on his step, he was mocked and taunted, his followers were tortured, the innards of an animal were poured over him when he was in sujood, a trading boycott was put on his clan, the Banu Hashim
Q: How did the Makkans try to stop Muhammad from preaching?	They put pressure on his uncle Abu Talib, they persecuted him and his followers, they implemented a trading boycott , the warned pilgrims to Makkah to ignore him, they called him to offer him money, power and women– all of which he refused.
Q: Why were the Makkans so threatened by the message of Islam?	They were threatened for 3 main reasons– their way of life was being called into question– the way of their ancestors, their religion was being called into question and finally their main source of income (idol worship) was being threatened.
Q: What were the implications of the Makkan reaction for the development of Islam?	In one way it slowed down the development, it was a huge obstacle to overcome. It deeply saddened Muhammad that many of his wider family rejected him, God and his message. It meant Muhammad could not preach openly and could not establish Islam as a complete way of life. However, since the hijra to Madinah/ Yathrib turned out to be so successful and gave Muhammad a seat of power and influence in a way it was a positive for the development of Islam. Many Makkans did convert and as families became divided this weakened the Quraysh and strengthened Islam. The hostile rejection can be interpreted as an affirmation of Muhammad’s true status as rasullaj– there never came to them a messenger but they did mock him

2 Related Scholars/ Schools of Thought	2 Related quotes	Add as many related key words as you can:
Traditional view– Muhammad’s persecution as told / Modernist view– Persecution exaggerated by traditional biographers	There never came to them a messenger but they did mock him– Q (explains that all prophets are mocked by their people, affirms Muhammad’s status as a true prophet due to the general hostile reaction)	Polytheism, Bedouins, Quraysh, Makkah, Umayyad, Banu Hashim, blood feuds, tribal system, Jahiliyya, laylat al qadr, hijrah, al miraj, prophethood, Cave Hira, Mount Noor, hakam, qaid, Kaaba, Abu Bakr, Ali, Zayd, Khadijah, Waraqah, Hanif, Umar, Makhzum, iqra, Jibril, Banat Allah, Satanic verses, ummah
Length of the pause– some say 6 months, some say 2 years / Sunni view– Muhammad was unsure of prophethood at first– was sacred thought he was going mad / Shi’a view– Muhammad knew he was going to be a prophet	O Arabs you were on an abyss of fire– Q / (Refers to the sinful situation during the Jahiliyya period– fire here refers to hellfire– shows that Muhammad is bring a message to save the Arabs)	Connections to Other topics? / Tawhid / Akhirah / Hajj / Qur’an

AO2: Theme Topic Q: ‘The Qur’an should not be translated.’ Evaluate this view.
Q:

I will argue: in support of / against the statement

AO2: Theme Topic Q:
Q:

I will argue: in support of / against the statement

Conclusion: Much of the Qur’an is rooted in the cultural context of 7th Century Arabia and the specific challenges Muhammad faced– reading it in your own language with tafsir probably helps to increase understanding of Islam more

Conclusion:

Section 1
A	Loss of meaning / Qur’an itself refers to itself as an Arabic text
C	Tafsir—helps you to understand it
E	If you don’t even understand Arabic you will get a better gist of the meaning reading it in your own language

Section 2
A	Only 20% of Muslims speak Arabic anyway
C	Turkish example failed– when Turkey tried to introduce a Turkish version– it didn’t catch on
E	Muslims could learn Arabic and use that for devotional purposes but still use a translation for Qur’anic study and deepening their understanding of Islam

Section 3
A	Loss of beauty and power-Carlysle vs Pickthall / Phonic word of God
C	You can still listen to tajwid and appreciate beauty without understanding it
E	Since the Q is supposed to be recited aloud—That’s what it means recitation

Section 1
A
C
E

Section 2
A
C
E

Section 3
A
C
E

Practise Writing out 1 of your sections : Many would argue that the Qur’an should not be translated since it would lead to a loss of meaning. This is particularly important seen as previous risalahs from God became corrupted such as the Injil and Tawrat. The Qur’an itself refers to the fact that God has sent an ‘Arabic Qur’an, that you may understand’. This suggests that it would be unwise to translate the Qur’an and risk distorting the final message of God to humanity.
Others would point to the fact there are detailed tafsir available so you can read this alongside a translated version of the Qur’an and have a fairly secure understanding of the message and it’s implications, more so than Muslims who learn to recite Arabic without understanding what they are saying.
In evaluation it seems preferable to read the Qur’an in your own language and actually understand it rather than learning Arabic by rote and not actually understanding what any of it means.

Checklist
Does at least one of your 3 sections include a scholar/ school of thought?
Have you added examples?
Does each counter relate to the argument?
Have you evaluated each A/C pair and added a conclusion?

Practise Writing out 1 of your sections :

Checklist
Does at least one of your 3 sections include a scholar/ school of thought?
Have you added examples?
Does each counter relate to the argument?
Have you evaluated each A/C pair and added a conclusion?

Jahiliyya refers to the time in Arabia directly before Islam, the time in which Muhammad was born and lived. It literally means the days of ignorance. Ignorance here can refer to two things– the behaviour and morals of the people was ignorant and also that the people were ignorant to the truth of Tawhid and Islam.
Religious situation– Bedouin polytheism main religion but also some Jews, Christians and hanifs– Kaaba housed all the various idols and was the centre of pilgrimage for Arabs
Economic– main income was through trading, Makkah occupies central position on several important trade routs. Other main source of income is from Kaaba being centre of pilgrimage– The Quraysh benefitted most from this– especially important clans
Social– divided into tribes and clans united by a common ancestor. Muhammad belonged to an important tribe Quraysh but a weaker clan within it– the Banu Hashim. The most influential clans in Quraysh were Banu Ummayad and Banu Makzhum. Tribal and clan loyalty was paramount
Moral– little connection between religion and morals, little value as an individual, blood vendettas on going, powerful clans were getting richer at expense of poor

Connections:
Qur’an– need for guidance
Madinah– as model Islamic Golden Era (contrast)
Islam in the West/ Islamic states– dealing with modern Jahiliyya
Shari’ah– to avoid a slip into Jahiliyya
Tawhid– as a rejection of polytheism
Zakah– as a rejection of greed

What is meant by the Jahiliyya period of pre-Islamic Arabia?

Related AO1 Question:
Explain the need for revelation in the
Jahiliyya period AO1 20 marks
Write one paragraph as though you were writing an answer to your above exam question:
Jahiliyya, or days of ignorance, refers to the period of time in Arabia directly before Muhammad was called to prophethood and delivered the message of Islam. It is viewed as a time of great unrest and sinfulness marked by behaviour such as widespread female infanticide, unlimited polygamy, gambling, drinking and violence.
However, from an Islamic point of view, perhaps the biggest need for revelation was based in the fact the Arabs were polytheists who worshipped many gods and housed their idols in the sacred building known as the Kaaba. The main need for revelation then was to call them back to the one True God, Allah , the same God as found in the two other major Abrahamic faiths of Judaism and Christianity.

Examples/ Quotes:
O Arabs you were on an abyss of fire– this means the Arabs were so sinful they were on the bring of being damned to hell, but for Muhammad saving them by revealing God’s word in the form of the Qur’an.
Main Immoral behaviour:
Female infanticide
unlimited polygamy
Gambling, drinking, violence
Charging interest– exploitation of poor, greed
Idol worship & polygamy