Week 01

DAY 01(Paper 01)

Introduction to Syllabus Paper 01

1. Major themes of the Qur’an [8] marks

Three groups of passages are set for close study. These relate to the themes of:
o Allah in Himself
1. Ayat al Kursi (2:255)
2. Anaam (6:101-103)
3. Fussilat (41:37)
4. Shura (42:4-5)
5. Ikhlas (112)

o Allah’s relationship with the created world

1. Fatiha (1)
2. Baqarah (2:21-22)
3. Alaq (96:1-5)
4. Zilzal (99)
5. Naas (114)

o Allah’s Messengers
1. Baqarah (2:30-37)
2. Anaam (6:75-79)
3. Maidah (5:110)
4. Duha (93)
5. Kauthar (108)

2. The history and importance of the Qur’an [14] marks

Candidates should study:
• the revelation of the Qur’an to the Prophet between the years 610 and 632
• compilation of the Qur’an under the Rightly Guided Caliphs
• the major themes of the Qur’an
• the use of the Qur’an in legal thinking,
• its relationship with the Hadiths,
• consensus (ijma‘ )
• analogy (qiyas)
•

3. The life and importance of the Prophet Muhammad [14] marks

Candidates should study:
• Prophet’s life from his birth to his call to prophethood
• Life in Makka and his experiences with his opponents
• Life in Madina,
• his conflicts with the Makkans and others
• his actions and character
• relations with others including women and non-Muslims
• relations with other states
• Seal of the Prophets and last Messenger of God.

In the examination either one or two questions will be set on this topic.

4. The first Islamic community [14] marks

Candidates should study:
• the Prophet’s wives
• his descendants, including his children, grandchildren and the direct line recognised
among Shi‘a Muslims as Imams
• his leading Companions, including the Ten Blessed Companions, (the four Rightly-
Guided Caliphs during his lifetime). (Note that the period of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs’
rules after the time of the Prophet is included in the Syllabus under Paper 2.)
• his Scribes,
• the major characters who surrounded him in his ministry,
• the Emigrants and Helpers
• Position of women as wives, mothers and daughters

In the examination either one or two questions will be set on this topic.