Islamiyat · May / June 2024 · Paper 21 · Question 3
0493
As printed in the paper
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3(a)[10]
Give an account of Umar’s administrative policies while governing the Muslim empire.
Mark according to the marking grid for AO1 – Knowledge on page 4. Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited.
A descriptive account of ‘Umar’s administrative policies on how he governed the Muslim empire could include that:
He established a diwan which was in charge of the revenue of the centre and the provinces. Good answers could elaborate on the functions of this department in some detail.Majlis e Shura and Majlis e Aam was consulted, and a truly democratic form of government was in place.The empire was divided into provinces under the rule of a governor called Wali after consultation with the Majlis e Shura.The provinces were further subdivided for better administration under Amils.The judiciary was separated from the executive and a qadi (judge) was appointed as the head of the judiciary.Departments of police, education etc. were set up. Jails were made, a lot of attention was given to town planning and establishing new towns, highways were built, irrigation canals were constructed, cantonments were built and also the Islamic (hijri) calendar was devised.3(b)[4]
In your opinion, what was ‘Umar’s greatest achievement during his caliphate? Give reasons for your answer.
Mark according to the marking grid for AO2 – Understanding on page 5. Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited.
In response to this answer candidates need to choose between ‘Umar’s achievements and give reasons for their choice. If a candidate believes his administrative policies were his greatest achievement, they could say that his policies ensured justice to all, helped in better governance as the empire was divided into provinces etc. The majlis e shura reinforced the democratic principles of governance etc. and with the sound running of the state ‘Umar could focus on the expansion of the Muslim empire.
If the candidates choose ‘Umar’s military expansion as his greatest achievement, they could say that by gaining vast territories ‘Umar established the military dominance of the Muslims. In turn the conquests brought great wealth to the treasury as war tribute and tax on non-Muslims (jizya) made the caliphate richer which in turn brought prosperity to the Muslim community (umma) and hence was a great achievement for the growing Muslim empire.
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