Islamiyat · May / June 2024 · Paper 22 · Question 3

Give an account of the four false prophets in Arabia and their defeat by Abu Bakr.

Mark according to the marking grid for AO1 – Knowledge, given on page 4.

Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited.

For this answer candidates must give an account of all the four false prophets. A brief account of each of them is given below:

Aswad al Ansi belonged to the ‘Ans tribe in Yemen. His dark complexion earned him the name of al Aswad. An expedition against him was sent in the Prophet’s lifetime, news of his death reached Madina a day or so after the Prophet’s death. His followers regrouped and revolted and were defeated by Firuz who was sent by Abu Bakr to subdue them.

Tulayha belonged to the Banu Asad tribe in north Arabia. He was a wealthy leader and a renowned warrior. He briefly embraced Islam in 630 but soon rebelled and claimed prophethood. He raised a formidable force against Islam. He was defeated by Khalid ibn Waleed and escaped to Syria whilst his followers accepted Islam. He later converted to Islam and fought in many significant battles.

Sajah was a Christian soothsayer with a strong following belonging to the tribe of Banu Tamim. She declared herself as a prophet on hearing about the Prophet’s death and marched to Madina with a force of 40,000. On hearing the news of Tulayha’s defeat she joined forces with Musailimah and married him. After his defeat she converted to Islam.

Musailimah ibn al- Kadhdhab was the most dangerous of the four false prophets. He was extremely wealthy and influential. Soon after visiting the Prophet (pbuh) in his lifetime he declared himself a prophet and claimed to receive divine revelations. He founded a new creed.

Musailimah asked the Prophet (pbuh) to divide the Muslim empire into two parts, one for the Muslims and the other for his followers. The Prophet (pbuh) called him Musailimah the Liar. The Battle of Yamama was fought against him in 632 in which he was defeated.

Candidates may give an overview of the battle as development to

Musailimah’s false prophethood.

Why do you think Abu Bakr was determined to challenge the tribes who refused to pay charity (zakat)?

Mark according to the marking grid for AO2 – Understanding, given on page 5.

Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited.

Abu Bakr was determined to challenge the tribes who refused to pay zakat as zakat is a fundamental Pillar of Islam instituted by God, so no one has the authority to remove it.

Also, to be a Muslim a believer needs to follow all the Articles and Pillars of Islam and cannot pick and choose aspects of faith they want to follow or leave out. If one refuted one Pillar what was there in stopping others from challenging other Pillars and thus changing the laws and creed set by God. It could also be said that to keep the Muslim community righteous and united in belief and practice Abu Bakr was determined to show no leniency to those tribes wanting to stay in the fold of Islam but were refusing to pay zakat to the state.