Islamiyat · Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Question 2

Give an account of the different ways that revelation came to the Prophet (pbuh).

Use the AO1 Levels of Response.

Candidates should include some of the following points. All other relevant points must be credited.

The Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet (pbuh) over a period of 23 years. After the first revelation, in Cave Hira, revelation stopped for a period which caused the Prophet (pbuh) to worry. Once they started again, they came strongly and frequently.

There were different ways in which the verses were revealed to the Prophet (pbuh). A few times the Prophet (pbuh) saw the Angel in his original form, e.g., on the night journey (Sura Najm), and at the time of the first revelation, when the first five verses of Sura Alaq were revealed.

Sometimes the Angel Jibril would come in the form of a man, and he resembled the Companion Dihya al Kalbi.

The revelations also came in the form of dreams, and he would wake up and remember them.

The most difficult was when they came as the ringing of a bell. The revelations would weigh down on him, so much so that his camel could not withstand the weight, and e.g., it also put pressure on Zayd’s thigh when he was sitting next to the Prophet (pbuh) during one of the revelations. They would cause him to sweat even in the winter and shiver in the summer. (Aisha’s Hadith)

They were not within his control (Sura Qiyama, 75:16–19), he had no idea when they were coming, and they were safeguarded by God.

The Prophet (pbuh) also had direct revelation when he went on the night journey and ascension.

As elaboration, candidates could give details of verses that were revealed to the Prophet (pbuh), or narrate stories related to these revelations.

The Qur’an has remained the same since it was revealed. How does this

benefit Muslims?

Use the AO2 Levels of Response.

Candidates can give other examples and all relevant answers should be credited.

As the Qur’an has remained the same, the teachings in it have remained the same too, so Muslims can use these teachings to know what it is that God wants them to know and how to live their lives.

The revelations helped Muslims then because they were able to get answers to specific questions when they needed them as revelation often came in response to certain issues, and this also helps Muslims now as it helps them to understand the reasons why certain rules or teachings were revealed which can help make it more relevant for them to practise. In this way Muslims can use previous scholarship to continue answering their questions.

As the teachings have remained the same it may be easier for children to learn as they emulate their parents and grandparents who also learned the same teachings from the Qur’an.

It can give Muslims assurance that they are following what was originally revealed and connects them to the early Muslims of Islam.

Describe the ways that the Prophet’s family in Makka both supported