Islamiyat · Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Question 2

Candidates could start by writing about the Prophet’s (pbuh) increasing solitude in the cave of Hira;

when he was 40 the revelation came to him;

the angel Jibril came to him and instructed him to read, iqra, and the Prophet (pbuh) replied he could not;

the angel squeezed him and said it again;

after a third time the angel recited the first few verses of sura alaq (96);

the Prophet (pbuh) came out of the cave and saw the angel on the horizon;

he was confused and shaken;

he ran home and told his wife who consoled him and went to see her cousin, who confirmed his prophethood. Development of these points is required for higher levels.

Candidates can give their own answers but some examples could be: It was important because being unable to read or write shows that it would not have been possible for the Prophet (pbuh) to have composed the Qur’an himself;

the implication is that not being able to compose the Qur’an himself, shows that the Qur’an is from God. God did not want anyone else to be the Prophet’s (pbuh) teacher, as that would have meant someone was superior to him in his knowledge of God. It was a miracle of God. It was not important that he was not able to read/write because God will send the revelation to whomever He wills. Development of points made is required for higher levels.