GCSE Islamic Studies (Year 10)
Course Date:
Start date: Monday, 11th September 2023
End date: Friday, 8th August 2025
Mondays 6.45pm - 8.45pm (72 weeks)
Course Venue:
Abu Zahra Foundation
Devonshire Street, Keighley, BD21 2BL
Course Teachers:
Enrolment:
TBC
Please submit your application by using the "Register" tab below.
Students who graduate from the Foundation Madrasa complete their madrasa education by taking a GCSE in Islamic Studies in Year 10 and 11. However, the course is open to all Year 10 students, boys and girls from outside our institute as well. The GCSE is accredited by the Cambridge Assessment Board, part of the University of Cambridge.
This syllabus enables learners to develop an understanding the importance of the major beliefs of Islam, a detailed study of the Life of the Prophet (sira), the early history of the Islamic community and experience of Qur’an and Hadith commentary. As a result, learners develop their knowledge and understanding of the main elements of Islamic faith and history, evaluating the meaning and importance of these elements in the lives and thoughts of Muslims.
This a fantastic opportunity for students to gain an extra GCSE as well studying Islam with only a two-hour weekly commitment.
80% of our students achieved a grade A-C and 30% achieved a grade A in 2021.
Course Fees: £396 per year (weekly or monthly payment option available)
PAPER 1
1. Major themes of the Qur’an
Three groups of passages are set for close study. These relate to the themes of: God in himself and God’s relationship with the created world God’s Messengers.
Students will explore:
- the major theme or themes of the Qur’an that appear in each passage, and
- the importance of these themes in the lives of Muslims today.
Students will study the passages in a recognised English translation, but with reference to the original Arabic text.
2. The history and importance of the Qur’an
- the revelation of the Qur’an to the Prophet between the years 610 and 632
- the account of the compilation of the Qur’an under the Rightly Guided Caliphs
- the major themes of the Qur’an as contained both in the passages set for special study and in other similar passages
- the use of the Qur’an in legal thinking, and its relationship with the Hadiths, consensus (ijma‘ ) and analogy (qiyas)
- its significance as the basis of all thought and action in Islam.
3. The life and importance of the Prophet Muhammad
- the main events of the Prophet’s life from his birth to his call to prophethood
- the main events of his activities in Makka and his experiences with his opponents
- the main events of his activities in Madina, his leadership of the community there and his conflicts with the Makkans and others
- his actions and character
- the importance of his actions as examples for Muslim individuals in their personal conduct and relations with others including women and non-Muslims
- the importance of his actions as examples for Muslim communities in their relations with other states
- his significance as Seal of the Prophets and last Messenger of God.
4. The first Islamic community
- 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, his Scribes, the major characters who surrounded him in his ministry, the Emigrants and Helpers, and 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.)
PAPER 2
1. Major teachings in the Hadiths of the Prophet
Two groups of passages are set for close study. These relate to: individual conduct and life in the community. Students will study the teachings contained in each passage about what Muslims should believe and how they should act. Students will study the passages with reference to the original Arabic text as well as the English translation. In the examination, passages will be set in both Arabic and English.
2. The history and importance of the Hadiths
- the history of the compilation of the Hadiths
- the earliest collections
- the main musnad and musannaf collections
- the main compilers and their activities
- the methods based on examination of the chain of transmitters (isnad) and the text (matn) of a Hadith to test the reliability of the Hadith
- the main features of the six collections of Sunni Hadiths and the four collections of Shi‘a Hadiths
- the major themes of the Hadiths as these are contained both in the passages set for special study and in other similar passages
- their use in legal thinking, and their relationship with the Qur’an, consensus (ijma‘) and analogy (qiyas)
- their significance in thought and action in Islam.
3. The period of rule of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and their importance as leaders
- the main events of the rules of the four Caliphs
- their policies in maintaining and expanding the state
- their approaches to leading the community
- their main achievements
- the main difficulties they encountered
- their significance as examples of leadership
- the importance of their rules as models for government today
- their importance as examples for Muslim communities in their relations with other states.
4. The Articles of Faith and the Pillars of Islam
Students will study the Six Articles of Faith: God, including what Muslims believe about him; angels, their nature and duties; books, their contents and purpose; prophets, their character and function; God’s predestination and decree, its meaning and significance; Resurrection and the last day, the main events and its significance.
And the Five Pillars of Islam: the declaration of faith, shahada, including the significance of what it contains; prayer, salat, including preparations, its performance and importance, congregational prayers on Fridays and festivals, times of prayer, the place of prayer, private prayer, delayed prayer; alms-giving, zakat, how it is performed and its significance in the community; asting, sawm, including the way it is observed, its significance and those exempted; pilgrimage, hajj, including the main observances involved and their significance.
A section on Jihad in its range of meanings, physical, mental and spiritual.
All candidates take two written papers and answer in English. Both papers must be taken for the candidate to be awarded a grade. Candidates are eligible for grades A* to G.
Paper 1 contains five questions of which candidates must answer Question 1, Question 2 and two
others.
1. Major themes of the Qur’an: Three passages will be set from the list in Appendix 1, of which candidates may choose any two. [8 marks]
2. The history and importance of the Qur’an: This question is usually set in more than one part, and requires an essay length answer. [14 marks]
3. The life and importance of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): One or two questions are set, usually in more than one part, requiring essay length answers. [14 marks]
4. The first Islamic community: One or two questions are set, usually in more than one part, requiring essay length answers. [14 marks]
Total mark = 50.
Paper 2 contains five questions of which candidates must answer Question 1, Question 2 and two
others.
1. Major teachings in the Hadiths of the Prophet: Four passages are set from the list in Appendix 2, of which candidates may choose any two. [8 marks]
2. The history and importance of the Hadiths: This question is usually set in more than one part, and requires an essay length answer. [14 marks]
3. The period of rule of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and their importance as leaders: One or two questions are set, usually in more than one part, requiring essay length answers. [14 marks]
4. The Articles of Faith and the Pillars of Islam: One or two questions are set, usually in more than one part, requiring essay length answers. [14 marks]
Total mark = 50.
Open to all Year 10 students.
