God’s messengers: prophets and angels
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The teaching part (2 min) is free to watch. A free account opens the whole lecture: 4 practice questions, 1 real past-paper question with the answer explained, the mistakes that lose marks, the full-marks tip, a one-card summary and a quick quiz.
What this lecture covers
- The messengers
- Two question shapes
- Muslim belief in prophets
- A past-paper example
Read the transcript of the teaching part
Last time
Before we start: last time, in God in Himself and His relationship with the created world, you learned these points. Here they are again on one card. Keep them in mind, because today builds on them.
The messengers
God did not leave humanity without guidance. He sent prophets to teach and to warn, and angels to carry out His commands. Exam questions on this come in two shapes: a short passage question worth four marks, and a longer account worth fourteen. Both reward clear belief, accurate examples and a link to Muslim life.
Two question shapes
The passage question gives a short Qur'an extract. Part a asks for the main theme in two marks, and part b asks for its importance in a Muslim's life today in two marks. The account question asks you to write an account of Muslim belief in prophets or in angels for ten marks, then a reason-giving part b for four marks. For the short question, one clear theme with one development is a full mark. Never copy the passage. Say what it shows.
Muslim belief in prophets
Prophets were sent to guide humanity from the worship of created beings to the worship of their Creator, to clarify the purpose of creation, and to warn about the Day of Judgment. Prophethood is a gift from God, who gives it to whom He chooses. All the prophets were human and male, morally and intellectually upright, spoke the language of their people, and were given miracles. The mark scheme gives the total as about 124 000 prophets. The line began with Adam and ended with Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Muslims make no distinction between them. Some were given revealed books, and all conveyed God's teachings, and were role models for their communities.
A past-paper example
October November 2022, Paper 21, question 4. God sent prophets throughout the ages to guide mankind. Write an account of Muslim belief in prophets. Then, why were prophets chosen from within their own communities? The mark scheme expects a straightforward account of belief: at least one prophet from every nation, prophethood as a gift, features of the prophets, about 124 000 in number, and the finality of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. In part b, prophets from within their own communities speak the language of the people, understand them, and are trusted.
How often it comes up
How often Cambridge has asked each part, counted by ExamYard from every past paper in its question bank: God’s Messengers.
The whole chapter: The Qur’an: Set Passages and their Themes.
Chapter 1: Major themes of the Qur’an
- God in Himself and His relationship with the created world 6 min
- God’s messengers: prophets and angels 6 min
Also for IGCSE Islamiyat 0493
Which topics come up most in IGCSE Islamiyat 0493 past papers, counted from every paper since 2004.