IGCSE Islamiyat 0493 · Topic 2

Paper 2 — The Hadiths, the Caliphate, and the Faith of Islam: past paper questions

225 real questionsasked in 10 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: Give, Write, Describe, Explain, Outline

Real questions on paper 2 — the hadiths, the caliphate, and the faith of islam

The newest 20 of 225 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

0493/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[4]
Describe their teachings about what Muslims believe.
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0493/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1b[4]
Explain how Muslims can put these teachings into action. (ii) A man asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace): Do you think if I perform the obligatory prayers, fast in Ramadan, treat as lawful that which is lawful and treat as forbidden that which is forbidden, and do nothing further, I sha...
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0493/21 · October/November 2025 · Q2a[10]
Write about the importance of knowing the Hadiths of the Prophet (pbuh) and of following his sunna for Muslims.
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0493/21 · October/November 2025 · Q2b[4]
How do Muslims benefit from following the Hadiths?
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0493/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3a[10]
Write an account of ʿUthman’s selection as caliph and how he governed the caliphate.
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0493/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[4]
To what extent was ʿUthman a successful military commander? Give reasons to support your answer.
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0493/21 · October/November 2025 · Q5a[10]
Give a detailed account of the method and importance of ablution (wudu) before prayer.
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0493/21 · October/November 2025 · Q5b[4]
What in your opinion are the benefits of dry ablution (tayammum)?
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0493/22 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[4]
Describe their teachings about what Muslims believe.
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0493/22 · October/November 2025 · Q1b[4]
Explain how Muslims can put these teachings into action. (ii) ‘I and the man who brings up an orphan will be in paradise like this.’ And he pointed with his two fingers, the index finger and the middle finger. (iii) God will not show mercy to him who does not show mercy to others. Whosoever of you sees an evil action,...
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0493/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3a[10]
Write about the way in which the lives of ordinary people improved during ͑ Umar’s caliphate. Refer to his administrative policies.
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0493/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[4]
What were the effects of ͑ Umar’s military successes on Muslims living under his caliphate?
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0493/22 · October/November 2025 · Q4a[10]
Write about the leadership qualities of the fourth caliph ͑ Ali.
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0493/22 · October/November 2025 · Q4b[4]
Which in your opinion was ͑ Ali’s single most outstanding quality? Give reasons for your choice.
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0493/22 · October/November 2025 · Q5a[10]
Write about and give the importance of the following three elements of the annual pilgrimage (Hajj). • • • ihram sa’i rami
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0493/22 · October/November 2025 · Q5b[4]
What is the importance of offering sacrifice (Qurbani ) during Hajj for pilgrims and Muslims worldwide?
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0493/21 · May/June 2025 · Q1a[4]
describe their teachings about what Muslims believe
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0493/21 · May/June 2025 · Q1b[4]
explain how Muslims can put these teachings into action. The world is the believer’s prison and the unbeliever’s paradise. (ii) (i) (iii) The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) sent Abu Musa and Muʿadh ibn Jabal to Yaman, and he sent each of them to govern a part. Then he said: ‘Be gentle and d...
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0493/21 · May/June 2025 · Q3a[10]
Write about how Abu Bakr set the example of leadership as the first Caliph of Islam.
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0493/21 · May/June 2025 · Q3b[4]
In your opinion which was the greatest service of Abu Bakr as Caliph? Give reasons to support your answer.
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What examiners said

All four Hadiths were confidently answered by the candidates. Candidates wrote mature answers for Hadith 17 (on Modesty) and talked about the different aspects that modesty covers. It was the teachings touched upon in the answers and the detail given that determined the candidate’s marks. Hadith 13 was a popular Hadith with candidates and they were able to highlight the teachings of the Hadith by...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0493/21 Q1(a) (Cambridge)

In this part of the question, candidates must not repeat the teachings and instead should concentrate on how the given teachings in Part (a) can be acted upon. For Hadith 12, candidates could have given examples of how the four Caliphs ruled with justice and courage and how they upheld Islamic principles. Candidates could also have given examples from present times, for example on what modern day...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0493/21 Q1(b) (Cambridge)

This question asked candidates to write about the leadership qualities of the first Caliph. Stronger candidates highlighted his various achievements and connected them back to the question, commenting on how a chosen achievement reflected a leadership quality. Other candidates simple wrote an account of his various achievements; if these were then linked to his leadership qualities in the answer’s...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0493/21 Q3(a) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

Practise paper 2 — the hadiths, the caliphate, and the faith of islam

In the syllabus

1 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T1.01 — The exam will set 4 passages from Appendix 2 (20 total). Candidates must show knowledge of the Arabic original alongside the English transla

The exam will set 4 passages from Appendix 2 (20 total). Candidates must show knowledge of the Arabic original alongside the English translation.
Group 1 — Individual conduct: hadiths 1-10 (sincerity, brotherly love, speech, charity, work, restraint). See Chapter 4 Appendix 2.
Group 2 — Life in the community: hadiths 11-20 (mercy, justice, neighbourliness, brotherhood, care for the orphan, treatment of non-Muslims).
For every set hadith: study what Muslims should believe and how they should act, and explain its application in Muslim life today.
Study tip: study all 20 hadiths in Chapter 4 — Appendix 2.

2 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T1.02 — Group 1 — Individual conduct: hadiths 1-10 (sincerity, brotherly love, speech, charity, work, restraint). See Chapter 4 Appendix 2.

Group 1 — Individual conduct: hadiths 1-10 (sincerity, brotherly love, speech, charity, work, restraint). See Chapter 4 Appendix 2.

3 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T1.03 — Group 2 — Life in the community: hadiths 11-20 (mercy, justice, neighbourliness, brotherhood, care for the orphan, treatment of non-Muslims)

Group 2 — Life in the community: hadiths 11-20 (mercy, justice, neighbourliness, brotherhood, care for the orphan, treatment of non-Muslims).

4 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T1.04 — For every set hadith: study what Muslims should believe and how they should act, and explain its application in Muslim life today.

For every set hadith: study what Muslims should believe and how they should act, and explain its application in Muslim life today.

5 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T1.05 — Study tip: study all 20 hadiths in Chapter 4 — Appendix 2.

Study tip: study all 20 hadiths in Chapter 4 — Appendix 2.

6 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T2.01 — Trace the history of the compilation of the Hadiths and the earliest collections.

Trace the history of the compilation of the Hadiths and the earliest collections.
Distinguish the main musnad and musannaf collections.
Identify the main Sunni compilers and their activities: Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah (Kutub as-Sittah).
Identify the four Shi'a collections: al-Kafi, Man la Yahduruhu al-Faqih, Tahdhib al-Ahkam, al-Istibsar.
Explain the methods of testing reliability — examination of the chain of transmitters (isnad) and the text (matn).
Identify the major themes of the Hadiths in the set passages and in other similar passages.
Explain the use of Hadiths in legal thinking and their relationship with the Qur'an, ijma' and qiyas.
Explain the significance of Hadith in thought and action in Islam.

7 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T2.02 — Distinguish the main musnad and musannaf collections.

Distinguish the main musnad and musannaf collections.

8 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T2.03 — Identify the main Sunni compilers and their activities: Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah (Kutub as-Sittah).

Identify the main Sunni compilers and their activities: Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah (Kutub as-Sittah).

9 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T2.04 — Identify the four Shi'a collections: al-Kafi, Man la Yahduruhu al-Faqih, Tahdhib al-Ahkam, al-Istibsar.

Identify the four Shi'a collections: al-Kafi, Man la Yahduruhu al-Faqih, Tahdhib al-Ahkam, al-Istibsar.

10 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T2.05 — Explain the methods of testing reliability — examination of the chain of transmitters (isnad) and the text (matn).

Explain the methods of testing reliability — examination of the chain of transmitters (isnad) and the text (matn).

11 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T2.06 — Identify the major themes of the Hadiths in the set passages and in other similar passages.

Identify the major themes of the Hadiths in the set passages and in other similar passages.

12 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T2.07 — Explain the use of Hadiths in legal thinking and their relationship with the Qur'an, ijma' and qiyas.

Explain the use of Hadiths in legal thinking and their relationship with the Qur'an, ijma' and qiyas.

13 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T2.08 — Explain the significance of Hadith in thought and action in Islam.

Explain the significance of Hadith in thought and action in Islam.

14 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T3.01 — Narrate the rule of Abu Bakr — the Riddah wars, compilation of the Qur'an, his approach to leadership.

Narrate the rule of Abu Bakr — the Riddah wars, compilation of the Qur'an, his approach to leadership.
Narrate the rule of 'Umar — major conquests, administrative reforms, justice.
Narrate the rule of 'Uthman — standardisation of the Qur'an, expansion, internal tensions.
Narrate the rule of 'Ali — internal challenges, his wisdom and trials.
Explain each caliph's policies in maintaining and expanding the Islamic state.
Describe their approaches to leading the community.
Identify their main achievements and the main difficulties they encountered.
Explain their significance as examples of leadership and the importance of their rules as models for government today.
Explain their importance as examples for Muslim communities in their relations with other states.

15 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T3.02 — Narrate the rule of 'Umar — major conquests, administrative reforms, justice.

Narrate the rule of 'Umar — major conquests, administrative reforms, justice.

16 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T3.03 — Narrate the rule of 'Uthman — standardisation of the Qur'an, expansion, internal tensions.

Narrate the rule of 'Uthman — standardisation of the Qur'an, expansion, internal tensions.

17 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T3.04 — Narrate the rule of 'Ali — internal challenges, his wisdom and trials.

Narrate the rule of 'Ali — internal challenges, his wisdom and trials.

18 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T3.05 — Explain each caliph's policies in maintaining and expanding the Islamic state.

Explain each caliph's policies in maintaining and expanding the Islamic state.

19 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T3.06 — Describe their approaches to leading the community.

Describe their approaches to leading the community.

20 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T3.07 — Identify their main achievements and the main difficulties they encountered.

Identify their main achievements and the main difficulties they encountered.

21 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T3.08 — Explain their significance as examples of leadership and the importance of their rules as models for government today.

Explain their significance as examples of leadership and the importance of their rules as models for government today.

22 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T3.09 — Explain their importance as examples for Muslim communities in their relations with other states.

Explain their importance as examples for Muslim communities in their relations with other states.

23 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T4.01 — Article 1 — God: explain what Muslims believe about Allah — His existence, oneness (tawhid), attributes, names.

Article 1 — God: explain what Muslims believe about Allah — His existence, oneness (tawhid), attributes, names.
Article 2 — Angels: explain their nature and duties (Jibril, Mika'il, Israfil, Malak al-Mawt, Kiraman Katibin, Munkar and Nakir).
Article 3 — Books: identify the revealed books (Tawrat, Zabur, Injil, Suhuf, Qur'an), their contents and purpose.
Article 4 — Prophets: identify their character and function — men chosen by Allah to deliver His message.
Article 5 — Predestination and Decree (al-Qadr): explain its meaning and significance — Allah's knowledge, writing, will, creation.
Article 6 — Resurrection and the Last Day: describe the main events and their significance — death, barzakh, hashr, hisab, mizan, sirat, jannah and jahannam.
Jihad: explain its range of meanings — physical, mental and spiritual.
Pillar 1 — Shahada: explain the declaration of faith and the significance of what it contains.
Pillar 2 — Salat: explain the preparations (wudu, qibla), performance, importance, congregational prayers, times of prayer, qada'.
Pillar 3 — Zakat: explain how it is performed and its significance in the community.
Pillar 4 — Sawm: explain the way fasting is observed in Ramadan, its significance, and exemptions.
Pillar 5 — Hajj: explain the main observances (ihram, tawaf, sa'i, Arafat, Muzdalifah, Mina, ramy al-jamarat, sacrifice, tahallul) and their significance.

24 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T4.02 — Article 2 — Angels: explain their nature and duties (Jibril, Mika'il, Israfil, Malak al-Mawt, Kiraman Katibin, Munkar and Nakir).

Article 2 — Angels: explain their nature and duties (Jibril, Mika'il, Israfil, Malak al-Mawt, Kiraman Katibin, Munkar and Nakir).

25 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T4.03 — Article 3 — Books: identify the revealed books (Tawrat, Zabur, Injil, Suhuf, Qur'an), their contents and purpose.

Article 3 — Books: identify the revealed books (Tawrat, Zabur, Injil, Suhuf, Qur'an), their contents and purpose.

26 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T4.04 — Article 4 — Prophets: identify their character and function — men chosen by Allah to deliver His message.

Article 4 — Prophets: identify their character and function — men chosen by Allah to deliver His message.

27 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T4.05 — Article 5 — Predestination and Decree (al-Qadr): explain its meaning and significance — Allah's knowledge, writing, will, creation.

Article 5 — Predestination and Decree (al-Qadr): explain its meaning and significance — Allah's knowledge, writing, will, creation.

28 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T4.06 — Article 6 — Resurrection and the Last Day: describe the main events and their significance — death, barzakh, hashr, hisab, mizan, sirat, jan

Article 6 — Resurrection and the Last Day: describe the main events and their significance — death, barzakh, hashr, hisab, mizan, sirat, jannah and jahannam.

29 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T4.07 — Jihad: explain its range of meanings — physical, mental and spiritual.

Jihad: explain its range of meanings — physical, mental and spiritual.

30 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T4.08 — Pillar 1 — Shahada: explain the declaration of faith and the significance of what it contains.

Pillar 1 — Shahada: explain the declaration of faith and the significance of what it contains.

31 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T4.09 — Pillar 2 — Salat: explain the preparations (wudu, qibla), performance, importance, congregational prayers, times of prayer, qada'.

Pillar 2 — Salat: explain the preparations (wudu, qibla), performance, importance, congregational prayers, times of prayer, qada'.

32 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T4.10 — Pillar 3 — Zakat: explain how it is performed and its significance in the community.

Pillar 3 — Zakat: explain how it is performed and its significance in the community.

33 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T4.11 — Pillar 4 — Sawm: explain the way fasting is observed in Ramadan, its significance, and exemptions.

Pillar 4 — Sawm: explain the way fasting is observed in Ramadan, its significance, and exemptions.

34 CAM_ISL_0493.P2.T4.12 — Pillar 5 — Hajj: explain the main observances (ihram, tawaf, sa'i, Arafat, Muzdalifah, Mina, ramy al-jamarat, sacrifice, tahallul) and their

Pillar 5 — Hajj: explain the main observances (ihram, tawaf, sa'i, Arafat, Muzdalifah, Mina, ramy al-jamarat, sacrifice, tahallul) and their significance.

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