O Level Islamiyat 2058 · Topic 5.2

Paper 2: past paper questions

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

Real questions on paper 2

The newest 20 of 297 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

2058/11 · October/November 2025 · Q4a[10]
Describe the events of the battles of Mu’ta and Hunayn.
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2058/11 · October/November 2025 · Q4b[4]
What lessons can be learned from the Prophet’s actions at the Battle of Hunayn?
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2058/11 · October/November 2025 · Q5a[10]
Write about the life of ʿAisha during the years she was married to the Prophet (pbuh).
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2058/11 · October/November 2025 · Q5b[4]
How can Muslims today apply lessons learned from ʿAisha’s life about the importance of education and knowledge?
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2058/12 · October/November 2025 · Q5b[4]
To what extent is it easier to record Islamic knowledge now than in the time of the Prophet (pbuh)?
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2058/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[4]
Describe their teachings about what Muslims believe.
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2058/21 · 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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2058/21 · 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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2058/21 · October/November 2025 · Q2b[4]
How do Muslims benefit from following the Hadiths?
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2058/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3a[10]
Write an account of ʿUthman’s selection as caliph and how he governed the caliphate.
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2058/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[4]
To what extent was ʿUthman a successful military commander? Give reasons to support your answer.
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2058/21 · October/November 2025 · Q5a[10]
Give a detailed account of the method and importance of ablution (wudu) before prayer.
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2058/21 · October/November 2025 · Q5b[4]
What in your opinion are the benefits of dry ablution (tayammum)?
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2058/22 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[4]
Describe their teachings about what Muslims believe.
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2058/22 · 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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2058/22 · October/November 2025 · Q2a[10]
Write about how the four sources of Islamic law are used in law making.
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2058/22 · October/November 2025 · Q2b[4]
Why do you think the Prophet (pbuh) allowed the exercise of personal reasoning (qiyas)?
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2058/22 · 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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2058/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[4]
What were the effects of ͑ Umar’s military successes on Muslims living under his caliphate?
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2058/22 · October/November 2025 · Q4a[10]
Write about the leadership qualities of the fourth caliph ͑ Ali.
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What examiners said

Exceptional responses to this question demonstrated a methodical approach by chronologically recounting the life events of Ali. They began with his birth, traced his journey to accepting Islam, and detailed his migration. Additionally, commendable attention was given to Ali's military career during the lifetime of the Prophet (pbuh), with the inclusion of several quotes to authenticate the informa...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2058/12 Q5(a) (Cambridge)

More well rewarded responses comprehended the question's demand and specifically addressed the lessons that young people can derive from Ali’s life. These responses discussed qualities such as bravery, standing up for what is right, and supporting just causes. On the other hand, a considerable number of responses only provided generic lessons from Ali's life, resulting in midrange scores.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2058/12 Q5(b) (Cambridge)

The teaching of the world being temporary and the need to strive for the eternal reward of Paradise by living according to the laws of their faith, was the key message in Hadith 19. When making comparisons to this world being a prison for Muslims, responses need to bring out the essence of the comparison and not simply paraphrase the given translation of the Hadith. Hadith 5 is one Hadith in whic...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2058/21 Q1(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

In the syllabus

5.2.1 Major teachings in the Hadiths of the Prophet

individual conduct.
life in the community.

5.2.2 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.

5.2.3 The period of rule of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and their importance as

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.

5.2.4 The Articles of Faith and the Pillars of Islam

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.
Jihad in its range of meanings, physical, mental and spiritual.
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 – fasting, sawm, including the way it is observed, its significance and those exempted – pilgrimage, hajj, including the main observances involved and their significance.

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