New Curriculum First Term Islamic Studies examination for SS 1

Class: SSS 1
Term: First Term
Subject: Islamic Religious Studies
Time: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
Total Marks: 70

SECTION A: OBJECTIVES (40 Marks)
Instruction: Answer ALL 40 questions. Each question carries 1 mark.

1. A school charity project seeks the guidance of Sūrat al-Insān. Which plan is most consistent? (a) Choose recipients solely by their social rank    (b) Require public gratitude from each recipient    (c) Give fairly and quietly while protecting beneficiaries’ dignity    (d) Treat feeding the poor as a way to purchase fame
2. A pupil assumes every sūrah revealed at Madinah must mention only legal rules. Why is that too simplistic? (a) All legal discussions belong to only one location    (b) The Qur’an contains no historical context    (c) Makkan and Madinan classifications describe revelation context, not a single exclusive theme    (d) Every Madinan sūrah has exactly the same subject
3. The responsible first step after observing different wordings in two Hadith collections is to ________. (a) check the chains, context and accepted scholarly explanations    (b) assume the longer narration is automatically correct    (c) declare both collections worthless    (d) select whichever wording is shortest
4. A pupil calls a Companion’s report ‘Hadith Nabawi’ without checking who the words are attributed to. Which distinction matters? (a) Athar always means a verse of the Qur’an    (b) Hadith Qudsi is spoken by a modern scholar    (c) Hadith Nabawi is attributed to the Prophet, whereas athar may refer to reports of Companions    (d) Khabar cannot describe a transmitted report
5. A student studies the alternation of natural signs and judgement scenes in Sūrat al-Mursalāt. What is their strongest common lesson? (a) Natural events remove the possibility of moral choice    (b) Human conduct cannot have consequences    (c) Only material prosperity matters    (d) Creation and final judgement point to Allah’s power and justice
6. The teaching of tawḥīd is undermined when a person ________. (a) acknowledges Allah’s uniqueness    (b) treats a created object as an independent object of worship    (c) prays to Allah sincerely    (d) recognises human dependence on the Creator
7. A class compares two English translations of the same Hadith. Which method is academically strongest? (a) Assume the first search result is always correct    (b) Vote for the translation with the most dramatic language    (c) Compare the meanings against the Arabic and reliable commentary    (d) Ignore wording differences entirely
8. A class compares the spiritual and social aims of nikāḥ. Which conclusion is strongest? (a) A marriage contract has no ethical significance    (b) It removes every obligation toward relatives    (c) Its only function is a public celebration    (d) Marriage combines lawful commitment with mutual responsibilities and family stability
9. Why is the distinction between Hadith Qudsi and Qur’an important? (a) both must be treated as identical Qur’anic verses    (b) Hadith Qudsi has no religious content    (c) all prophetic reports are necessarily fabricated    (d) their forms and status in recitation and textual transmission are not identical
10. A pupil recites the warning of Sūrat al-Mursalāt but cheats in a test. Which lesson has not been applied? (a) Belief in accountability should influence present conduct    (b) Trading is prohibited in every situation    (c) Arabic grammar prevents temptation    (d) Recitation must always be performed in a group
11. A student recites Hadith 29 about controlling the tongue yet spreads malicious rumours. Which central application is missing? (a) Responsible speech that avoids causing harm    (b) The rules for determining the lunar month    (c) Permission to shame people publicly    (d) Precision in mathematical measurement
12. The main reason warnings recur in Sūrat al-Mursalāt is ________. (a) introducing unrelated laws in every verse    (b) reinforcing the central message and calling attention to its urgency    (c) making understanding depend only on rhyme    (d) concealing the theme from listeners
13. A proposed nikāḥ is conducted without the woman’s free consent. Which central condition is in doubt? (a) The husband’s choice of clothing    (b) The number of guests at the meal    (c) The size of the wedding reception    (d) The validity of consent to marriage
14. Why does a translation of Sūrat al-Mursalāt need to be read in the context of its surrounding verses? (a) Every Arabic word has exactly one English meaning in every context    (b) The repeated warning has no relation to the verses    (c) The meaning of a warning depends on the argument developed around it    (d) A single isolated word provides the entire message
15. A student attributes a saying to the Prophet without checking authenticity. Which scholarly habit should be corrected? (a) Verify the source and transmission before repeating the attribution    (b) Seek the most widely circulated image    (c) Prefer emotionally appealing wording over provenance    (d) Treat every anonymous quotation as reliable
16. The correct step in studying the Makki and Madani classification of suwar is to ________. (a) rank believers by birthplace    (b) decide that only one group of chapters is authoritative    (c) understand the circumstances and development of Qur’anic guidance    (d) replace the need to read the Arabic text
17. A pupil confuses dependence on Allah with refusing to plan. Which correction best reflects sound religious reasoning? (a) Effort proves that divine help is irrelevant    (b) Planning makes any form of reliance impossible    (c) Trust always forbids making decisions    (d) Trust in Allah can be combined with responsible effort
18. What attitude does the reference to human creation from a mixed drop encourage in Sūrat al-Insān? (a) disregard for those in need    (b) the view that people are self-created    (c) humility about human origins and dependence on Allah    (d) the belief that wealth determines human worth
19. Why is the concept of shirk treated as a serious contradiction of tawḥīd? (a) It is another name for charitable giving    (b) It refers only to differences of opinion in business    (c) It concerns only differences in local languages    (d) It associates partners with the unique divinity of Allah
20. Which response to environmental signs best reflects the moral lesson of Sūrat al-Mursalāt? (a) Treat nature as proof that people need no moral limits    (b) Recognise divine power and respond with gratitude and responsibility    (c) Use knowledge of creation to ridicule others    (d) Assume all human actions are beyond judgement
21. The advice of Hadith 31 about worldly attachment can be applied by a business owner who ________. (a) trades fairly without exploiting others out of greed    (b) uses deception to acquire goods faster    (c) measures personal worth only by possessions    (d) refuses to pay workers to preserve profit
22. Hadith 27 associates righteousness with good character. Which decision most closely follows its teaching? (a) Judge conduct solely by whether it earns applause    (b) Assume dishonesty is acceptable when profitable    (c) Avoid listening to moral guidance    (d) Consider integrity and conscience, not only whether a choice can be hidden
23. Why are Hadith studies described as a primary source of Islamic teachings? (a) They remove the need for careful interpretation    (b) They record the Prophet’s guidance and help explain Qur’anic obligations    (c) They are limited to economic history    (d) They replace the Qur’an entirely
24. What should a researcher verify before using a report to establish a teaching? (a) Only the popularity of the social media post    (b) Its attribution, wording and reliability within Hadith scholarship    (c) The colour of the printed page    (d) Whether the speaker holds public office
25. A teacher contrasts emphases often found in early Makkan and later Madinan passages. The best scholarly practice is to ________. (a) ignore chronology when interpreting context    (b) decide origin solely from the chapter title    (c) treat every chapter as identical    (d) recognise broad patterns while checking each passage individually
26. An English translation of Hadith 30 mentions obligations and limits. Which reading best preserves the lesson? (a) Assume every personal preference is a religious command    (b) Treat all obligations as optional suggestions    (c) Respect established duties and boundaries without inventing prohibitions    (d) Ignore the context in which the report is taught
27. Which approach to studying differing juristic views on marriage is most responsible? (a) Ignore the legal importance of witnesses and consent    (b) Use rumours in place of legal sources    (c) Identify shared principles and explain differences without falsely claiming universal agreement    (d) Treat one local custom as binding on all Muslims
28. ________ is the central message of Sūrat al-Mursalāt that directly contradicts the claim that there is no future accountability. (a) resurrection and judgement    (b) commercial partnership law    (c) the design of the Ka’bah    (d) the classification of charitable taxes
29. An-Nawawī’s Hadith 26 lists ordinary charitable acts. Which school activity most clearly applies it? (a) Removing a hazard from a walkway while helping others    (b) Saving all useful knowledge for oneself    (c) Laughing at a dispute between classmates    (d) Refusing to assist someone with a heavy bag
30. When Sūrat al-Insān describes both consequences and rewards, what kind of moral reasoning does it promote? (a) Every desire should be followed without restraint    (b) Choices have significance beyond immediate convenience    (c) Generosity removes all future obligations    (d) Justice is unrelated to human decisions
31. Why is mahr discussed as a right in Islamic marriage? (a) It permits spouses to ignore mutual duties    (b) It is an obligation associated with the marriage contract, not a purchase price for a person    (c) It replaces the need for consent    (d) It gives the public ownership of the marriage
32. In translating Hadith 26, ‘charity’ is not restricted to money because ________, as its examples show. (a) the report includes helpful speech and practical assistance    (b) the report excludes every material donation    (c) the report concerns only mosque construction    (d) charity requires a formal ceremony
33. A lesson uses sunnah to explain the Prophet’s practical example. Which source use is strongest? (a) Treat an anonymous quotation as sufficient proof    (b) Assume all later customs are prophetic practices    (c) Reject the need to identify narrators    (d) Study authenticated reports alongside the Qur’anic guidance they explain
34. How should the contribution of major Hadith compilers be understood? (a) substituting personal opinion for all reports    (b) authoring new Qur’anic chapters    (c) collecting, organising and critically assessing transmitted reports    (d) eliminating the need to examine narrations
35. All these are reasonable lessons of Sūrat al-Mursalāt EXCEPT ________. (a) deeds have no connection to final accountability    (b) truthfulness matters in human response    (c) Allah’s creative power is emphasised    (d) warnings invite reflection before judgement
36. Sūrat al-Mursalāt repeatedly asks what becomes of those who deny the truth. What does this refrain chiefly emphasise? (a) The legal conditions of marriage    (b) The historical origin of the Arabic alphabet    (c) The rules for distributing inheritance    (d) The seriousness of accountability on the Day of Judgement
37. Which of these does NOT support the practical meaning of tawḥīd? (a) showing sincerity in worship    (b) directing worship to beings believed to share Allah’s divinity    (c) avoiding false objects of devotion    (d) acknowledging divine uniqueness
38. What is the primary basis for classifying revelations as Makki or Madani in the commonly used chronological approach? (a) The language used in a printed translation    (b) Whether revelation occurred before or after the Hijrah    (c) The number of verses in the chapter    (d) Whether the chapter is recited aloud
39. Hadith 28 encourages commitment to prophetic guidance. For a disputed classroom claim, the soundest approach is to ________. (a) consult reliable sources and learn the teaching with its context    (b) replace verification with forceful assertions    (c) discard the importance of disciplined learning    (d) accept the loudest pupil’s opinion
40. The description of feeding the needy in Sūrat al-Insān stresses which intention? (a) Refusing aid to anyone outside one’s family    (b) Helping for Allah’s sake rather than demanding reward or thanks    (c) Advertising every act to gain social influence    (d) Giving only when the beneficiary promises repayment

SECTION B: THEORY (30 Marks)
Instruction: Answer Question 1 and any other TWO questions. Each question carries 10 marks. Each sub-question carries 5 marks.

Question 1 (10 Marks)
(a) Explain four connected themes of Sūrat al-Mursalāt: signs of creation, warning, resurrection and judgement. (5 marks)
(b) A youth recites the sūrah but cheats in a test. Explain two contradictions and give three practical corrections. (5 marks)

Question 2 (10 Marks)
(a) Explain the teaching about human origins and feeding others in Sūrat al-Insān and how sincerity affects charity. (5 marks)
(b) Explain the difference between Makki and Madani classifications by reference to the Hijrah, and give three uses of this knowledge for study. (5 marks)

Question 3 (10 Marks)
(a) Distinguish Hadith Nabawi, Hadith Qudsi, Sunnah, athar and khabar without treating all labels as interchangeable. (5 marks)
(b) Outline five checks or practices that make citing and transmitting a Hadith academically responsible. (5 marks)

Question 4 (10 Marks)
(a) Apply lessons from An-Nawawī Hadith 26-31 to three school situations involving service, speech and self-discipline. (5 marks)
(b) Explain the implications of tawḥīd for worship and outline three broad ethical conditions or purposes of nikāḥ. (5 marks)

OBJECTIVE MARKING SCHEME (40 Marks)
Question 1 – ✅ (c) Give fairly and quietly while protecting beneficiaries’ dignity
Question 2 – ✅ (c) Makkan and Madinan classifications describe revelation context, not a single exclusive theme
Question 3 – ✅ (a) check the chains, context and accepted scholarly explanations
Question 4 – ✅ (c) Hadith Nabawi is attributed to the Prophet, whereas athar may refer to reports of Companions
Question 5 – ✅ (d) Creation and final judgement point to Allah’s power and justice
Question 6 – ✅ (b) treats a created object as an independent object of worship
Question 7 – ✅ (c) Compare the meanings against the Arabic and reliable commentary
Question 8 – ✅ (d) Marriage combines lawful commitment with mutual responsibilities and family stability
Question 9 – ✅ (d) their forms and status in recitation and textual transmission are not identical
Question 10 – ✅ (a) Belief in accountability should influence present conduct
Question 11 – ✅ (a) Responsible speech that avoids causing harm
Question 12 – ✅ (b) reinforcing the central message and calling attention to its urgency
Question 13 – ✅ (d) The validity of consent to marriage
Question 14 – ✅ (c) The meaning of a warning depends on the argument developed around it
Question 15 – ✅ (a) Verify the source and transmission before repeating the attribution
Question 16 – ✅ (c) understand the circumstances and development of Qur’anic guidance
Question 17 – ✅ (d) Trust in Allah can be combined with responsible effort
Question 18 – ✅ (c) humility about human origins and dependence on Allah
Question 19 – ✅ (d) It associates partners with the unique divinity of Allah
Question 20 – ✅ (b) Recognise divine power and respond with gratitude and responsibility
Question 21 – ✅ (a) trades fairly without exploiting others out of greed
Question 22 – ✅ (d) Consider integrity and conscience, not only whether a choice can be hidden
Question 23 – ✅ (b) They record the Prophet’s guidance and help explain Qur’anic obligations
Question 24 – ✅ (b) Its attribution, wording and reliability within Hadith scholarship
Question 25 – ✅ (d) recognise broad patterns while checking each passage individually
Question 26 – ✅ (c) Respect established duties and boundaries without inventing prohibitions
Question 27 – ✅ (c) Identify shared principles and explain differences without falsely claiming universal agreement
Question 28 – ✅ (a) resurrection and judgement
Question 29 – ✅ (a) Removing a hazard from a walkway while helping others
Question 30 – ✅ (b) Choices have significance beyond immediate convenience
Question 31 – ✅ (b) It is an obligation associated with the marriage contract, not a purchase price for a person
Question 32 – ✅ (a) the report includes helpful speech and practical assistance
Question 33 – ✅ (d) Study authenticated reports alongside the Qur’anic guidance they explain
Question 34 – ✅ (c) collecting, organising and critically assessing transmitted reports
Question 35 – ✅ (a) deeds have no connection to final accountability
Question 36 – ✅ (d) The seriousness of accountability on the Day of Judgement
Question 37 – ✅ (b) directing worship to beings believed to share Allah’s divinity
Question 38 – ✅ (b) Whether revelation occurred before or after the Hijrah
Question 39 – ✅ (a) consult reliable sources and learn the teaching with its context
Question 40 – ✅ (b) Helping for Allah’s sake rather than demanding reward or thanks

THEORY MARKING SCHEME (Answer 3 × 10 = 30 Marks)
Question 1 (10 Marks)
(a) 5 marks: four themes 1 each, integrated explanation 1.
(b) 5 marks: honesty 1, accountability 1, stop cheating 1, repair harm 1, consistent self-discipline 1.
Question 2 (10 Marks)
(a) 5 marks: human dependence 1, moral choice 1, feeding needy 1, sincerity 1, dignity 1.
(b) 5 marks: pre-/post-Hijrah classification 2, chronology 1, context 1, interpretation 1.
Question 3 (10 Marks)
(a) 5 marks: one accurate distinction or explanation for each of five terms, 1 each.
(b) 5 marks: source 1, attribution 1, wording 1, authentication 1, explanatory context 1.
Question 4 (10 Marks)
(a) 5 marks: service 1, speech 1, self-restraint 1, correct hadith connection 1, practical justification 1.
(b) 5 marks: divine oneness 1, rejection of shirk 1, valid consent 1, responsible contract/mahr 1, family welfare 1.