Specification points

Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) Islamic Studies 4IS1

123 points in 3 topics, with Edexcel's codes and titles.

Codes and titles are read by a script from Edexcel's published specification and have not been checked by a person. What each point covers is in the specification itself: Edexcel’s specification.

1 The life, teachings and achievements of the Prophet Muhammad

1.1 Personal aspects of the Prophet’s (pbuh) life
1.1.a The Prophet's ancestry and early years
1.1.b Importance of the Prophet's early life
1.2 The Revelation of the Qur'an
1.2.a The events of the ‘Night of Power’ (Night of Decree)
1.2.b Importance of the revelation of the Qur'an
1.2.c Compilation of the Qur'an
1.3 The Prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh)
1.3.a The meaning of the title ‘Seal of the Prophets’
1.3.b Muhammad's role as prophet in establishing Islam
1.3.c The opposition faced in Makkah by the Prophet (pbuh) and his followers
1.4 Opposition and Hijrah
1.4.a The events of the boycott and the Mi’raj
1.4.b The plot to kill the Prophet and the flight to Madinah
1.4.c Welcome in Madinah and building of mosques
1.4.d Significance of the Hijrah
1.4.e Support from Abu Bakr, Ali, Uthman and Umar
1.4.f Contribution of the companions and helpers (Ansar)
1.5 The Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh)
1.5.a Importance of the Prophet's teachings, deeds and sayings
1.5.b The recording of the Sunnah
1.5.c The Sunnah in Islamic belief and practice
1.6 The Prophet's teachings on justice and equality
1.6.a The Prophet's teachings and example on justice and rights
1.6.b The teachings and Muslim beliefs about society
1.7 The Prophet (pbuh) as leader
1.7.a The role of the Prophet (pbuh) in the establishment of the Shari’ah
1.7.b The consolidation and expansion of Islam after the Hijrah
1.7.c The Prophet’s (pbuh) treatment of opponents and prisoners
1.7.d The Prophet’s (pbuh) relationship with other communities and countries
1.8 Battles fought by the Prophet (pbuh)
1.8.a Battles fought after the Hijrah
1.8.b The reasons the Prophet (pbuh) chose to fight the battles
1.8.c The importance of the battles for the establishment of Islam
1.9 The Prophet’s (pbuh) final acts and his achievements
1.9.a The Prophet’s (pbuh) final pilgrimage and sermon
1.9.b The Prophet's example and teaching in his later years
1.9.c Achievements of the Prophet in society, religion and politics
1.9.d The events at the Prophet’s (pbuh) death in Madinah

2 Beliefs, practices and features of the early Muslim community

2.1 The nature of belief in Allah
2.1.a The meaning and importance of belief in the oneness of Allah (Tawhid)
2.1.b Attributes of Allah
2.1.c The meaning and importance of the teaching about shirk and nifaq (hypocrisy)
2.1.d Characteristics of Allah in the Qur'an
2.2 Risalah
2.2.a The nature and importance of prophethood for Muslims
2.2.b What the roles of prophets teach Muslims
2.2.c The lives of prophets before Muhammad (pbuh)
2.3 The holy books of Islam
2.3.a The nature of the Islamic holy books
2.3.b The importance of the holy books in the establishment of Islam
2.4 al-Qadr
2.4.a The nature and importance of predestination for Muslims
2.4.b Al-Qadr, free will and the Day of Judgment
2.4.c The significance of belief in al-Qadr for the early Islamic community
2.4.d The nature and significance of evil and suffering
2.5 Akhirah
2.5.a Teachings about life after death
2.5.b Life after death in the Qur'an
2.6 Malaikah
2.6.a The nature and importance of angels for Muslims
2.6.b The principal angels
2.7 Shari’ah
2.7.a Sources and establishment of Shari'ah law
2.7.b The importance of the Shari’ah in the early Islamic community
2.7.c Related sources of law, such as ijma (consensus) and qiyas (analogy)
2.7.d Halal, haram and the five categories of action
2.8 Islamic etiquette, attitude and manners
2.8.a Islamic etiquette in relations with other people
2.8.b Islamic attitudes to lying and harmful speech
2.8.c Islamic manners when eating
2.8.d Etiquette, attitudes and manners
2.9 The early leaders of the Muslim community
2.9.a The leadership of Islam following the death of the Prophet (pbuh)
2.9.b The role and achievements of the early leaders
2.9.c Importance of the early leaders

3 Living the Muslim life today

3.1 Shahadah
3.1.a The nature and role of Shahadah for Muslims
3.1.b The importance of reciting Shahadah for Muslims
3.1.c The Shahadah in practice
3.2 Salah
3.2.a The nature and significance of Salah for Muslims
3.2.b The importance of Salah in the life of Muslims
3.2.c How Salah is performed
3.2.d Salah in the home and mosque and at Friday (Jummah) prayer
3.2.e Exemptions from Salah
3.3 Sawm
3.3.a The nature, role, significance and purpose of fasting during Ramadan
3.3.b Exemptions from fasting
3.3.c The importance of Laylat al-Qadr for Muslims today
3.4 Zakah and Khums
3.4.a The nature and purpose of Zakah
3.4.b The nature and purpose of Khums
3.4.c The importance of Zakah and Khums for Muslims
3.4.d The global importance of giving support to those in need
3.5 Hajj
3.5.a The nature, role, origins and significance of Hajj
3.5.b Key actions performed during Hajj
3.5.c The importance of Hajj for Muslims
3.5.d Benefits and challenges of attending Hajj for Muslims
3.5.e Exemptions from the performance of Hajj for Muslims
3.6 Jihad
3.6.a The origins, meaning and significance of jihad in Islam
3.6.b The distinction between the greater (inner) jihad and the lesser (outer) jihad
3.6.c The importance of the greater jihad in the life of Muslims
3.6.d Conditions for declaring lesser jihad
3.7 Islamic festivals
3.7.a The origins and activities of the Islamic festivals
3.7.b The meaning and significance of the Islamic festivals for Muslims
3.8 Marriage and the family
3.8.a The significance of marriage in Islamic life
3.8.b Muslim teachings about marriage
3.8.c Muslim teachings about the purpose of families
3.8.d Ceremonies relating to birth and death and their meaning
3.8.e The importance of procreation in the strengthening of the Ummah
3.9 Muslim citizenship and religious and political leadership
3.9.a Leadership and the responsibility of leaders
3.9.b The challenges faced by leaders of Islam in the modern world
3.9.c The challenges and responsibilities of citizenship for Muslims
3.9.d The Prophet and His successors as models of leadership