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Past Papers(Paper 02)

Day 07

(a) Teaching [2 Marks]

• This Hadith emphasizes for Muslims the importance of reading the Quran and understanding its
meanings.
• Quran is the primary source of Islamic teachings and should never be neglected. In order to get
true benefit from it, a Muslim required to establish a strong relationship with the Quran by
reciting it, memorizing it, and above all understanding its teachings and living by them.
• The link with tethered camels has been made in this Hadith to show that just as the desert
Bedouin tied the fore feet of his camel to stop it from straying, the Quran keeps Muslims from
going astray.
• Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said, “Allah does not listen so attentively, as He listens to the
recitation of the holy Quran.”
(b) Action: [2] Marks
• To keep their faith strong and to stay on the path of righteousness, Muslims must continually keep
the teachings of the Quran fresh in their mind by reading a small portion of it every day, and by
understanding its teachings and putting them into practice.
• The Quran by daily reading keeps Muslims from losing their bearings and benefits them in their daily
lives, bringing them abundant blessing and spiritual development.
• Prophet pbuh used to recite the Quran every year during the month of Ramadan. He also encouraged
his companions for learning and teaching the Quran.
• In the month of Ramadan Tarawih prayers should be performed for the recitation of Quran . Regular
recitation of Quran keeps once close to Allah.

(a) Teachings 2 marks

• At the heart of Islamic teaching is mercy and kindness which can be practiced by all Muslims.
This hadith teaches us manners of conduct in business transactions.
• Allah wants His servants to act kindly and show mercy in all aspects of their life, including all
business and financial dealings.
• The guidance this Hadith gives is that honesty, fairness, and kindness should be the guiding
principles of every business transaction. The Quran too gives clear instruction to Muslims on
how trade should be conducted: “Give full measure when you measure and weight with a
balance that is straight.” (17:35).
• Mercy shown to fellow beings is rewarded by Allah Himself. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
supplicated for the welfare of the one who was considerate and sympathetic towards the
borrower, and who carried out his dealings with justice and fairness.
(b) Action: [2] Marks
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• Conducting all trade and financial dealings fairly and honestly, showing respite to a debtor when
asking for one’s money back, ensuring that there’s no delay in the repayment of debts and not
selling substandard products not keeping unfair margins of profit , and conducting legitimate
business are some of the ways in which a Muslim can put into practice the teachings of this Hadith.
• Prophet pbuh was very honest and truthful, he conducted business in Syria with such honesty that
he returned from the trade expedition with an amount of profit larger than usual. Hazrat Khadija
married him due to his honesty and trustworthiness.
• It is said about Hazrat Usman that he used give more in measure and weights when selling
commodities, and even paid more than the asking price of the commodity he bought, saying that
Allah not only fulfilled his needs but gave him more than he needed.
O/N 2018 (22)
2(a) Hadiths are broadly classified as sound (sahih), good (hasan) and weak (da’if). Write
a detailed account of these three categories of Hadiths. [10]
Marking Scheme:
Candidates in this answer need to write about how Hadiths are classified into the three broad categories of sahih,
hasan and da’if according to the reliability of the isnad and matn. They could define the terms given and go on to say
what features categorise them under the different headings.

Candidates should give the grounds for classifying Hadiths as sahih, hasan, da’if. For example for
the sahih Hadith it could be said that their accuracy is beyond question, each narrator in the chain was a pious
Muslim and that the chain was a continuous one and also that the narrator had a good memory making the matn
reliable etc.

For hasan Hadith it could be said that they are Hadiths whose text is absolutely true but the isnad may not pass the
strict test established by the Hadith compilers e.g. a name in the chain may be missing but there is no reason to
believe that the Hadith is not a good one.

Whereas the da’if Hadith is a term used for Hadiths whose truthfulness in both isnad and matn is not fully
established, i.e. its authenticity is not fully established and they are deemed weak. A Hadith could be weak for many
reasons and these reasons could be elaborated upon in the answer by the candidates.
How to answer:

Answer (Learn and write):

Different types to traditions/ hadiths came into existence according to rank and degree of reliability. Thus
ahadith have been divided into three main types by Muslim scholars :

1. The Sahih Hadith (Authentic). If all the narrators in the Isnad fulfil the conditions
Stipulated, the tradition is classified as an accurate saying or action of the Prophet and named Saheeh. This
means we can certain that the Prophet ( S.A.W) actually said or did what was reported in tradition.
Sanad must be full and unbroken. The first transmitter in the chain must be a companion of the Holy
Prophet (PBUH). Each transmitter in the chain who is known as rawi must be a strong Muslim i.e honest and
upright. He must be of an age in which he can understand the Hadith he is delivering. He must have a good
memory which is to ensure that he delivers the exact words of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The dates of birth
and death of each transmitter in the chain should be overlapped.
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The Matn is accepted as authentic if it is not contrary to the previous hadiths which were accepted
as correct by the authorities, nor contradict the Quran or the main principles of Islam.It should not be
against the common sense, laws of nature and against historical facts. It should not level accusations to
the Prophet’s family and companions. It should not promise high rewards for insignificant deeds or order
punishments for small errors. It should be in the Arabic dialect of the Prophet.
2. Hassan ( Approved). It is like Sahih tradition except that some of its narrators have been found defective in
memory in comparison with narrators of Sahih tradition. Ibn al-Salah classifies Hasan into two categories:
1. one with an isnad containing a reporter who is "screened", i.e. no prominent person reported from
him but is not totally careless in his reporting, provided that a similar text is reported through
another isnad as well;
2. one with an isnad containing a reporter who is known to be truthful and reliable, but is a degree
less in his preservation/memory of hadith in comparison to the reporters of Sahih ahadith.
In both categories, Ibn al-Salah requires that the hadith be free of any irregularities.
3. Daif (Weak). If any of the narrators in the Isand was known to have had any of the following faults, the Hadith is
then classified as being inaccurate and referred to as daif.
• The narrators was known to have been a liar.
• He was known to have had a bad memory.
• He was known to have not met the one; he was supposed to be narrating from.

2(b) What in your opinion is the importance of classifying Hadiths? [4]

• The Qur’an gives instructions to Muslims about how to live and practice their faith, it does not give
details showing how to implement the teachings given. This implementation of Qur’anic
instructions is found in the Hadiths of the Prophet .
• If the Hadiths were not classified there would be a danger of Muslims not knowing the correct way
of putting into practice their faith.
• in legal matters it is vital to only use only the most accurate Hadiths but when e.g. one is looking for
moral teachings, a Hadith whose isnad is not strong by having a gap or say the narrator having a
weak memory, a weak Hadith could be used and therefore the classification of Hadiths is
important.
• Muslims by following the guidance given in the classified Hadiths can follow the perfect example of
the Prophet Muhammad.

3(a) Choose any two caliphs from the three given below and say how and why they were
martyred: [10]
• ‘Umar;
• ‘Uthman; and
• ‘Ali.
Marking scheme:
• In this answer candidates need to select two of the three caliphs listed in the question and write about why and how
they were martyred.
How to answer:

Answer [Learn and write]:

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Hazrat ‘Umar:
After the battle of Nahawand, many persians were taken as captives by Muslims. One of them was Abu
Lulu, also known as Firoz. He was purchased by the governor of Basra , Mughira bin Shuba. Firoz, who was
a blacksmith, made a contract with his master to buy back his freedom by paying him a certain amount of
wealth. since he was a non-muslim, according to Islamic law , he was required to pay Jizya.
The Persian slave Firuz Nahavandi (also known as Abu Lulu) brought a complaint to Umar about the high
tax charged by his master Mughirah. Umar wrote to Mughirah and inquired about the tax; Mughirah's
reply was satisfactory, but Umar held that the tax charged to Abu Lulu was reasonable, owing to his daily
income.
On 31st October 644, 26th of Zil Hajj 23 A.H Firuz attacked Umar while he was leading the morning
prayers, stabbing him six times in the belly and finally in the navel, that proved fatal. Umar was left
profusely bleeding while Firuz tried to flee, but people from all sides rushed to capture him; in his efforts
to escape he is reported to have wounded twelve other people, six or nine of whom later died, before
slashing himself with his own blade to commit suicide.
Umar died of the wounds three days later on Wednesday 3 November 644.
As per Umar's will, he was buried next to Al-Masjid al-Nabawi alongside Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and
caliph Abu Bakr by the permission of Aisha.
Hazrat Uthman:
Various charges were laid against ‘Uthman during the second half of his caliphate. He was accused of
appointing his relatives in high positions in the caliphate, spending money from the bait ul maal on them,
burning copies of the Qur’an etc.
In 656 the protesters fulfilled their plans with admirable speed and efficiency. Three columns of men
apparently on their way to Makkah for the pilgrimage left the garrison cities of Kufa, Basra and Egypt. Once
they reached Madina they made separate bases in their accustomed camping grounds outside Madina.
As the deadlock intensified, Hazrat Ali agreed to act as the intermediary and advised Hazrat Usman that the
unpopular Abdullah bin Saad should be removed from the governorship of Egypt. The caliph reluctantly
agreed, and the rebels prepared to march home.
Three days into their march back, the rebels force from Egypt was overtaken by an African slave. He was
pursued and brought back and a single letter was found in his leather pouch with the caliph’s new seal on
it. The letter was opened: it requested Abdullah to arrest the ringleader and put them to death on their
return.
The rebels were furious they turned around and rode hard to Madina. The rebels from Kufa and Basra also
joined them. Hazrat Ali once again agreed to arbitrate. Hazrat Usman denied all knowledge of the letter but
freely admitted that slave was from his household. The rebels now feared for their lives if they left Madina
with the caliph still in place. Hazrat Usman did not agree to step down from the office of caliph. He however
refused to call the army to flight his fellow Muslims.
The rebels besieged the Khalifa in his house. They did not allow food and water to reach him. Hazrat Ali
deputed his sons, Hassan and Hussain and Zubair sent his son Abdullah to protect Hazrat Usman. The siege
lasted for fifty days . the rebels received the news that an elite force dispatched from Syria was 120 km
away from Madina they decided to act. They attacked ‘Uthman’s house that was bravely defended by Hasan
and Muhammad (Ali and Talha’s sons) who were wounded. ‘Uthman had instructed his household not to
resist the rebels as he was their only target and they meekly laid down their arms. Marwan and his troops
did put up a resistance and managed to push back a band of rebels. However, Marwan was seriously
wounded and the rebels led by Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr reached the caliph as the Friday prayer was being
called out. ‘Uthman was alone in his room with his wife Naila reading the Qur’an when the rebel’s sword
blade pierced him. As his body lay on the ground one of the assassins pierced his shirt nine times and his
wife Naila threw herself on him to protect his body from any further indignity.
Hazrat Ali (R.A)
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In year 660, a year of two oaths: first, A Muslim army from the Syrian garrison toured the Arabian Peninsula,
forcing the inhabitants of Makkah and Madina and the people of Yemen to swear loyalty to Muawiya at the
point of the sword. This was speedily followed by a counter march by the men from the garrison of Kufawho
though unable to intercept Muawiya’s army supervised another oath of allegiance to the legitimate Caliph,
Hazrat Ali. Eventually, the Islamic state was split as Muawiya established his rule over Syria, Egypt, and
Palestine whereas Hazrat Ali R.A as Caliph ruled Iraq, Arabia, Persia and Central Asia.
The incident of the two oaths of loyalty being imposed upon the Muslims disgusted many believers and also
aroused an angry reaction from three Kharijis, who at the conclusion of Hajj that year, met and vowed that
they would act against this. Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Amr ibn Muljam, a Kharijite from Egypt eas appointed to kill Hazrat
Ali to avenge the deaths Kharijite leaders in the battle of Nahrawan.
On Friday, 19 Ramadan, 40 AH 661 AD Ali entered Kufa’s mosque to perform the morning prayer. Ibn Muljam wounded
Ali on the "crown of his head" by a poisoned sword . He fled and was caught near the gates of Kinda by 'Uwaymir',
but could finally escape through the crowd. Later, Ibn Muljam was caught by Mughlra ibn Nawfal .
Ali ordered that if he died from the wound, Ibn Muljam had to be executed in retaliation.Ali died two days
later on 21 Ramadan 661 AD at the age of 62 or 63, and Ibn Muljam was killed in retaliation (Qisas) by Hasan
ibn Ali, in accordance with Ali's instruction. Hazrat Ali was buried in Najaf, in Iraq.

3(b) In your opinion what lesson(s) can be learnt from the martyrdom of ‘Umar? [4]
‘Umar was a man of strong faith and principles and always remained firm in what he believed to be right
and did not waver from what he thought to be the correct and just course of action.
that he was killed by Abu Lulu who was disgruntled by his decision to not relieve him from the payment of
a tax. The lessons that Muslims learn from this tragic event could be given that leaders sometimes have to
take unpopular decisions which could cause them difficulty but they must never opt to take the easy
option rather they should do what is right; they must not shy away from their responsibilities for the sake
of personal safety etc.

4(a) Write an account of the campaign led by Abu Bakr against the tribes refusing to pay
zakat. [10]
Marking scheme:
Some tribes went back on their pledged allegiance to the Prophet and refused to pay zakat. In answering this question
candidates could say why these tribes reneged on their pledge and how the caliph dealt with the tribes on the issue
of nonpayment of zakat. It could be said that he called the Shura to discuss this matter who advised him to not take
action against the rebelling tribes at the time. His response to the Shura and the delegates who had come to ask for
exemption could be written about in some detail in order to develop the answer. Also, an account of the attack
launched by the tribes and Abu Bakr’s counter attack repulsing the tribes could be given in the answer. The eventual
defeat of these tribes at Abraq by Abu Bakr could also be written about. Candidates could say that once the main army
returned from Syria, Abu Bakr led the force personally and defeated the tribes which resulted in them sending
delegates to Madina not only offering their allegiance to the caliph but also expressing their willingness to pay zakat.
How to answer:

Answer [Learn and write]:

Refusal to pay Zakat
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• At that time, many tribes such as Banu Asad, Banu Ghatafan, Banu Abbas, Banu Murrah and other
surrounded in Madina. After the conquest of Makkah when other tribes in Arabia accepted Islam,
These tribes also offered allegiance to Islam. This allegiance was based on diplomacy rather than on
faith and conviction of heart. They regarded Islam as a matter of personal allegiance to the Holy
Prophet (P.B.U.H) which, they thought, ended with his death.
• Soon after Usamah’s army left for Syria and the defense of Madina was weaker. These tribes sent a
deputation to Hazrat Abu Bakr with the proposal that with the passing away of the Holy Prophet
(P.B.U.H), their agreement with Islam had ended and it was necessary that the authorities at Madina
should make a fresh agreement with them. They said that they would remain on friendly terms with
the authorities at Madinah provided they were relieved of the obligation to pay Zakat.
• Abu Bakr was very strict on this point. He argued that Zakat being a fundamental pillar of Islam had
to be paid. Addressing the delegates, he said, “If with reference to Zakat, you withhold even as
much as a string to tie a camel, as the Khalifa of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H), it will be my duty to
fight for it, whatever be the consequences”.
• When Hazrat Abu Bakr rejected the demand of the tribes to exempt them from the payment of Zakat
they decided to leave Islam rather than surrender to the authority at Madinah. They decided to
launch an attack on Madinah when the main Muslim army was away in Syria. These tribes, one night,
launched an attack on Madina and met with some initial success but the Muslims under the
command of Hazrat Abu Bakr rallied and in a counter attack defeated the tribes. Driven away from
Madina, the tribes gathered at Dhu Qissa which was at little distance from Madina. Hazrat Abu Bakr
marched there as the head of a Muslim force and launched an attack against them. After some
resistance, the tribes broke rank and retreated to Abraq.
• When the main Muslim army under Usama returned from the Syria successfully, Hazrat Abu bakr
marched at its head and proceeded to Abraq. The tribes were defeated, and their lands were
confiscated by the Muslims. This was a significant moment in the caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr as
after this victory the tribes sent their delegates to Madina and not only offered allegiance to the
caliph but expressed their willingness to pay Zakat as well.

4(b) How important in your view was this campaign against the tribes refusing to pay zakat? [4]
These tribes threatened the uniqueness and unity of Islam by denying one of the fundamental pillars of
Islam. Therefore it was crucial to take steps against these tribes because exemption from Zakat would have
altered the faith. Abu Bakr realized that Zakat is the right of poor Muslims which Allah has granted them; if
the rich were not willing to pay zakat then it was state responsibility to get the right of the poor from the
rich. If Abu Bakr had not taken action other tribes could have made different demands e.g. exemption
from fasting, asking to make alcohol lawful. Islam would not have remained in its original form.

5(a) Write a detailed account of the following: [10]

● ihram;
● tawaf ; and
● sa’i
Marking scheme:
Before reaching miqat pilgrims must be in ihram which is to be in a state of ritual purity. It is for men dressing
in two pieces of white seamless garments and for women it is their ordinary daily clothes which cover them
completely, besides their faces and hands that constitutes their ihram. Before donning the ihram pilgrims
need to bathe, remove unwanted hair, trim their nails, and perform wudu. Men’s heads should be uncovered
and their footwear should not cover the ankle bone. Development of ihram would constitute candidates
writing about some or many of its restrictions.
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Tawaf means going around the Ka’ba anti clockwise seven times. [Repeated]

Sa’i starts from Safa and ends at Marwa. Safa to Marwa is one round and Marwa to Safa the second. During
each round men run the distance between the two green pillars following the practise of the Prophet. Dhikr
of God should be continued during the seven rounds. Before the start of Sa’i intention to perform it is made.
Some candidates could write about why Sa’i is performed and write about its history mentioning Hajar and
Ismail.
How to answer:

Answer [Learn and write]:

Ihram:
Before reaching miqat pilgrims must be in ihram which is to be in a state of ritual purity. It is for men dressing
in two pieces of white seamless garments and for women it is their ordinary daily clothes which cover them
completely, besides their faces and hands that constitutes their ihram. Before donning the ihram pilgrims
need to bathe, remove unwanted hair, trim their nails, and perform wudu. Men’s heads should be uncovered
and their footwear should not cover the ankle bone. It removes signs of distinction and makes all pilgrims
appear equal. In the state of ihram the pilgrims comes under particular restrictions of conduct, such as no
cutting of hair or nails, not using perfume, not covering the face , no fighting etc
Ihram is of three kinds. Qiran (Combining both Umrah and Hajj). Tamatt’u (combining both Hajj and Umrah
with a break in between). Ifrad (Hajj only). All these three kinds are legitimate.

Tawaf (Repeated)

Sayi is walking briskly seven times between Safa and Marwa hills. Sayi is commenced from Safa and ends
at Marwa. The commandment about Sayi is contained in the Quran: “Behold! Safa and Marwa are among
the symbols of Allah. So if those who visit the house in the season or at other times, should compass them
round…..” (2:158)
The pilgrim should first climb on the Safa hill. It is not necessary to climb to the top of the hill. He should
climb to such a height only as would afford a view of the Kaaba. After descending from Safa, the pilgrim
should move towards Marwa and, thereafter, walk briskly between the two hills. Only men are required to
walk briskly. Women may walk at their normal pace. HazratHajra, wife of Hazrat Ibrahim, ran several times
between these two hills in search of water for her infant son, Ismail. Sayi is performed in memory of this act.
This ritual shows respect for maternal love and gratitude to Allah.

5(b) What is the significance of the Black Stone (Hajr al Aswad) to Muslims? [4]
Muslims believe that an angel brought the stone to Hazrat Ibrahim when he was building the Ka’ba.
Throughout history because of natural disasters the Ka’ba has been destroyed and rebuilt many times but
the Hajr al Aswad has always remained as a reminder of the origin of the Ka’ba.
it is significant also because it is the only part remaining from the original structure that was built by
Ibrahim. one is identifying with Ibrahim, when one touches it or raises one’s hand towards it, who is the
spiritual father of monotheism and that by touching it and kissing it a Muslim is following the Sunna of the
Prophet.
M/J 2019 (21)
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3(a) Outline the reasons for the unrest against ‘Uthman and write an account of the
rebellion in Madina that led to his martyrdom. (10)
Marking scheme:
The years 651 to 656 were the years of trouble for the third caliph of Islam. In their answer,
candidates have to give the reasons for the unrest against ‘Uthman. The main charges against him
that could be given are:
• Appointment of relatives and clan members in important posts of government;
• Leniency shown to them in both their personal and professional conduct;
• Burning of the copies of the Qur’an; and
• Spending from the public treasury on his relatives.
Candidates need to develop these charges. Some may well give reasons to say whether they were justified
or not in their discussion, which should be seen as development of the response.

They also need to write an account of the rebellion in Madina against him that led to his martyrdom. For
the second part of the answer it could be said that three columns of men left their garrison cities apparently
for pilgrimage. Upon reaching Madina they set up camp, they were armed. The rebels sent their
deputations to the three most respected members of the inner council of Companions still alive. Their
reaction followed by what ensued should be included in the answer. The response should also include the
rebels’ return after having their demand met by ‘Uthman and their return to Madina after intercepting a
letter supposedly from the caliph to the governor of Egypt to put the rebels to death upon their return etc.
The siege of the caliph’s house and the events that led to his martyrdom should all be given in the answer
as well.

How to answer:

Answer [Learn and write]:

Reasons of unrest:
The first half of Hazrat Usman’s Caliphate was very peaceful. During that time, the Muslims attained
many victories. However, the years 651 to 656 were the years of trouble for the third caliph of Islam
due to following reasons.
• One of the main allegations against Hazrat Usman was that he had appointed his inefficient
relatives as governors. His reason for doing this was to ensure loyalty towards himself and to
secure the unity of the empire. But to many Muslims, this action appeared to be favoring his own
family unfairly.
• Hazrat Usman (R.A) was very gentle and soft hearted person. The people who wanted to create
chaos among the Muslims took advantages of his soft nature. He sometimes overlooked the faults
of his governors and other officers in various provinces. His sympathetic nature also made the
provincial governors to ignore his orders. It was also alleged that he was too lenient and did not
keep a check on his governors.
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• When he burnt the false copies of the Quran which had been gathered from the different parts of the
empire, when he circulated the official version prepared by Zaid Ibn Sabit, (this has been known as the
“uthmanic version” ever since). He was condemned for destroying the Word of Allah, though he may
have intended to ensure that only the correct version should be read.
• He was alleged to make unreasonable expenditure from Bait ul Maal on his relatives. His uncle
Hakam bin Aaas was given one lac dirhams from the public treasury. Similarly, his cousin Marwan
bin Hakam was given 1/5th of the spoils of war from North Africa. He decided to allocate to his
governors the wealth amassed in the campaigns (spoils), rather than divide it between the fighting
men themselves.

Events of Revolt (Rebellion in Madina)

In 656 the protesters fulfilled their plans with admirable speed and efficiency. Three columns of men
apparently on their way to Makkah for the pilgrimage left the garrison cities of Kufa, Basra and Egypt. Once
they reached Madina they made separate bases in their accustomed camping grounds on the dry riverbeds that
surrounded the oasis. There was no violence, but the arrival of the armed men shocked the population into a
renewed support of the old caliph.
The rebels sent deputations to the three most respected members of the inner council of the companions Hazrat
Ali , Talha and Zubair however Abdur Rehman bin Awf was no longer alive. At first the companions rebuked
the rebels for coming armed, and uncalled for, to the holy city and refused to have anything to do with them.
As the deadlock intensified, Hazrat Ali agreed to act as the intermediary and advised Hazrat Usman that the
unpopular Abdullah bin Saad should be removed from the governorship of Egypt as this would be sufficiently
generous compromise and would send the rebels back. This policy was also backed by Hazrat Aisha who
argued for Amr to be reinstated. The rebels however, insisted the Muhammad bin Abu Bakr be made the
governor. The caliph reluctantly agreed, and the rebels prepared to march home.
Three days into their march back, the rebels force from Egypt was overtaken by an African slave. He was
pursued and brought back and a single letter was found in his leather pouch with the caliph’s new seal on it.
The letter was opened: it requested Abdullah to arrest the ringleader and put them to death on their return.
The rebels were furious they turned around and rode hard to Madina. The rebels from Kufa and Basra also
joined them. Hazrat Ali once again agreed to arbitrate. Hazrat Usman denied all knowledge of the letter but
freely admitted that slave was from his household. The mystery surrounding the letter has never been solved
but its effect hardened the battle lines, for the rebels now feared for their lives if they left Madina with the
caliph still in place.
Hazrat Usman promised to listen to the grievance of the rebels and addressed them but he did not agree to
step down from the office of caliph. He however refused to call the army to flight his fellow Muslims.
Eventually the rebels entered his house and killed him when he was reciting the Quran.

3(b) ‘Umar and ‘Uthman stood by what they believed to be just and were martyred for
the position they took. Can lessons be learnt from their martyrdom? [4]
Hazrat ‘Umar went about conducting the affairs of the caliphate even though there was a threat to his life,
he did not increase the security around him, nor did he succumb to the demands of Abu Lulu who
threatened his life for not relieving him from paying a tax. Similarly Hazrat Usman did not surrender to the
rebels even at the cost of his life.
Muslims today should learn from Hazrat ‘Umar’s and Hazrat Usman’s actions and have complete faith in
Allah and believe that only He is the giver and taker of life. Leaders sometimes have to take unpopular
decisions which could cause them difficulty but they must never opt to take the easy option rather they
should do what is right; they must not shy away from their responsibilities for the sake of personal safety
etc. They must not give in to unjust demands of people and work honestly at whatever they do.