2026 IJMB IRS paper

 

QUESTIONS

SECTION A: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

1. Examine the activities and contributions of Umar al-Khattaab (R.A) before his accession to Caliph.
2. Evaluate the factors responsible for the rejection of Islam by the Quraysh at its inception.
3. Assess the activities and contributions of Ali Abi Talib before becoming the Caliph.
4. Provide the meaning of the following terms and relate the aims of Shariah:
   i. Shari'ah
   ii. The primary sources: the Qur'an and Sunnah
   iii. The secondary sources: Ijma' Qiyas and Ijtihad.

SECTION B: ISLAMIC CIVILISATION

5. Explain the following nature of Salat:
   i. Salat al-Istisqa
   ii. Salat al-Khusuf: shams and Qamar.
6. Examine the prerequisite conditions for the performance of Hajj and highlight on the various places of Miqat.
7. Highlight the area of specialization and contributions of the following Muslim scholars:
   i. Jabir Ibn Hayyan
   ii. Muhammad Ibn Musa al-Khawarizmi (al-Gorizm)
   iii. Al Kindi
   iv. Al-Razi
   v. al-Farabi
   vi. Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi (Abulcasis)
   vii. Ibn Sina
   viii. Abu Marwan Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar)
   ix. Ibn Khaldun.
8. Examine the concept of Zakat al-fitr and its regulations.

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ANSWERS

1. Activities and contributions of Umar al-Khattaab (R.A) before his accession to Caliph

1. Initially a fierce opponent of Islam who persecuted Muslims before his conversion.
2. Conversion to Islam strengthened the Muslim community, giving them courage to worship openly.
3. Participated actively in major battles alongside the Prophet (Badr, Uhud, Khandaq, etc.).
4. Served as a close advisor/companion to the Prophet, known for sound judgement.
5. Played a key role in advising Abu Bakr's selection as first Caliph after the Prophet's death.
6. Contributed to consultations (shura) during Abu Bakr's caliphate.
7. Known for his firmness, justice, and dedication to Islamic principles even before leadership.

2. Factors responsible for the rejection of Islam by the Quraysh at its inception

1. Threat to ancestral religion and idol worship practised at the Ka'aba.
2. Economic fears — concern that pilgrimage-based trade to idols would decline.
3. Loss of social status and leadership positions held by Quraysh elites.
4. Pride and arrogance — refusal to follow a message from a fellow tribesman (Muhammad).
5. Rejection of monotheism which challenged deeply rooted polytheistic traditions.
6. Fear of loss of political power and influence over Meccan society.
7. Opposition to Islam's message of equality, which threatened existing social hierarchies.
8. Influence of tribal loyalty and pressure from clan leaders to resist change.

3. Activities and contributions of Ali Abi Talib before becoming Caliph

1. One of the earliest converts to Islam, raised in the Prophet's household.
2. Served as the Prophet's scribe, recording revelations and correspondence.
3. Demonstrated bravery in battles including Badr, Uhud, and Khandaq.
4. Married Fatimah, the Prophet's daughter, strengthening family ties to the Prophet.
5. Known for his knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and Qur'anic interpretation.
6. Served as an advisor during the caliphates of Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman.
7. Trusted with sensitive missions due to his wisdom and loyalty.

4. Meaning of terms and aims of Shariah
i. Shari'ah — the complete code of Islamic law derived from divine revelation, governing all aspects of a Muslim's religious, moral, and social life.

ii. Primary sources:

• Qur'an — the literal word of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad, the foremost source of Islamic law.
• Sunnah — the sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad, serving as practical explanation of the Qur'an.

iii. Secondary sources:

• Ijma' — consensus of Muslim scholars on matters not explicitly addressed in the Qur'an or Sunnah.
• Qiyas — analogical reasoning, applying principles from existing rulings to new situations.
• Ijtihad — independent scholarly reasoning/effort to derive legal rulings on emerging issues.

Aims of Shari'ah: to preserve religion, life, intellect, lineage, and property, ensuring justice and welfare for individuals and society.

5. Nature of Salat
i. Salat al-Istisqa — a special prayer performed to seek Allah's mercy for rainfall during drought, offered in congregation with supplication for rain.

ii. Salat al-Khusuf: shams and Qamar:

• Khusuf (Qamar) — prayer performed during a lunar eclipse.
• Kusuf (Shams) — prayer performed during a solar eclipse.
  Both prayers remind believers of Allah's power over creation and are performed in congregation with extended prostrations.

6. Prerequisite conditions for Hajj and places of Miqat
Prerequisite conditions:

1. Being a Muslim.
2. Being of sound mind (Aql).
3. Reaching puberty (Bulugh).
4. Physical and financial capability (Istita'ah) — health and means to travel and sustain family.
5. Freedom (not being enslaved).
6. For women, availability of a Mahram (male guardian) for the journey.

Places of Miqat (boundary points where pilgrims enter ihram):

1. Dhul-Hulayfah — for pilgrims from Madinah.
2. Al-Juhfah — for pilgrims from Syria/Egypt/North Africa.
3. Qarn al-Manazil — for pilgrims from Najd.
4. Yalamlam — for pilgrims from Yemen.
5. Dhat 'Irq — for pilgrims from Iraq.

7. Area of specialization and contributions of Muslim scholars
i. Jabir Ibn Hayyan — father of chemistry; pioneered systematic experimental methods, distillation, and crystallization processes.

ii. Muhammad Ibn Musa al-Khawarizmi (al-Khwarizmi) — mathematician/astronomer; father of algebra, developed algorithmic methods and introduced Hindu-Arabic numerals to the West.

iii. Al-Kindi — philosopher; first major Islamic philosopher, contributed to philosophy, mathematics, medicine, and music theory, and worked to reconcile philosophy with Islamic theology.

iv. Al-Razi (Rhazes) — physician; pioneered clinical medicine, distinguished smallpox from measles, wrote extensively on pediatrics and pharmacology.

v. Al-Farabi — philosopher; known as "the Second Teacher" (after Aristotle), contributed to logic, political philosophy, and metaphysics.

vi. Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi (Abulcasis) — surgeon; father of modern surgery, developed surgical instruments and techniques still referenced today.

vii. Ibn Sina (Avicenna) — physician/philosopher; authored "The Canon of Medicine," a standard medical text used for centuries in the East and West.

viii. Abu Marwan Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar) — physician; pioneered clinical trials, dissection, and experimental surgery, contributed to pharmacology.

ix. Ibn Khaldun — historian/sociologist; father of sociology and historiography, authored the "Muqaddimah," analyzing societal and economic development.

8. Concept of Zakat al-fitr and its regulations

1. Definition — a compulsory charity given at the end of Ramadan before Eid prayer, purifying the fasting person from indecent acts/speech and helping the poor celebrate Eid.
2. Obligatory on every Muslim — young or old, male or female, free or enslaved, provided they have surplus food beyond their needs.
3. Head of household pays on behalf of dependents.
4. Payable in staple food items (or cash equivalent, per some scholars) — a specific measure (Sa') per person.
5. Timing — must be paid before the Eid prayer; paying after is considered ordinary charity, not Zakat al-fitr.
6. Recipients — primarily the poor and needy, to enable them to celebrate Eid.
7. Purpose — purification of the fasting person and provision for the less privileged in the community.