Islam: Matters of Life and Death | Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B (1RB0)
Islam: Matters of Life and Death
- 95 questions
- 8 subtopics
- Islam, one religion of seven
- Paper 1
Islam: Matters of Life and Death is examined in Paper 1, Area of Study 1: Religion and Ethics, if Islam is the religion studied for that area.
It covers Muslim teaching on the origins and value of the universe, the sanctity of life in Islam, Muslim responses to evolution and scientific views of human life, Muslim attitudes to abortion, Muslim responses to arguments for life after death, Muslim responses to arguments against life after death, Muslim attitudes to euthanasia and Muslim responses to issues in the natural world.
Sample questions from Islam: Matters of Life and Death
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Muslim teaching on the origins and value of the universe
Why do many Muslims believe the Qur'an and science are compatible?
Show the answer
Many Muslims believe truth cannot contradict truth, since Allah is the source of both revelation and nature. The Qur'an repeatedly urges people to reflect on creation. -
The sanctity of life in Islam
How is Surah 4:29 used in Muslim ethics?
Show the answer
Many Muslims cite Surah 4:29 to show that suicide is forbidden. The verse is also used against harming one's own body. -
Muslim responses to evolution and scientific views of human life
How do some Muslims use Surah 21:30–33 to show harmony with science?
Show the answer
Some Muslims see the separating of the heavens and earth as a description of the Big Bang. Surah 21:33 describes the sun and moon each floating in an orbit. -
Muslim attitudes to abortion
Why is the mother's life given priority in Muslim teaching?
Show the answer
The mother is an established life with duties to her family. Scholars apply the principle of choosing the lesser of two harms. -
Muslim responses to arguments for life after death
Why do Muslims find the argument from reward convincing?
Show the answer
Justice requires that the good are rewarded and the wicked punished, which does not always happen in this life. Muslims believe Allah completes justice in the hereafter. -
Muslim responses to arguments against life after death
Why do many Humanists say belief in the afterlife is only a comfort?
Show the answer
Many Humanists argue that people believe in an afterlife because they fear death and want to see loved ones again. Wishing for something does not make it true. -
Muslim attitudes to euthanasia
How does Surah 2:153 guide Muslims facing terminal illness?
Show the answer
Surah 2:153 tells believers to seek help through patience and prayer, for Allah is with the patient. Muslims believe illness borne patiently is rewarded. -
Muslim responses to issues in the natural world
How do Muslims respond to global warming?
Show the answer
Many Muslims see global warming as a result of greed and waste, breaking the trust of khalifah. The Islamic Declaration on Global Climate Change (2015) called on Muslims to act.
The 8 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Muslim teaching on the origins and value of the universe | The Big Bang, Surah 67:1 to 5, the Qur'an and science, the Muslim scholars of the past, the six days of creation, minority distrust of science, and the universe as commodity or trust. | 12 |
| The sanctity of life in Islam | Surah 5:32 on one life, Surah 4:29 in Muslim ethics, why only Allah ends life, the creation of Adam, life as an amanah, care of the body, and when taking life may be accepted. | 11 |
| Muslim responses to evolution and scientific views of human life | Surah 32:4 to 9 on the creation of humans, Surah 21:30 to 33 and harmony with science, Darwin's challenge, survival of the fittest, traditional and fully accepting responses, and the atheist view of human origins. | 11 |
| Muslim attitudes to abortion | Ensoulment and when most scholars place it, the foetus in Sahih al-Bukhari 55:549, the mother's life, Sunni schools and Shi'a scholars, Surah 6:151, the Abortion Act 1967, and Humanist and situation ethics arguments. | 12 |
| Muslim responses to arguments for life after death | Surah 28:60 to 61 on this life and the hereafter, Qarun's story and the balance of Surah 28:77, the reward and logic arguments, remembered lives, mediums and ghosts, near-death experiences, and reunion in paradise. | 12 |
| Muslim responses to arguments against life after death | Surah 45:22 to 28 on deniers, justice and the Day, the comfort, lack of evidence, fraud and social control arguments with Muslim replies, and why Muslims reject them. | 12 |
| Muslim attitudes to euthanasia | Active and passive, voluntary and non-voluntary, Surah 2:153 to 156 for the terminally ill, the value of suffering at life's end, withdrawing treatment, hospice care, Humanist arguments, and a Muslim doctor's response. | 12 |
| Muslim responses to issues in the natural world | Khalifah and stewardship, mizan, pollution, global warming and natural resources, Muslim environmental action, animal rights, food, stunning before slaughter, vegetarianism, and animal experiments. | 13 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 5,266 questions with their answers.