COMSATS University Islamabad

HUM110 Islamic Studies

Terminal Examinations
FA20
Hybrid Course

Time: 3 Hours Total Marks: 50

Student Name: Muhammad Ahmed _

Registration Number: SP19-BBA-032-B _
Campus: Lahore Date: 6-Jan-2021
Moderator Name: Shamana Mudassir

Instructions to Students

■ Write your Name, Registration Number, Campus, Date and Moderator’s Name.
■ Mobile phone, digital diaries or any other digital storage medium is not allowed.
■ Type your answers on the same document provided as question paper.
■ Submit the answer sheet via CU Online Console in the given time. No submissions are allowed via email.
■ Attempt all questions.

Declaration: It is here by informed to all examinee that use of unfair means as defined by rules and
regulations is considered as an academic offense of highest nature there is. All examinees found guilty shall
be dealt with in accordance to the statutory rules pertaining to student conduct, discipline and examination.
The University’s decision in all such matters shall be the final binding on all parties.

For Faculty Use Only

Total
Question Q. 1 Q. 2 Q. 3 Q. 4 Q. 5
 COMSATS University Islamabad
Registration#: 032

Question 1[10marks, CLO1-A3]

Why Quran has so much emphasized on the righteous deeds? Discuss with
references. Also, explain the ranks of pious people with the help of example.

Answer: The only path that could lead a person towards perfection and may help him in
his ascend towards God's nearness is obedience to revelations and following the path
shown by the Prophets. the path which they followed themselves has been defined as
mandatory (wajibat) and recommended (Nawafil or Mustahabbat) religious deeds. The
righteous deeds are one of the key concepts of Quran. Allah is the final and supreme
authority; he has planned everything for us from birth to death that he will furnish our life
with all the necessities. To get close to him we must only commit righteous deeds as only
they are accepted deeds near him. Only he knows what’s better for us and we might
sometimes feel that nothing is going right in our life because we are being tested for our
beliefs and must stay on the right path and commit the righteous deeds. Allah says “Know
you not that Allah knows all that is in the heaven and on the earth? Verily, it is (all) in
the Book (Al Lawh Al Mahfooz). Verily, that is easy for Allah”. [Surah Al-Hajj: 70]

There are 4 ranks of pious people which are; Muslim, Momin, Muttaqi and Mohsin. Upon
embracing Islam, a person is called Muslim. When he commits sins sometimes and
performs mandatory Muslim duties, he is called Momin. When the Momin gets Al-Yaqeen
(belief) from Allah (SWT) and with performing all good and mandatory deeds he leaves
sins then he becomes Muttaqqi. When his belief became more and more until it's complete
then he becomes Moshin. One of the qualities of Mohsin are that they swallow their anger.
One example is when the Maid of Hazrat Ali Bin Hussain (RA) dropped a container of hot
water on his head, she got scared that he might punish her but instead he forgave her,
indicating he’s a true Mohsin.

Question 2[10marks, CLO2-A4]

How earning can be an act of worship? Explain briefly.

Answer: Earning can be an act of worship if he what we earn is halal i.e., earned in a
lawful way which is acceptable near Allah, and spent for his sake. When earning we should
keep in mind that earning through unethical and unlawful ways will lands us in hell, we
should always keep in mind the day of judgement and what will happen if we don’t live
according to Allah’s will. Prophet (PBUH) said that: "If he is working to support his
 small children, then it is for the sake of Allah. If he is working to support his elderly
parents, then it is for the sake of Allah. If he is working to occupy himself and keep his
desires in check, then it is for the sake of Allah. If, on the other hand, he is doing so to
show off and earn fame, then he is working for the sake of Satan." We should realize
our purpose of life that is not just earning money but earning it in such a way that pleases
Allah and the doors of paradise are opened for us. Prophet (PBUH) also said that: A man's
work with his hand, and every business transaction which is approved.” [At-Tirmidhi,
2783]. One should always go for halal earning, Allah said that rizq will always reach us to
the ends of the earth just like death, for we cannot escape from both. By earning halal, you
are feeding your children, wife and parents, you are also helping them from stop eating
haram and thus stop piling into their bad deeds. Haram earning will surely land you to hell
and halal is the way to go if you seek pleasure of Allah.

Question 3[10marks, CLO2-A4]

Differentiate between test and punishment with the help of suitable examples and
references from hadith.

Answer: In our life we find ourselves facing a lot of hardships, calamities and
afflictions, we wonder what might we have done wrong to displease Allah. We as Muslims
must be able to distinguish between test and punishments. It is fairly simple but is lost sight
of. Punishments, are mainly cause of certain sinful and unlawful acts done by an individual,
everyday we are absorbed in the worldly desires, our greed and lust take the better of us.
We do not realize what we are doing is even right or wrong, maybe we do realize it decide
to ignore it. The calamities befall upon us because of these acts, sins have almost become a
daily part of most individual’s life and have been normalized. There have been many
nations who were destroyed by Allah through natural disasters because they refused to
mend their ways. Allah has said in Quran that: “Whatever of good reaches you, is from
Allah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself…” (Al-Nisa 4:79).
We also come across many people, who despite having led sinful lives, are seen living a
life devoid of suffering and hardships as they continue to live in extravagance and worldly
comforts. That, in essence, is not a blessing but a curse; Allah (SWT) adorns them with all
worldly treasures and comforts and lets them commit sins freely in this world without any
redemption up until the day of judgment, where they will have to pay for each and every
evil deed committed. Allah also said that: “If Allah intends good for His slave then He
hastens his punishment in this world, and if Allah prescribes evil for His slave, then
Allah holds back his sins until He recompenses them for him on the Day of
Judgment.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2396)

Allah test us because he wants to see how much we believe in Allah and his prophets and
how strong is our faith. Allah (SWT) tests individuals to re-affirm our faith and bring them
us towards the realm of Islam. He puts us in various situations, difficulty and comfort alike,
in order to assess our dedication to Islam. He tries us so that we may turn to Him and seek
His help above all else. These trials are a mean to strengthen one’s faith in Allah (SWT)
and submitting to His Divine will. These trials are aimed at removing our sins and evil
deeds during the course of this lifetime. These trials may come in the form of loss, sorrow,
 injuries, and all sorts of calamities which are Allah’s (SWT) way of cleaning our slate of
sins. The prophet said: “If Allah loves a people, He tries them, and whoever has
patience will have patience, and whoever is anxious will be anxious.” (Reported by al-
Imam Ahmad; Saheeh al-Jami’, 1706).

Question 4[10marks, CLO3-A1]

Teachings of the Holy Prophet laid the foundations of a new and revolutionary
world order. Share your views regarding this in detail.

Answer: The life of the Holy Prophet is a role model for everyone, Prophet (PBUH) is
the source of light and guidance which can lead us completely. There have been many
scholars and philosophers born in the world but none were as great as him. Allah had sent
many of his passengers to guide the mankind, and people were waiting for the final Prophet
for centuries which ended with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). His shariah was regarded as
the last and absolute message, and others were abolished because they had been altered
throughout the passage of time.
Among his many reforms, he allowed freedom of religion to everyone, he did not forcibly
convert anyone to Muslims, in his time he allowed people of all religions to pray in their
religious places without any consequence which laid the foundation of tolerance towards
others religions not only by Muslims but people from every religion to the other’s religion.
He said to Muslims regarding non-Muslims: “No compulsion is to be on them; No one is
to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the
Muslims’ houses; they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they
hate”.
Pre-Islamic Arab society had racial biases against non-Arabs just as American society had
up till the 1960’s. The Prophet managed to purify these primitive sentiments by his
personal example. His closest companions Bilal bin Riba (an Abyssinian) and Salman Farsi
(a Persian) were both former slaves who went on to command enormous respect in the first
Muslim society. In his famous last sermon, the Prophet declared “a white has no
superiority over black, nor does a black over a white, except by piety and good
action”.
The Prophet famously declared that “learning is obligatory upon every Muslim man and
woman” and that “he who gives the best upbringing and education to his daughters
shall enter paradise.” He encouraged all of his followers to acquire education and be able
to read and write so they can transmit the message of Quran. He said that; “seek knowledge
even if one needs to go to China.”
He also laid the foundations of war, he strictly mentioned that; “You must not mutilate
dead bodies. Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man. Bring no harm to
the trees, nor burn them with fire, especially those which are fruitful. Slay not any of
the enemy's flock, save for your food”.
Question 5[10marks, CLO3-A1]
Compare the reasons of decline of Abbasid with the reasons of decline of Umayyad.
Do you think that both repeated the same mistakes? Elaborate in your own words.

Answer: After the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Islamic world was guided by
Caliphs, the last of whom was Ali [RA] who was Prophet (PBUH)’s son in law. Ali (RA)’s
death split the Muslim world into two with Husain (RA) forming and leading Abbasids
under the premise that only blood descendants of Ali [RA] (he was Ali’s son), while the
Umayyads came to be known as Sunnis as they believed that any Muslim could become a
leader of the Islamic world. Umayyad Dynasty ruled for nearly 100 years from 661 to 750
AD, Abbasid Dynasty, that overthrew Umayyad Dynasty, ruled for nearly 500 years (750
AD to 1258 AD). Abbasid Dynasty was in turn overthrown by the Mongols in 1258 AD.

The main reason of the decline of the Umayyads was their lavish and wealthy life styles,
the lifestyles of the elite Umayyad Arabs were considered by many in army to be outside
the faith of Islam, given Prophet (PBUH) message about Social justice, equality, and
helping the poor. Furthermore, Many Arab soldiers were growing tired of being posted on
the frontier of the empire year after year. Revolts began. The final rebellion by soldiers in
the northeast corner of the empire led to the overthrow and murder of most of the Umayyad
clan by Abu al-Abbas who became the founder of Abbasid Caliphate.

Abbasids too due to their lavish lifestyles faced their downfall. Their decadent lifestyle and
considering themselves above the Islamic law made them vulnerable. The very processes
that led to the rise of the early Islamic empire, its elites, and its cultural forms resulted in its
collapse. When Mongols attacked them, there was no one who would go to perform Hajj.
People were busy in their lavish lifestyle. People who do not learn from history, history
makes them lessons for the others. Abbasids left the Quran and Sunnah and they died out
completely in the history.

Both Umayyads and Abbasids made the same mistakes, both were busy tending to their
own lives, they lived selfishly, forgot the teachings taught by the Prophet (PBUH) and
Allah (SWT). They considered themselves above the Islamic law and did whatever they
wanted. After committing all these sins, it was inevitable that punishment would befall
upon them and it did. Both dynasties started in the name of Allah and ironically forgot his
teachings and perished.

Good Luck
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