Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat: Major Teachings in the Hadiths — Revision Notes (0493)

These revision notes condense Paper 2 Question 1 of Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat 0493, Major Teachings in the Hadiths of the Prophet. For each of the twenty set Hadiths you get a short label to recognise it, its core teaching, and a practical application for Muslims today, which are the two things every answer must contain.

Syllabus coverage

0493 Paper 2, Topic 1 (2026–2027 syllabus): twenty Hadiths from the Sahih collections of al-Bukhari and Muslim, in two groups (individual conduct; life in the community). Four are set; you answer on two (8 marks), explaining what they teach about belief and action.

Quick-reference table

Short label	Core teaching	Application today
Religion is sincerity	Sincere loyalty to Allah, His Book, His Messenger, leaders and people	Pure intention in worship; honest advice to leaders and friends
Want for your brother	Faith includes wishing others the good you want	No envy; fair dealing; sharing opportunities
Speak good or be silent	Faith shows in speech and hospitality	Avoid gossip and insults; welcome guests; help neighbours
Obligatory duties enough for paradise	Keeping the basics and the halal/haram limits leads to paradise	Prioritise salat and sawm; religion is not made too hard
Every joint owes charity daily	Charity includes justice, help, kind words, steps to prayer, clearing the road	Small daily good deeds, such as picking up litter
Change evil with hand, tongue, heart	Duty to oppose wrongdoing according to ability	Report bullying; speak out; at least reject wrong inwardly
Most excellent person strives with self and wealth	Striving in Allah’s way with effort and money	Volunteer, donate, work for good causes
Many kinds of martyr	Martyrdom is broader than death in battle	Comfort to the bereaved; Allah’s generosity
Food from the work of your hand	Honest work is honourable	Earn halal income; avoid begging if able to work
Caring for the widow and poor	Equal in reward to striving and voluntary worship	Support charities, help elderly neighbours
Bringing up an orphan	Closeness to the Prophet (pbuh) in paradise	Sponsor or foster orphans; kindness to fatherless children
Be gentle, do not alienate	Leaders and teachers should make religion easy	Patient teaching; gentle da’wa
Qur’an like tethered camels	Knowledge of the Qur’an must be maintained	Regular recitation and revision
Kindly in selling, buying, demanding	Gentleness and fairness in trade	Honest pricing; patience with debtors
No mercy for the merciless	Mercy to others brings Allah’s mercy	Kindness to people and animals
Believers like one body	Unity and shared feeling in the Ummah	Help Muslims suffering anywhere
Modesty brings only good	Haya protects from sin	Modest dress, speech and behaviour
Mustard seed of faith or pride	Small faith saves; small pride condemns	Humility; respect for all
World is the believer’s prison	Life is a test; reward lies in the hereafter	Patience in hardship; self-control
Allah looks at hearts and deeds	Intention and action matter, not looks or wealth	Judge others by character; check one’s own intentions

Supporting verses and links

• Charity and helping others: Qur’an 2.177 describes righteousness as including giving wealth to relatives, orphans, the needy and travellers.
• Orphans: Sura 93 (a Paper 1 set passage) tells the Prophet (pbuh) not to oppress the orphan.
• Speech: Qur’an 49.11–12 forbids mockery, suspicion and backbiting.
• Unity of believers: Qur’an 49.10, “The believers are but a single brotherhood.”
• Commanding good and forbidding evil: Qur’an 3.104.

Worked example

Hadith: “None of you believes until he wants for his brother what he wants for himself.”

Teaching (4): This Hadith teaches that true faith is not complete unless a Muslim cares about others as much as about himself. “Brother” includes fellow Muslims and, by wider understanding, all people. It rules out envy, selfishness and cheating, since no one wants to be cheated. Faith is therefore shown in relationships, not only in worship.

Application (4): A student who hopes to succeed in exams should be glad to help a classmate revise rather than hide notes. A trader should sell goods of the quality he would expect to buy. Muslims can share food and opportunities, and pray for others’ good. This supports the Qur’anic teaching that the believers are one brotherhood (49.10).

Common mistakes and exam traps

• Translating, not explaining. Repeating the English text earns little; explain what it means.
• Weak applications. “Muslims should follow this Hadith” is not an application; give an action.
• Mixing up similar Hadiths. The widow-and-poor Hadith and the orphan Hadith teach related but distinct points.
• Running out of time. This question is 8 marks; keep answers focused so you have time for the 14-mark questions.

How is this topic examined?

In Cambridge IGCSE 0493 Paper 2 (1 hour 30 minutes, 50 marks), the set Hadiths is examined by Question 1, which is compulsory: you choose two of the Hadiths printed and answer part (a) on their teaching (4 marks) and part (b) on how Muslims apply them (4 marks). Each answer has a knowledge part and a shorter part asking for understanding or significance, so revise every point with a reason why it matters to Muslims, not just the facts.

Frequently asked questions

Is it acceptable to use the same application for two Hadiths? Avoid it. Each answer should show the particular teaching of that Hadith.

Should I mention the narrator or collection? It is not required for marks, but you can note that the syllabus Hadiths come from al-Bukhari or Muslim.

Related pages

• Major Teachings in the Hadiths study guide
• Paper 2 revision notes
• Paper 2 practice questions

Source: Cambridge International, Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat 0493 syllabus for examination in 2026 and 2027, Paper 2 Topic 1 and Appendix 2.