Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat: Major Themes of the Qur'an — Revision Notes (0493)

These notes cover Paper 1 Question 1 of Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat 0493, Major Themes of the Qur’an. The syllabus sets fifteen passages in three groups: Allah in Himself, Allah’s relationship with the created world, and Allah’s Messengers. In the exam three passages are printed in Arabic and English and you answer on two, explaining the main theme of each and its importance in the lives of Muslims today. Each passage below is summarised with its theme and the points to use.

Syllabus coverage

0493 Paper 1, Topic 1: Major themes of the Qur’an (syllabus for examination in 2026 and 2027)

• The major theme or themes of each set passage
• The importance of these themes in the lives of Muslims today
• Study in a recognised English translation with reference to the original Arabic
• Exam format: three passages set, candidates choose two (8 marks for the question)

How to answer a passage question

Each passage answer usually has two parts: (a) describe the main theme(s), and (b) explain why the passage is important to Muslims today. For (a), refer to wording in the passage and link it to the group theme. For (b), give a practical application, such as how belief shapes worship, behaviour or attitude, and support it with another verse or hadith where you can.

Group 1: Allah in Himself

Passage	Main theme	Key points	Importance today
Sura 2.255 (Ayat al-Kursi)	Tawhid: Allah’s unique, eternal and all-powerful nature	Living, self-subsisting; never sleeps; owns all in the heavens and earth; intercession only by His permission; complete knowledge; His Throne extends over all	Recited for protection and after prayers; reminds Muslims Allah is always aware and in control, so they rely on Him
Sura 6.101–103	Allah as Creator, without partner or offspring	Originator of the heavens and earth; has no son or consort; created all things and knows all things; vision cannot grasp Him but He grasps all vision	Rejects shirk; Muslims worship Allah alone and accept that He cannot be pictured
Sura 41.37	Signs of Allah in nature; worship only the Creator	Night and day, sun and moon are signs; do not prostrate to the sun or moon but to Allah who created them	Muslims see the natural world as evidence of Allah and avoid worshipping created things
Sura 42.4–5	Allah’s greatness and mercy	All in the heavens and earth belong to Him; He is Most High; the heavens almost burst; angels glorify Him and ask forgiveness for those on earth; He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful	Encourages awe and hope; Muslims seek forgiveness, knowing even angels pray for them
Sura 112 (al-Ikhlas)	Absolute oneness of Allah	He is One; eternal and absolute; He does not beget, nor is He begotten; none is comparable to Him	A summary of tawhid; often recited in prayer; the Prophet (pbuh) described it as equal to a third of the Qur’an

Group 2: Allah’s relationship with the created world

Passage	Main theme	Key points	Importance today
Sura 1 (al-Fatiha)	Praise, worship and the request for guidance	Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds; Most Gracious, Most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgement; You alone we worship and ask for help; guide us on the straight path	Recited in every unit of salat; a daily reminder of dependence on Allah and the need for guidance
Sura 2.21–22	Allah as Creator and Sustainer	Worship your Lord who created you and those before you; He made the earth a resting place and the sky a canopy; sends rain and brings out fruits; do not set up rivals to Him	Gratitude for provision; care for creation; avoid shirk
Sura 96.1–5	Allah as Creator and Teacher; the first revelation	“Read” in the name of your Lord who created; created humans from a clinging substance; taught by the pen; taught what humans did not know	Importance of seeking knowledge; marks the start of the Prophet’s mission at Hira
Sura 99 (al-Zalzala)	The Day of Judgement and accountability	The earth will shake and bring out its burdens; it will report what happened on it; people will see their deeds; an atom’s weight of good or evil will be seen	Every action counts, so Muslims try to do good and avoid even small wrongs
Sura 114 (al-Nas)	Seeking refuge with Allah from evil	Seek refuge with the Lord, King and God of mankind from the whisperer who withdraws, among jinn and people	Recited for protection; reminds Muslims that Allah protects against temptation

Group 3: Allah’s Messengers

Passage	Main theme	Key points	Importance today
Sura 2.30–37	Creation of Adam; humans as khalifa; repentance	Allah tells angels He will place a vicegerent on earth; teaches Adam the names; angels prostrate except Iblis, who refuses in pride; Adam and his wife are tempted, slip, then repent and Allah accepts repentance	Humans have responsibility for the earth; Allah forgives those who sincerely repent; pride leads to disobedience
Sura 6.75–79	Prophet Ibrahim’s search for the one true God	Ibrahim sees a star, the moon and the sun set and rejects each as his Lord; turns to the Creator of the heavens and earth; refuses to associate partners with Allah	Reason and reflection lead to tawhid; Muslims reject idols and false gods
Sura 5.110	Allah’s favours to Prophet Isa	Strengthened with the holy spirit; spoke in the cradle and in maturity; taught the Book, wisdom, Torah and Gospel; by Allah’s permission made a bird from clay, healed the blind and lepers, raised the dead; protected from the Children of Israel	Isa is a respected prophet; his miracles happened only by Allah’s permission, which supports tawhid
Sura 93 (al-Duha)	Allah’s care for the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)	By the morning light; your Lord has not forsaken you; the hereafter is better; He found you an orphan and sheltered you, wandering and guided you, in need and enriched you; so do not oppress the orphan or turn away the one who asks; proclaim the blessings of your Lord	Comfort in hardship; duty to care for orphans and the poor; gratitude
Sura 108 (al-Kawthar)	Allah’s gift of abundance to the Prophet (pbuh)	We have given you abundance; so pray and sacrifice; the one who hates you is cut off	Comfort against mockery; link to prayer and sacrifice at Eid al-Adha

Worked example

Question: Sura 112. (a) Describe the main theme of this passage. [4] (b) Explain its importance for Muslims today. [4]

Model answer: (a) The sura teaches tawhid, the absolute oneness of Allah. He is One and eternal, the One on whom all depend. He has no children and no parents, which rejects the belief that Allah has a son, and nothing in creation is equal or comparable to Him. (b) Muslims recite it in their prayers, so it reminds them daily to worship Allah alone. It guards them against shirk, including relying on anything other than Allah. The Prophet (pbuh) called it equal to a third of the Qur’an, showing how central belief in one God is to the faith.

Common mistakes and exam traps

• Retelling the passage without stating the theme. Name the theme in your first sentence.
• Giving the same “importance” for every passage. Make the application fit the passage: knowledge for 96.1–5, accountability for 99, repentance for 2.30–37.
• Ignoring the group. Linking a passage to its group theme strengthens part (a).
• Unbalanced answers. Both parts carry marks; do not spend all your time on description.

Frequently asked questions

How many passages must I learn? All fifteen, because any three may be set and you must answer on two of them.

Do I need to quote the Arabic? Passages are printed in Arabic and English. Referring accurately to key words shows knowledge of the original but is not compulsory for every point.

Related pages

• Major Themes of the Qur’an study guide (2058)
• Paper 1 study guide (0493)
• Paper 1 revision notes

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