O Level Islamiyat: Paper 2 (Cambridge 2058)

This guide covers Paper 2, one of two compulsory papers for Cambridge O Level Islamiyat 2058, 2026-2027 series. As confirmed against 2058’s own syllabus PDF, it shares an identical Paper 1 / Paper 2 four-topic structure with Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat 0493. (A version 2 syllabus for the 2028 series has since been published; this page follows the current 2026-2027 document.)

Where this fits in 2058

Paper 1 (not covered in this guide) covers the Qur’an and the life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Paper 2 moves to the Hadiths, the period of rule of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs, and the Articles of Faith and Pillars of Islam. Together the two papers form the whole of 2058 – there is no numbered sub-topic list beyond these four per paper, but the syllabus also prescribes named passages for close study in 2.1, set in both Arabic and English in the examination, so revision should cover those set passages directly rather than relying on the sub-topic list alone.

Syllabus coverage

CAMBRIDGE O LEVEL ISLAMIYAT 2058 — PAPER 2

• 2.1 Major Teachings in the Hadiths of the Prophet — the central teachings recorded in the sayings and practice of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
• 2.2 The History and Importance of the Hadiths — how the Hadiths were preserved, compiled and authenticated, and their significance alongside the Qur’an
• 2.3 The Period of Rule of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and Their Importance as Leaders — the leadership of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, and their significance for the early Muslim community
• 2.4 The Articles of Faith and the Pillars of Islam — the six Articles of Faith and the five Pillars of Islam, and their meaning and practice

How to approach it

As with Paper 1, each paper mixes a compulsory question with a choice from the remainder, so even coverage across all four sub-topics matters more than deep preparation on only one or two. 2.4 is the sub-topic most likely to be under-revised because it feels familiar from general knowledge – treat the Articles of Faith and Pillars of Islam with the same factual rigour as the rest of the paper, naming each one precisely and explaining its significance rather than assuming it needs no revision. For 2.3, build a simple timeline of the four Caliphs in order, with one or two defining events and challenges for each reign, since questions often ask candidates to compare leadership across the period rather than describe one Caliph in isolation. As with 2.2, be ready to explain why the preservation of the Hadiths mattered, not only how it happened.

Official syllabus

Cambridge O Level Islamiyat (2058) syllabus for examination 2026 and 2027, version 1 — cambridgeinternational.org.

The Hadiths: teaching and preservation

The Hadiths are the recorded sayings, actions and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), transmitted alongside the Qur’an as a second source of guidance for Muslims. Where the Qur’an sets out core principles, the Hadiths often provide the practical detail of how those principles were lived out day to day. Their preservation relied on a chain of transmission (isnad) linking each reported saying back to a witness of the Prophet’s life, and later scholars developed rigorous methods to assess the reliability of each chain – this process of authentication is central to why the Hadiths are treated as a trustworthy record.

The Rightly Guided Caliphs

Following the death of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the Muslim community was led in succession by four companions known as the Rightly Guided Caliphs (al-Khulafa al-Rashidun): Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali.

Caliph	Notable for
Abu Bakr	Consolidating the community after the Prophet’s death
Umar	Territorial expansion and administrative organisation
Uthman	Standardising the compilation of the Qur’an
Ali	Leadership during a period of internal division

Each reign is examined both for its specific achievements and for the qualities of leadership it demonstrated, which the syllabus frames as a model for the early Muslim community.

The Articles of Faith and Pillars of Islam

The six Articles of Faith are the core beliefs of Islam: belief in Allah, His angels, His revealed books, His prophets, the Day of Judgement, and divine decree (qadar). The five Pillars of Islam are the framework of practice built on that belief: the declaration of faith (Shahada), prayer (Salah), almsgiving (Zakat), fasting during Ramadan (Sawm), and pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj, for those who are able).

Worked example

A question asks candidates to explain the importance of the isnad (chain of transmission) in establishing the reliability of a Hadith. A strong answer would state that the isnad names every person in the chain from the Prophet (pbuh) to the person recording the Hadith, that scholars checked each narrator’s character and memory, and that this scrutiny is why some Hadiths are classified as more reliable than others – linking the mechanism of preservation to why it matters is what separates a strong answer from a purely descriptive one.

Common mistakes

Listing the Articles of Faith or Pillars of Islam without explaining their meaning or significance, on the assumption that naming them is sufficient. Describing the Rightly Guided Caliphs in isolation rather than comparing their leadership across the period. Treating the Hadiths as identical in status to the Qur’an rather than explaining their distinct but complementary role. Under-revising 2.4 because it feels more familiar than the historical sub-topics.

Quick revision checklist

• Explain the major teachings recorded in the Hadiths and how they complement the Qur’an.
• Describe how the Hadiths were preserved and authenticated, and why that process matters.
• Sequence the four Rightly Guided Caliphs and give one defining feature of each reign.
• Name and explain the significance of each of the six Articles of Faith.
• Name and explain the practice and significance of each of the five Pillars of Islam.