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The syllabus typically covers the fundamental aspects of Islamic religion and culture. It is divided into four parts; historical development of Islam, the Quran, Hadith, Islamic theology and jurisprudence.
To do well in Islam Religious Studies, you should have a good understanding of the core beliefs of Islam, including the belief in one God (Tawhid), prophethood, and the belief in the Day of Judgment. You will also need to be familiar with Islamic rituals and practices such as prayer (Salah), fasting (Sawm), pilgrimage (Hajj), and charity (Zakat).
There will be two papers, Papers 1 and 2, which will be put into a composite paper to be written in one sitting.
PAPER 1: Will comprise fifty multiple choice questions all of which should be answered within 50 minutes for 50 marks.
PAPER 2: Will consist of six essay questions one of which will be compulsory. Candidates will be required to answer the compulsory question and any three of the optional ones in 2 hours for 100 marks.
| WAEC SYLLABUS FOR ISLAMIC STUDIES | ||
| SN | TOPICS | OBJECTIVES |
| 1 | THEME | |
| 1 | PART 1 TARIKH (HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ISLAM) | 1. The Jahiliyyah: Arabia before Islam. Description of Arabia – Location Social Life – Marriage, divorce and inheritance. Religious life – Idol worship and names of major gods / idols. Political Life System of Government Economic Life – Sources of livelihood The Reforms introduced by Islam on the Jahiliyyah practices. 2. The life of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) (i) Birth (ii) Marriage (iii) Call to prophethood and his mission (iv) Hijrah: Causes, Course and Significance (v) Formation of the Ummah and the Madinan Constitution (vi) Leadership qualities of the Prophet (vii) The Battles: Badr, Uhud and Khandaq. (causes, courses and effects.) (viii) The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah: terms and outcomes. (ix) Conquest of Makkah. (x) The Farewell Pilgrimage: description, sermon and its lessons. (xi) Death. 3. The Khulafᾱ‘ur-Rᾱshidīn (The Rightly – guided Caliphs): Abu- Bakr Ibn Abī Quhhᾱfah, ‗Umar Ibn al-Khattᾱb, ‗Uthmᾱn Ibn ‗Affᾱn and ‗Ali Ibn Abī Tᾱlib. – Their biographies – Their contributions to Islam – Lessons learnt from their lives 4. Islam in West Africa (i) The advent and roles of traders, teachers, murᾱbitun, sufi orders, mujaddidun (reformers) and Hajj in the pread of Islam. (ii) The Impact of Islam on the Socio-Political, Economic and Linguistic Lives of the Peoples of ancient West African empires (i.e. Ghana, Mali, Shonghai and Kanem- Borno. |
| Part 2 Qu’ran | 1. (a) Revelation of the Qur‘an: visits of the Prophet (S.A.W.) to Cave Hira ; first revelation and his reaction to it, different modes of revelation, piecemeal- revelation of the Qur‘an. (b) Preservation of the Qur‘an: Complete arrangement including distinction between Makki and Madani Suwar; Recording; Compilation; Standardization: Roles played by the Companions of the Prophet (S.A.W.) in the Preservation of the Qur‘an. (c) Importance of the Qur‘an: The Qur ‘an as a source of guidance in social, political, spiritual and moral matters. (d) Reading (in either Arabic Text or Transliteration), Memorization, Meaning of the following suwar and the lessons learnt from them (Identification, Explanation, Interpretation and Application); Suratul – Fatihah (Q.1) Suratud – Duha (Q.93) Suratut – Tin (Q.95) Suratul – ‗Alaq (Q.96: 1-5) Suratul – Qadr (Q.97) Suratul – Kafirun (Q.109) Suratun – Nasr (Q.110) Suratu l – Ikhlas (Q.112) Suratu l – Falaq (Q.113) Suratun – Nas (Q.114) Moral Lessons from the Qur‘an (a) Attitudes to Parents (Q.17 :23 – 24: 31 : 13 – 15 (b) Honesty in Words and Deeds Q2: 42; 61: 2-3, 17: 35. (c) Prohibition of Gambling Q. 2:219:5 90-91. | |
| Part 3 Hadith | 1. (a) Definition of Hadith and Sunnah. (b) Differences and similarities between Hadith and Sunnah (c) The Importance of Hadith and Sunnah. (d) Parts of the Hadith: ‗Isnad, Matn and Rawi. (e) Criteria for authenticity of Hadith (f) Classification of Hadith: Sahih, Hasan and Da‗if. (g) The Six Sound Collections of Hadith (Sihaus-Sittah) and their Compilers. 2. Reading (in either the Arabic Text or Transliteration). Memorization, Meaning of the following Ahadith and lessons learnt from them (Identification, Explanation, Interpretation and Application): an-Nawawi‘s Collection. 1, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15,16,18,34 and 41. | |
| PART 4 TAWHID AND FIQH (ISLAMIC THEOLOGY AND JURISPRUDENCE) | (i) Meaning and Significance of Iman (Faith) (ii) Articles of Faith: Belief in Allah with emphasis on Kalimatush- Shahadah(Q2: 163 and 255; 3:18;17:42-43;21: 22 ; 23: 91 Q. 112, Islam and the concept of Trinity (Q.4:171; 5:75 – 76; 19:92-3; 112). (ii) His angels – Q 2: 285; 8:50; 16: 2; 66: 6 ; 82: 10 – 12. (iii) His books – Q.2: 2; 2:285; 87: 19 – 19; 5:46. (iv) His Prophets with special emphasis on the Ulu1-‗Azm: Ibrahim, Nuh, Musa, ‗Isa.(A.S.) Muhammad (S.A.W.) Q. 6: 83-87: 4: 164; 10;47;21:107;46:35 and ahadith relevant to the foregoing. (v) The Day of Resurrection, Judgement: Eternal Life Q 20: 15:32:10-20: 36: 78-70; 75: 3-13. (vi) Destiny – Qada‘ and Qadar; Distinction between the two Concepts (Q.3: 145:25:2:76:3:87:3). 2. Shirk (Associating Partners with Allah) (i) Worship of idols (Q.4:48:22:31:31:13:41:37): (ii) Ancestor and Hero- worship Q 3:64; 4:116;112:4; Q.2:13,40&41 3. Taharah (Purification) (i) Importance of Taharah (ii) al- Istinja‘ (iii) al-Wudu‘ (iv) at-Tayammum (v) al-Ghusl 4. Salat: – Meaning of Salat. – Importance of Salat. – Acts that vitiate Salat – Joining a Congregational Salat. – Sujudus-Sahwi (Prostration of Forgetfulness.) – Kinds of Salat and how they are observed: (i) Obligatory Salat (Subh/Fajr, Zuhr, ‗Asr, Maghrib and ‗Isha‘i.) (ii) Non-Obligatory Salat ( Nawafil that accompany the obligatory salawat, Duha, witr, etc.) (iii) Special prayers (Jum‗ah, ‗Idayn, Janazah, Istisqa‘ Tarawih, Kusufayn and Istikhara.) (iv) Salatus-Safar (Salat on a journey | |
| 6. Sawm (Fasting): Detailed study of Sawm with emphasis on the Spiritual, Social and Moral Objectives. (i) Definition (ii) Types of Sawm (compulsory and voluntary) (iii) Examples of compulsory fast (Ramadan, Kaffarah and Nadr) (iv) Examples of voluntary fast (Shitta Shawwal, ‗Ashura‘and Tasu‗a, fasting on Mondays, fasting on Thursdays, etc.) (v) Voluntary fast (vi) How fasting is observed in Islam (vii) Ramadan Fast (viii) Those Exempted from Fast (ix) Things that vitiate Fast (x) Benefits/Significance of Sawm—spiritual, social and moral. 7. Zakat (Charity): Detailed Study of Zakat with emphasis on the Spiritual, Socio-Economic and Moral Objectives: (i) Definitions of Zakat and Sadaqah (ii) Difference between Zakat and Sadaqah (iii) Articles on which Zakat is paid (iv) The Nisab of Zakat (v) Zakat on Livestock (vi) Zakat on Money (vii) Zakat on Agricultural Products (viii) The Beneficiaries of Zakat (Q.9:60) (ix) Zakatul-Fitr. (x) Benefits of Zakat – Spiritual, Socio-economic and Moral. 8. Hajj (Pilgrimage): Detailed study of Hajj and ‗Umrah with emphasis on the Spiritual, Socio-Economic and Moral Values. (i) Definition and Origin of Hajj and ‗Umrah. (ii) Pre-requisite to the performance of Hajj (iii) Performance of ‗Umrah and Hajj (iv) Acts that affect the validity of Hajj (v) Types of Hajj (Ifrad, Tamattu‗ and Qiran) (vi) Rites of Hajj (vii) Significance of Hajj (spiritual, socio-economic and moral objectives of Hajj. 9. Shari ‘ah: (i) Definition; (ii) Sources (the Qur‘an, the Sunnah, the Ijma‗ and the Qiyas.) (iii) Significance. 10. Nikah (Marriage): (i) Concept (Q.16:72:24:32; 30;21: the Hadith ―O young man……….‖. (ii) Prohibited Categories (Q.2221; 4:22-24); (iv) Conditions governing validity (Q. 4: 4, 21, 24-25): al-Bukhari 67: 29, 37, 42, 49, 51-52, Abu-Da‘ud 12:29-31: (v) Rights and duties of husband and wife(Q.2.228- 230:20:132;33:33,41:34;65:6) (vi) Law prohibiting the Ill-treatment of Wife (Idrar) Q 65:6 11. Talaq ( Divorce) : (i) Islam‘s Attitude (Q.4: 35): the Hadith ―of all things lawful…….most hateful to Allah‖ (Abu- Da‘ud 13:31); (ii) Kinds – Talaq; Khul‗; Faskh; Mubara‗ah, Zihar and Li ‗an. (Q.2:228 – 230: Q.65). (iii) ‗Iddatut-Talaq (Waiting Period for a Divorced Woman): Meaning, Duration and Implication. | ||
The pass mark for WAEC Islamic Religious Studies is 50%. Anything lower than that and you get a D which may affect your result.
The exam will last for roughly 3 hours. Paper 1 which is the objective section will have 50 questions to be completed in 50 minutes while the second part which is the theory section will last for 2hours
Draw up a reading timetable for all the subjects you will be taking in the WAEC exams.
The minimum score which will give you a C6 grade is 50%. Anything less than 50% and you have a D which could affect your chances of getting admission to the university.
Not at all. There is no format for answering theory questions. You should however, write clearly so it’ll be easy to see your work, spell correctly and provide clear explanations together with relevant examples or calculations.
If you’re running out of time, don’t panic! Try to finish as many questions as possible and make sure your answers are as complete as possible
All the topics in the syllabus above are important and you will be tested on them.
