OCR GCSE Religious Studies J625
Christianity: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1
Christianity: PracticesGroup 1
Islam: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1
Islam: PracticesGroup 1
Judaism: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1
Judaism: PracticesGroup 1
Buddhism: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1
Buddhism: PracticesGroup 1
Hinduism: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1
Hinduism: PracticesGroup 1
Christianity: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2
Christianity: The Existence of GodGroup 2
Christianity: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2
Christianity: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2
Islam: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2
Islam: The Existence of AllahGroup 2
Islam: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2
Islam: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2
Judaism: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2
Judaism: The Existence of G-DGroup 2
Judaism: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2
Judaism: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2
Buddhism: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2
Buddhism: The Existence of Ultimate RealityGroup 2
Buddhism: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2
Buddhism: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2
Hinduism: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2
Hinduism: The Existence of Ultimate Reality and DeityGroup 2
Hinduism: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2
Hinduism: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2
Islam: Relationships and Families
- 7 subtopics
- 21 things to know
- Component Group 2
- Component Group 2, religion, philosophy and ethics from the perspective of one of the two Group 1 religions; all four themes are studied
What Islam: Relationships and Families covers
Islam: Relationships and Families is examined in Component Group 2, religion, philosophy and ethics in the modern world from a Muslim perspective (J625/07), if this is the perspective studied. That perspective must be one of the student's two Group 1 religions. It covers the Muslim family: roles and purposes, Muslim marriage: purposes, contract and practice, Muslim views on sexuality, same-sex marriage and civil partnership, sex before marriage, cohabitation, celibacy and contraception in Islam, Muslim teachings on divorce, annulment and remarriage, roles of Muslim men and women in family and community and gender equality and discrimination in Islam.
Where it is assessed
Component Group 2
Religion, philosophy and ethics in the modern world, a two-hour paper worth 50% of the GCSE, if this religion is the perspective studied.
Check the OCR specification ↗The 7 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- The Muslim family: roles and purposesSurah 17:23–24 and care of elderly parents, the Prophet's family life, the extended family, Surah 7:189, duty to the ummah, ethical modes of relationship, and Humanist and utilitarian comparisons.Open →
- Muslim marriage: purposes, contract and practiceSurah 30:21, marriage as a contract, the wedding ceremony, the mahr, consent and fidelity, arranged marriage, polygyny in Surah 4:3, monogamy in Britain, mut'ah marriage, and differing customs.Open →
- Muslim views on sexuality, same-sex marriage and civil partnershipTraditional teaching on same-sex relationships, orientation and acts, opposition to same-sex marriage, civil partnerships, progressive Muslim views, Humanist and situation-ethics challenges, and respect for others in Britain.Open →
- Sex before marriage, cohabitation, celibacy and contraception in IslamSurah 17:32, avoiding situations that lead to sex, why cohabitation is opposed, Humanist views, when celibacy is expected, family planning and Surah 6:151, and a utilitarian contrast.Open →
- Muslim teachings on divorce, annulment and remarriageReconciliation before divorce, talaq and Surah 2:228, the iddah, repeated divorce in Surah 2:229–230, khul' and faskh, Shi'a rules, the treatment of divorced women, and civil divorce in Britain.Open →
- Roles of Muslim men and women in family and communitySurah 16:97, traditional family roles, the meaning of qawwam in Surah 4:34, women's rights in the family, separate prayer in mosques, women leading prayer, shared upbringing of children, and feminist challenges.Open →
- Gender equality and discrimination in IslamSurahs 49:13, 33:35 and 40:40, equality and difference, ihram as a sign of equality, religion and culture, embedded inequalities, gender prejudice, justice in Surah 60:8, and differing Muslim views.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
How do Humanist and utilitarian views of family life compare with Muslim views?
What is a civil partnership, and how do Muslims view it?
Why is marriage so important in Islam?
What does Islam teach about sex before marriage?
What is the general Muslim attitude to divorce?
What does Surah 16:97 teach about men and women?
What does Surah 49:13 teach about equality?
What does Surah 30:21 teach about marriage?
What do Muslims mean by understandings of sexuality?
What does Surah 17:32 teach?
What should a Muslim couple do before divorcing?
What traditional roles do many Muslims give men and women in the family?
How does Surah 33:35 support gender equality?
What is the role of the family in Islam?
What are the main purposes of marriage in Islam?
What is the traditional Muslim teaching on same-sex relationships?
Why do many Muslims avoid situations that could lead to sex before marriage?
What is talaq?
How do Muslims interpret the word qawwam in Surah 4:34?
What does Surah 40:40 teach about men and women?
Take Islam: Relationships and Families further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Talaq vs Khul'
Talaq: divorce begun by the husband's pronouncement. Khul': divorce requested by the wife, usually by returning her marriage gift.
Nikah vs Mahr
Nikah: the marriage contract agreed before witnesses. Mahr: the gift the groom must give to the bride.
Polygyny vs Mut'ah
Polygyny: a man having more than one wife at the same time. Mut'ah: a temporary contract of wedlock with a fixed end date.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is the role of the family in Islam?
Model answer
Muslims see the family as the basic unit of society, created by Allah. The family is where faith, values and care are passed on.
- 2
What purposes does the Muslim family serve?
Model answer
The family provides love, security and a lawful setting for raising children. The family also cares for elderly and vulnerable relatives.
- 3
What does Surah 17:23–24 teach about family duties?
Model answer
Surah 17:23–24 commands kindness to parents, especially in old age. Children must not even say “uff” to them and should pray for Allah's mercy on them.
- 4
Why do many Muslims care for elderly parents at home rather than use care homes?
Model answer
Surah 17:23 places kindness to parents directly after the command to worship Allah alone. Many Muslims see caring for parents at home as repaying the care they received.
- 5
What does the Prophet's own family life show Muslims?
Model answer
Muhammad had several wives and children, and he helped with household tasks. Muslims see his example as showing that family life is part of faith, not a distraction from it.
- 6
Why is the extended family important to many Muslims?
Model answer
An extended family includes grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, often living close together. Many Muslims value it as a network of support and religious upbringing.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Islam: Relationships and Families revision questions
- What does Islam: Relationships and Families cover in OCR GCSE Religious Studies?
- 7 subtopics: the muslim family: roles and purposes, muslim marriage: purposes, contract and practice, muslim views on sexuality, same-sex marriage and civil partnership, sex before marriage, cohabitation, celibacy and contraception in islam, muslim teachings on divorce, annulment and remarriage, roles of muslim men and women in family and community and gender equality and discrimination in islam. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Islam: Relationships and Families organised?
- By the OCR J625 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Islam: Relationships and Families, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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