WAEC Syllabus for Islamic Religious Studies (IRS)

The WAEC syllabus for Islamic Religious Studies (IRS) is indispensable for candidates preparing to take the examination. It provides the aims and objectives, along with notes and format, essential for understanding the IRS exam.

Studying Islamic Religious Studies (IRS) is crucial for effective exam preparation. It offers guidance on the topics to cover and highlights key concepts to focus on.

Attempting exam preparations without referring to the Islamic Religious Studies (IRS) syllabus is akin to attempting farm work without the necessary tools. Productivity may suffer as a result.

It is vital to commence your exam preparations by thoroughly reviewing the provided syllabus.

This post also includes recommended textbooks approved by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to supplement your study of Islamic Religious Studies (IRS).

Table of Contents

WAEC Islamic Religious Studies (IRS)

Islamic Studies

(May not be taken with Christian Religious Studies and West African Traditional Religion)

Aims and Objectives

The syllabus is designed to assess the extent to which candidates have acquired knowledge in Islamic Studies with regard to the following:

The historical and contemporary development of Islam as well as the lessons learnt from them;

The spiritual, moral, socio-economic and intellectual roles of Islam role of Islam in society;
The practical application of Islamic teachings in daily life.

The Syllabus consists of four major parts namely: Tarikh (Historical Development of Islam); Qur’an; Hadith; and Tawhid and Fiqh (Islamic Theology and Jurisprudence).

Scheme of Examination

There will be two papers, Papers 1 and 2, both of which will be put into a composite paper to be taken at 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 IRS Syllabus

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.)

Birth
Marriage
Call to prophethood and his mission
Hijrah: Causes, Course and Significance
Formation of the Ummah and the Madinan Constitution
Leadership qualities of the Prophet
The Battles: Badr, Uhud and Khandaq. (causes, courses and effects.)
The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah: terms and outcomes.
Conquest of Makkah.
The Farewell Pilgrimage: description, sermon and its lessons.
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

The advent and roles of traders, teachers, murᾱbitun, sufi orders, mujaddidun (reformers) and Hajj in the pread of Islam.
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

QUR’AN

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.

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.

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)

3. Moral Lessons from the Qur’an

Attitudes to Parents (Q.17 :23 – 24: 31 : 13 – 15

Honesty in Words and Deeds Q2: 42; 61: 2-3, 17: 35.
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

(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.

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)

‘Iman (Faith)
Meaning and Significance of Iman (Faith)
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.

His books – Q.2: 2; 2:285; 87: 19 – 19; 5:46.
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.
The Day of Resurrection, Judgement: Eternal Life Q 20: 15:32:10-20: 36: 78-70; 75: 3-13.
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):

Ancestor and Hero- worship Q 3:64; 4:116;112:4; Q.2:13,40&41

3. Taharah (Purification)

Importance of Taharah
al- Istinja’
al-Wudu’
at-Tayammum
al-Ghusl

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:
Obligatory Salat (Subh/Fajr, Zuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib and ‘Isha’i.)
Non-Obligatory Salat ( Nawafil that accompany the obligatory salawat, Duha, witr, etc.)
Special prayers (Jum‘ah, ‘Idayn, Janazah, Istisqa’ Tarawih, Kusufayn and Istikhara.)
Salatus-Safar (Salat on a journey.)
Sawm (Fasting): Detailed study of Sawm with emphasis on the Spiritual, Social and Moral Objectives.
- Definition
- Types of Sawm (compulsory and voluntary)
- Examples of compulsory fast (Ramadan, Kaffarah and Nadr)
- Examples of voluntary fast (Shitta Shawwal, ‘Ashura’and Tasu‘a, fasting on Mondays, fasting on Thursdays, etc.)
- Voluntary fast
- How fasting is observed in Islam
- Ramadan Fast
- Those Exempted from Fast
- Things that vitiate Fast
- Benefits/Significance of Sawm—spiritual, social and moral.
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.

Definition and Origin of Hajj and ‘Umrah.
Pre-requisite to the performance of Hajj
Performance of ‘Umrah and Hajj
Acts that affect the validity of Hajj
Types of Hajj (Ifrad, Tamattu‘ and Qiran)
Rites of Hajj
Significance of Hajj (spiritual, socio-economic and moral objectives of Hajj.
Shari ‘ah:
- Definition;
- Sources (the Qur’an, the Sunnah, the Ijma‘ and the Qiyas.)
- Significance.

WAEC Recommended IRS Textbooks

The Holy Qur’an (text, translation and commentary). A. Yusuf Ali
2. The meaning of The Glorious Koran (An explanatory translation by Mohammed Marmaduke Picktall) I.P.B., Lagos Nigeria
Islamic Religious knowledge for WASC Book 3 Hadith. M. Bushir Sambo and Mohammed Higab I.P.B., Lagos, Nigeria.
Islamic Religious knowledge for WASC Book 2 Figh. M. Bushir Sambo and Mohammed Higab I.P.B., Lagos, Nigeria.
Islamic Religious knowledge for WASC Book 1 Qur’an and Tafsir. M. Bushir Sambo and Mohammed Higab I.P.B., Lagos, Nigeria
The life of Muhammad by Haykal Printed in Nigeria 1982.
Islam in Focus by Hammudah Abdalati I.P.B., Lagos Nigeria.
Islamic Studies for Secondary Schools Books 1 & 2 by Lemu I.P.B., Lagos. And Islamic Education Trust, Minna.
Selected traditions of an-Nawawi by M.O.A., Abdul I.P.B., Lagos.
Studies in Islam series Books 1m – 5 by M.O.A., Abdul I.P.B., Lagos.
AL-‘IZZIYYAH for English audience by Quadri Y.A., and Oloyede, I.O. Shebiotimo Publications, Ijebu Ode.
Islamic Religious Knowledge for senior secondary School series 1 -3 by Seriki and Badmos – B and B.P. Abeokuta.
Yasin wal-Qur’an – by S.H.A., Malik Ilesanmi Press, Ilesha.
The Classical Caliphate by M.O.A. Abdul. I.P.B., Lagos.
West Africa And Islam, P.B. Clarke, Edward Amold.
A. History of Islam in West Africa, J.S. Trimingham, Oxford University Press.
Islam in West Africa, J. S. Trmingha, Oxford University Press.
Islamic Studies for SSS Books 1 & 2 by B. “Aisha Lemu I.P.B., Lagos.
Essentials of Islamic Studies Books 1 & 2 by M.O. Raheemson. M.D. & P.S. Lagos.
40 Hadith: An Explanation by Dr. Yushau Sodiq Published by J.S. Prinnting, USA in 2011.
Sulemana, M. (2004). Islamic Studies. Capital Publishing. Accra, Ghana.
Muhammad Jamiu Yunus (2011). Islam: The Religion of Peace. Alanisek Gen.Concept Publications Ijebu-Ode.

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