The poem describes the beginning of Islam and the message brought by Prophet Muhammad. It references his receiving of revelation in the cave of Hira before Ramadan, making it the beginning of a new era. It describes how the message is meant to guide people towards doing good in this life and avoiding evils to succeed in the afterlife, with the same core precepts taught to previous prophets. The believers are described as craving righteousness over worldly desires in the evening before breaking their fast.

1. The Last Mission | AbuAmanAminNoorah[Type text] 2015
Copyright: Free! But no addition or deletion!
Read the poem and answer the questions.
The Last Mission
1 In the cave of Hira,
Began the new era,
There arose a warner,
Who brought a message to ponder.
5 Though, through a man unlettered,
It serves well for the lettered,
Sure to ensure,
It is easy to assure.
9 It is from his Master,
Who is the Creator.
As too was for other Prophets,
Remains same the precepts.
13 It came in the month,
Just before the tenth,
Since times long past,
It was meant to last.
17 In the evening,
Those believing,
Crave not for food,
But for the good,
21 Of this world,
And as we are told,
Mainly of the afterlife,
And to avoid the evils of base life.
Written by Abu Aman Amin Noorah

2. The Last Mission | AbuAmanAminNoorah[Type text] 2015
Copyright: Free! But no addition or deletion!
Glossary
Era: Time; Period; Islam
Warner: Prophet Muhammad ‫ﷺ‬
Ponder: To think deeply
Unlettered: Illiterate; Not educated; Uneducated
Master: Allah, ‫ى‬َ‫ل‬‫ا‬َ‫ع‬َ‫ت‬َ‫و‬ ُ‫ه‬َ‫ن‬‫ا‬َ‫ح‬ْ‫ب‬ُ‫س‬
Precepts: La Ilaha Illa Allah
Evening: Just before Maghrib for Iftar
Afterlife: Aakhirah; Life after death
Base life: Immoral (doing bad things) life
Comprehension
Give evidence from the poem to support your answers.
1. What does the “new era” mean? 1 mark
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2. Who does the “warner” refer to? 1 mark
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3. Who is the Master? 1 mark
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4. Give two examples of the use of rhymes in the poem. 2 marks
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5. What are the precepts given to all the Prophets? 1 mark
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6. In lines 13 & 14, which month does it refer to? 1 mark
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3. The Last Mission | AbuAmanAminNoorah[Type text] 2015
Copyright: Free! But no addition or deletion!
7. What does this mean: „It was meant to last‟? 2 marks
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8. Which part of the evening do lines 17 to 20 refer to? 2 marks
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9. What does this mean: „But for the good of this world‟? 2 marks
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10. Which month does “tenth” refer to in “It came in the month/Just before the tenth” 1 mark
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11. The line “Since times long past” means from the time of Adam, ‫السالم‬ ‫.عليه‬ Do you agree or
disagree. Give reason for your answer. 4 marks
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12. Give a suitable alternative heading for this poem: 2 marks
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4. The Last Mission | AbuAmanAminNoorah[Type text] 2015
Copyright: Free! But no addition or deletion!
Suggested Answers:
1. What does the “new era” mean?
Islam
2. Who does the “warner” refer to?
Prophet Muhammad ‫ﷺ‬
3. Who is the Master?
Allah, ‫ى‬َ‫ل‬‫ا‬َ‫ع‬َ‫ت‬َ‫و‬ ُ‫ه‬َ‫ن‬‫ا‬َ‫ح‬ْ‫ب‬ُ‫س‬
4. Give two examples of the use of rhymes in the poem.
Accept any of these:
Hira-Era/Warner-Ponder/Unlettered-Lettered/Ensure-Assure/Master-Creator/
Prophets-Precepts/Month-Tenth/Past-Last/Evening-Believing/Food-Good/
World-Told/Afterlife-Base life.
5. What are the precepts given to all the Prophets?
La Ilaha Illa Allah
6. In lines 13 & 14, which month does it refer to?
Ramadhan/Ramadan/Ramzan
7. What does this mean: „It was meant to last‟?
It means that Islam is forever.
8. Which part of the evening do lines 17 to 20 refer to?
Just before Maghrib for Iftar
9. What does this mean: „But for the good of this world‟?
Answers may vary.
10. Which month does “tenth” refer to in “It came in the month/Just before the tenth”
Shawwal
11. The line “Since times long past” means from the time of Adam, ‫السالم‬ ‫.عليه‬ Do you agree
or disagree. Give reason for your answer.
Answers may vary.
12. Give a suitable alternative heading for this poem:
Answers may vary.