11/12/2020
Unit # 03: DUTY AND RESPONSIBILTY
Reading selection 3.1 LESSON FROM THE BATTLE OF UHUD (History)
Study Questions:-
Q1. What was the composition of the army of the Qureish that marched to Madina?
Ans:The army of Qureish was composed of 3,000 persons including every adult that marched to Madina to avenge their crushing defeat which they met in the battle of Badr. The warriors were fully equipped with war weapons and led by Abu Sufyan. There were seven hundred men in armour and two hundred men on horseback. They were also accompanied by fiery band of women under the direction of Hind, thumping tambourine and singing war ballads to inspire the warriors
Q2. What in the opinion of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) was the best course of action with regard to the strength of the enemy?
Ans:When the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) came to know of the intentions of the Qureish of Makkah, he consulted his companions about the war strategy. In the opinion of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) the best course of action for the Muslims with regard to the strength of the enemy was to confront the enemy by remaining in the Madina and let the enemy besiege the city.
Q3. What strategy did the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) have in mind when he thought of allowing the enemy to besiege Madina?
Ans:The thought of allowing the enemy to besiege Madina was a proper strategy. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) knew that Muslims strength was very less as compared to the enemy, so if their enemy besieged the city of Madina, its force would be deployed at different places around the city and the Muslims could easily attack the enemy at the places where the enemy’s concentration was the weakest.
Q4. What were the two opinions regarding facing the army of the Qureish?
Ans:There were two different opinions regarding facing the army of Qureish. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) and the other wiser ones were in favour of staying at the Madina and wanted to let the enemy approach Madina. However, the other opinion, presented by the young ones, who were very enthusiastic was to confront the enemy in the open field at some distance away from Madina.
Q5. What did the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) decide finally?
Ans:Regarding the defensive strategy, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) believed that he was right. His idea of staying at Madina was the best one but seeing the enthusiasm of the young men to keep the enemy away from Madina, he gave due consideration to their suggestions and opinions and finally decided to confront the enemy in the open field.
Q6. How did the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) arrange his army at Uhud in preparation for the battle?
Ans:The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) arranged the army in such a manner that Muslim warriors took position at Uhud. To cover the rear of his army, the beloved Prophet posted them at the foot of Mountain Uhud. Their right flank and rear were covered by the mountain, but their left flank lay in open ground and was thus exposed to enemy’s attack, so he deployed a band of archers there to guard against enemy.
Q7. What instructions did the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) give to the band of archers who were ordered to take up a position on a mound?
Ans:The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) was not only an inspiring leader but also a great military strategist. He ordered the Muslim warriors to take up their position at Uhud. Their right flank and rear were covered by the mountain, but their left flank lay in open ground and was thus exposed to enemy’s attack. To guard against this, the beloved Nabi posted fifty archers on this flank with strict directives of never to abandon their post without his permission.
Q8. What did the archers do when they saw the enemy retreating in defeat?
Ans:The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) instructed the band of archers not to leave their posts under any circumstances; they win or lose, without his approval. But when the archers saw the enemy retreating in defeat they forgot the orders and instructions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) .Their Captain, Abdullah ibn Jubyr, adjured them not to abandon the pass but they paid no heed and swept into the valley and started collecting Mai-e Ghanimat.
Q9. What changed the course of the battle of Uhud?
Ans:The band of archers on the mound left the post contrary to the orders and instructions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) and started collecting b***y (plunder). Taking advantage of this situation, “Khalid Bin Waleed”, the commander of the Qureish army, rushed with his group of cavalry and attacked from behind killing ten Muslim archers. The Muslims were surrounded from all sides. Muslims were exposed to the attack from the rear as well as the front. That changed the course of the battle.
OR
Ans:The battle was only one step away from the decisive victory of Muslims when a tactical mistake was committed by the band of archers. A contravene of Holy Prophet’s orders by the archers who left their posts to despoil the Qureish camp allowed a surprise attack from enemy’s cavalry. It was led by Khalid Bin Waleed. The Muslims were attacked form rear as well as front end, this changed the course of Battle of Uhud.
Q10. What was the confusion regarding the companion who bore a resemblance to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W)?
Ans:A companion (Sahabi) of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W), Masaab ibn Umayr (R.A) had physical resemblance with him. He fought bravely but fell at last. Seeing his dead body the Qureish shouted and spread the rumour that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) was martyred. On the other hand, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) was fighting in the other part of the battlefield. He was wounded and his head and holy face were bleeding.
Q11. How was the mistake of the archers a tactical mistake?
Ans:The mistake of the archers was a tactical mistake from the strategic point of view. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) deployed the band of archers at the mound which was an important post for their defense from the enemy. They were to protect the back of the Muslims against the pagan cavalry which was led by Khalid Bin Waleed. They must have stayed there under all circumstance as per directions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). Their leaving the post till next order from the commander resulted in heavy loss.
Q12. What did the companions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) learn from the battle of Uhud?
Ans:Leaving the post, contrary to the instructions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W), was a great mistake of the companions. They learnt an invaluable lesson from this experience from the battle of Uhud. They never disobeyed the instructions and orders of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) in the future.
Q13. How was the battle of Uhud an extension of the battle of Badr?
Ans:The battle of Badr was the first battle between the Muslims and the Qureish. In this battle, the Muslims had a decisive victory over the Qureish. Seventy warriors of Qureish were killed at the hands of the Muslims. The Qureish was in fury and under the ignominy of their crushing defeat in the battle of Badr and wanted to take revenge from the Muslims. They launched a war against the Muslims which was fought at the place of Uhud.
Q14. The wiser ones were in favour of staying in Madina while the younger ones wanted to meet the enemy in the open. What light do these strategies throw on the nature of the old and the young in war?
Ans:The wiser ones were in favour of staying in Madina while the younger ones wanted to meet the enemy in the open. These strategies show that the young are always enthusiastic and sometimes they make emotional decisions. The old and wiser ones always take the decisions after much deliberation and consultation. The old ones are experienced people. Their views always carry weight.
Q15. Why were the Muslims demoralized at one stage of the battle?
Ans:In the early stage the battle was in favour of the Muslims, but because of the tactical mistake made by the archers, the battle turned in reverse, and the Qureish came to have an upper hand for a while. They attacked the Muslims from all sides and many of them were martyred. The Muslims got demoralized when they heard that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) had been martyred (God forbid) .They lost courage and were not willing to fight anymore.
Q16. Why were the Qureish unable to take advantage of their short-lived victory?
Ans:When the Holy Prophet was wounded , a small group of Ansar was defending him. It was this little group, and its battle cries that caught Ali’s attention. He tore his way through the enemy lines and came up to his comrades –in-arms. The Muslims under the command of Hazrat Ali (R.A) fell upon the enemy like a thunderbolt and succeeded in driving them back. The strong defense of Hazrat Ali and other Sahabas prevented the non- believers to take advantage of the victory and averted destruction. .
Q17.. If the archers had not left their high post, the Qureish would have been handed another humiliating defeat. What far-reaching consequences could it have had for the future of the Muslims?
Ans:Another humiliating defeat at the hands of the Muslims would have strengthened Muslims. They would have become more confident and in a lesser period of time, more Muslims would have embraced Islam as some of the brave martyred companions of the Holy Prophet could have played a great role in spreading Islam. The pagans were already fearful of Muslims and a complete defeat would have shattered their confidence. This means that they would have been hesitant in carrying out any attacks in the future.
Q18. Recalling your knowledge of the Muslim history, which battle proved that the Holy Prophet
Ans:Muhammad (S.A.W) was right in proposing to stay in Madina and let the Qureish besiege the city? Battle of trench proved that the Holy Prophet was right in proposing to stay in Madina and let the Qureish besiege the city. It was a great battle in the Muslim history in which Meccans brought a force of 10,000 men against Muslims. The Holy prophet resorted to tactics unfamiliar to the Arabs. At the suggestion of Persian convert Salman Farsi, he had a ditch dug around Medina on the Northside which led to a decisive win for Muslims.
Reading selection 3.2 LINGKUAN GORGE
Author: Tupeng- Cheng
Study Questions:-
Q1. What is the narrator’s job and the purpose of his journey? What physical conditions persuade him to rest for a few hours?
Ans: The narrator is the chief of the material department depot. The purpose of his journey is to supervise the ongoing construction work at the site of the future Paoki-Chengtu Railway and to reach the depot by 10 o’clock in the morning. The weather is intensely cold due to continuous snow falling. The narrator is hungry and feels cold. In the dusk, the swirling snowflakes and the gale make every step a struggle and so he trips and falls badly. These conditions make him so irritating and restless that he wants to rest for a few hours.
Q2. About how old is Cheng-Yu? What does he respond when the narrator asks, “Why isn’t anybody home?”
Ans: The child Cheng-Yu whom the narrator sees sitting on the small stool in the doorway of a cave is almost seven or eight years old. When the narrator asks, “Why isn’t anybody home?” the child replies in cross- question form: “Aren’t I anybody, Uncle?” He, in fact, minds the remark of the narrator that suggests as if he was nobody.
Q3. What work do Cheng-Yu’s parents do? What “Job” has Cheng-Yu been assigned, and what explanation does he give for refusing the narrator’s advice to go to sleep?
Ans: Cheng-Yu parents are very hardworking and true to their profession. His father, being a labourer “opens up the mountains” and drill holes for dynamite charges. Cheng-Yu’s mother, as a traffic controller stands on the narrow and dangerous road that has been blasted through the rock. Cheng-Yu has been given the responsibility to take care of his baby sister Pao-Cheng when his parents are out on their specific jobs. When the narrator advises him to sleep, he at once shakes his head violently in negative and says his papa and mama say that “one should never leave his post”.
Q4. What does the narrator do in the final paragraph? What does he realize is waiting for him?
Ans: In the last paragraph the narrator is really moved by the determination of little Cheng-Yu who says that “A man should never leave his post”. To hear this, his lost spirits reawaken. He rises, buttons up his coat, puts his hat down firmly and leaves the cave. He realizes that his job in the material department as a chief is waiting for him.
Q5. What sort of child is Cheng-Yu? What attitude does he display towards his parents and his responsibilities?
Ans: Cheng-Yu is the central character of the story. The whole story revolves around him. He is a very sensible, strong, bold and determined boy. He is just seven or eight years old but has a great sense of responsibility. His attitude towards his parents is like that of a remarkable obedient son, who scarifies his rest and performs his duty assigned to him by them. He looks after his baby sister until the arrival of his mother. He complies with the advice of his parents that “A man should never leave his post”. “The deeds of the children are a testament of the upbringing they received from their parents”.
Q6. What change in mood or outlook does the narrator experience in the course of the story? What causes the change?
Ans: At the beginning of the story, the narrator is tired and hungry and wants a place to rest. His mood changes from pessimistic to optimistic. When the narrator advises the child to sleep, the child refuses him by saying that his parents say that “A man should never leave his post”. This sentence of the boy changes the outlook and mood of the narrator. Meeting the boy, seeing his determination and responsibilities for his baby sister and observing the family’s mutual encouragement for one another has caused this change.
Q7. What ideas about work does the story convey? What else does the story suggest is valuable?
Ans: This story conveys the sublime ideas of dedication, responsibility and sincerity towards one’s work. No matter how small or insignificant one’s job may be, what matters is how honestly it is performed. There are hardships in the way of performing one’s duties, but the courage to face and never to surrender before hardships are the very essence of leading a successful life. This story also suggests that we should perform our duty honestly and should never leave our post or the duty assigned to us.
Q8. Do you think the story is overly moralistic? How does Tu make his story entertaining despite its rather heavy-handed message?
Ans: Yes, I think that the story is overly moralistic. The writer narrates the story in a very beautiful way. It is simple yet has a powerful effect. The writer is highly skillful to present the truth and importance of the duty. “A man should never leave his post”, is rightly a heavy-handed message but the account of surroundings and the way the writer presented his observations in the story, have made the story more interesting and digestible. The child’s conversation with the writer has also made the story entertaining.
Q9. Do you think the motto, “A man should never leave his post,” has any significance in different spheres of life?
Ans:Discuss. “A man should never leave his post” has its significance in different spheres of life because this principle makes one responsible, determined, committed and successful .The statement means that one should be honest to one’s job. A little dishonesty or disobedience to one’s job is a betrayal to the nation or family. History is full of such examples and one such example is the battle of Uhud, in which disobedience by the archers changed the course of the battle.
Q.10.What lesson does the story convey?
Ans: The story “Lingkuan Gorge” conveys the lesson that one should be dutiful and obedient to one’s parents. The work should not be considered burdensome and one should never be as vulnerable as to be defeated by physical conditions. The story also suggests that “A man should never leave his post”. This principle of life makes one responsible, determined, committed and successful. Also sometimes a younger person, perhaps more innocent and pure, can influence an older person to change his or her thinking. This proves the truth of the saying; “The child is father of the man”.
Reading selection 3.3 IF Poet
RUDYARD KIPLINGS
Study Questions:-
Q.1. The poet lists many qualities of maturity which he believes make certain adults superior to others. Select those characteristics that you feel are the most important and explain why you feel as you do.
Ans:The poem “if” list many qualities that make a man’s character perfect and sublime. The poet Rudyard Kiplings advocates the virtues of composure, patience, integrity, modesty, perseverance, tolerance, determination and confidence. I feel the most important characteristics are integrity, perseverance, and tolerance. If a person has integrity and honesty and if he is persistent in his efforts and tolerate all the ups and down with determination, only then he will be able to conquer the world.
Q. 2. The poet believes that these values must be understood by all young people who wish to become truly adult. Do you agree?
Ans:The poem If encapsulates within its thirty lines a blueprint for personal integrity, rightful behavior and self development. It is written in an instructional tone of an older man offering his personal wisdom to a younger boy and yes we do agree that these values must be understood by all young people to achieve that maturity which leads to perfection. Kipling is aware that instilling these virtues in in his readers might make them exceedingly self-congratulatory and they will be able to face all the challenges of life fearlessly.
Q.3.Which conditional has the poet used in this poem? Does he think that his son is capable of achieving the virtues or not?
Ans:The poet has used first conditional, often called the “real” conditional because it refers to possible situations. Rudyard Kiplings has used the conditional of virtues like composure, patience, integrity, modesty, perseverance, tolerance, determination and confidence. Although some of them might seem lofty and even impossible to attain but there is no denying the fact that they are the crux of what humanity can offer best. The poet strongly believes that his son is capable of achieving these virtues that is why he has put all these conditional forms.
