Please read this document in its entirety before attempting your assignment.

ISGS101 Assignment (Spring 2025)

Topic: Select only one of the two topics provided below. Consider the one that suits and
interests you based on the availability of materials. Please, adhere to the guidelines,
important notes, and evaluation rubric therein.
1. Tawheed al-Ruboobiyyah: Is It Sufficient for True Monotheism?
Analyze the beliefs of the Quraysh before Islam and discuss if their belief in Tawheed
al Rububiyyah was enough.

OR

2. Fortune Telling in Islam: A Study on Its Prohibition and Consequences – Analyze

why seeking knowledge of the unseen is forbidden.

Word limit: Bachelors Level 1000 to 1200

Expectations:
1. Use Word document. Do not use notepad, WordPad or PDF.
2. Your paper should be a well drafted academic work, having a proper introduction,
body and conclusion. For formatting and presentation, adhere to the following:
a) Spacing: 1.5
b) Regular Text: Times New Roman
c) Size: 12 (body)
d) Alignment: Justified
e) Paper Size: A4
3. Required word limit: 1000 to 1200.
Notes: (1) Word count does not include the reference list. (2) Verses of the Qur’ān
and Aḥādīth need not be in Arabic, provide the English translation only. (3)
Paraphrasing verses of the Qur’an and Aḥādīth is prohibited. However, you can use
only that portion of the verse or ḥādīth which proves the point in context instead of
quoting the entire verse or ḥādīth.
4. Writing Format: Your work must have at least 3 major headings:
a) Introduction: This is the first section of the paper. A good introduction should
contain the following elements: (1) Basmalah (the phrase "In the name of Allah");
(2) Short background of the topic; and (3) The main point of the discussion. The
introduction should be between 100 –150 words.
b) Body Paragraphs: This is the main body of your discourse and the second section
of your paper. A good discourse should be well synthesized into distinct
 paragraphs. Observe conciseness, correctness, clarity, coherency, and
comprehensiveness (5Cs of good writing) in your work.
c) Conclusion: This is the last part of your paper. It should bear –with conclusive tone--
the summary of your key findings. It should be between 100 – 150 words.
5. Your evidences must be authentic, and your argumentation must be characterized
by relevancy and clarity of deductions. Avoid distortion of textual data as much as
possible.
6. Use only academically credible sources for your assignment instead of random
internet sites. Do not use (Wikipedia) or (general Islamic forums).
7. Use your own words and avoid using too many quotes.
8. Make sure to consult other sources besides your prescribed texts. A minimum of 5
sources (e.g., books, articles, reliable webpages, etc.) should be used and
referenced accordingly.
9. Make sure you reference your work properly and that you cite every source. Use
only APA method. Details of this referencing style can be access here:
https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/student-paper-setup-guide.pdf. You may
also make use of this free online tool (https://www.scribbr.com/apa-
examples/website/) for easy generation of accurate APA style. Please note that the
APA style must only be followed for referencing.
10. Provide in-text citation in the body of your work, and a reference list (not
bibliography) using the APA referencing style only.
11. The assignment is an individual effort and not group work. Do not copy, do not work
in groups and be honest, always. Plagiarism will never be tolerated (Please refer to
IOU’s Plagiarism policy mentioned at the end of this document).
12. Use Arabic letter Romanization/transliteration chart as determined by the Library of
Congress. The chart can be accessed from:
https://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/romanization/arabic.pdf
13. Please note that failure to follow the above instructions will cause you to lose marks.
14. The rubric is as follows:

Evaluative Particulars Designated

Marks
Presentation & Formatting 5
Length/Word Count 5
Introduction 10
Body Paragraphs 35
Conclusion 10
In-Text Citation & Reference List 20
Relevancy 10
Language Usage, Grammar, & 5
Style
Total 100
 Uploading Instructions

1. Create a new MS Word file. Before typing your answer, please add the following
information on the first page:

• Student Name:
• Student ID:
• Course Name/Code:
• Assignment Question:
• Include in your assignment submission, a signed copy of The Student Plagiarism &
Ethical AI Declaration
2. Please upload it as a Word Document only; do not make a PDF file and upload it as this
hamper grading and giving comments on your work.
3. Before uploading, you should suffix your name to the file name and the course code. E.g.,
if a student is uploading an AQD 101 assignment, then the file name should be as follows:
AQD101_FirstName
4. Please note that upon uploading your assignment file, it is saved in “draft” mode. To
“submit,” you must press the Submit button. If you forget to submit by not clicking the Submit
button, the file will remain in “draft” mode and not be considered for grading. Hence, note
this point seriously and proceed accordingly.

5. Please note that students are allowed to make only one submission attempt. As your first
attempt of submission will be the last, please ensure your assignment is relevant, correct and
complete in all aspects.
 IOU’S Plagiarism Policy & Ethical AI Usage

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the universe and peace and blessing be upon the last messenger
Muhammad and all those who follow his path with righteousness until the Last Day.

Please read and understand this policy in detail before attempting any assignments at IOU.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "He who deceives us is not one of us." (Sahih Muslim)

Definition of Plagiarism:

A common form of deception in studies is plagiarism. Plagiarism is sometimes misunderstood when

referring to copying alone; however, plagiarism is much deeper than just copying. It includes quoting
without proper references, collaboration, and stealing other people's ideas while passing them off as
one’s own. Plagiarism is the “failure to acknowledge the ideas or writing of another” or “presentation
of the ideas or writing of another as one’s own” and should be read to cover intentional and
unintentional failure to acknowledge the ideas of others. In this context, “others” means any other
person, including a student, academic, professional, published author or other resource such as the
Internet. The International Open University believes that failing to acknowledge the use of the ideas
of others constitutes an important breach of the institution's Islamic and academic values and
conventions.

Definition of Ethical AI Usage

Ethical AI Usage refers to the responsible and transparent use of artificial intelligence tools (such as
ChatGPT, Grammarly, paraphrasing tools, or AI research assistants) to support academic work—not
to replace or falsify it.

Students may use AI tools for brainstorming, language enhancement, or initial research, but the final
work must reflect the student’s own understanding, application to context, analysis, and critical
thinking.

IOU Stance on Plagiarism & AI Usage

The International Open University will not tolerate plagiarism and unethical AI use in any form, and
any student caught plagiarizing or engaging in Unethical AI use will be penalized. Depending on the
severity of the transgression of plagiarism and/or unethical AI usage, the penalty could range from a
reduction of marks to rejection of marks to rejecting the paper itself.

With respect to the assignments, the following constitutes plagiarism:

1) Copying someone else's assignment

2) Collaboration and working together on an assignment
3) Copying and pasting entire articles on the internet
4) Quoting someone else’s work without referencing the author
5) Using someone else’s ideas or words without referencing them

To avoid plagiarism, be sure to:

• Use quotation marks around a quote and cite the source.

 • Reference all quotations and citations
• Reword/paraphrase. Don’t write word for word what you have read. First, take notes in your
own words, then write your assignment from your notes (not the text).

For more information on how to avoid plagiarism and how to properly cite a source, visit the following
websites:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/college-success/10314.html

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/plagiarism.html

You may also test your understanding of plagiarism by using this link:

https://ilrb.cf.ac.uk/plagiarism/tutorial/whatis1.html

Unethical AI Usage Examples:

1. Submitting assignments fully written by AI without critical review or personal input.

2. Using AI tools to rewrite (paraphrase) entire sections without understanding the content.

3. Copying AI-generated research summaries, literature reviews, or reflections without

acknowledging AI assistance.

4. Relying on AI for the complete structure, analysis, and content of an assignment.

To Use AI Ethically:

• Use AI for supportive purposes only (e.g., clarifying concepts, improving grammar).

• Critically review and modify AI-generated content to reflect your own understanding.

• Clearly declare any AI assistance you have used, where appropriate.

• Use AI responsibly to enhance your learning, not to bypass it.

Similarity Indicator

IOU reserves the right to submit all academic assignments to a plagiarism checker to produce similarity
ratings for each assignment and AI-content detectors to produce similarity and AI-generated content
ratings for each assignment. The similarity indicator provides a rating of how similar the text in the
assignment is to resources available on the Internet while the AI-content check assesses the extent to
which AI tools were used to generate the work.

In line with universal academic writing practices, IOU prefers that text be paraphrased in the student’s
words and not quoted directly, with the original author of the knowledge being duly cited and
referenced. Any use of AI tools must also be transparently acknowledged, and students are reminded
that over-reliance on AI-generated content may undermine academic integrity and the development
of essential academic skills
As University-wide norm, IOU recommends that the similarity indicator does not exceed 20%.

Result of Plagiarism & Unethical AI Usage

Assignments a rating higher than or equal to 50% will be automatically rejected and validated for
plagiarism and unethical AI usage through a manual check by the tutorial assistant or relevant
academic. The student will be given a grade of 0 and there will be no second chances for submitting
the assignment.

Any detected misuse of AI tools, including unacknowledged AI-generated content or over-reliance that
compromises academic integrity, will be treated with the same seriousness as traditional plagiarism.
The tutorial assistant or relevant academic will use the combined similarity and AI-content ratings,
along with academic judgment, to determine the final grade of the submission

The Tutorial Assistant or relevant academic will use the similarity rating to determine the final grade
of the submission.

Remember that we are Muslims studying Allah’s religion, and so plagiarizing in Islamic Studies is a sin
and can rob your studies of reward.

May Allah bless you all and success with your coursework. Ameen.

IOU Admin.
 Student Plagiarism and Ethical AI Usage Declaration

I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the work I am submitting for this assignment is my
own original work, and I have not engaged in any form of plagiarism or academic dishonesty.
I understand that plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, copying someone else’s work,
quoting without proper citation, paraphrasing without acknowledgement, and using AI tools
or any other resources without proper disclosure.
Ethical AI Usage Declaration: I further declare that any AI tools or content generators I have
used in the preparation of this assignment have been properly acknowledged. I understand
that over-reliance on AI-generated content may compromise the integrity of my work and
academic growth. I confirm that I have followed the university’s guidelines on ethical AI usage
and have cited all sources appropriately.

I am aware that assignments found to be in violation of plagiarism or ethical AI usage policies

will be subject to the university’s penalties, including but not limited to automatic rejection
or a grade of 0 for the assignment.

By signing below, I confirm that I have read and understood the university’s plagiarism and
ethical AI usage policies and agree to abide by them.

Student Name: ___________________________

Student ID: ___________________________
Course Name: ___________________________
Assignment Title: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________
Signature: ___________________________