Alimiyyah Programme

Brief description:

Students will study and analyse hadith related to morals and ethics text the six canonical collections using Imam al-Bukhari’s as their core text.

Duration:

This module is taught over 36 weeks with 2 contact periods a week

Content summary:

The focus will be Kitab al-adab from Bukhari’s Sahih, using a wide range of hadith commentaries such as Ibn Hajar’s Fath al-Bari.

Suggested reading:

Essential reading:

• al-Bukhari, Muhammad b. Isma‘il, al-Jami‘ al-sahih al-musnad al-mukhtasar min umur rasul Allah wa sunanihi wa ayyamihi. Various editions
• Muslim bin al-Hajjaj al-Naysaburi, al-Musnad al-sahih al-mukhtasar bi naql al-‘adl ‘an al-‘adl ila rasul Allah salla ’llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Various editions
• Abu Dawud, Sulayman bin al-Ash‘ath al-Sijistani, al-Sunan. Various editions (Dar al-Gharb, Dar al-Salam, Dar al-Ta’sil or Mu’assasat al-Risala)
• al-Tirmidhi, Abu ‘Isa Muhammad b. ‘Isa b. Sawra, al-Jami‘ al-mukhtasar min al-sunan ‘an rasul Allah salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam wa ma‘rifa al-sahih wa ’l-ma‘lul wa ma ‘alayhi ’l-‘amal
• al-Nasa’i, Ahmad bin Shu‘ayb, al-Mujtaba or al-Sunan al-sughra. Various editions (Dar al-Salam, Mu’assasat al-Risala, Dar al-Ta’sil)
• Ibn Majah, Muhammad bin Yazid al-Qazwini, al-Sunan. Various editions (Dar al-Salam, Mu’assasat al-Risala, Dar al-Ta’sil)
• Ibn Farhun, ‘Abd Allah b. Muhammad, al-‘Udda fi i‘rab al-‘umda. Dar al-Imam al-Bukhari, Doha
• al-Fakihani, ‘Umar b. ‘Ali, Riyad al-afham fi sharh ‘umdat al-ahkam. Dar al-Nawadir, Beirut
• Ibn al-‘Attar, ‘Ali b. Ibrahim, al-‘Udda fi sharh al-‘umda fi ahadith al-ahkam. Dar al-Basha’ir al-Islamiya, Beirut
• Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr, Abu ‘Umar Yusuf, al-Tamhid li ma fi’l-Muwatta min al-ma‘ani wa ’l-asanid. Mu’assasat al-Furqan, London
• Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr, Abu ‘Umar Yusuf, al-Istidhkar al-jami‘ li-madhahib fuqaha’ al-amsar wa ‘ulama- al-aqtar fima tadammanahu ’l-Muwatta’ min ma‘ani ’l-ra’y wa ’l-athar wa sharh dhalika kullihi bi ’l-ijaz wa ’l-ikhtisar. Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya, Beirut
• Ibn Battal, ‘Ali b. Khalaf, Sharh sahih al-Bukhari. Maktabat al-Rushd, Riyadh. * Ibn Rajab, ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Ahmad, Fath al-bari sharh sahih al-Bukhari. Various editions
• Ibn Hajar, Ahmad b. ‘Ali, Fath al-bari sharh sahih al-Bukhari. Various editions
• al-‘Ayni, Badr al-Din Mahmud, ‘Umdat al-qari sharh sahih al-Bukhari. Various editions
• al-Malibari, Hamza ‘Abd Allah, ‘Aqbariyat al-imam Muslim fi tartib ahadith musnadihi ’l-sahih. Dar Ibn Hazm, Beirut
• al-Mazari, Muhammad b. ‘Ali, al-Mu‘lim bi fawa’id Muslim. Dar al-Gharb al-Islami, Beirut
• al-Nawawi, Muhyi al-Din, al-Minhaj sharh sahih Muslim b. al-Hajjaj. Various editions
• ‘Iyad b. Musa al-Yahsubi, Ikmal al-mu‘lim bi fawa’id Muslim. Dar al-Wafa’, Cairo
• al-Qurtubi, Abu ’l-‘Abbas Ahmad b. ‘Umar, al-Mufhim li ma ashkala min talkhis Muslim. Dar Ibn Kathir
• al-Harawi, Muhammad bin ‘Ata’ Allah, Fadl al-mun‘im fi sharh sahih Muslim. Dar al-Nawadir, Damascus
• Uthmani, Bashir & Uthmani, Muhammad Taqi, Fath al-mulhim bi sharh sahih al-imam Muslim b. al-Hajjaj al-Qushayri. Various editions
• al-Harari, Muhammad al-Amin bin ‘Abd Allah, al-Kawkab al-wahhaj wa ’l-rawd al-bahhaj fi sharh sahih Muslim bin al-Hajjaj. Dar al-Minhaj, Beirut
• al-Khattabi, Abu Sulayman Hamad, Ma‘alim al-sunan sharh sunan Abi Dawud. Various editions
• al-‘Ayni, Badr al-Din Mahmud, Sharh sunan Abi Dawud. Maktabat al-Rushd, Riyadh
• al-‘Azim Abadi, Muhammad Ashraf bin Amir al-Siddiqi, ‘Awn al-ma‘bud ‘ala sharh sunan Abi Dawud. Various edutions
• al-Saharanfuri, Khalil Ahmad, Badhl al-majhud fi hall Abi Dawud. Various editions
• al-Subki, Mahmud Muhammad Khattab, al-Manhal al-‘adhb al-mawrud sharh sunan al-imam Abi Dawud. Various editions
• Ibn al-‘Arabi, Abu Bakr Muhammad b. ‘Abd Allah al-Ishbili, ‘Aridat al-ahwadhi bi sharh sahih al-Tirmidhi
• Ibn Sayyid al-Nas, Muhammad b. Muhammad al-Ya‘muri, al-Nafh al-shadhdhi fi sharh jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
• al-Suyuti, Jalal al-Din ‘Abd al-Rahman, Qut al-mughtadhi ‘ala jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
• al-Kankuhi, Rashid Ahmad, al-Kawkab al-durri ‘ala jami‘ al-Tirmidhi. Matba‘a Nadwat al-‘Ulama, Lucknow
• al-Mubarakfuri, Muhammad b. ‘Abd al-Rahman, Tuhfat al-ahwadhi bi sharh jami‘ al-Tirmidhi. Dar al-Fikr, Beirut
• al-Kashmiri, Muhammad Anwar Shah, al-‘Arf al-shadhdhi sharh sunan al-Tirmidhi
• al-Binnuri, Muhammad Yusuf b. Muhammad Zakariya, Ma‘arif al-sunan sharh jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
• Ibn Rajab, ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Ahmad al-Hanbali, Sharh ‘ilal al-Tirmidhi. Dar al-Malah, Damascus
• al-Wallawi, ‘Ali bin Adam, Dakhirat al-‘uqba fi sharh al-mujtaba. Dar al-Mi‘raj al-Dawliyya, Beirut
• al-Suyuti, Jalal al-Din ‘Abd al-Rahman bin Bakr, Zuhr al-ruba ‘ala ’l-mujtaba. Various editions
• al-Suyuti, Jalal al-Din ‘Abd al-Rahman bin Bakr, Misbah al-zujajah ‘ala sunan Ibn Majah. Various editions
• al-Sindi, Muhammad bin ‘Abd al-Hadi, Hashiyat al-Nasa’i. Various editions
• al-Sindi, Muhammad bin ‘Abd al-Hadi, Kifayat al-haja fi sharh sunan Ibn Majah. Various editions
• al-Dahlawi, ‘Abd al-Ghani, Injah al-haja sharh sunan Ibn Majah. Various editions
• al-Nu‘mani, Muhammad ‘Abd al-Rashid, Ma tamuss ilayhi ’l-haja liman yutali‘ sunan Ibn Majah. Various editions
• al-Busiri, Ahmad bin Abi Bakr, Misbah al-zijaja fi zawa’id sunan Ibn Majah. Various editions

Research methods

Brief description:

As students advance in the Alimiyya degree, there is more emphasis on students undertaking research, and in light of that students require a greater understanding of different research methods which they can use in their studies. This course attempts to provide an overview of the most relevant issues relevant to designing and implementing a successful research project.

Duration:

This module is taught over 36 weeks with 2 contact periods a week.

Content summary:

The course begins by focusing on how to choose a suitable topic, finding suitable literature, reading widely and writing proposals. In the second term, the focus is on understanding different research methods, and writing a literature review. The final term focuses on designing and planning a research project.

Suggested reading:

• Turabian, Kate, Manual for Writers of Research Papers
• Ritter, R. M., Oxford Style Manual
• Hacker & Sommers, A Pocket Style Manual
• Dawson, Catherine, Introduction to Research Methods
• Bell, Judith, Doing your research project

Brief description:

Students have gained a solid grounding in Islamic law through the Hanafi legal school in the previous years. Here students gain practical familiarity with the remaining sunni schools of law, researching views within and across the four sunni schools, delving into the primary sources, comparing views amongst the schools and understanding reasons for the differences. This will allow students to go on to study more research-focused Islamic law modules in A5 where they will be expected to work towards providing solutions for new issues (nawazil).

Duration:

This module is taught over 36 weeks with 2 contact periods a week.

Content summary:

The first term focuses on the Hanafi school. In the second term the focus is on the Maliki and Shafii schools, whilst the third term focuses on the Hanbali school and completion of research projects.

Suggested reading:

• al-Maydani, Abd al-Ghani, al-Lubab fi sharh al-kitab, al-Maktaba al-‘Umariya, Damascus
• al-Haddad, Abu Bakr bin ‘Ali, al-Jawhara al-nayyira sharh mukhtasar al-quduri fi furu‘ al-hanafiyya. Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya, Beirut
• al-Razi, ‘Ali bin Makki, Khulasat al-dala’il fi tanqih al-masa’il, Maktabat al-Rushd, Riyadh
• Qutlubugha, Qasim, al-Tarjih wa’l-tashih ‘ala ’l-quduri (on the margins of Mukhtasar al-Quduri), Mu’assasat al-Rayyan, Beirut
• al-Bahtarawali, ‘Abd al-Razzaq, al-Muzhir al-nuri li-hall ma fi mukhtasar al-quduri, Diya al-‘Ulum, Rawalpindi
• al-Hindi, Muhammad Sulayman, al-Mu’tasar al-daruri, Maktabat al-Bushra, Karachi
• al-Shaybani, Muhammad bin al-Hasan, al-Asl, Wizarat al-Awqaf, Doha
• al-Sarakhsi, Muhammad bin Abi Sahl, al-Mabsut, Dar al-Ma’rifa, Beirut
• al-Samarqandi, ‘Ala’ al-Din Muhammad bin Ahmad, Tuhfat al-fuqaha, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut
• al-Kashani, Abu Bakr bin Mas‘ud, Bada’i’ al-sana’i’ fi tartib al-shara’i’, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya, Beirut
• al-Marghinani, Ali bin Abi Bakr, al-Hidaya sharh bidayat al-mubtadi (with Laknawi’s commentary on the margins), Idarat al-Qur’an wa’l-‘Ulum al-Islamiya, Karachi
• Ibn al-Humam, Kamal al-Din Muhammad bin Abd al-Wahid al-Sakandari, Sharh fath al-qadir ‘ala ’l-hidaya sharh bidayat al-mutdabi, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya, Beirut
• al-‘Ayni, Badr al-Din Mahmud bin Ahmad, al-Niyaba fi sharh al-hidaya, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut
• Burhan al-Din al-Bukhari, Mahmud bin Sadr al-Shari’a, al-Muhit al-burhani li-masa’il al-mabsut wa ’l-jami‘ayn wa ’l-siyar wa ’l-ziyadat wa ’l-nawadir wa ’l-fatawa wa ’l-waqi‘at mudallala bi dala’il al-mutaqaddimin, Idarat al-Qur’an wa’l-‘Ulum al-Islamiya, Karachi
• Ibn ‘Abidin, Muhammad Amin, Radd al-mukhtar ‘ala ’l-durr al-mukhtar sharh tanwir al-absar, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut
• Malik b. Anas, al-Muwatta. Dar al-Gharb, Beirut
• Sahnun, al-Mudawwana al-kubra. * Ibn Habib, ‘Abd al-Malik al-Sulami, al-Wadiha
• Ibn Abi Zayd, ‘Abd Allah al-Qayrawani, al-Risala. Dar al-Gharb, Beirut
• Ibn Abi Zayd, ‘Abd Allah al-Qayrawani, Ikhtisar al-mudawwana wa ’l-mukhtalita. Markaz Najibawayhi, Cairo
• Ibn Abi Zayd, ‘Abd Allah al-Qayrawani, al-Nawadir wa ’l-ziyadat. Dar al-Gharb, Beirut
• al-Baradha‘i, Khalaf b. Abi ’l-Qasim Muhammad, al-Tahdhib fi ikhtisar al-mudawwana. Markaz Najibawayhi, Cairo
• ‘Abd al-Wahhab al-Baghdadi, Abu Muhammad b. Nasr, al-Talqin. Dar al-Fikr, Beirut
• ‘Abd al-Wahhab al-Baghdadi, Abu Muhammad b. Nasr, al-Ma‘una ‘ala madhhab ahl al-madina. Dar al-Fikr, Beirut
• ‘Abd al-Wahhab al-Baghdadi, Abu Muhammad b. Nasr, al-Ishraf ‘ala nukat masa’il al-khilaf. Dar Ibn Hazm, Beirut
• Ibn Rushd, Abu ’l-Walid Muhammad b. Ahmad al-Qurtubi, al-Bayan wa ’l-tahsil wa ’l-sharh wa ’l-tawjih wa ’l-ta‘lil fi masa’il al-mustakhraja. Dar al-Gharb, Beirut
• al-Lakhmi, Abu ’l-Hasan ‘Ali b. Muhammad, al-Tabsira. Markaz Najibawayhi, Cairo
• Ibn Yunus, Abu Bakr Muhammad b. ‘Abd Allah al-Siqilli, al- Jami‘ li masa’il al-mudawwana. Dar al-Fikr, Beirut
• Ibn Abdul Barr, Abu ‘Umar Yusuf b. ‘Abd Allah al-Qurtubi, al-Istidhkar al-jami‘ li-madhahib fuqaha’ al-amsar wa ‘ulama’ al-aqtar fima tadammanahu al-muwatta’ min ma‘ani ’l-ra’y wa ’l-athar wa sharh dhalika kullihi bi ’l-ijaz wa ’l-ikhtisar
• al-Baji, Abu ’l-Walid Sulayman b. Khalaf, al-Muntaqa sharh al-muwatta
• Ibn al-‘Arabi, Abu Bakr Muhammad b. ‘Abd Allah al-Ishbili, Ahkam al-Qur’an
• Ibn al-Hajib, Abu ‘Amr Jamal al-Din b. ‘Umar al-Masri, Jami‘ al-ummahat. Dar al-Yamama, Riyad
• Khalil bin Ishaq al-Jundi, al-Tawdih sharh jami‘ al-ummahat. Markaz Najibawayhi, Cairo
• Ibn Abdul Salam, Muhammad al-Umawi, Tanbih al-talib li fahm Ibn al-Hajib. Wizarat al-Awqaf, Doha
• Khalil bin Ishaq al-Jundi, al-Mukhtasar. Dar al-Fikr, Beirut
• al-Mawwaq, al-Taj wa ’l-iklil li-mukhtasar Khalil. Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya, Beirut
• al-Hattab, Mawahib al-jalil li-sharh mukhtasar Khalil. Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya, Beirut

Brief description:

This course serves as a more detailed study of ‘Ulum al-Qur’an (UQ) at an intermediate level. This course will survey the development, origins, formation, authority, terminology, criticism and classifications of UQ. The main text for this course is al-Muharrar fi Ulum al-Qur’an by the renowned contemporary Qur’anic scholar Professor Musa’id b. Salman al-Tayyar. This course will start with an overview and development of UQ. Students will be guided through a critical and analytical reading of the main categories of UQ; Revelation and compilation, The chapters of the Qur’an, The Mushaf. This course will also highlight the link between the various discussions of UQ and their relationship with each other as well as their connection to Tafsir.

Duration:

This module is taught over 36 weeks with 2 contact periods a week.

Content summary:

Term 1 will focus on the history and development of UQ and Revelation and Compilation. Term two will focus on topics related to the chapters of the Qur’an. Term three will focus on the Mushaf; definition, rasm, tajzi’ah etc.

Suggested reading:

• Ibn Juzzay, Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Kalbi, al-Tashil li ‘ulum al-tanzil. al-Muntada al-Islami, Sharja
• al-Tayyar, Musa‘id bin Sulayman, Sharh muqaddimat al-tashil li ‘ulum al-tashil li ’bn juzzay. Dar Ibn al-Jawzi, Riyadh
• al-Gharnati, Abu Ja’far Ahmad bin Ibrahim, al-Burhan fi tartib suwar al-Qur’an. Wizarat al-Awqaf, Rabat
• Ibn Taymiyya, Ahmad bin ‘Abd al-Halim, Muqaddima fi usul al-tafsir, multiple editions
• al-Zarkashi, Badr al-Din, al-Burhan fi ‘ulum al-Qur’an, multiple editions
• al-Suyuti, Jalal al-Din, al-Tahbir fi ‘ilm al-tafsir. Dar al-Manar, Cairo
• al-Suyuti, Jalal al-Din, al-Itqan fi ‘ulum al-Qur’an, multiple editions
• Waliyullah, Ahmad bin ‘Abd al-Rahim al-Dahlawi, al-Fawz al-kabir fi usul al-tafsir. Dar al-Basha’ir al-Islamiyya, Beirut
• al-Balinburi, Sa‘id Ahmad, al-‘Awn al-kabir sharh al-fawz al-kabir, multiple editions
• al-Farahi, ‘Abd al-Hamid, Rasa’il fi ‘ulum al-Qur’an (parts 1 & 2). al-Da’ira al-Hamidiyya, India
• Al-Maliki, ‘Alawi bin ‘Abbas, Fayd al-khabir wa khulasat al-taqrir ‘ala nahj al-taysir sharh manzumat al-tafsir, multiple editions
• Al-Tayyar, Musa‘id bin Sulayman, al-Tahrir fi usul al-tafsir. Markaz al-Dirasat wa’l-Ma‘lumat al-Qur’aniyya, Jedda
• Al-Tayyar, Musa‘id bin Sulayman, al-Muharrar fi ‘ulum al-Qur’an. Markaz al-Dirasat wa’l-Ma‘lumat al-Qur’aniyya, Jedda

Contemporary Qur’anic studies

Brief description:

This is an advanced module in the Qur’an track of the EC ‘Alimiyya programme. It builds on previous study of the classical tradition in ʿulūm al-qurʾān and tafsīr modules by providing students with a survey of contemporary research in the field of Qur’anic studies in both the English and Arabic languages. By reading and analysing recent themes in Qur’anic studies within a seminar format, students gain a wider perspective on approaches to the Qur’an and increase fluency in this important and constantly developing global scholarly discourse. This course is also good preparation for post-graduate study and research in Qur’anic studies.

Duration:

This module is taught over 36 weeks with 2 contact periods a week.

Content summary:

This module aims to provide students with up-to-date knowledge of contemporary scholarship on the Qur’an in English and Arabic by analysing the ways in which scholars understand a number of significant themes centred on its history, literary form and interpretation. Students will gain skills in reading, speaking and writing about contemporary research in Qur’anic studies.

Suggested reading:

Essential reading:

• Nicolai Sinai, The Qur’an: A Historical Critical Introduction
• Daniel A. Madigan, The Qur’ān’s Self-Image: Writing and Authority in Islam’s Scripture
• Ramon Harvey, The Qur’an and the Just Society
• Andrew Rippin (ed.), The Blackwell Companion to the Qur’an
• Angelika Neuwirth, Scripture, Poetry and the Making of Community: Reading the Qur’an as a Literary Text
• Muḥammad Abdel Haleem, Exploring the Qur’an: Context and Impact
• Travis Zadeh, The Vernacular Qur’an: Translation and the Rise of Persian Exegesis