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THE DEPARTMENTS at DUAI

The institute comprises two departments:

  • The Tahfiz Department
  • The Arabic and Islamic Studies Department

The Tahfiz Department

The Tahfiz Department or Quranic Memorisation Program - as suggested by the title - is devoted to the memorization of the complete Quran. The average learner is able to do so in 3 years of devoted study with some dedicated learners completing in less than 2 years.

The day starts at 5:00 am. Class then closes at 7:00 am thereby allowing students to partake of breakfast and perform other bathroom functions. At 8:00 am class recommences and then breaks at 11:00 am. Students are then allowed to partake in the sunnah pre-noon qaylulah [siesta] thereby allowing them to recuperate their energies for the afternoon class. Lunch is served after Thuhr salah which is normally performed between 13:45 to 14:30. At 14:40 class recommences and then closes for the day at 16:00. Students are strongly advised to revised their daily lessons at night between Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers, and teachers periodically attend to ensure its regular occurrence.

Learners are generally expected to reside on premises to facilitate their attendance of the above sessions. Classes are conducted 6 days a week - with the exception of Sunday - and students are allowed only one off-weekend. This usually occurs at the end of the month when at the closure of Thursday afternoon class, they may leave the premises and return to their families and relatives for rest and recuperation. They are expected to return to the institute on Sunday evening to prepare for class the next morning.

The Arabic and Islamic Studies Department

The details of the syllabus of this department, as well as the aims and objectives of each module, are to be found on the ACADEMIC PROGRAM PAGE. Here we will focus on class hours and a general overview of the method employed.

Class commences at 8:00 am and continues till 10:40. Students are then allowed to take a tea break and stretch their legs for 20 minutes. Classes then recommence at 11:00 am till 13:40 when it breaks for Thuhr salah and lunch. It then resumes at 14:40 and continues till 16:00 when it ends for the day. Students are in addition expected to attend compulsory evening study periods when they are to revise lessons learned during the day and prepare for the next day of studies. In all - excluding the night session - classes are comprised of 10 periods each lasting 40 minutes.

The method of instruction while comprising both theory and practice prefers practicality above all other considerations. By way of example; in the Hadith Department, focus is on the production of a true muhaddith and not the completion of any text of hadith methodology and classification [Mustalah al-Hadith ] or any particular hadith compilation. It is for this reason that besides the usual study of Mustalah al-Hadith and translation of a hadith compilation we also focus on teaching the theory and practice of other essential subjects as Jarh and Ta'dil [Narrator Vindication and Disparagement], and Takhrij al-Ahadith [Narration Location].

Of all the sub-departments of the Arabic and Islamic Studies Department, the Hadith Department and the Fiqh Department take precedence as they posses the greatest efficacy in solving the problems of Muslims and meeting the challenges of modern times. This does not in any way imply that we neglect or deem other subjects, such as Arabic Language and Quranic Exegesis [Tafsir al-Quran], inferior for Islam is holistic and any serious student is expected to gain mastery in all its primary subjects. As such all subjects are judged essential with these two being the majors.

Although it is preferred that students in this department reside on the premises, it is not expected as they are generally adults and at times married. Those so exempted are therefore not required to attend the night session on condition that they are regular in their attendance of day classes. Classes are conducted 6 days a week. The Monday to Thursday program is as indicated from 8:00 am till 4:00 pm. Friday and Saturday classes are from 8:00 am till 11:00. Sundays are off for rest and recuperation. The weekend nearest to the end of the month is off from after Thursday class till Sunday evening as in the Tahfiz Department.

Continue to Details of the Academic Program