- Ma‘ani al-Qur’an
The process of translation started the previous year is continued in this module for the remaining 20 juz of the Qur’an.
The objectives, as before, are:
- to create familiarity with Qur’anic Arabic
- to introduce the student to the content of the Qur’an
- to cultivate basic translation skills
- to lay the foundation upon which his further study of the Qur’an will be built
- Hadith
Two genres of hadith are studied: ahadith al-ahkam, i.e. ahadith that pertain to matters of law; and ahadith al-fada'il, or ahadith of an edifying nature where the emphasis falls upon attributes of moral excellence and the spiritual advantages of deeds. The prescribed texts are Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani's Bulugh al-Maram for ahkam, and a further 500 ahadith from Imam al-Nawawi's Riyad al-Salihin for fada’il.
The study of ahadith al-ahkam aims at:
- creating familiarity with the hadith proofs underlying ahkam
- demonstrating the harmony between fiqh and hadith
- inculcating balance and evenhandedness in fiqh
In the fada'il genre the aims are, as before,:
- to introduce the student to edifying ahadith
- to draw moral lessons out of hadith
- to acquaint him with the language of hadith
- to cultivate translation skills
- Fiqh
The presribed fiqh text is al-Fiqh al-Manhaji by Mustafa al-Khinn, Mustafa al-Bugha and ‘Ali al-Shurbaji. All three volumes, covering some 1600 pages, are covered in this year.
The objectives of the study of fiqh in this year are:
- to create familiarity with fiqh in its broader spectrum
- to preserve the link between fiqh and its sources by presenting masa’il in conjunction with the proof from which they are drawn to instil confidence in madhhab-orientated fiqh without descending into ta‘assub
- ‘Ulum al-Qur’an
Two texts connected with Qur’anic studies are taught in this year. The first is Imam al-Nawawi’s book al-Tibyan fi Adab Hamalat al-Qur’an. This work deals with the etiquette of learning, teaching, reading and interacting with the Qur’an. The second is Shah Waliyyullah al-Dihlawi's al-Fawz al-Kabir fi Usul al-Tafsir in which the methodology of interpreting the Qur’an is delineated.
Al-Tibyan is taught with the aims of:
- inculcating respect for the Qur’an
- familiarising the student with the rules of interacting with the Qur’an
Al-Fawz al-Kabir is taught to:
- create an awareness of the broad themes of the Qur’an
- introduce the doctrine of naskh (abrogation) in the Qur’an
- acquaint the student with asbab al-nuzul (causes of revelation)
- introduce aspects of linguistics in the Qur’an
- familiarise the student with the major exegetes and their methods
- provide a theoretical framework for tafsir (exegesis) of the Qur’an
- Mustalah al-Hadith
The discipline of mustalah al-hadith (hadith terminology and methodology) is taught using diagrams and tables prepared by the instructor, complemented by the use of actual examples. This module is taught in the second half of the first semester.
The objectives of this module are:
- to familiarise the student with basic hadith terminology and methodology
- to reinforce theoretical knowledge through application to actual cases
- to consolidate the essentials of the discipline by eschewing details that are unnecessary at this stage
- Usul al-Fiqh
This discipline is taught using the text Tashil al-Turuqat by ‘Umar ‘Abdullah Kamil. This text consists of explanatory notes to Sharaf al-Din al-‘Amriti's versification of Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni's Waraqat. Usul al-fiqh is taught in the second semester.
The objectives of the module are:
- to introduce the student to the essential concepts and terminology of usul al-fiqh
- to instil a basic understanding of how fiqh and usul al-fiqh relate to one another
- to construct a broad framework for further inquiry into the subject
- Nahw
Grammar is taught in the first semester using Muhammad Muhy al-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid's commentary on the Ajurrumiyyah, entitled al-Tuhfat al-Saniyyah.
The component focuses upon:
- consolidating the grammar learnt in the first year
- refining and expanding upon first year grammar
- providing a knowledge of those aspects of grammar that will serve as a functional frame of reference
- eschewing the theoretical complexities of grammar that fall outside the scope of practicality
- Balaghah
The book Safahat fi l-Balaghah al-‘Arabiyyah by a past lecturer is used as the prescribed text for the study of this subject. It is taught in the second semester. This work covers the subject with brevity and thoroughness.
The aim of the module is:
- to instil an understanding of the concepts and terminology of the subject
- ‘Aqidah
Tahir al-Jaza‘iri's work al-Jawahir al-Kalamiyyah fi Idah al-‘Aqidat al-Islamiyyah is used as the prescribed text for this subject. It is taught in the second half of the second semester.
It is aimed here to:
- provide an introduction to the study of ‘aqidah
- acquaint the student with the basic concepts and issues of the subject
- lay the foundation for further inquiry into the subject
- Tarbiyah
The reading of Zayn al-Din al-Malibari's work Irshad al-‘Ibad ila Sabil al-Rashad forms the basis of this component for this year.
The aims of this module are:
- to create awareness of the deeper spiritual and ethical dimensions of Islam
- to foster moral and spiritual rectitude
- to familiarise the student with the ayat and ahadith that deal with spiritual, moral and ethical aspects of life
- Tarikh
The fifth part of Sayyid Abu l-Hasan al-Nadwi's Qasas al-Nabiyyin is employed as the history reader for this year. It deals with the sirah, the life of the Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wasallam.
It is taught with the aims of:
- imparting a more detailed knowledge of sirah than that gained in the first year
- progressing from a purely narrative to a more analytical mode of reading history
- drawing lessons from the sirah
- reinforcing the student's knowledge of Arabic
- Tajwid
Tajwid is taught mainly theoretically, with application in recitation to follow in the following year. Two texts are taught: the first volume of Hidayat al-Qari’ by ‘Abd al-Fattah al-Mirsafi, and Ibn al-Jazari's famous Muqaddimah. In the teaching of Hidayat al-Qari’ there is continuous comparison with the works of Makki ibn Abi Talib, Abu ‘Amr al-Dani, Ibn al-Jazari and others. In al-Muqaddimah al-Jazariyyah the student is given insight into the same author's al-Nashr in respect of the turuq of the narration of Hafs as given in that source.
The objectives with which tajwid is taught in this year are:
- to give the student a broad-based theoretical knowledge of tajwid
- to introduce him to the major sources of theory in the subject
- to create awareness of variant opinions amongst contemporary scholars
- to impart an understanding of the turuq of Hafs in the Nashr as compared to the Shatibiyyah
