Details of the Alim Course: The Full Curriculum
As mentioned in the 'Alim Course Outline' page, there are 3 parts to the Alim course: The Islamic Sciences Programme (3 years), the Alimiyyah Programme (3 years), and al-Takmeel (1 year). The first part, the Islamic Sciences Programme is detailed in two different pages depending on whether you are a 6th Former or a part-time student. Please follow the links below depending on your interest:
-
Full-time 6th Formers interested in the ISP click here. This will open a separate window or tab and take you to the 6th Form section of the site.
-
Part time students click here. This will open a separate window or tab and take you to the Part-time Alim Course page.
This page contains course maps for all the levels of the Alimiyyah programme (the 2nd part of the Alim course) and a course map for the Takmeel programme (3rd and final part).
Use the following links to jump to a particular section:
Jump to Section: Alimiyyah Level 1 | Alimiyyah Level 2 | Alimiyyah Level 3 | Al-Takmeel (Dawrah Al-Hadith)
The Alimiyyah Programme (3 years combined with BA ISS)
To see an overview of the whole Alim course and where the Alimiyyah Programme fits in. See the the page titled 'Alim Course Outline' in the side menu to the left. The details of the 3 years of the Alimiyyah programme and the one-year Takmeel programme are given below. Use the links above to navigate.
Alimiyyah Level One
Year 1 combined with 'Certificate in Islamic Sciences and Society'
| Courses | Course Content or Selected Text* |
|---|---|
The courses below are combined with 'Certificate in Islamic Sciences and Society'. |
|
At-Tafsir at-Tahlili (combined with ISS101 Qur’anic Hermeneutics) |
Philological study of the Qur'anic text: Surah Ad-Dukhan to Surah Al-Mujadilah; and Surah Hud to Surah Al-Anbiya' |
Ulum al-Qur'an (combined with ISS102 Ulum al-Qur'an) |
Von Denfer A. (1983), Uloomul Qur’an, Uthmani M. Taqi. (2000) Approaches to Qur’anic Sciences. |
Hadith (combined with ISS103 Hadith: Ethics, Worship and Virtue) |
Selected chapters from Mishkat al-Masabih by Khateeb Tibrizi |
Ulum al-Hadith (combined with ISS104 Ulumul Hadith) |
Tahhan, M. - Taysir Mustalah al-Hadith |
Usul Ad-Deen (combined with ISS105 Islamic Theology) |
Sharh Al-Fiqh Al-Akbar by Mullah 'Ali Qari |
Fiqh Al-Mu'amalaat (combined with ISS106 Fiqh: Jurisprudence of Transactions) |
Relevant Chapters of Al-Hidayah by Al-Mirghinani |
Al-Milal wa al-Nihal (combined with ISS107 Sects and Diversity in Islam) |
Al-Milal wa an-Nihal by Al-Shahrastani including modern movements such as the Ahmadis and the nation of Islam, and a study of Adabul Ikhtilaf |
ISS108 Social Cohesion (no additional Alim Course content) |
An introduction to the many facets of the relationship between Islam and the West, the quest for the establishment of mutual understanding using historical precedence, concepts of citizenship and debates about the self and the other. |
The courses below are the skills modules of the ISS Certificate |
|
ISS109 Conflict Resolution Through Translation |
A brief introduction to the role that translation can play in improving understanding of others and therefore also in conflict resolution. Students will study a selection of the rich philosophical and linguistic traditions of translation. |
ISS110 Skills Development |
This module aims to introduce the students to a wider range of subject-specific study-skills. This will include work on textual analysis of both a general type, but also that specific to certain Islamic traditions and sciences. |
The courses below are only Alim Course modules and are not combined with the ISS Certificate |
|
Al-Adab Al-Arabi |
Extracts from various Arabic literature sources |
Al-Qira'ah Al-Mujawwadah |
Recitation of Al-Qur'an Al-Karim with Tajweed including memorisation of selected surahs. |
Usul al-Fiqh |
Various Resources |
Al-Balaghah |
Various resources |
*Only primary texts used for text based teaching and learning will be mentioned in this column. Where 'various resources' is mentioned, the teacher will teach from a selection of sources and one primary text may not necessarily be used.
Back to Top
Alimiyyah Level Two
Year 2 combined with 'Diploma in Islamic Sciences and Society'
| Courses | Course Content or Selected Text* | |
|---|---|---|
The courses below are combined with the 'Diploma in Islamic Sciences and Society'. |
||
At-Tafsir at-Tahlili (combined with ISS201 Qur’anic Hermeneutics) |
The Qur'an (a philological study): Surah Al-Anbiya' to Surah Yaseen; and Surah Al-Baqarah |
|
Hadith (combined with ISS202 Hadith: Faith (Iman), and Religious and Legal Principles (Usul) |
Selected chapters from Mishkat al-Masabih by Khateeb Tibrizi. |
|
Fiqhal-Mu'asharat (combined with ISS203 Fiqh: Family and Civil Jurisprudence) |
Selected chapters from Al-Hidayah of Al-Mirghinani relating to the jurisprudence of marriage, divorce, custody rights, death, funeral and burial, and other civic areas. |
|
ISS204 World Religions (including new religious movements), (no additional Alim Course content) |
Various resources giving an overview of major world religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and a look at new religious movements such as the Brahma Kumaris, Elan Vital, The Nation of Islam, and the Soka Gakkai International. |
|
Usul al-Fiqh (combined with ISS205 Usul Al-Fiqh (Principles of Jurisprudence)) |
A study of the principles and hermeneutical methods employed by Muslim jurists to derive law form the Qur'an and Sunnah. |
|
At-Tareekh Al-Islami (combined with ISS206 Islamic History) |
A look at the Seerah (life of the Prophet) and the history of Muslim civilisation up to modern times based on various works Islamic history. |
|
Mantiq (combined with ISS207 Mantiq and Aristotelian Philosophical Arguing) |
A brief look at classical logic (Mantiq) taught at Muslim seminaries, and modern concepts of philosophical and ethical arguing. Various resources will be used. |
|
The courses below are the skills modules for the ISS Diploma |
||
ISS208 Independent study (no additional Alim Course content) |
This module will focus on academic skills necessary at this level. |
|
The courses below are only Alim Course modules and are not combined with the ISS Diploma |
||
Al-Tafsir at-Tahlili |
Surah Al-'Imran to Surah Hud |
|
'Ulum al-Qur'an |
Al-Fawz Al-Kabir of Shah Wali Allah ad-Dehlawi |
|
'Ulum al-Hadith |
Nukhbatul Fikr Ibn Hajar 'Asqalani, Tadreeb Ar-Rawi of Jalal al-Din Al-Suyuti |
|
Al-Adab Al-Arabi |
Extracts from various literature sources |
|
Al-Qira'ah Al-Mujawwada |
Ash-Shatbiyyah |
|
*Only primary texts used for text based teaching and learning will be mentioned in this column. Where 'various resources' is mentioned, the teacher will teach from a selection of sources and one primary text may not necessarily be used.
Back to Top
Alimiyyah Level Three
Year 3 combined with 'BA Honours in Islamic Sciences and Society'
| Courses | Course Content or Selected Text* |
|---|---|
Modules that are combined with the 'BA in Islamic Sciences and Society'. |
|
Al-Tafsir Al-Mawdu'i (combined with ISS301 Applied Qur'anic Exegesis) |
Tafsir of the Qur'an based on a comparative study of the most famous Tafsir works. |
Hadith (combined with ISS302 Hadith: The Second Source of Law) |
Study of a selected corpus of hadith from Mishkat Al-Masabih that are used as sources for legal rulings in various areas.** |
ISS303 Kalam & Islamic Philosophy (No additional Alim course content) |
A look at Kalam and the development of Islamic philosophy, and its influence on theology in particular. Key Muslim philosophers will also be studied. Various resources will be used. |
ISS304 Women and Society (no additional Alim course content) |
A look at the position and role of women in Islamic sources and how this has been understood by and manifested in early and modern Muslim societies in different regions. |
ISS305 Western Philosophy (including the 20 th century) (no additional Alim course content) |
A look at Western philosophy and key thinkers and their impact on West and the world. |
ISS 306/07 Dissertation |
Details to be confirmed |
Skills Modules |
|
Independent study |
Details to be confirmed |
Alim Course Modules not combined with the ISS BA |
|
Philosophy of Shari'ah |
Hujjatullah Al-Balighah by Shah Waliyullah Dehlawi |
Fiqh Al-'Ibadat |
Selected chapters from Al-Hidayah of Al-Mirghinani relating to the jurisprudence of various forms of ritual worship such as Salah, Sawm, Zakah and Hajj. |
Al-Fiqh Al-Muqaran (comparative Fiqh |
An introduction to comparative Fiqh based on various resources. |
At-Tafsir at-Tahlili |
Philolical study of the Qur'anic text: Surah Al-'Imran to Surah Hud. |
* Only primary texts used for text based teaching and learning will be mentioned in this column. Where 'various resources' is mentioned, the teacher will teach from a selection of sources and one primary text may not necessarily be used.
** By the end of this year, Mishkat al-Masabih would have been completed.
Back to Top
Al-Takmeel (Dawrah Al-Hadith)
Course Map:
Al-Takmil* ( 1 year dedicated to the study of core hadith texts (mutoon) )
This year is entirely text based. This is because one of the objectives is to read all or most of each text with a teacher so that the teacher can give ijazah (permission of transmission) at the end. Each module focuses on a core hadith text. The text will be read based on two forms of hadith transmission: (1) Sima'ah (listening to the Sheikh read and explain the hadith); (2) Qira'ah 'ala Ash-Sheikh (the student reading the hadith to the Sheikh which the Sheikh then explains). In every text the unique characteristics of the author's style and conditions of compilation and authentication will be studied.
| Courses | Course Content or Text if Selected** |
|---|---|
Sahih Al-Bukhari |
In Sahih Al-Bukhari, the focus will be on understanding the tarjamah al-bab (Al-Bukhari's unique method of chapter classification). Al-Bukhari's chapter on maghazi will also be an area of focus as well as any other chapters that are unique to Sahih Al-Bukhari. |
Sahih Muslim |
The famous muqaddamah (introduction) of Muslim will receive thorough attention and the unique methods of Imam Muslim will be highlighted throughout such as his extensive coverage of an issue using many different narrations with different chains of transmission. |
Sunan An-Nasa'i |
The text will be comprehensively read highlighting peculiarities of the text and the author's methodology and there will be extensive commentary on chapters that are only found in An-Nasai. |
Sunan Abu Dawud |
Again the text will be read comprehensively, special characteristics studied and the unique chapters will receive particular attention and commentary. |
Sunan At-Tirmidhi |
At-Tirmidhi has a unique terminology in his classification of the authenticity of the hadith in his text. This will be studied along with other peculiarities of the text and the author's methodology. |
Sunan Ibn Majah |
Comprehensive reading with commentary of unique chapters pointing out the many weak hadith that are found in the text. |
Muwatta Imam Malik |
Comprehensive reading with commentary highlighting Imam Malik's*** perspective on legal matters and matters peculiar to the Muwatta. |
Muwatta Imam Muhammad |
Comprehensive reading with a comparative look at the views of Imams Malik and Abu Hanifah on certain areas of Law. |
Sharh Ma'anil Athar |
Comprehensive reading with a look at At-Tahawi's unique style in this text of proving his preferences rationally by establishing common precedents. Commentary will highlight the perspective of the Hanafi school mainly. |
*This year is commonly known as Dawrah Al-Hadeeth in the subcontinent and is equivalent to an MA in hadith elsewhere.
**Only primary texts used for text based teaching and learning will be mentioned in this column. Where 'various resources' is mentioned, the teacher will teach from a selection of sources and one primary text may not necessarily be used.
***Relatively speaking, the hadith compiled by the authors of the sihah sittah correspond with the Shafi'i and Hambali perspectives in matters of law more than the Maliki and Hanafi perspectives. The Muwatta of Malik provides much of Imam Maliks sources while Sharh Ma'anil Athar is comprises much of Imam Abu Hanifah's sources. The whole range of texts in the course provides a balanced coverage of the hadith sources of all four juristic schools of thought.