Qur’an & Hadith

Description (1st Year)

This module seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Quran and Hadith. What do the latter terms mean? How were they compiled into the format that we have today, considering the primitive nature of the Arab peoples at that time. Among other things, we will explore the process of revelation itself, its style, its major themes and moral teachings and tafsir scholarship on the Quran. It will allow the students to have greater reverence for the Quran and understand why even today calling the Quran an alien text has its distinction even amongst non-Muslim scholars of the 21st century.

For the Hadith element we will explore the nuances between the Hadith and Sunnah and the evolution of these terms. We will look at the scrupulous manners in which the classical scholars preserved the authentic Hadith and also highlight the problems with Hadith. We will continue to look at the influences of the science of Hadith and why the Hadith continue to be of such importance today.

Qur’an Lectures:

1. Introduction: Definition of the key words: Al-Qur’an, al-Kitab, al-Wahy
2. Collection and compilation of the Qur’an
3. The Shaping of the Book: Arrangement of the verses and chapters, improvement of the script and the printing of the Qur’an
4. The style of the Qur’an
5. A survey of the Contents of the Qur’an
6. Moral teachings of the Qur’an
7. Major themes of the Qur’an
8. Narratives in the Qur’an: aims and objectives
9. Emergence and development of Exegesis (tafsir)
10. Codification of tafsir (exegesis, interpretation) and Contribution of al-Tabari
11. Traditional tafsir and independent tafsir (al-Tafsir bi ‘l-mathur and al-tafsir bi ‘r’ay)
12. Studies of some selected verses of the Qur’an

Hadith Lectures:

1. Definition of Hadith and Sunnah, and the Position of Hadith in Islam
2. The position of Hadith in Islam
3. The Efforts of the Early Generations in collecting the Hadith
4. Collections of Hadith in early period: juz’, sahifah, risalah
5. Two different methods of compiling Hadith: Musannaf & Musnad
6. The Six Collections of Hadith: (i) Sahih al-Bukhari, (ii) Sahih Muslim, (iii) Sunan al-Tirmidhi, (iv) Sunan Abu Dawud, (v) Sunan al-Nisa’i, (vi) Sunan Ibn Majah
7. Some other Hadith Collections
8. The authority and authenticity of Hadith
9. Emergence & Development of Sciences of Hadith (‘Ululm al-Hadith)
10. Classification of Hadith
11. Selected Texts from Hadith

Description (2nd Year)

In the Year 2 we expand on classic and pre-modern Quranic exegesis (tafsir) by focusing on specific approaches to tafsir, notably that of the Mu’tazilah and the Shi’ah. We also look at Sunni exegesis such as Al-Razi and Baydawi and further explore Sufi trends.

Following this we take a look at the modern exegesis of 19th and 20th century revivalists and reformers such as Muhammad Abdu and Rashid Rida and also later figures such as Mawdudi and Qutb whilst also covering the social context, their biographies and personalities. Finally students will be introduced to orientalist’s scholarship on the Quran in light of the climate and judge whether they made a contributions and whether orientalist’s attitudes to the Quranic and Hadith sciences have changed over the last century.

Students will also explore the criticism of hadith in significant detail inclusive of prejudicial approaches and poor scholarly critiques and thus also contemporary Muslim responses to them. They will also learn about the fabrication of hadith during the classical period of Islam and also be introduced to Shi’ah collections of Hadith.

Qur’anic Commentaries Lectures:

1. Mu’tazila Tafsir (al-Zamakhshari & al-Kashshaf)
2. Shi’ah tafsir (al-Tabrasi & Tabataba’i
3. Sunni tafsir (al-Razi & al-Baydawi)
4. Books of Ahkam al-Qur’an
5. Sufi trends in the interpretation of the Qur’an
6. Al-Manar school
7. Mawdudi & Sayyid Qutb
8. The Concept of coherence in the Qur’an
9. Some other trends in the tafsir
10. Western Scholarship of the Qur’an

Hadith Lectures (Year 2)

1. Hadith Studies in the Modern Time
2. Western scepticism about Hadith
3. Muslim scepticism on Hadith
4. Defense of Hadith against its criticism
5. The Case of Fabrication of Hadith
6. Shi’ah’ view on Hadith and their major Collections
7. Some useful guidelines to study Hadith
8. Selected Texts from Hadith
9. Selected Texts from Hadith

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