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Diploma in Introduction to Classical Islamic Texts

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Overview

The ‘Introduction to Classical Islamic Texts’ is a diploma programme that has been carefully designed and structured to give a meaningful introduction to the major classical Islamic texts related to the Qur’an, the Hadith of the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Philosophy, Logic or the Refutation of Philosophy and Logic, and History.

In our time, people often say ‘Bukhari’ or ‘Muslim’ but they do not really understand the value of Sahih Bukhari or Sahih Muslim. People often mention names such as Waliullah Dehlawi but they do not appreciate who these individuals really were and what their con- tribution was.

Very often in madrassas these days, teachers don’t encourage students to ask questions, to discuss, to argue a point – to think and to understand. Studying Islamic sciences has become simply a matter of collecting information and knowing the texts only at a superficial level. The Muslim mind has become idle – not thinking, not understanding, unable to challenge any opinion, unable to prove anything and unable to refute anything.

This diploma programme will look at the early Muslim scholars – the Mujtahideen or thinkers of Islam – those people who were known not only for collecting information and teaching something new but also for their thinking, understanding and analysing of the information to support someone or to approve something, to refute or to differ from others, to debate, to discuss and to develop.

Through the study of these great scholars, their great minds, their advanced methodologies and sophisticated work, we can begin to understand the true depth and breadth of real Is- lamic scholarship. No longer will we think of the Islamic Sciences as something superficial but rather we will learn how to think properly, understand things deeply and follow the way of a true scholar.


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Course Curriculum

16 Classical Texts Covered in 20 Classes

  1. Sahih al-Bukhari {2 Classes } The Abridged Collection of Authentic Hadith with Connected Chains Muhammad ibn Isma‘il al-Bukhari [195-256 AH]
  2. al-Muwatta {1 Class } First Major Collection of Hadith Malik ibn Anas [93-179 AH]
  3. Sahih Muslim {1 Class } Hadith Collection with Authentic Chains Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj an–Naysaburi [204-261 AH]
  4. Nizam al-Qur’an {1 Class } Coherence in the Qur’an Hamiduddin Farahi [1279-1348 AH]
  5. al-Muqaddimah {1 Class } An Introduction to History Ibn Khaldun Al-Hadrami [732-808 AH]
  6. Kitab al-Risala fi Usul al-Fiqh {2 Classes } Treatise on the Foundations of Islamic Jurisprudence Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi‘i [150-204 AH]
  7. Sunan Abu Dawud {1 Class } One of The Six Canonical Hadith Collections Abu Dawud Al-Sijistani [202-275 AH]
  8. Sunan at-Tirmidhi {1 Class } One of The Six Canonical Hadith Collections Muhammad Ibn ‘Isá At-Tirmidhi [209-279 AH]
  9. al-Muwafaqat fi Usul al-Shari’a {1 Class } The Reconciliation of the Fundamentals of Islamic Law Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi [d. 790 AH]
  10. Kitab al-Muhalla bi’l Athar {1 Class } The Adorned Treatise Abu Muhammad ‘Ali ibn Hazm al-Andalusi [384-456 AH]
  11. Sunan an-Nasa’i {1 Class } One of The Six Canonical Hadith Collections Ahmad Ibn Shu’ayb al-Nasa’i [214-303 AH]
  12. Hujjatullah al-Baligha {2 Classes } The Profound Evidence of Allah Shah Waliullah Dehlavi [1114-1176 AH]
  13. Tahafut al-Falasifa {1 Class } The Incoherence of the The Philosophers Muhammad al-Ghazali [450-505 AH]
  14. al-Radd ‘ala al-Mantiqiyyin {1 Class } Refutation of the Greek Logicians Taqi ad-Din Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah [661-728 AH]
  15. al-Muqaddimah fi Usul al-Tafsir {2 Classes } Introduction to the Principles of Exegesis Taqi ad-Din Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah [661-728 AH]
  16. Sunan Ibn Majah {1 Class } One of The Six Canonical Hadith Collections Muhammad Ibn Yazid Ibn Majah [209-273 AH]

Course Outline

HADITH & SUNNAH

al-Muwatta 

First Major Collection of Hadith

Malik ibn Anas {93-179 AH}

Although not counted among the six, this is the earliest book of hadith and fiqh, and attributed to Imam Malik. It has always has been approved and revered, both for its authentic hadiths and as a record of the sunnahs of the people of Madinah. We will cover the history of the text in its major recensions; its most important general features, including how the material is arranged and classified and why some of it is left unclassified; what is excluded from it that could have been included; other, contemporary approaches (in Egypt, Syria, Iraq), to hadith and fiqh; and an overview of the differences between the Madinan and Iraqi approaches to the recording and application of hadith.

Sahih al-Bukhari

The Abridged Collection of Authentic Hadith with Connected Chains

Muhammad ibn Isma‘il al-Bukhari {195-256 AH}

This Sahih is revered among Muslims as the most authentic book after the Qur’an. We will study a few hadiths in great detail to demonstrate how thoroughly and consistently Bukhari applied his criteria for authenticating the chain of narrators reporting the hadith; how detached he was from any considerations of sect and creed; his estimation of sound hadiths as being sufficient to guide the practice of Islam; and the method, and meaning for fiqh, of his notes and chapter headings. This compendium has been extensively commented on, most famously by Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalani in Fath al-bari.

Sahih Muslim

Hadith Collection with Authentic Chains

Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj an–Naysaburi {204-261 AH}

The Sahih of Muslim has been served by several commentaries, notably those of Qadi `Iyad and Imam al-Nawawi. However, these commentaries are mainly concerned with matn not isnad, and in important respects they failed to understand the methodology and technical critique deployed by Muslim in his selection and arrangement of hadiths. Accordingly, neither was able to defend Muslim’s work against criticisms of what he included or excluded. Also, both commentaries added chapter divisions and headings– something that Muslim himself did not do – and, in doing so, they preferred an argument that suits the thinking (and needs) of jurists rather than hadith specialists and, secondly, altered the priorities that Muslim accorded to certain narratives over others. Our presentation will show the wisdom of Muslim’s own ordering of the material and its methodology.

Sunan Abu Dawud

One of The Six Canonical Hadith Collections

Abu Dawud Al-Sijistani {202-275 AH}

Abu Dawud cites some hadiths not recorded by Bukhari and Muslim. He adds notes to some of the hadiths, declaring them to be weak; while all others are sahih. He believed that unless there was formal proof of untrustworthiness against a particular narrator, traditions through him should be recorded and circulated. His collection was approved by Ibn Hanbal. Abu Dawud’s important contribution to the field of the Sunnah and his methodology in this work will be explained, notably in the light of his letter to the people of Makkah. The course will also look at the meaning of sunnah, the historical development of the concept, and counter the claim of some orientalists that sunnahs evolved from customary tribal laws.

Sunan at-Tirmidhi

One of The Six Canonical Hadith Collections

Muhammad Ibn ‘Isá At-Tirmidhi {209-279 AH)}

At-Tirmidhi’s method was to begin with mention of the hadith related to the heading, give his opinion of the status of that hadith, refer to other relevant hadiths and, after that mention the opinions of different jurists. At the end of his collection, is appended Kitab al-`Ilal. In it Tirmidhi explains his classification of hadith according to the reliability of their routes of transmission and other criteria. We will also discuss how Tirmidhi presents differences among the jurists’ arguments, and how the traditionists dealt with the technical minutiae related to isnad or matn. Tirmidhi also famously put together a collection of hadiths that record the personal characteristics and virtues of the Prophet, which is known as Kitab al-Shama’il.

Sunan an-Nasa’i

One of The Six Canonical Hadith Collections

Ahmad Ibn Shu’ayb al-Nasa’i {214-303 AH}

This compendium of hadiths is generally considered third in strength of the six books. Nasa’i gives more space to the `ibadat than in the other collections, and has chapters on forms of bequest and donation not found in the others, though the relevant hadiths are there. On the other hand, his Sunan lacks a number of the chapter divisions (such as on the Qur’an and the fitnas) found in the others.

Sunan Ibn Majah

One of The Six Canonical Hadith Collections

Muhammad Ibn Yazid Ibn Majah {209-273 AH}

This Sunan is considered as the last of the six works in respect of the authenticity of its chains of narrators. We will explain the status of this work, the methodology of Ibn Majah and the criticism that has been made against it. Particular emphasis will be given to Ibn Majah’s own arguments, as presented in the famous Muqaddimah he wrote for this book.

FIQH & USUL AL-FIQH

Kitab al-Risala fi Usul al-Fiqh

Treatise on the Foundations of Islamic Jurisprudence

Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi‘i (150-204 AH}

Shafi`i composed this work in response to a request from the leading imam `Abd al-Rahman b. Mahdi to explain the significance of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and their relationship, for deriving the law. The Risalah is a brilliant exposition of the basic principles of and argumentation in Islamic law. It is the first explicit formulation of the terms and discipline of usul al-fiqh. We will highlight how this discipline evolved, and then how it developed in later centuries.

Kitab al-Muhalla bi’l Athar

The Adorned Treatise

Abu Muhammad ‘Ali ibn Hazm al-Andalusi {384-456 AH}

Kitab al-Muhalla bi-l-athar is considered one of the primary sources of the Zahiri or literalist school, and a masterpiece of fiqh. In it Ibn Hazm discusses each question of fiqh, separately citing the views of scholars of other schools and their evidence for those views. He then discusses why he judges their arguments incorrect, and puts forward his own argumentation and the evidences for that. We will explain the importance of this work and its methodology, and the impact it had on later jurists.

al-Muwafaqat fi Usul al-Shari’a

The Reconciliation of the Fundamentals of Islamic Law

Abu Isaaq al-Shatibi { 790 AH}

This is the first comprehensive and coherent exposition of the objectives of Shari`ah. We will give a detailed introduction to this work and explain its contemporary relevance, how it has been misread in some respects by many Muslims (and non-Muslims), with emphasis on recent misunderstanding and misapplication of the concept of maqasid.

PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACHES

Tahafut al-Falasifa

The Incoherence of the The Philosophers

Muhammad al-Ghazali {450-505 AH}

This famous work was intended as a criticism of the principles and doctrines of Greek philosophy as applied by, notably, Ibn Sina and al-Farabi to Islamic teachings. The book was well received and considered a successful proof of the incoherence of the philosophers. Ghazali criticises the philosophers on 20 issues, among which three are serious enough to have merited the accusation of unbelief. We will discuss how well Ghazali demonstrates the incoherence of the philosophers, and Ibn Rushd’s equally famous response in Tahafut al-Tahafut.

al-Radd ‘ala al-Mantiqiyyin

Refutation of the Greek Logicians

Taqi ad-Din Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah {661-728 AH}

This book is rightly regarded as the most rigorous and effective critique of Greek logic produced within the Islamic world. Its arguments have been compared to similar ones, independently reached by European philosophers in the twentieth century. We will study Ibn Taymiyyah’s methodology and explain his concern that reliance on the philosophers’ habit of contriving definitions and concocting syllogisms needlessly complicated the thinking of Muslim theologians, contaminated and confused their faith and weakened their commitment to Qur’an and Sunnah.

Hujjatullahi al-Baligha

The Profound Evidence of Allah

Shah Waliullah Dehlavi {1114-1176 AH}

Perhaps the most important and influential Muslim thinker and revivalist after Ibn Taymiyyah was Shah Waliullah al-Muhaddith al-Dihlawi. In this course we will cover: Shah Waliullah’s life, his efforts of reviving the hadith and hadith sciences in 18th century India, his teachings and writings. Most part of the course will involve a comprehensive and thorough introduction to his magnum
opus Hujjatullahal-Balighah, which deals with the development of human societies, human need for guidance, the development of Islamic sciences, history of the legal schools, causes of the differences, the wisdom of shari`ah, and an intellectual interpretation of hadith, comparison with earlier writings on these subjects; and Shah Waliullah’s legacy in India and beyond

Al-Muqaddimah 

An Introduction to History

Ibn Khaldun Al-Hadrami {732-808 AH}

This work records an early view of universal history. Some modern scholars regard it as the first work on the philosophy of history and a pioneer in such disciplines as sociology, demography, historiography, cultural history, and economics. It also deals with Islamic theology, law, political theory and the natural sciences of biology and chemistry. Ibn Khaldun wrote the work in 1377 as the Preface or first book of his planned world history, but already in his lifetime it became regarded as an independent work. The course will provide a critical introduction of the work.

 

TAFSIR & USUL AL-TAFSIR

Muqaddimah Tafsir Nizam al-Qur’an

Introduction to Exegesis based on Coherence in the Qur’an

Hamiduddin Farahi {1279-1348 AH}

Maulana Hamiduddin Farahi (d. 1930) devoted most of his life to study the Qur’an. An erudite scholar, Farahi commanded knowledge of a number of languages, among them Hebrew and English. Among his books are: Mufradat al Qur’an (Vocabulary of the Qur’an), Asalib al Qur’an (Style of the Qur’an) Jamharat al-Balaghah (Manual of Quranic Rhetoric) and Iman fi Aqsam il Qur’an (Study of the Quranic Oaths). Farahi’s main contribution in the field of Qur’anic studies has been the development of the theory of Nizam ie. thematic unity; every chapter of the Qur’an has a specific theme around which all elements of the chapter are woven. According to the concept of nizam, the Qur’an being coherent means that it has an overall theme, each chapter has a theme, and the whole book and every chapter of it are connected in how they present those themes. In other words, nizam refers to the order of the Qur’an, and the sequence of its arguments and statements, in relation to the theme of the whole Qur’an, then to the order of different groups of chapters, then the order of elements within each surah in each group. The course will study the theory in detail in the light of the criticism against it.

al-Muqaddimah fi Usul al-Tafsir

Introduction to the Principles of Exegesis

Taqi ad-Din Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah {661-728 AH}

This is a brief but comprehensive work on the principles of Tafsir. The main point and the emphasis in this book by Imam ibn Taymiyyah is that anyone who studies the Qur’an should always keep in mind whothe speaker is and who it is spoken to. He emphasizes that we should keep in mind that it is Allah who is speaking and the one who has been chosen to receive this speech is Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam. Therefore it is the Messenger Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam who would have understood this message better than anyone else, and that it necessitates we should keep his life and the sunnah is mind to understand the Qur’an – to see how the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam received the message and how he acted upon it and also how the first students of the Prophet – his companions – understood and acted upon the message, and that this must be the most authentic understanding of the Qur’an. No doubt this is a very important work with strong arguments. The course will provide a detailed study of his work and compare it with other works of usul al-tafsir.

Course Structure

Start Date : Students can join the programme anytime of the year.

  • Taught in the English language
  • Course notes provide for selected lectures
  • References and selected lecture transcripts
  • Recorded Questions & Answers with Shaykh Mohammad Akram Nadwi
  • Online Student Collaboration System for discussion and questions.
  • Classes are Online worldwide (Pre Recorded), can be taken from anywhere in the world
  • Recorded access to all the classes.
    • Option 1 – Flexible Learning Format [Full Payment] – Access to All the classes for 2 full Years . Students can choose the order in which they want to do the classes.
    • Option 2 – Structured Learning Format [ Monthly Subscription] – One Class is released per month, from then on the class stays till end of the programme. Students have to follow the course format specified by the college.
  • Exam held at the end of the course
  • Diploma granted on successful completion by the Cambridge Islamic College
  • Access to the classes will start 48 hours after enrolment into the Diploma.

Course Outline of Structured Learning.

16 Classical Texts Covered in 20 Classes

  1. Sahih al-Bukhari {2 Classes } The Abridged Collection of Authentic Hadith with Connected Chains Muhammad ibn Isma‘il al-Bukhari [195-256 AH]
  2. al-Muwatta {1 Class } First Major Collection of Hadith Malik ibn Anas [93-179 AH]
  3. Sahih Muslim {1 Class } Hadith Collection with Authentic Chains Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj an–Naysaburi [204-261 AH]
  4. Nizam al-Qur’an {1 Class } Coherence in the Qur’an Hamiduddin Farahi [1279-1348 AH]
  5. al-Muqaddimah {1 Class } An Introduction to History Ibn Khaldun Al-Hadrami [732-808 AH]
  6. Kitab al-Risala fi Usul al-Fiqh {2 Classes } Treatise on the Foundations of Islamic Jurisprudence Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi‘i [150-204 AH]
  7. Sunan Abu Dawud {1 Class } One of The Six Canonical Hadith Collections Abu Dawud Al-Sijistani [202-275 AH]
  8. Sunan at-Tirmidhi {1 Class } One of The Six Canonical Hadith Collections Muhammad Ibn ‘Isá At-Tirmidhi [209-279 AH]
  9. al-Muwafaqat fi Usul al-Shari’a {1 Class } The Reconciliation of the Fundamentals of Islamic Law Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi [d. 790 AH]
  10. Kitab al-Muhalla bi’l Athar {1 Class } The Adorned Treatise Abu Muhammad ‘Ali ibn Hazm al-Andalusi [384-456 AH]
  11. Sunan an-Nasa’i {1 Class } One of The Six Canonical Hadith Collections Ahmad Ibn Shu’ayb al-Nasa’i [214-303 AH]
  12. Hujjatullah al-Baligha {2 Classes } The Profound Evidence of Allah Shah Waliullah Dehlavi [1114-1176 AH]
  13. Tahafut al-Falasifa {1 Class } The Incoherence of the The Philosophers Muhammad al-Ghazali [450-505 AH]
  14. al-Radd ‘ala al-Mantiqiyyin {1 Class } Refutation of the Greek Logicians Taqi ad-Din Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah [661-728 AH]
  15. al-Muqaddimah fi Usul al-Tafsir {2 Classes } Introduction to the Principles of Exegesis Taqi ad-Din Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah [661-728 AH]
  16. Sunan Ibn Majah {1 Class } One of The Six Canonical Hadith Collections Muhammad Ibn Yazid Ibn Majah [209-273 AH]

Testimonials

“I have done 4 years of Islamic Studies at an Islamic institute. I was therefore not sure how much I would benefit from the diploma “Introduction to Classical Islamic Texts”. Then I decided  to attend anyway with the intention of at least revising my Islamic studies. Also I was not sure how I could follow the course as English is not my first language. But just after a few minutes of attending I was highly impressed. The professional organization made it very easy for me to catch up on the missed classes. The online live-class with high technical standards and the facility to ask questions was very beneficial. So far the class has not only been a revision but much more than that. Dr Akram Nadwi has very high qualities and the depth he goes into is phenomenal. He covers many details which are indeed very hard to find anywhere else. Therefore this course, in my view, is unique in terms of the content as well as the organization. I’m quite sure that I will attend the next series as well. I would recommend these classes to everyone. Thank you very much for Cambridge Islamic Sciences Worldwide for their efforts and for providing such great seminars.” – Saber Ben Neticha, Frankfurt, Germany

“Muwatta of Imam Malik has always been a Big name that I heard, but in reality never got a chance to learn about it in order to appreciate it. Alhamdulillaah, this one day introductory class to the book gave me a good insight into the history, subject matter, methodology of the book. Dr. Akram Nadwi’s approach was very objective and that led us to think critically and appreciate this magnanimous work. The best part for me was that Dr. Akram Nadwi’s approach in teaching about the book and the Imam was on a very human level which made it even more relevant for me to relate to. Many a times, we learn about Imams and we get a picture that somehow they were super humans and this makes it difficult for us to relate to them and see the brilliance of their work despite of having human weaknesses. Alhamdulillah, excellent class, organized and beneficial. I encourage all those who are studying Islam on a serious level to consider this course as this will be a great stepping stone for them inshaAllaah.” – Faria Alam, Chittagong, Bangladesh

“The classes are uncovering treasures which is only known if you are willing to sacrifice time & money to learn from Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi.  You will have a very different understanding of Islamic history after observing a wealth of knowledge not found commonly in the textbooks.” – Imran Tufail, Reading, UK

“So far in the first 2 sessions, I have learnt so much about Sahih Bukhari & Muwatta’ of Imam Malik that I would never have imagined could be learnt in a short time. Sheikh Akram have packed the lessons and info so much in the sessions that are very beneficial in understanding the books. I was sceptical in the beginning since I will be taking the course online but so far alhamdulillah I am glad I decided to take this course and would recommend others to join the course, either online or live.”  – Putri Shahnim Khalid, Selangor, Malaysia

“It felt that I have come back to my country after 2 days. As an online attendee I was a little worried as to whether I could make it the whole day in front of the screen. But the course was so full of beneficial information that I could not make myself move even for a minute, lest I would miss something. For the 8-9 hours in the day, not for a single moment did I feel exhausted or bored. This course was so well informed that every moment was worth noting down in my note book. This course on Sahih Bukhari was not only some information that would help us understand the technical aspects of it, but it was delivered with such amazing tarbiyah that at the end of the course I feel spiritually uplifted Alhamdulillaah. I really look forward to the upcoming classes.” – Faria Alam, Chittagong, Bangladesh

“I am currently pursuing a Bachelors in Fiqh and usul al Fiqh from the International Islamic University of Malaysia. I pray this class will give me an in depth introduction to all of the classical texts that we will study inshaAllah. Also, Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan of Bayyinah institute, where I studied Arabc for 9 months has always had a high regard for Shaikh Akram Nadawi, and has encouraged us countless times to study under him. Alhumdulillah, I am happy to finally do so. Also, as a female, I feel Shaikh Akram Nadawi is a pioneer from amongst our current ulama who is pushing forth the scholarship of females specifically with his amazing book that he is writing on the female Muhadithoon.” – Safiya Rawat, International Islamic University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

“Firstly, it is a one-off opportunity to learn knowledge which is hard to come by anywhere else in English and taught by one of the best Muhaddith of our time. I heard Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan speak highly of Shaykh Mohammad Akram Nadwi recently and really am honoured to be able to learn from him. I really look forward to having my thoughts expanded and guided by the Shaykh as I want to be able to make changes in my own family, beginning with my children in the future and as a future teacher inshaAllah, and do not want them to have the same problems I and so many people I know have; due to fear of saying or thinking something wrong, we choose not to think much for ourselves but the Qur’an encourages thinking.” – Sharmin Chowdhury, London, UK

“The class on the methodology of Imam Bukhari was an insightful class and was testament to the scholarly aptitude of Shayk Dr.Akram Nadwi. His understanding into the science of Hadith narrators is truly profound and makes me reflect how fortunate I am to be able to have access to a scholar of his calibre. I would certainy reccomend any student of knowledge that is interested in the classical literature of Islam and wishes to gain proficiency in these texts or simply wishes to have a superficial understanding of these texts to enroll. This opportunities are rarely available and would be a great shame not to utilise such opportunities.” – Arfan Rahman, SOAS, University of London, UK

“The course exceeded my expectations. Hardly anything was not of direct relevance. Comprehensive and very informative – it will give me a great platform on which to build insha’Allah. I thoroughly enjoyed the course. The explanations and examples were excellent. Shaykh Akram peppered his presentation with humour and made a difficult subject very interesting and understandable.” – Obaidah Shaker, iERA, London, UK

“An extremely insightful introduction to the life and Sahih of Imam Bukhari. The two days aimed to convince us how intelligent, dedicated and vigourous he was and how we are indebted to him for his works. Shaykh Nadwi invited us to dive deeper into the world of Hadith and inspired us to become dedicated students of knowledge. I look forward to the next module, insha’Allah” – Ataullah Parkar, Head Teacher, Al Aqsa School, Leicester, UK

“The Introduction to Sahih Al-Bukhari was my first ever course with Sheikh Akram. Prior to this course I did not know much about the Sheikh nor of Cambridge Islamic Sciences. The experience of this was something truly unique and one I have rarely come across. I have been to a number of courses on various topics, but the Sheikhs approach to the subject matter is truly one of a kind. I have been to several courses, yet I can truly say the amount I learnt in just this weekend was on another level. The sheikh has inherited the rich classical Islamic scholarship of thinking, understanding and research that is rarely known and advocated amongst us now. He teaches purely with the intention of teaching you and not to advocate his opinions. The sheikh has a deep wisdom and gives you other perspectives of how things are, giving you a more rounded view of the bigger picture. Unfortunately this is something rarely advocated in studying Islam, and I am truly grateful to Allah for giving me the opportunity to experience this from Cambridge Islamic Sciences. I would sincerely advise anyone searching to not only learn Islam but understand and truly appreciate it as the earlier Muslims did to most definitely enrol onto this course.” – Ayan Ali, London, UK

“Prior to attending, I like many Musilms was aware of the importance and centrality of Sahih al-Bukhari to Sunni Islam and the great effort Imam Bukhari put in to compile this monumental work. But beyond that I had very little knowledge about the inner workings and methodology employed by the Imam. The course was simply amazing. I now feel that I now have at least a working overview of Sahih al-Bukhari and once again – as with all Shaykh Akram courses – my mind has been blown. I often think that attending his classes is like taking Morpheus’s “red pill” from the Matrix! May Allah reward and preserve Shaykh Akram and the Cambridge Islamic Sciences team. I look forward to the next course in the Classical Texts series and to my mind being blown once again!” – Faraz Mir, Luton, UK

“Shaykh Mohammad Akram Nadwi  is truly one of the gems of our world today. His depth of knowledge and mastery of the various sciences is beyond extraordinary. He has a unique style of teaching which I find very effective. Shaykh Akram always makes relevant connections with the contemporary period, bringing to life the tradition so that we can all relate to it. His sense of humor and down-to-earth approach makes the class evermore enjoyable. The moment I found out about the Islamic Diploma course, I did not think twice and enrolled immediately. I thought to myself: “How can I let such an incredible opportunity go?” Alhamdulillah, we completed our first class on Sahih al-Bukhari, and I have already benefited tremendously. I am looking forward to the upcoming classes and encourage anyone who is interested to take part in this amazing course!” – Zakir Ahmed, New York City, USA

“Thoroughly enjoying this course so far alhamdulillah. I’ve had the pleasure of studying with Shaykh Nadwi before. What I most love about sitting in his circles of knowledge are:-
A) You learn so much from his adab alone. The way he interacts, the way he behaves, the way he treats you etc.He has to be one of the most humble teachers one has ever sat with.
B) He never wastes your time. Your arms are literally aching, trying to jot down all the information. His knowledge is very deep and broad ma sha Allah.
This course, although an introduction to the classical texts, certainly isn’t devoid of detail and depth. The grey cells are very much engaged and active throughout! Given that time is the most precious commodity one has. Studying with Sh Nadwi is *never* a waste of time. Even his digressions are pearls and gems. The course is a suitable precursor to taking ones studies to greater depths and studying with Shaykh on a regular, long term basis. Not for the fainthearted who want entertainment. Definitely for those who want classical studies and something a bit more meaty. Jazakumullahu khayran to Cambridge Islamic Sciences Worldwide.” – Somaira Wasty, Manchester, UK

“A lot of people talk about Imam Bukhari, they narrate from Imam Bukhari, they know his book to be the most authentic but they don’t really appreciate the effort, thought, and depth of Imam Bukhari in his Sahih. After only one day, our students and staff here at Bayyinah Institute have developed a profound appreciation of Imam Bukhari’s contribution and Sh. Akram’s scholarship.” – Ustadh Adam Jamal, Bayyinah Dream Instructor, Dallas, USA

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