At the heart of Darul Qasim College’s academic mission lies a foundational conviction that revelation is neither fragmented nor in conflict with itself or with the world it addresses. Darul Qasim’s intellectual orientation is aligned with a longstanding project of synthesis, a project championed by towering scholars such as Imam Abū Jaʿfar al-Ṭaḥāwī, Shāh Walī Allāh al-Dihlawī, and Muḥammad Qāsim al-Nānūtawī. This endeavor undertakes the formidable task of demonstrating the coherence and harmony of divine revelation in all its expressions, both in its internal structures and in its engagement with empirical knowledge, rational inquiry, and the civilizational order to which it gave rise.
A central axis of this project is the restoration and defense of the Hadith tradition, particularly its function within the divinely anchored order established by the best of generations (khayr al-qurūn). This order was not an abstraction, but an historical and normative system that gave life to the ethical, legal, and spiritual ideals embedded in revelation. To defend Islam today is to defend not merely the texts, but the interpretive system that gave them vitality: the legal theory, ethical orientation, spiritual tradition, and political order developed by the scholars of the past.
The Takhaṣṣuṣ fī-l-Ḥadīth (Specialization in Hadith Studies) Program at Darul Qasim College is a rigorous, graduate-level course of study and research program designed to train students in the traditional hadith sciences and hadith critical methodology while fostering the intellectual tools necessary for engagement with contemporary academic discourse. Grounded in the classical Sunni epistemological tradition, the program emphasizes both mastery of core disciplines, such as narrator evaluation (jarḥ wa taʿdīl), chain analysis (dirāsat al-asānīd), legal theory (uṣūl al-fiqh), and the identification of hidden defects (ʿilal), and informed critique of alternative frameworks, including Muʿtazilī, Shīʿī, Quranist, and Orientalist methodologies. Through focused coursework, manuscript training, and original thesis research under faculty supervision, students acquire the scholarly literacy required to authenticate hadith, analyze primary sources, edit critical texts, and contribute meaningfully to the preservation and renewal of the Prophetic tradition in modern scholarly contexts.
The program is designed to address several key intellectual and scholarly challenges of our time:
The Takhaṣṣuṣ fī-l-Ḥadīth program is structured to achieve the following core objectives:
Students engage in a structured curriculum that builds foundational expertise in hadith sciences, methodology, and critical analysis while allowing for advanced specialization in select areas of interest.
Beginning in the third semester, students embark on a supervised research project, culminating in a thesis that contributes original scholarship to the field of hadith studies.
Core courses provide a foundational grounding in the essential disciplines of hadith studies. These include:
Elective courses provide students with the flexibility to specialize in specific subfields of hadith studies, allowing them to develop expertise tailored to their research interests. Offerings may include:
Research-based courses allow students to engage in original scholarship by conducting in-depth investigations into their chosen area of specialization. These courses train students in:
• Specialized Research Seminars – Facilitating peer-reviewed scholarly discussions and academic writing workshops.
Subject | Course Text(s) | Hours |
---|---|---|
HAD 601: Advanced Hadith Studies and Critical Methodology |
|
4 |
HAD 611: Hadith Analysis in Legal Methodology |
|
2 |
HAD621: Narrator Evaluation in Theory and Practice |
|
3 |
HAD631: History and Competing Methodologies in Hadith Studies |
|
2 |
THEO599: Research Methodology |
|
2 |
HAD641: Hadith Research and Writing Lab |
1 |
Required Readings:
Subject | Course Text(s) | Hours |
---|---|---|
HAD 602: Advanced Hadith Studies and Critical Methodology |
|
4 |
HAD 611: Hadith Analysis in Legal Methodology |
|
2 |
HAD621: Hadith Sourcing, Chain Analysis, and ʿIlal Detection |
|
3 |
HAD631: History and Competing Methodologies in Hadith Studies |
|
2 |
THEO599: Research Methodology |
|
2 |
HAD642: Hadith Research and Writing Lab |
1 |
Required Readings:
Subject | Course Text(s) | Hours |
---|---|---|
HAD603: Advanced Hadith Critical Methodology |
|
4 |
HAD633: Epistemology of Testimonial Knowledge |
|
2 |
HAD643: Hadith Research and Writing Lab | 1 |
Required Readings:
Subject | Course Text(s) | Hours |
---|---|---|
HAD651: Rational Foundations of Hadith Critical Methodology |
|
1 |
HAD661: Applied Hadith Sourcing and Grading |
|
1 |
THEO601: Ḥujjat Allāh al-Bālighah (The Philosophy of Hadith) |
|
1 |
HAD671: Textual Criticism and Editing of Classical Manuscripts |
|
2 |
Thesis Work |
1 |
Required Readings:
Subject | Course Text(s) | Hours |
---|---|---|
HAD652: Contemporary Trends in Hadith Studies |
|
1 |
HAD662: Applied Hadith Sourcing and Grading |
|
1 |
THEO602: Ḥujjat Allāh al-Bālighah (The Philosophy of Hadith) |
|
1 |
HAD672: Practical Training in Hadith Manuscript Verification | 2 | |
Thesis Work |
1 |
Required Readings:
Subject | Course Texts(s) | Hours |
---|---|---|
Thesis | 1 |
Required Readings:
After successfully completing Year 1 coursework and passing the qualifying process, students advance to thesis research in their second year. Beginning in the third semester, this research project extends for at least one year and must demonstrate academic rigor, originality, and mastery of hadith sciences.
Students receive structured guidance throughout the thesis-writing process, covering essential steps such as formulating a research topic, conducting a literature review, drafting a proposal, and finalizing the thesis. The course also provides practical strategies for utilizing library resources, as well as methods for data collection, analysis, and scholarly argumentation.
The thesis serves several key objectives:
Students enrolled in the program are expected to dedicate a minimum of nine hours each day to study and research. This includes four hours of supervised study in the library or ḥadīth specialization research room each morning, followed by two additional hours in the afternoon, both under the guidance of an instructor. In addition, students are required to engage in three hours of independent research and study daily.
Given the rigor and intensity of the program, students are expected to devote their remaining time to personal needs or continued study. Accordingly, no outside employment or concurrent academic enrollment will be permitted during the first two years of the program.
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be well on their way to acquiring a comprehensive mastery of hadith literature, including its historical development, sciences, and application within theology, law, and spirituality. Equipped with advanced research skills and critical analysis, they will be prepared to pursue academic and professional careers in teaching, research, and related fields.
Graduates will be active contributors to the field of hadith studies, engaging in original research and participating in scholarly discourse to advance the discipline. They will also be trained to develop academic responses to contemporary challenges related to hadith, ensuring that traditional methodologies remain intellectually robust and relevant. Additionally, graduates will be equipped to recognize and critique modern hadith frameworks that attempt to bypass the tradition and undermine Islamic civilizational structures, positioning them as defenders and preservers of the Prophetic tradition.
To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:
Applicants must have successfully completed a Dars-ī Niẓāmī degree or an equivalent qualification in Islamic Studies from a recognized institution.
Applicants without a formal Dars-ī Niẓāmī background may still be considered if they can demonstrate equivalent proficiency through coursework and prior study.
Applicants must have formally studied and mastered beginner and intermediate texts in hadith sciences, such as:
Ideally, applicants should have also studied an advanced-level text, such as:
Applicants must have formally studied the major primary hadith collections, including:
Preferably, applicants should have also studied a major secondary collection, such as:
Applicants must submit a personal statement detailing:
Note: Minors (below 18 years of age) are not eligible to enroll in full-time or part-time programs at Darul Qasim as a standard policy.
Additional Considerations for Non-Darul Qasim College Graduates
Students who did not complete their prior studies at Darul Qasim College should note that DQC students are required to study the following advanced hadith texts before entering the Takhaṣṣuṣ program:
Applicants from outside Darul Qasim College should be prepared to demonstrate familiarity with these works or commit to additional preparatory study as part of their coursework.
As part of the application process, applicants should provide evidence of their highest level of formal academic education, including proof of high school completion if no higher academic transcripts are available. Additional relevant certifications or ijāzāt are strongly encouraged. Lastly, applicants will be asked to submit two letters of recommendation and a short personal statement as part of their online application.
To apply, please complete the online application form available at: https://darulqasim.org/hadith-program/ and upload all required documents. After your application has been reviewed, you will be contacted by the program’s administrative team. If your application is deemed suitable, you may be invited to schedule an interview.
Darul Qasim reserves the right to accept or decline any applicant for admission to the Takhaṣṣuṣ fī al-Ḥadīth Program, whether on a full-time or part-time basis.
Qualified students enrolled in the program may be eligible for annual scholarships, awarded through a fellowship program, ranging from $20,000 to $30,000. Priority consideration is given to early applicants and those who demonstrate strong academic merit, especially when scholarship funding is limited.
Shaykh Mohammed Amin Kholwadia is the founder and director of Darul Qasim College, and a distinguished Islamic scholar, theologian, and mentor, recognized for his expertise in Hadith studies, Islamic legal theory, and philosophy.
Born in Gujarat, India, Shaykh Amin pursued traditional Islamic studies in India and Pakistan, memorizing the Qur’an and receiving ijāzah in Hadith sciences from leading scholars, including Qārī Muḥammad Ṭayyib al-Qāsimī. In 1984, he moved to Chicago, where he later established Darul Qasim in 1998, addressing the need for rigorous scholarly training in the Islamic sciences.
Shaykh Amin has contributed extensively to Islamic finance, Qur’anic exegesis, and bioethics, advising institutions such as the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan. He has authored and translated works on Islamic finance, legal theory, and hadith methodology.
Dr. Issam Eido is a lecturer at Darul Qasim College and an Assistant Professor of the Practice of Religious Studies at Vanderbilt University. He previously served as a visiting scholar at the University of Chicago Divinity School. Before the Syrian uprising, he was a lecturer in the Department of Quran and Hadith Studies at the University of Damascus. Dr. Eido’s research focuses on the Qur’an in late antiquity, Hadith studies, and Sufism. He earned his Ph.D. from Damascus University, with his dissertation examining the criteria of Hadith authentication among early Islamic scholars.
He has also been involved in initiatives like the Dalalah Institute in Damascus, which provided education in classical Arabic and Islamic sciences to international students. He has published works such as “Early Hadīth Scholars and their Criteria of Hadīth Criticism,” which examines the methodologies used by early Hadith scholars in authenticating prophetic traditions.
Dr. Eido has also authored several significant works in Arabic, contributing to the study of Hadith sciences and Islamic epistemology. His notable Arabic publications include:
Mawlana Bilal Ali is a scholar of Hadith Studies, Islamic Law, and Theology, currently serving as Chair of the Department of Hadith and Chair of the Academic Advisory Committee at Darul Qasim College. His academic journey spans both Islamic and Western disciplines, providing him with a unique interdisciplinary perspective on Islamic scholarship.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Applied Behavioral Sciences from National-Louis University and completed his Dars-i Niẓāmī studies at Jāmiʿat Dār al-ʿUlūm Karachi, where he received certification (ijāzah) in Hadith from Mufti Muḥammad Taqī al-ʿUthmānī, Mufti Muḥammad Rafīʿ al-ʿUthmānī, and other leading scholars. His specialization-level research in Hadith studies was supervised by ʿAllāmah Dr. Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Ḥalīm al-Nuʿmānī (al-Chishtī).
Mawlana Bilal’s research interests include early Hadith methodology and nomenclature, Hadith critical methodology, Ḥanafī legal theory, curriculum development and pedagogy, mental health, and Islamic ethics. He has contributed extensively to academic publications, including papers and encyclopedia entries on Hadith, Islamic law, and bioethics.
Mawlana Abdurrehman Haji is a specialist in Hadith and ʿUlūm al-Ḥadith and currently serves as a lecturer in the Department of Hadith at Darul Qasim College. His academic journey spans North America and the Indian subcontinent, where he pursued rigorous training in Islamic scholarship with a specialization in critical Hadith studies.
He began his religious education at Ṣuffah Educational Guidance, completing the memorization of the Holy Qurʾān in 2005. He then undertook formal ʿĀlimiyyah studies at Dar al-ʿUlūm al-Madania (Buffalo, NY) and Dār al-ʿUlūm Canada (Chatham, Ontario) before advancing to Jāmiʿat Maẓāhir al-ʿUlūm (Saharanpur, India) for postgraduate specialization (takhaṣṣuṣ) in Hadith studies.
At Jāmiʿat Maẓāhir al-ʿUlūm, he spent four years studying Hadith and its sciences under the eminent hadith scholar Shaykh Muḥammad Yūnus al-Jawnpūrī (may Allah have mercy on him) and other esteemed teachers. He also received general ijāzah (authorization) to transmit hadith from notable scholars, including Shaykh Iftikhār al-Ḥasan al-Kāndhlawī and Mufti Aḥmad Ḥasan Khān Tonkī (may Allah have mercy on them).
With expertise in hadith transmission, methodology, and critical analysis, Mawlana Abdurrehman plays a key role in training students in hadith sciences at Darul Qasim College. His teaching focuses on the principles of hadith authentication, chain analysis, and classical methodologies.
Mawlana Muhiuddin Khan is a lecturer in Hadith Studies and Islamic Theology at Darul Qasim College, specializing in advanced hadith methodology, Islamic legal theory, and critical engagement with classical texts.
He memorized the Qur’an in 2007 and graduated from the ʿĀlimiyyah program from the Institute of Islamic Education (IIE) in 2013. In 2014, he pursued postgraduate studies in Hadith methodology and criticism at the Dār al-ʿUlūm in Deoband, where he trained under Mawlana Niʿmat Allāh al-Aʿẓamī, Mufti Saʿīd Aḥmad Pālanpūrī, and Mawlana ʿAbdullāh Maʿrūfī. Upon completion, he received authorization (ijāzah) to teach hadith sciences.
He completed the Advanced Diploma in Western Tradition and Islamic Philosophy and Theology from Blogging Theology Academy (BTA) and is continuing further studies in the same field. Since joining Darul Qasim College in 2022, he has been teaching introductory Islamic theology and advanced Hadith critical methodology, with a particular focus on Islamic legal theory. His teaching philosophy centers on cultivating critical thinking and fostering a deep appreciation for the classical Islamic scholarly tradition.
Students enrolled in the program will have full access to both libraries at Darul Qasim College, located at the Regency and Trillium campuses. These libraries house a vast collection of classical and contemporary hadith literature, including the preferred editions of the primary Hadith compilations, their most critical commentaries, biographical and prosopographical works, and any other technical manuals in specialized Hadith studies.
In addition to physical collections, students will have access to digital libraries, catalogs, and academic article storage sites, enabling them to engage in contemporary research and comparative textual studies.
To facilitate their research and writing, students will be provided with:
Beyond library and research facilities, Darul Qasim College will provide funding and opportunities for:
For inquiries regarding the Specialization in Hadith Studies Program, including admissions, curriculum details, and academic advising, please reach out to us:
Institution:
Darul Qasim College
Regency Campus: 550 Regency Dr, Glendale Heights, IL 60139
Trillium Campus: 5555 Trillium Blvd, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192
Phone: Main Office: +1 (630) 360-2373
Email Contacts:
General Inquiries: info@darulqasim.org
Admissions Office: admissions@darulqasim.org
Program Questions: bilal.ali@darulqasim.org – Mawlana Bilal Ali (Chair, Department of Hadith)
Website:
We look forward to assisting you in your academic journey and welcoming you to Darul Qasim College.