Programs of Study

Takhaṣṣuṣ fī al-Tafsīr

Background

Completion of the Takhaṣṣuṣ fī al-Tafsīr program will provide students with the classical and contemporary tools to study, understand, and contribute to the primary and secondary sources of the vigorous science of tafsīr. 

Program Name & Objective

Takhaṣṣuṣ fi al-Tafsīr: Specialization in Qurʾānic Exegesis, Post-Advanced Program


The program comes to a completion by researching and documenting the Takhaṣṣuṣ fi al-Tafsīr learning goals and outcomes which are discussed in the course description and syllabi for each class.

What You Will Gain

Goal 1: Develop a malakah (mastery) within the science of tafsīr.

Outcome 1a. Describe the historical context and dynamic nature of exegetes (muffasirūn) and their tafsīrs.

Outcome 1b. Demonstrate how a madhdhab, mashrab, philosophy, theory, model, and/or major historical development impacts tafsīr in diverse settings.

Outcome 1c. Participate in professional activities and associations, such as professional conferences and meetings, internships and practicums, and professional email discussions.

Goal 2: Understand the essential nature of tafsīr and its place it Islamic epistemology and relevance to our society.

Outcome 2a. Describe various definitions of tafsīr and taʿwīl.

Outcome 2b. Explain the impact of tafsīr on fiqh, ʿaqīdah, lugha, manṭiq, and other sciences.

Outcome 2c. Develop appropriate academic responses to modern Qurʾānic questions.

Outcome 2d. Recognize and critique tafsir frameworks that circumvent the tradition and deconstruct taqlīd.

Goal 3: Navigate and create knowledge across the spectrum of genres in ʿulūm al-Qurʾān and tafsīr.

Outcome 3a. Design resources that enhance tafsīr research and study.

Outcome 3b. Complete required reading in tafsīr methodologies, uṣūl al-tafsīr, and history of tafsīr.

Outcome 3c. Evaluate current resources and tools that facilitate tafsīr research and translation.

Goal 4: Synthesize theory and practice within a dynamic, advanced, and polymathic field of tafsīr.

Outcome 4a. Articulate the methodologies, philosophies, and models of influential exegetes and tafsīr genres.

Outcome 4b. Derive principles from classical tafsīrs and apply them to contemporary tafsīrs.

Outcome 4c. Demonstrate teaching and learning standards in relation to re-presenting tafsīr.

Goal 5: Effectively research and write independent research that makes an original contribution in the field of tafsīr.

Outcome 5a. Defend thesis.

Outcome 5b. Critical reading of thesis by committee of graduate faculty members.

Outcome 5c. Submission and acceptance of peer-reviewed articles and conference papers based on the thesis.

Length

One full year of coursework (Fall, Spring, Short-term) followed by a year of writing and defending a thesis. 
  • 4-5 courses in the Fall semester
  • 4-5 courses in the Spring semester
  • 3 courses in the Short-term semester

Eligibility/Prerequisites

Completion of the Advanced program of studies at Darul Qasim or equivalent. Placement assessments will be given to all incoming students. 

What to Expect

The Takhaṣṣuṣ fī al-Tafsīr program builds on the Advanced Islamic Law & Islamic Theology program which elucidates the link between the derivatives (furūʾ) of Islam and their primary sources (uṣūl). In this rigorous one-year program, students will learn through classroom lectures, discussions, and unique project-based education the skillsets needed to read, interpret, and contribute to the field of tafsīr. Assignments will also lead to participation in professional tafsīr-related activities and associations such as conferences, internships, and practicums. 

What Darul Qasim Believes & Delivers

It is vital that people have access to a source of Islamic knowledge that is authentic, reliable and relevant. Much like any other discipline (religious or secular), knowledge is a trust and must reside with scholarship. Scholars who have dedicated their lives to the preservation, learning, and distribution of the Islamic intellectual heritage must be considered the sole custodians and distributors of this trust. This knowledge must be accessible to anyone who wishes to seek it.

Muslims throughout their intellectual history have always shown this level of professionalism since the very outset of Islam. Understanding the context in which Muslims live has always been a prerequisite to disseminating Islamic knowledge. At Darul Qasim, we have faculty members who are graduates of both secular universities as well as traditional Islamic institutions. Our scholars understand the culture and psyche of contemporary academic discourse.

Questions?

Please e-mail info@darulqasim.org, kamil.uddin@darulqasim.org