Islamic Studies Online Course

Lesson 1 • The Life of Prophet Muhammad

Traces the Prophet's biography from birth through the establishment of the Muslim community. Provides historical and spiritual context for understanding Islamic practice.

Lesson 2 • Early Islamic History and Expansion

Examines the Rightly Guided Caliphs, early conquests, and rapid geographic spread of Islam. Connects historical events to the formation of Islamic institutions.

Lesson 3 • Islam in the Modern World

Analyses colonialism's impact, reform movements, and contemporary Muslim-majority societies. Prepares students to contextualise modern Islamic discourse.

Lesson 4 • The Six Pillars of Belief

Covers the foundational creedal tenets: belief in God, angels, scriptures, prophets, the Day of Judgment, and divine decree. Anchors theological literacy for the entire course.

Lesson 1 • Sciences of Quranic Interpretation

Covers the classical discipline of tafsir, its methodologies, and major schools of interpretation. Connects interpretive tools to practical Quranic understanding.

Lesson 2 • Recitation and Phonetic Rules

Introduces the rules of tajweed governing proper Quranic recitation and their spiritual significance. Provides practical grounding for correct oral engagement with the text.

Lesson 3 • Contemporary Quranic Scholarship

Examines modern approaches including thematic, linguistic, and comparative methodologies. Bridges classical tradition with current academic and applied Quranic study.

Lesson 4 • Structure and Composition of the Quran

Introduces the Quran's arrangement into chapters and verses, its Meccan and Medinan divisions, and its oral tradition. Builds foundational literacy for textual study.

Lesson 1 • Introduction to Hadith Literature

Defines hadith, its components of text and chain of transmission, and its role alongside the Quran. Establishes the conceptual basis for all hadith-related study.

Lesson 2 • Major Hadith Collections

Surveys the six canonical Sunni collections and major Shia compilations and their methodologies. Provides reference literacy for primary hadith sources.

Lesson 3 • Narrator Criticism and Evaluation

Covers the classical science of evaluating narrators' reliability, memory, and character. Connects biographical scholarship to the authentication of prophetic reports.

Lesson 4 • Classification of Hadith

Presents the grading system from authentic to fabricated and the criteria applied at each level. Enables students to assess the reliability of any given narration.

Lesson 1 • Shia Legal Tradition

Examines Ja'fari jurisprudence, the role of the Imam, and its distinctive methodological features. Provides comparative perspective alongside Sunni legal schools.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Islamic Legal Theory

Covers usul al-fiqh: the theoretical framework governing how jurists derive rulings. Equips students with the analytical tools used across all legal schools.

Lesson 3 • Legal Reasoning and Ijtihad

Explores independent legal reasoning, its conditions, and debates about its scope in modern times. Prepares students to evaluate contemporary fatwa and reform arguments.

Lesson 4 • Sources of Islamic Law

Identifies the four primary sources — Quran, sunnah, scholarly consensus, and analogical reasoning — and their hierarchical relationship. Grounds all subsequent legal analysis.

Lesson 1 • Ash'ari and Maturidi Schools

Covers the two dominant Sunni theological schools, their founders, and their key doctrinal positions. Equips students to identify mainstream Sunni creedal stances.

Lesson 2 • Modern Theological Movements

Analyses Salafi, modernist, and progressive theological trends and their responses to contemporary challenges. Prepares students to situate current Islamic debates within historical theology.

Lesson 3 • Early Theological Controversies

Traces disputes over free will, divine attributes, and the status of sinners in early Islamic history. Provides the historical backdrop for understanding later theological schools.

Lesson 4 • Sufi Metaphysics and Spirituality

Introduces Sufi theological concepts including divine love, the stations of the soul, and unity of being. Connects mystical theology to mainstream Islamic creedal discourse.

Lesson 1 • The Declaration of Faith

Examines the shahada's theological content, conditions of validity, and its role as the entry point to Islam. Connects creedal affirmation to practical religious identity.

Lesson 2 • Hajj: The Pilgrimage to Mecca

Outlines the rites, sequence, and spiritual significance of the annual pilgrimage. Prepares students to understand both the legal requirements and transformative purpose of hajj.

Lesson 3 • Ritual Prayer: Theory and Practice

Covers the five daily prayers, their prerequisites, physical postures, and spiritual objectives. Provides step-by-step procedural knowledge for correct prayer performance.

Lesson 4 • Fasting in Ramadan

Details the rules, exemptions, and spiritual goals of the annual fast and related practices. Connects legal requirements to the broader ethic of self-discipline.

Lesson 1 • Character Virtues in Islamic Tradition

Examines core virtues such as truthfulness, justice, patience, and generosity as taught in Quran and hadith. Connects classical virtue lists to practical character development.

Lesson 2 • Environmental and Animal Ethics

Examines Islamic teachings on stewardship of the earth, animal welfare, and ecological responsibility. Connects classical concepts of trusteeship to contemporary environmental challenges.

Lesson 3 • Foundations of Islamic Ethics

Introduces the concept of akhlaq, the relationship between divine command and moral virtue, and the role of intention. Establishes the ethical framework used throughout the chapter.

Lesson 4 • Social Ethics and Community Obligations

Covers duties toward family, neighbours, and the broader community as defined in Islamic sources. Applies ethical principles to interpersonal and civic relationships.

Lesson 1 • Research Methods in Islamic Studies

Covers primary source identification, manuscript traditions, and database navigation for Islamic scholarship. Builds the research infrastructure needed for independent academic work.

Lesson 2 • Capstone: Integrative Islamic Analysis

Students synthesise theology, law, ethics, and history in an original research project or case study. Demonstrates mastery of the full Islamic studies curriculum.

Lesson 3 • Fatwa and Religious Opinion Writing

Teaches the structure, sourcing, and communication of religious legal opinions for community use. Applies jurisprudential knowledge to practical advisory contexts.

Lesson 4 • Academic Writing on Islamic Topics

Develops skills in structuring arguments, using evidence from Islamic sources, and meeting academic writing standards. Connects research competency to scholarly communication.