Critical Loyalty’s ḥadīth ijāzah is a comprehensive two-year online program that combines theory, practice and research. It is designed to achieve both breadth and depth. These are online courses offered through an Adobe Connect virtual classroom.
To build a solid foundation in ḥadīth theory, the students will complete the introduction to Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, as well.
Similar to traditional seminaries, the practical aspect will be covered through studying the six major works of ḥadīth. The students will meet once a week for two years over a 3-4 hour time slot, resembling the in-person ḥalaqah system where students sit in a circle and read the books of ḥadīth to the teacher upon their turn. The teacher will apply muṣṭalaḥ concepts, explain the aḥādīth, and delve into related fiqh and theology topics. These sessions are for both men and women, and there is no segregation based on gender. Students will constantly be evaluated on classroom ethics (attendance, preparedness, participation, and contribution). Each class will have students who are in their first year and some who are in their second year.
In the first year, students will study:
Jami‘ al-Tirmidhī
Sunan Abī Dawūd
Sunan Ibn aMājah
In the second year, students will study:
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
Sunan al-Nasā’ī
Going above and beyond traditional seminaries, Critical Loyalty incorporates a strong focus on critical thinking and depth through research. In order to graduate, the students must write a research paper which must be submitted prior to the date of graduation.
The final requirement is that students must attend a one-week knowledge retreat organized by Critical Loyalty during the second year of the course.
Upon completion of all of the above requirements (two years), the student will receive an ijāzāh and shahādah in ḥadīth.
Registration into the program opens each year, and closes at the end of August. As a prerequisite, students must know how to read Arabic fluently. Students may have to go through an interview process with the academic dean prior to being enrolled.
The goal of Critical Loyalty is to graduate students who think like “scholars”. What does that mean? Students should be able to think critically and objectively. They should know how to research, demonstrate open-mindedness, put aside all subjectivity, clearly articulate arguments, write persuasively [through the use of logic, not emotion], and present ideas in a cohesive and convincing fashion, combining evidences from original sources with logical arguments. Students who are unable to demonstrate scholarliness will not receive an ijāzah.
Registration opens every August. Year two students should also use the registration link below.
Timings: Sundays 6am-10am Mountain Standard Time
First class is September 6 2020
Course Instructor
