QUESTION:
Can you briefly outline the core subjects/books in the Dars e Nizami syllabus. If someone is unable to undertake the whole syllabus, then what books/subjects do you recommend they study?
ANSWER:
After teaching for many years, I have witnessed that students do not complete the full course and they leave (due to other commitments elsewhere). And unfortunately, they leave without even going through the fundamentals. It is for this reason, that I humbly request the scholars and teachers to concentrate the first two years on teaching the Obligatory sciences/knowledge rather than on Grammar/Syntax/Language/Usool.
The first two years, I personally believe, should be concentrated on teaching the following subjects:
– Tafsīr (of main Surahs/Last Juzz)
– Tajwīd
– Hadīth (Anwār ul Hadith: A compilation of Ahadith with Fiqhi rulings, Imam Nawawī’s Arba’īn and then Riyādus Sālihīn)
– Aqīdah (Bahār-e-Sharī’at: Part 1 covers all areas and also book on Beliefs &Practices of Ahlus Sunnah)
– Fiqh (Anwār-e-Sharī’at, then Qānūn-e-Sharī’at then Bahār-e-Shari’at volumes 2-4. All available in English)
– Sīrah [Emissary Elect or any short Sīrah, Prophet of Mercy, Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) Prophet of Islam (Seerat-e-Mustafa) then Shamā’il]
– Character building (Bahār-e-Sharī’at volume 16 covers a lot. Available in English)
– Arabic Language: Any good beginners’ books to create interest for the language (including writing).
– Arabic Grammar: can be taught sporadically in the first 6 months (not in too much detail) then Hafiz Athar’s book “Arabic Grammar” is an excellent book that covers literally everything with many exercises. Also Sarf can be incorporated in the second year
– Urdu: I am a big fan of Urdu language! Many basic Fiqh books can be taught in Urdu so they learning Fiqh and Urdu.
This I think is enough for two years. The Usooli (Tafsir, Fiqh, Hadīth etc) books can be introduced in the third year.
Allāh knows best.
Answered by Mawlana Mohamed Husein Qadri
