The Classical Islamic Creed and Theology module will introduce the students to the Islamic theological tradition through a detailed study of two major primary theological texts namely a commentary of al-‘Aqida al–Tahawiyya by Imam Abu Ja’far al-Tahawi al-Hanafi (d. 321 AH) and Sharh al-Kharida al-Bahiyya of Imam Ahmad al-Dardir al-Maliki (1204 AH).
The study of both these celebrated classical Maturidi and Ash’ari texts will cover some of the following issues:
What Muslims must believe about Allah, the Prophets, and all that is transmitted
- The underlying methodology of mainstream Islamic beliefs
- The centrality of Allah’s transcendence
- The key arguments and doctrines related to the proofs for the existence of God
- The essence and attributes of God
- The subject of prophetology, inimitable nature of the Qur’an, angelology, eschatology, political theology, free will and predestination.
- A chronological overview of the emergence, development, and the key doctrines of the different major sects within Muslim thought.
- A brief overview of traditional Islamic spirituality (tasawwuf)
*Sufficient Arabic comprehension skills are required for this module