THE
ʿAQLIYYĀT
INITIATIVE
Takhaṣṣuṣ in Kalam, Manṭiq, & Falsafah
Mission Statement
The ʿAqliyyāt Initiative at DarusSalam aspires to impart the Islamic rational sciences (ʿaqliyyāt) through an approach that remains firmly grounded in the Sunni intellectual tradition while engaging with contemporary challenges. The Initiative aims to equip students with the philosophical framework and analytical tools necessary to substantiate Islamic creed and thoughtfully engage with and refute ideas that run counter to it, particularly those prevalent in the modern world.
Program Overview
Regarded by many to be the standard definition of ʿilm al-kalām, ʿAḍud al-Dīn al-Ījī defines the discipline in his celebrated work, al-Mawāqif, as “that science which provides the ability to substantiate revealed doctrines by adducing proofs and refuting specious arguments.” The Mawāqif’s famed commentator, al-Sharīf al-Jurjānī, offers an insightful remark that substantiation here means to compel “others” to accept the revealed doctrines. That Jurjānī includes a specific societal outcome in his understanding of ʿilm al-kalām, namely, the cogent demonstration of revealed doctrines to others, should especially interest those practitioners in the fields of sacred education, religious deliberation, and the work of daʿwah. As the primary focus of such fields is to impart information to another—in this case, the student or discussant—this perspective then flows naturally and smoothly into the divine directive:
“Call to the path of your Lord with wisdom and goodly admonishment; And contend with them with that which is clearly better.” (Quran 16:125)
Classic manuals on disputation theory (munāẓarah) have explained that the “clearly better” approach varies depending on the interlocutor. Based on the aforementioned, we have two important aspects at play for any aspiring Sunni exponent: (i.) properly identifying and understanding of the “other” in a way that gives rise to relevant and astute engagement, and (ii.) furnishing for them convincing evidences of our revealed doctrines.
Bearing these two aspects in mind, DarusSalam Seminary intends to carry out this divinely-ordained effort through its newly-founded ʿAqliyyāt Initiative. Due to the influence of the current zeitgeist with all its isms and schisms, there are added creedal risks and challenges found locally for Muslims living in a majority non-Muslim land. Thus, the need for training scholars on the ground who can offer sufficient answers to theological quandaries and contribute to contemporary kalam discourse cannot be overstated.
Program Structure
We expect that applicants for this program will approach it with one of two intentions: they may either seek to dedicate themselves to a lifelong pursuit of the rational sciences or wish to familiarize themselves enough to critically interact with modern ideologies and complement their scholarship—the ʿAqliyyāt Initiative is interested in both types of applicants. In light of this, the program is structured as a two-year course of study, following a flexible “1 + 1” format that allows students to pause after the first year if desired.
The first year of the program is not simply an introduction; rather, it is crafted to deliver a more rigorous and comprehensive engagement well beyond foundational concepts that propels students into an advanced understanding of the rational sciences. The first year—carefully curated for a balance between depth and breadth—is ideal for students seeking focused concentration and proficiency in the ʿaqliyyāt. Our pedagogical approach is to analyze key texts, apply critical methodologies, and engage in productive discussions, by which students will secure the tools, framework, and essential knowledge for a strong grasp of kalam, logic, and philosophy.
The second year of the program, on the other hand, is intended to take students into highly specialized and advanced areas of the rational sciences, transforming a strong grasp into what we hope will become a refined expertise, or what our tradition terms “malakah.” To this aim, the curriculum delves into later developments in theological debates, historical and contemporary interpretations of metaphysical concepts, and critical examinations of influential philosophical frameworks that various Muslim thinkers espoused. Through close study, writing, discussion, and supervised research, the second year develops within the student a level of expertise that equips them for scholarly contributions or further academic pursuits in kalam and its related fields. The second year is thus an immersion into the highest levels of the Islamic intellectual tradition, aspiring to prepare students who can fulfill the objective of kalam with depth, precision, and insight—in shāʾa Allāh.
Curriculum
Year One, Semester One
In most seminaries today, Sharḥ al-ʿAqāʾid al-Nasafiyyah is the final book on kalam that is studied, usually in the fifth or sixth year. Upon graduating, students will have had a dry spell away from any kalam studies for a couple of years. As such, it is necessary to both refresh incoming students of the theological discussions they learned previously and build further upon them.
To this aim, Kamāl b. al-Humām’s famed al-Musāyarah fī ʿIlm al-Kalām wa al-ʿAqāʾid al-Tawḥīdiyyah al-Munjiyah fī al-Ākhirah will be used as a main text for the first two-thirds of the semester. Relevant “principles” (uṣūl) will be selected from the first three “pillars” (arkān) of the text. To expose students to more discussions and advancements on specific subjects, we will also take excursions into Muḥammad b. Yūsuf al-Sanūsī’s masterpiece, Sharḥ al-ʿAqīdah al-Kubrā.
The last third of the semester will be spent on covering Sulaymān al-ʿAbd’s abridgement of Qāḍī al-Bayḍāwī’s Ṭawāliʿ al-Anwār, titled Yāniʿ al-Azhār. Specifically, we will look at the introductory discussions involving epistemology and general ontology. This will then prepare students for more rigorous engagements in the following semester’s THEO 7021 course that investigates these same topics through ʿAḍud al-Dīn al-Ījī’s al-Mawāqif.
Textbook: Al-Musāyarah (Kamāl Ibn al-Humām)
Najm al-Dīn al-Kātibī’s al-Risālah al-Shamsiyyah is one of the more widely read and recognized books of logic in the Muslim world. Building on theories of logic and innovative breakthroughs of Avicenna and Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, Kātibī offers his insights and criticisms on earlier logical conclusions while extending his novel ideas, solidifying the Shamsiyyah as a revolutionary work in logic. Among the great commentators of Shamsiyyah is Quṭb al-Dīn al-Rāzī, whose commentary, Taḥrīr al-Qawāʿid al-Manṭiqiyyah bi-Sharḥ al-Risālah al-Shamsiyyah—known as Sharḥ al-Shamsiyyah or simply Quṭbī in the Subcontinent—became the standard reference for advanced logic discussions in madrasahs across different geographical contexts. This commentary has reigned supreme as the essential foundation for all subsequent works in logic, serving as a comprehensive departure point for scholars and students alike.
This course introduces students to the advanced discussions of logic present within our tradition through the medium of Taḥrīr al-Qawāʿid al-Manṭiqiyyah. In this semester, we will focus on the preamble, which discusses introductory discussions on the definition, subject matter, imperative of logic, and fundamental conceptions of knowledge; the chapter on simple terms (alfāẓ), which focuses on words, their typologies, and significations; and the chapter on concepts (taṣawwurāt), which focuses on universals and their compositions to provide definitions.
Textbook: Tahrīr al-Qawāʿid al-Mantiqiyyah fi Sharh al-Shamsiyyah (Qutb al-Dīn al-Rāzī)
Athīr al-Dīn al-Abharī’s Hidāyat al-Ḥikmah is the most well-received primer in the Islamic tradition of falsafah. Designed to simplify Avicenna’s complex ideas, it has been studied for centuries in madrasah curricula. The numerous glosses and super-commentaries it inspired, most notably the revered commentary of Qāḍī Ḥusayn al-Maybūdhī which continues to be a vital resource for understanding the text, further cements its significance. Aside from its intrinsic value, the study of Islamic philosophy is essential for engaging with mid-to-advanced texts in kalam, where philosophical concepts are considerably intertwined with theological discourse. This course introduces students to the technical vocabulary and foundational doctrines of the Peripatetic (mashshāʾī) school as developed by Avicenna. Students will explore the key questions and doctrines of this tradition while situating them within their broader philosophical and historical context.
The Hidāyah is divided into three sciences: logic (manṭiq), physics (al-ṭabīʿiyyāt), and metaphysics (al-ilāhiyyāt). While logic will be studied independently through the Shamsiyyah, this semester focuses on physics and metaphysics. The physics section addresses abstract physical concepts, natural mechanics, and the principles of natural being. The metaphysics section examines existence, including universals and particulars, substances and accidents, and potentiality and actuality, concluding with an exposition of Avicennan theology.
Textbook: Hidāyat al-Ḥikmah (Athīr al-Dīn al-Abharī)
Contemporary philosophy does not exist in isolation, untouched by the ideas and legacies of its predecessors. Any meaningful analysis of the “now” requires contextualizing what comes before it—both in terms of the history of ideas and the ideas themselves. In this vein, this course surveys the history of philosophy from ca. 350 BCE to 1960 CE, examining the ideas of its most influential thinkers. The philosophical ideas of Plato, Aristotle, Avicenna, Averroes, Aquinas, Ockham, Descartes, Kant, Hegel, Hume, Nietzsche, and Foucault are studied for their central role in shaping Western metaphysical and epistemological traditions. This course critically evaluates the philosophical systems they developed in terms of their strengths, weaknesses, limitations, and the assumptions underlying their ideas. The analysis will identify areas of conflict and divergence with the Islamic tradition by using Islamic metaphysical and philosophical principles, which are studied in the program’s supplementary courses.
A key objective of this investigation is to reveal how Western philosophy descended from a realist ontology to its current modern and postmodern phase, grounded in relativism, nominalism, and skepticism. The ambition of a kalam that informs the “now” must certainly be tethered through such insights, and to this aim, this course will equip the students to critically engage with various philosophies, grounded in the Islamic intellectual framework.
Textbook: Selected Readings
Year One, Semester Two
ʿAḍud al-Dīn al-Ījī’s al-Mawāqif is a monumental work that epitomizes the intellectual sophistication and systematic rigor of the post-classical kalam tradition. Renowned for its advanced treatment of discussions in theology, epistemology, and ontology, its significance lies not only in its encyclopedic breadth but also in its ability to synthesize and refine centuries of theological and philosophical discourse. Positioned within a lineage of great thinkers, Ījī builds upon the pivotal contributions of Qāḍī al-Bayḍāwī, who served as a muḥaqqiq in the intense debates between Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī and Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī. By uniting these debates into a cohesive structure, Ījī established the Mawāqif as a definitive text for engaging with post-classical theology and philosophy, earning it a revered place in madrasah curricula for centuries.
This course focuses on the first two mawqifs. The first mawqif addresses epistemological investigations that undergird all theological and philosophical discourse. Topics include the definition of knowledge, its division into ḍarūrī and naẓarī, and a detailed discussion of epistemic certainty, among many other topics. The second mawqif delves into the umūr ʿāmmah, introducing students to the universal concepts that form the basis of Islamic ontology. Ījī’s thorough analysis of these core topics acts as a bridge between the epistemological frameworks established earlier in the text and the deeper theological and philosophical inquiries explored in later sections of the Mawāqif and other kalam works.
Textbook: al-Mawāqif fī ʿIlm al-Kalām (ʿAḍud al-Dīn al-Ījī)
In the second semester, we continue our study of Taḥrīr al-Qawāʿid al-Manṭiqiyyah, focusing on chapters that investigate assents, contradictions, conversions, modalities, syllogisms, and the five arts of logic. By the end of the course, students will have developed a comprehensive understanding, both in content and context, of advanced logical discussions. This knowledge will enhance their ability to comprehend nuanced theological and philosophical debates and will be indispensable for their continued studies in the program.
The latter half of this course will be dedicated to the science of disputation theory (ādāb al-baḥth wa al-munāẓarah). Munāẓarah is the discipline that provides the principles, methodologies, and ethical guidelines for structured intellectual dialogue across all Islamic sciences. Evolving from the earlier science of al-khilāf—which focused exclusively on jurisprudence—this field was formalized by Shams al-Dīn al-Samarqandī, who integrated Aristotelian dialectics and expanded its application to theology, philosophy, and beyond.
Students will learn the foundational rules of debate and the three key techniques of contention: manʿ (seeking proof for premises), muʿāraḍah (refuting claims with evidence), and naqḍ (invalidating proofs with counterproofs). The course explores how these techniques are used in theological and philosophical discourse to challenge, defend, and refine arguments.
Textbook: Tahrīr al-Qawāʿid al-Mantiqiyyah fi Sharh al-Shamsiyyah (Qutb al-Dīn al-Rāzī)
This course explores Bidāyat al-Ḥikmah by Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn al-Ṭabāṭabāʾī to introduce students to the foundational concepts of broader Islamic metaphysics. Intended as a concise yet comprehensive alternative to Mullā Hādī al-Sabzawārī’s Manẓūmah, Bidāyat al-Ḥikmah also serves as a condensed precursor to Ṭabāṭabāʾī’s longer work, Nihāyat al-Ḥikmah. The text has been selected for its logical structure, methodological clarity, and its organization of complex philosophical discussions into sequential chapters (marāḥil), further divided into focused sections (fuṣūl). These qualities, along with its extensive commentarial tradition, make it an ideal text for engaging with the diverse topics of Islamic metaphysics.
It is important to emphasize that, while Bidāyat al-Ḥikmah draws on Avicennian, Transcendental, and other traditions, this course approaches the text purely as a pedagogical tool, chosen for its structural utility in the study of metaphysics. The selection of this text does not imply endorsement of the philosophical or sectarian views of its author, as the program remains firmly rooted in the Sunni tradition.
This semester focuses on the first six marāḥil, beginning with the analysis of existence, followed by discussions on mental existence (wujūd dhihnī), the three logical states (al-mawādd al-thalāth), quiddity (māhiyyah), and the ten categories (al-maqūlāt al-ʿashr).
Textbook: Bidāyat al-Ḥikmah (Muḥammad Ḥusayn al-Ṭabāṭabāʾī)
The first third of this course explores the foundational principles and methods of science from a philosophical perspective, emphasizing their relevance to theology. Students will examine key concepts such as scientific reasoning, the nature of scientific theories, and the relationship between science and truth. The course also addresses historical and contemporary debates on the interaction between science and religion, such as evolution, thereby equipping students to critically engage with scientific ideas while maintaining theological integrity. Through readings, discussions, and case studies, students will develop tools to integrate scientific knowledge into theological discourse responsibly and intelligently.
The remaining part of the course provides an overview of key themes and debates in contemporary Western philosophy of religion, with a focus on their implications for Islamic theology. Topics include arguments for and against the existence of God, religious epistemology, and the nature of faith and reason. Students will engage with different texts by Western philosophers while critically assessing these ideas from an Islamic perspective. The course aims to give aspiring Muslim theologians access to the technical jargon found in the modern philosophy of religion discourse, the analytical tools and philosophical insights needed to address contemporary challenges to faith, and finally the ability to contribute to interfaith and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Textbook: Multiple Texts
Year Two, Semester One
The creedal treatise of ʿAḍud al-Dīn al-Ījī, eponymously known as al-ʿAqāʾid al-ʿAḍudiyyah, provides a concise survey of the Ashʿarī school in matters of early post-classical kalam. The treatise’s most renowned commentator is the great Persian savant, Jalāl al-Dīn al-Dawānī. Emerging in an era where kalam and falsafah had thoroughly intertwined, Dawānī’s text integrates the insights of previous theologians—such as Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, Saʿd al-Dīn al-Taftāzānī, and al-Sharīf al-Jurjānī—with the evolving intellectual currents of this later post-classical period. Moreover, as ideas and arguments have matured over the centuries, kalam texts in this period exhibit a systematic structure and well-defined outline, wherein the viewpoints of diverse philosophical schools and scholars are carefully identified and accurately cited, making Dawānī’s commentary a quintessential text of advanced theological study.
In Sharḥ al-ʿAqāʾid al-ʿAḍudiyyah, students will navigate the systematic structure and analytical methods characteristic of late post-classical Islamic theology, gaining insights into how key theological and philosophical ideas evolved under the influence of different frameworks. This semester focuses on the first half of the text, starting with the temporality of the universe (ḥudūth al-ʿālam) and culminating in a comprehensive study of the intricate discussions surrounding the divine attributes.
Textbook: Sharḥ al-ʿAqāʾid al-ʿAḍudiyyah (Jalāl al-Dīn al-Dawānī)
Saʿd al-Dīn al-Taftāzānī notes in his Sharḥ al-ʿAqāʾid al-Nasafiyyah that most of the rational proofs that the theologians use in kalam are in fact alluded to or explicitly mentioned in the Quran. This course endeavors to provide the bridge needed to connect Sunni theological stances arrived at by way of scholastic theology back to revelation. This will in turn demonstrate to students the harmony found between the adillah ʿaqliyyah and adillah samʿiyyah that the Quran itself has avowed :
“Do they not then reflect on the Quran? Had it been from anyone other than Allah, they would have certainly found in it many inconsistencies.”
The Tafsīrāt al-Aḥkām al-Iʿtiqādiyyah, an exhaustive collection of exegesis collated from the writings of the direct students of Ibn ʿArafah al-Tilimsānī, is used as the main text of this course. Students will also frequently have the opportunity to explore a host of other works in the tafsīr genre, such as those of al-Māturīdī, al-Zamakhsharī, al-Rāzī, al-Bayḍāwī, and al-Ālūsī.
Textbook: Tafsīrāt al-Aḥkām al-Iʿtiqādiyyah (Ibn ʿArafah al-Tilmisānī)
This course continues the exploration of Bidāyat al-Ḥikmah. This semester will focus on the next marāḥil of the text, building on the concepts covered in the first semester. The course will begin with the marāḥil addressing the division of existence into unity and multiplicity (al-waḥdah wa al-kathrah), followed by an analysis of priority and posteriority (al-taqaddum wa al-taʾakhkhur), and the essential distinctions between eternity (qidam) and temporality (ḥudūth). A significant portion of the semester will cover the dynamics of potentiality and actuality (al-quwwah wa al-fiʿl), including discussions on causality (ʿilliyyah), motion (ḥarakah), and the relationship between matter and form (al-māddah wa al-ṣūrah).
By the end of the semester, students will have deepened their understanding of philosophical concepts and developed the ability to apply these principles in reading and writing across various sciences, particularly within the ʿaqliyyāt. Additionally, students will harness the principles learned in Metaphysics II to critique contemporary ideas, trends, and beliefs, articulating well-reasoned arguments grounded in the Islamic intellectual tradition.
Textbook: Bidāyat al-Ḥikmah (Muḥammad Ḥusayn al-Ṭabāṭabāʾī)
This course examines the fundamental nature of morality and explores various Islamic moral frameworks, including natural law, divine command, and virtue ethics. Students will also critically analyze prominent moral paradigms introduced since the Enlightenment, such as utilitarianism, Kantian deontology, and emotivism, investigating their philosophical roots and identifying their inherent limitations.
Recognizing that human morality is rooted in an understanding of human nature, the course delves into Islamic anthropology by addressing key questions such as: What is man? Why was he created? What is the nature of his soul? How can he achieve perfection? To secure these objectives, the ʿAqliyyāt Initiative utilizes Rāghib al-Aṣfahānī’s al-Dharīʿah ilā Makārim al-Sharīʿah and Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī’s Mīzān al-ʿAmal, alongside drawing support from other important texts such as the ethical treatises of Aḍud al-Dīn al-Ījī and Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī.
To better understand the failures of modern Western moral systems, students will engage with Alasdair MacIntyre’s After Virtue, a landmark critique of the fragmentation and incoherence of modern ethical frameworks. By juxtaposing Islamic and Western perspectives, this course equips students to critically assess contemporary moral challenges and articulate a coherent, Islamically rooted response to the ethical dilemmas of the modern world.
Textbook: Mīzān al-ʿAmal (Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī)
Year Two, Semester Two
In this course, students will continue their study of Sharḥ al-ʿAqāʾid al-ʿAḍudiyyah. Building on the foundational concepts explored in Part I, this course will cover critical topics such as God’s knowledge, omnipotence, volition, and unicity, focusing on Dawānī’s integration of these attributes into a coherent theological framework. A significant portion of the semester will be dedicated to exploring God’s acts and the ontology of morality, incorporating insights from various perspectives and contemporary discussions on morality. Additionally, students will analyze Dawānī’s interpretation of prophethood while also considering alternative theories on the nature of prophecy. The course will conclude with a thorough examination of select eschatological discussions.
This semester extends the study to include glosses (ḥawāshī) on Dawānī, offering a wider understanding of the intellectual tradition surrounding the ʿAḍudiyyah. Key glossators to be explored include ʿAbd al-Ḥakīm al-Siyālkūṭī, Ismāʿīl Gelenbevī, Abdullah b. Ḥasan al-Kānqirī, and Shihāb al-Dīn al-Marjānī. Their contributions will be examined to highlight how each engaged with Dawānī’s arguments and contributed to the ongoing discourse within late post-classical kalam, providing students with a thorough understanding of its nuances, synthesis, and taḥqīq. As the program aims to develop scholars who can contribute meaningfully, studying the tradition in its fully developed form is essential for advancing kalam forward.
Textbook: Sharḥ al-ʿAqāʾid al-ʿAḍudiyyah (Jalāl al-Dīn al-Dawānī)
Many of the intra-Muslim polemics found within Islamic theology stem from divergences in the understanding and interpretation of the primary sources of revelation, namely the Quran and Sunnah. This course seeks to equip students with the tools to critically analyze the hermeneutical methodologies employed by dissenting groups or individuals. By grounding students in a proper Sunni approach to uṣūl al-fiqh, the course ensures that they develop a proper framework for addressing theological disputes and constructing sound scriptural arguments.
We will utilize a couple advanced, classical texts in uṣūl al-fiqh to fulfill this objective. Specific emphasis will be laid on understanding the sections of dalālat al-alfāẓ, ʿāmm, khāṣṣ, majāz, ijmāʿ, and other topics. These sections will be explored not only in their legal context but also in how they inform theological discussions and scriptural interpretation, particularly in relation to contentious issues in kalam.
Through this process, students will assess the coherence of various interpretative methodologies and refine their ability to defend orthodox Sunni theology with intellectual rigor from an uṣūl perspective. By engaging with these foundational principles, students will be prepared to address theological challenges both from external critiques and internal debates within Islam itself.
Textbook: Multiple Texts
This course explores key religious traditions—Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism, Perennialism, and Eastern religions—focusing on their historical development, core beliefs, and theological frameworks. The course is conducted primarily as a seminar through five modules, where participants discuss class readings led by the instructor.
The study of Judaism covers its foundational principles, covenantal theology, sacred texts, and historical interactions with Islam, with particular emphasis on critiquing the heretical ideology of Religious Zionism and its theological and political implications. In examining Christianity, the course delves into Christology from both Christian and Islamic perspectives, comparing views on the nature of Christ, the Trinity, and salvation. The historicity of the crucifixion is investigated, alongside a critical analysis of the legitimacy of the Bible, addressing questions surrounding the textual transmission, authenticity, and interpretation of Christian scriptures.
Hinduism is explored through its theological systems, addressing the philosophical and religious diversity within Hinduism and distinguishing between theistic and non-theistic schools. Likewise, the core tenets of Buddhism are discussed, including the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, among others. The course also covers the historical development of Buddhism and the schools of Buddhism. The last two modules, on Perennialism and Eastern religions, focus on their histories, schools, and overarching tenets.
Textbook: Selected Readings
The ʿAqliyyāt Initiative seeks to expose students to the various strands of Islamic philosophy, each offering distinct approaches for understanding reality. In line with this objective, this course focuses on the Muqaddimah of Dawūd al-Qayṣarī—his Prolegomena to his commentary on Ibn ʿArabī’s Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam. Recognized as a foundational text in Sufi metaphysical thought, the Muqaddimah outlines the key principles and concepts underlying Sufi cosmology.
This course includes a close study of the text, examining the central metaphysical ideas it presents and highlighting where it agrees and may diverge from kalam and falsafah. Additionally, incorporating Sufi cosmology and metaphysics within the curriculum foregrounds their value in addressing ontological, epistemological, and moral challenges posed by modernity. Moreover, this course provides a foundation for understanding significant works within the later Islamic tradition, such as Shah Waliullāh’s Ḥujjat Allāh al-Bālighah and Mullā ʿAlī al-Qārī’s Mirqāt al-Mafātīḥ, as well as other texts related to various sciences.
Textbook: al-Muqaddimah (Dawūd al-Qayṣarī)
Curriculum
Year One, Semester One
In most seminaries today, the Sharḥ al-ʿAqāʾid al-Nasafiyyah is the final book on kalam that is studied, usually in the fifth or sixth year. Upon graduating, students will have had a dry spell away from any kalam studies for a couple of years. As such, it is necessary to both refresh incoming students of the theological discussions they learned previously and build further upon them.
To this aim, Kamāl b. al-Humām’s famed al-Musāyarah fī ʿIlm al-Kalām wa al-ʿAqāʾid al-Tawḥīdiyyah al-Munjiyah fī al-Ākhirah will be used as a main text for the first two-thirds of the semester. Relevant “principles” (uṣūl) will be selected from the first three “pillars” (rukn) of the text. To expose students to more discussions and advancements on specific subjects, we will also take excursions into Muḥammad b. Yūsuf al-Sanūsī’s masterpiece, Sharḥ al-ʿAqīdah al-Kubrā.
The last third of the semester will be spent on covering Sulayman al-ʿAbd’s abridgement of Qāḍī al-Bayḍāwī’s Ṭawāliʿ al-Anwār, titled Yāniʿ al-Azhār. Specifically, we will look at the introductory discussions involving epistemology and general ontology. This will then prepare students for more rigorous engagements in the following semester’s THEO 7021 course that investigates these same topics through ʿAḍud al-Dīn al-Ījī’s al-Mawāqif.
Textbook: Al-Musāyarah (Kamāl Ibn al-Humām)
The al-Risālah al-Shamsiyyah of Najm al-Dīn al-Kātibī is one of the more widely read and recognized books of logic in the Muslim world. Building on theories of logic and innovative breakthroughs of Avicenna and Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, Kātibī offers his insights and criticisms on earlier logical conclusions while extending his novel ideas, solidifying the Shamsiyyah as a revolutionary work in logic. Among the great commentators of Shamsiyyah is Quṭb al-Dīn al-Rāzī, whose commentary, Taḥrīr al-Qawāʿid al-Manṭiqiyyah bi-Sharḥ al-Risālah al-Shamsiyyah—known as Sharḥ al-Shamsiyyah or simply Quṭbī in the Subcontinent—became the standard reference for advanced logic discussions in madrasahs across different geographical contexts. This commentary has reigned supreme as the essential foundation for all subsequent works in logic, serving as a comprehensive departure point for scholars and students alike.
This course introduces students to the advanced discussions of logic present within our tradition through the medium of Tahrīr al-Qawāʾid al-Manṭiqiyyah. In this semester, we will focus on the preamble, which discusses introductory discussions on the definition, subject matter, imperative of logic, and fundamental conceptions of knowledge; the chapter on simple terms (alfāẓ), which focuses on words, their typologies, and significations; and the chapter on concepts (taṣawwurāt), which focuses on universals and their compositions to provide definitions.
Textbook: Sharḥ al-Shamsiyyah (Quṭb al-Dīn al-Rāzī )
Athīr al-Dīn al-Abharī’s Hidāyah al-Ḥikmah is the most well-received primer in the Islamic tradition of falsafah. Designed to simplify the complex ideas of Avicenna, it has been studied for centuries in madrasah curricula. Its significance is further cemented by the numerous glosses and super-commentaries it inspired, most notably the revered commentary of Qāḍī Ḥusayn al-Maybudī, which continues to be a vital resource for understanding the text. Aside from its intrinsic value, the study of Islamic philosophy is essential for engaging with mid-to-advanced texts in kalam, where philosophical concepts are considerably intertwined with theological discourse. This course introduces students to the technical vocabulary and foundational doctrines of the Peripatetic (mashshāʾī) school as developed by Avicenna. Students will explore the key questions and doctrines of this tradition while situating them within their broader philosophical and historical context.
The Hidāyah is divided into three sciences: logic (manṭiq), physics (al-ṭabīʿiyyāt), and metaphysics (al-ilāhiyyāt). While logic will be studied independently through the Shamsiyyah, this semester focuses on physics and metaphysics. The physics section addresses abstract physical concepts, natural mechanics, and the principles of natural being. The metaphysics section examines existence, including universals and particulars, substances and accidents, and potentiality and actuality, concluding with an exposition of Avicennan theology.
Textbook: Hidāyat al-Ḥikmah (Athīr al-Dīn al-Abharī)
Contemporary philosophy does not exist in isolation, untouched by the ideas and legacies of its predecessors. Any meaningful analysis of the “now” requires contextualizing of what comes before it—both in terms of the history of ideas and the ideas themselves. In this vein, this course surveys the history of philosophy from ca. 350 BCE to 1960 CE, examining the ideas of its most influential thinkers. Philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Avicenna, Averroes, Aquinas, Ockham, Descartes, Kant, Hegel, Hume, Nietzsche, and Foucault are studied for their central roles in shaping Western metaphysical and epistemological traditions. This course critically evaluates the philosophical systems they developed in terms of their strengths, weaknesses, limitations, and assumptions underlying their ideas. The analysis will identify areas of conflict and divergence with the Islamic tradition by using Islamic metaphysical and philosophical principles, which are studied in the program’s supplementary courses.
A key objective of this investigation is to reveal how Western philosophy descended from a realist ontology to its current modernist and postmodern phase, grounded in relativism, nominalism, and skepticism. The ambition of a kalam that informs the “now” must certainly be tethered through such insights, and to this aim, this course will equip the students to critically engage with various philosophies, grounded in the Islamic intellectual framework.
Textbook: Selected Readings
Year One, Semester Two
ʿAḍud al-Dīn al-Ījī’s al-Mawāqif is a monumental work that epitomizes the intellectual sophistication and systematic rigor of the post-classical kalam tradition. Renowned for its advanced treatment of discussions in theology, epistemology, and ontology, its significance lies not only in its encyclopedic breadth but also in its ability to synthesize and refine centuries of theological and philosophical discourse. Positioned within a lineage of great thinkers, Ījī builds upon the pivotal contributions of Qāḍī al-Bayḍāwī, who served as a muḥaqqiq in the intense debates between Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī and Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī. By uniting these debates into a cohesive structure, Ījī established the Mawāqif as a definitive text for engaging with post-classical theology and philosophy, earning it a revered place in madrasah curricula for centuries.
This course focuses on the first two mawqifs. The first mawqif addresses epistemological investigations that undergird all theological and philosophical discourse. Topics include the definition of knowledge, its division into ḍarūrī and naẓarī, and a detailed discussion of epistemic certainty, among many other topics. The second mawqif delves into the umūr ʿāmmah, introducing students to the universal concepts that form the basis of Islamic ontology. Ījī’s thorough analysis of these core topics acts as a bridge between the epistemological frameworks established earlier in the text and the deeper theological and philosophical inquiries explored in later sections of the Mawāqif and other kalam works.
Textbook: al-Mawāqif fī ʿIlm al-Kalām (ʿAḍud al-Dīn al-Ījī)
In the second semester, we continue our study of Taḥrīr al-Qawāʿid al-Manṭiqiyyah, focusing on chapters that investigate assents, contradictions, conversions, modalities, syllogisms, and the five arts of logic. By the end of the course, students will have developed a comprehensive understanding, both in content and context, of advanced logical discussions. This knowledge will enhance their ability to comprehend nuanced theological and philosophical debates and will be indispensable for their continued studies in the program.
The latter half of this course will be dedicated to the science of disputation theory (ādāb al-baḥth wa al-munāẓarah). Munāẓarah is the discipline that provides the principles, methodologies, and ethical guidelines for structured intellectual dialogue across all Islamic sciences. Evolving from the earlier ʿIlm al-Khilāf—which focused exclusively on jurisprudence—this field was formalized by Shams al-Dīn al-Samarqandī, who integrated Aristotelian dialectics and expanded its application to theology, philosophy, and beyond.
Students will learn the foundational rules of debate and the three key techniques of contention: manʿ (seeking proof for premises), muʿāraḍah (refuting claims with evidence), and naqḍ (invalidating proofs with counterproofs). The course explores how these techniques are used in theological and philosophical discourse to challenge, defend, and refine arguments.
Textbook: Tahrīr al-Qawāʿid al-Mantiqiyyah fi Sharh al-Shamsiyyah (Qutb al-Dīn al-Rāzī)
This course explores Bidāyat al-Ḥikmah by Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn al-Ṭabāṭabāʾī to introduce students to the foundational concepts of broader Islamic metaphysics. Intended as a concise yet comprehensive alternative to Mullā Hādī al-Sabzawārī’s Manẓūmah, Bidāyat al-Ḥikmah also serves as a condensed precursor to Ṭabāṭabāʾī’s longer work, Nihāyat al-Ḥikmah. The text has been selected for its logical structure, methodological clarity, and its organization of complex philosophical discussions into sequential chapters (marāḥil), further divided into focused sections (fuṣūl). These qualities, along with its extensive commentarial tradition, make it an ideal text for engaging with the diverse topics of Islamic metaphysics.
It is important to emphasize that, while Bidāyat al-Ḥikmah draws on Avicennian, Transcendental, and other traditions, this course approaches the text purely as a pedagogical tool, chosen for its structural utility in the study of metaphysics. The selection of this text does not imply endorsement of the philosophical or sectarian views of its author, as the program remains firmly rooted in the Sunni tradition.
This semester focuses on the first six marāḥil, beginning with the analysis of existence, followed by discussions on mental existence (wujūd dhihnī), the three logical states (al-mawād al-thalāth), quiddity (māhiyyah), and the ten categories (al-maqūlāt al-ʿashr).
Textbook: Bidāyat al-Ḥikmah (Muḥammad Ḥusayn al-Ṭabāṭabāʾī)
The first third of this course explores the foundational principles and methods of science from a philosophical perspective, emphasizing their relevance to theology. Students will examine key concepts such as scientific reasoning, the nature of scientific theories, and the relationship between science and truth. The course also addresses historical and contemporary debates on the interaction between science and religion, such as evolution, thereby equipping students to critically engage with scientific ideas while maintaining theological integrity. Through readings, discussions, and case studies, students will develop tools to integrate scientific knowledge into theological discourse responsibly and intelligently.
The remaining part of the course provides an overview of key themes and debates in contemporary Western philosophy of religion, with a focus on their implications for Islamic theology. Topics include arguments for and against the existence of God, religious epistemology, and the nature of faith and reason. Students will engage with different texts by Western philosophers while critically assessing these ideas from an Islamic perspective. The course aims to access Muslim theologians to the technical jargon found in modern philosophy of religion discourse, the analytical tools and philosophical insights needed to address contemporary challenges to faith, and finally the ability to contribute to interfaith and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Textbook: Multiple Texts
Year Two, Semester One
The creedal treatise of ʿAḍud al-Dīn al-Ījī, eponymously known as al-ʿAqāʾid al-ʿAḍudiyyah, provides a concise survey of the Ashʿarī school in matters of early post-classical kalam. The treatise’s most renowned commentator is the great Persian savant, Jalāl al-Dīn al-Dawānī. Emerging in an era where kalam and falsafah have thoroughly intertwined, Dawānī’s text integrates the insights of previous theologians—such as Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, Saʿd al-Dīn al-Taftāzānī, and al-Sayyid al-Sharīf al-Jurjānī—with the evolving intellectual currents of this later post-classical period. Moreover, as ideas and arguments have matured over the centuries, kalam texts in this period exhibit a systematic structure and well-defined outline, wherein the viewpoints of diverse philosophical schools and scholars are carefully identified and accurately cited, making Dawānī’s commentary a quintessential text of advanced theological study.
In Sharḥ al-ʿAqāʾid al-ʿAḍudiyyah, students will navigate the systematic structure and analytical methods characteristic of late post-classical Islamic theology, gaining insights into how key theological and philosophical ideas evolved under the influence of different frameworks. This semester focuses on the first half of the text, starting with the temporality of the universe (ḥudūth al-ʿālam) and culminating in a comprehensive study of the intricate discussions surrounding the divine attributes.
Textbook: Sharḥ al-ʿAqāʾid al-ʿAḍudiyyah (Jalāl al-Dīn al-Dawānī)
Saʿd al-Dīn al-Taftāzānī notes in his Sharḥ al-ʿAqāʾid al-Nasafiyyah that most of the rational proofs that the theologians use in kalam are in fact alluded to or explicitly mentioned by the Quran. This course endeavors to provide the bridge needed to connect Sunni theological stances arrived at by way of scholastic theology back to revelation. This will in turn demonstrate to students the harmony found between the adillah ʿaqliyyah and adillah samʿiyyah that the Quran itself has avowed :
“Do they not then reflect on the Qurʾān? Had it been from anyone other than Allah, they would have certainly found in it many inconsistencies.”
The Tafsīrāt al-Aḥkām al-Iʿtiqādiyyah, an exhaustive collection of exegesis collated from the writings of the direct students of Ibn ʿArafah al-Tilimsānī, is used as the main text of this course. Students will also frequently have the opportunity to explore a host of other works in the tafsīr genre, such as those of al-Maturīdī, al-Zamakhsharī, al-Rāzī, al-Bayḍāwī, and al-Ālūsī.
Textbook: Tafsīrāt al-Aḥkām al-Iʿtiqādiyyah (Ibn ʿArafah al-Tilmisānī)
This course continues the exploration of Bidāyat al-Ḥikmah. This semester will focus on the next marāḥil of the text, building on the concepts covered in the first semester. The course will begin with the marāḥil addressing the division of existence into unity and multiplicity (al-waḥdah wa al-kathrah), followed by an analysis of precedence and posteriority (al-taqaddum wa al-taʾakhkhur), and the essential distinctions between eternity (qidam) and temporality (ḥudūth). A significant portion of the semester will cover the dynamics of potentiality and actuality (al-quwwah wa al-fiʿl), including discussions on causality (ʿilliyyah), motion (ḥarakah), and the relationship between matter and form (al-māddah wa al-ṣūrah).
By the end of the semester, students will have deepened their understanding of philosophical concepts and developed the ability to apply these principles in reading and writing across various sciences, particularly within the ʿaqliyyāt. Additionally, students will harness the principles learned in Metaphysics II to critique contemporary ideas, trends, and beliefs, articulating well-reasoned arguments grounded in the Islamic intellectual tradition.
Textbook: Bidāyat al-Ḥikmah (Muḥammad Ḥusayn al-Ṭabāṭabāʾī)
This course examines the fundamental nature of morality and explores various Islamic moral frameworks, including natural law, divine command, and virtue ethics. Students will also critically analyze prominent moral paradigms introduced since the Enlightenment, such as utilitarianism, Kantian deontology, and emotivism, tracing their philosophical roots and identifying their inherent limitations.
Recognizing that human morality is rooted in an understanding of human nature, the course delves into Islamic anthropology by addressing key questions such as: What is man? Why was he created? What is the nature of his soul? How can he achieve perfection? To secure these objectives, the ʿAqliyyāt Initiative utilizes Rāghib al-Aṣfahānī’s al-Dharīʿah ilā Makārim al-Sharīʿah and Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī’s Mīzān al-ʿAmal, alongside drawing support from other important texts such as the ethical treatises of Aḍud al-Dīn al-Ījī and Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī.
To better understand the failures of modern Western moral systems, students will engage with Alasdair MacIntyre’s After Virtue, a landmark critique of the fragmentation and incoherence of modern ethical frameworks. By juxtaposing Islamic and Western perspectives, this course equips students to critically assess contemporary moral challenges and articulate a coherent, Islamically rooted response to the ethical dilemmas of the modern world.
Textbook: Mīzān al-ʿAmal (Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī)
Year Two, Semester Two
In this course, students will continue their study of Sharḥ al-ʿAqāʾid al-ʿAḍudiyyah. Building on the foundational concepts explored in Part I, this course will cover critical topics such as God’s knowledge, omnipotence, volition, and unicity, focusing on Dawānī’s integration of these attributes into a coherent theological framework. A significant portion of the semester will be dedicated to exploring God’s acts and the ontology of morality, incorporating insights from various perspectives and contemporary discussions on morality. Additionally, students will analyze Dawānī’s interpretation of prophethood while also considering alternative theories on the nature of prophecy. The course will conclude with a thorough examination of select eschatological discussions.
This semester extends the study to include glosses (ḥawāshī) on Dawānī, offering a wider understanding of the intellectual tradition surrounding the ʿAḍudiyyah. Key glossators to be explored include ʿAbd al-Ḥakīm al-Siyālkūṭī, Ismāʿīl al-Gelenbevī, Abdullah b. Ḥasan al-Kānqirī, and Shihāb al-Dīn al-Marjānī. Their contributions will be examined to highlight how each engaged with Dawānī’s arguments and contributed to the ongoing discourse within late post-classical kalam, providing students with a thorough understanding of its nuances, synthesis, and taḥqīq. As the program aims to develop scholars who can contribute meaningfully, studying the tradition in its fully developed form is essential for advancing kalam forward.
Textbook: Sharḥ al-ʿAqāʾid al-ʿAḍudiyyah (Jalāl al-Dīn al-Dawānī)
Many of the intra-Muslim polemics found within Islamic theology stem from divergences in the understanding and interpretation of the primary sources of revelation, namely the Quran and Sunnah. This course seeks to equip students with the tools to critically analyze the hermeneutical methodologies employed by dissenting groups or individuals. By grounding students in a proper Sunni approach to uṣūl al-fiqh, the course ensures that they develop a proper framework for addressing theological disputes and constructing sound scriptural arguments.
We will utilize a couple advanced, classical texts in uṣūl al-fiqh to fulfill this objective. Specific emphasis will be laid on understanding the sections of dalālat al-alfāẓ, ʿāmm, khāṣṣ, majāz, ijmāʿ, and other topics. These sections will be explored not only in their legal context but also in how they inform theological discussions and scriptural interpretation, particularly in relation to contentious issues in kalam.
Through this process, students will assess the coherence of various interpretative methodologies and refine their ability to defend orthodox Sunni theology with intellectual rigor from an uṣūl perspective. By engaging with these foundational principles, students will be prepared to address theological challenges both from external critiques and internal debates within Islam itself.
Textbook: Multiple Texts
This course explores key religious traditions—Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism, Perennialism, and Eastern religions—focusing on their historical development, core beliefs, and theological frameworks. The course is conducted primarily as a seminar through five modules, where participants discuss class readings led by the instructor.
The study of Judaism covers its foundational principles, covenantal theology, sacred texts, and historical interactions with Islam, with particular emphasis on critiquing the heretical ideology of Religious Zionism and its theological and political implications. In examining Christianity, the course delves into Christology from both Christian and Islamic perspectives, comparing views on the nature of Christ, the Trinity, and salvation. The historicity of the crucifixion is investigated, alongside a critical analysis of the legitimacy of the Bible, addressing questions surrounding the textual transmission, authenticity, and interpretation of Christian scriptures.
Hinduism is explored through its theological systems, addressing the philosophical and religious diversity within Hinduism and distinguishing between theistic and non-theistic schools. Likewise, the core tenets of Buddhism are discussed, including the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, among others. The course also covers the historical development of Buddhism and the schools of Buddhism. The last two modules, on Perennialism and Eastern religions, focus on the same topics.
Textbook: Selected Readings
The ʿAqliyyāt Initiative seeks to expose students to the various strands of Islamic philosophy, each offering distinct approaches for understanding reality. In line with this objective, this course focuses on the Muqaddimah of Dawūd al-Qayṣarī—his Prolegomena to his commentary on Ibn ʿArabī’s Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam. Recognized as a foundational text in Sufi metaphysical thought, the Muqaddimah outlines the key principles and concepts underlying Sufi cosmology.
This course includes a close study of the text, examining the central metaphysical ideas it presents and highlighting where it agrees and may diverge from kalam and falsafah. Additionally, incorporating Sufi cosmology and metaphysics within the curriculum foregrounds their value in addressing ontological, epistemological, and moral challenges posed by modernity. Morover, this course provides a foundation for understanding significant works within the later Islamic tradition, such as Shah Waliullāh’s Ḥujjat Allāh al-Bālighah and Mullā ʿAlī al-Qārī’s Mirqāt al-Mafātīḥ, as well as others texts related to various sciences.
Textbook: al-Muqaddimah (Dawūd al-Qayṣarī)
Program Details
Starting July 2025
Monday through Friday
On-Site Only
8 AM to 12 PM
Instructors
Tahseen N. Khan was born and raised in the Philadelphia region. He completed the renowned Dars Nizami curriculum mainly through private, in-person studies under numerous authorized Islamic scholars. He currently resides with his family in the suburbs of Chicago working as a chemical engineer while also serving as an instructor of kalam at DarusSalam Seminary.
Publications
- The Provenance of Man: A Sunni Apologetic on the Original Creation of Adam (ʿalayh al-salam)
- Divine Unity: a monograph for the Daring to Believe handbook, sponsored by the Templeton Foundation. Forthcoming 2025.
- God’s Attributes that Relate to the World: a monograph for the Daring to Believe handbook, sponsored by the Templeton Foundation. Forthcoming 2025.
Publications
Yusuf Sulaiman was raised in Miami. He holds an ʿĀlimiyyah degree from DarusSalam Seminary (2022) and a Master’s degree in Islamic Texts with a concentration in Islamic Philosophy and Theology from Zaytuna College (2024). He currently serves as an instructor at DarusSalam Seminary, where he teaches courses in kalam and logic, and heads the Rational Sciences Department.
Publications
- Minhāj al-Manṭiq: A Primer to Classical Logic. Self-published, 2024.
- Typologizing Taḥqīq: Illustrating the Multifaceted ‘Acts’ of Verification in the al-ʿAqāʾid al-ʿAḍudiyyah Literature (MA Thesis, Zaytuna College)
- Sharḥ al-Mirqāt: An Expanded Commentary & Gloss on Khayrābādī’s Logic Primer (Forthcoming 2025)
Muhammad Umar was born and raised in North Carolina. He holds an ʿĀlimiyyah degree from Darul Uloom Canada in Chatham, Ontario (2021) and a Master’s degree in Islamic Texts from Zaytuna College with a concentration in Islamic Philosophy and Theology (2024). He currently serves as an instructor at DarusSalam Seminary.
Publications
From Dialectic to Demonstration: Exploring the Umūr ʿĀmma and the Purpose They Serve for the Science of Kalām (MA Thesis, Zaytuna College)
Justin Poe holds a B.A. in English Language & Literature from Stevenson University, an ʿĀlimiyyah degree from DarusSalam Seminary (2019), and an M.A. in Islamic Texts, Islamic Philosophy and Theology concentration from Zaytuna College (2022). He currently serves as a research specialist with The American Society of Islamic Philosophy and Theology (ASIPT) and teaches at INK Baltimore Seminary.
Publications
- Philosophizing Prophethood: Prophetology in the Thought of Ibn Khaldūn (d. 808/1406) and al-Shahrastānī (d. 548/1153) (MA Thesis, Zaytuna College)
- Muhammad Emin Er. The Compendium of Seminary Texts. Edited and translated by Marwan M. Tayyan and Justin Poe. Boston: ASIPT, 2024.
Application Process
Applicants to the ʿAqliyyāt Initiative are required to have completed a formal Islamic seminary education following the Dars-e-Nizāmī curriculum (or its equivalent). As part of the admission process, all applicants will have a conversation with the faculty to gauge their readiness in the key areas essential for success in the program. For applicants who may need additional preparation, they will be asked to complete two preparatory online courses: Dr. Hamza el-Bekri’s classes on Sharḥ al-ʿAqāʾid and Shaykh ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd al-Turkumānī’s classes on al-Mirqāt fī al-Manṭiq.
These courses, accessible on YouTube, offer foundational instruction in kalam and logic, which are essential for excelling in this specialized program. Upon completing these courses, applicants will undertake an evaluative exercise designed to assess their readiness. Admission to the program is contingent upon demonstrating the necessary competence, ensuring that applicants are well-equipped to meet the rigorous demands of the curriculum.
- Complete the Online Application - You will be guided through the process to provide the necessary information. Please take your time to ensure that all required fields are completed accurately.
- Schedule Your Interview - Once your application has been successfully submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. This email will contain important information, including instructions on how to schedule your interview. Be sure to check your email promptly after submission and select a convenient time for your interview.
- Interview and Evaluation - During your interview, we will discuss your application in more detail and explore your motivations for applying to the program. This is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about our program. As part of the interview process, we will conduct an evaluative exercise to assess your preparation. Following the interview, we will review your application, along with the insights gained during our conversation, and contact you regarding the next steps.
Kindly note that participation in the ʿAqliyyāt Initiative requires on-site attendance, as it is only offered as an in-person program. Merit and need-based aid is available; no applicant will be denied due to financial constraints.