Hamza Yusuf of Zaytuna Institute
miller71
benefit of some of our fellow newsgroup subscribers:-
Arabic
Arabic is the sine qua non of Islamic studies and a commitment must be made
to learning it by any dedicated Muslim. A basic book on Grammar and
Morphology is close to completion and in sha Allah will be followed by a
series of readers for several levels. Basic Grammar the Ajrummiyya with a
modern and comprehensive commentary and diagrams to facilitate the modern
student's grasp of the language. Basic text on morphology (Sarf) Basic
reader in Arabic literature abridged from Jauhar al-Adab by al-Hashimi
'Aqida
The basic text would be Imam Ashurnubi's "Twenty Obligations." This was used
in al-Azhar's lower madrassas as a basic introduction to 'Aqida. Imam
at-Tahawi's Creed would be used and Zaytuna has produced a translation with
notes that is to be published. Jaurahat at-Tauhid by Ibrahim al-Laqqani.
This text was used in Zaytuna University's first level institute for several
centuries, as well as being used in Syrian institutes and al-Azhar. It is a
very comprehensive second level 'Aqida and is considered sufficient with a
good commentary for the non-specialist. A preliminary translation has
already been done but not yet published by Abdal-Hakim Winter, Ph.D. of
Cambridge University. Nuh Keller is working on a commentary and hopefully
this will be published within the coming year.
Fiqh
Zaytuna Institute adheres to and believes in the importance of following the
traditional schools of jurisprudence which where codified during the first
and blessed centuries of this Umma. Therefore teaching would be based on
using accepted and traditional texts of the classical period. There is no
intolerance toward any particular school and all four are rightly guided and
acceptable. Students are strongly encouraged to follow one particular school
and not attempt to derive judgments or matters from original sources without
the requisite qualifications of ijtihad.
The three schools will be emphasized, Hanafi, Maliki, and Shafi'i because
the majority of Muslims adhere to one of these three. Although the Hambali
school is a valid school, it is limited to the Arabian peninsula and people
from that region are too insignificant in numbers in English speaking areas
to warrant text translation and emphasis. The Shafi'i text used will be
'Umdat as-Salik, and has been translated and published in an excellent
edition by Shaykh Nuh Keller. The Maliki texts will be al-Akhdari at the
most basic level, the text of Ibn 'Ashir which has been translated and is
waiting funds for publication, and finally the Epistle of Ibn Abi Zayd which
is being translated presently. Shaykha Besa of Jordan is presently working
on a serious Hanafi text.
Tassawuf
Bidayyatul -Hidayya by Imam al-Ghazzali (Translated) Qawa'id at-Tassawuf
Ahmad Zarruq (Translated but unpublished) Nasiha by Ahmad Zarruq
(untranslated) Mathara by Shaykh al-Yaqubi The Hikam of Ibn 'Ata illah
(translated but needs to be republished with 'Arabic and English texts)
Usuul al-Fiqh
The Waraqat by Imam al-Haramain al-Juwayni will be used at a primary level
with a comprehensive commentary in English. Idahu al-Qawa'id al-Fiqhiyya by
Imam al-Hadrami as-Shahari will be used for this branch of fiqh. The
masterful text of Sidi Abdullah Ould Hajj Ibrahim will be the advanced text
for this subject.
Quran Sciences
The Muqqadima of Ibn Juzzay for an introduction into the Quran sciences.
At-Tashil li 'Ulum at-Tanzil as an introduction into the science of tafsir.
A small treatise on the science of tajwid by Imam al-Jazari.
Hadith
al-Bayquniyya by Imam al-Bayquni as an introduction into the science of
technical terms of the people of Hadith. The forty hadith of Imam an-Nawawi
The Abridgment of Imam al-Bukhari by Ibn Abi Jamra The Abridgment of Imam
Muslim by Sayyid Muhammad bin Muhammad al-Murrakashi The Muwatta of Imam
Malik A book on the Prayers of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
Sira of the Prophet, peace be upon him
Muhammad by Martin Lings as-Shifa by Qadi 'Iyad (translated). Qurrat
al-Absar with commentary (Arabic and English text with English commentary)
History
The Muqaddima of Ibn Khaldun (translated) The Venture of Islam by Hodgson
(only until Muslims produce a better history in English).
Present Situation of Muslims
Arabic Thought in the Liberal Age by Albert Hourani Intellectual Origins of
Islamic Resurgence in the Modern Arab World by Abu Rabi' The Failure of
Political Islam by Olivier Roy Islam and Post-Modernism by Akbar S. Ahmad
Related Topics
Related topics are Economics, Technology, Philosophy, Science, Modern
ideologies and beliefs i.e. Evolution etc.
Notes
Each of the above books that has not been translated will be translated and
published with Arabic and English texts, in sha Allah.
A cassette series will be done for some of the above books for distance
learning and possibly internet studies for students unable to attend classes
locally.