PhD in RKQS

Doctor of Philosophy in Qur'an and Sunnah Studies

This is a full time and a part-time programme that requires a minimum of 3 years (6 semesters) and  5 years (10 semesters) respectively to complete. The maximum period allowed for the programme is 6 years (12 semesters) for the former and 8 years (16 semesters) for the latter. Candidates are trained in research methods, Islamisation of human knowledge and a specialised area in Qur’an or Hadith studies to prepare them for the challenging task of producing original research in the form of a dissertation/thesis. The expected length of the dissertation/thesis is around 80,000 – 100,000 words and it can be written either in Arabic or English. Areas in which supervision is available include classical and modern tafsir, science of Hadith, Hadith commentary and interpretation and contemporary trends in the study of the Qur’an and Hadith.

 Study types offered

A) Coursework and research

The revised curriculum structure of the programme in the coursework and research mode with total of 100 credit hours as follows:

1. Core Courses (19 credit hours)

• Analytical Study of Rational Tafsir (3 hours)

• Comparative Study of Commentaries on Mushkil al‐Hadith (3 hours)

• General Theories in Islamic Jurisprudence (3 hours)

• The Theory of Maqasid in Islamic Law (3 hours)

• Major Themes in Revealed Religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam (4 hours)

• Islam and Modernity (3 hours)

2. Electives Courses (6 credit hours)

Students are required to choose two from the following courses with 3 credit hours each:

• Sociological Exegesis of the Qur’an (Arabic)

• Styles of Qur’anic Diction

• Studies on Dirayat al‐Matn (Analysis of Hadith Texts)

• Studies on Fabricated Hadith

3. Dissertation (75 credit hours)

B) Research only

Thesis (100 credit hours). The length of the dissertation shall not exceed 100,000 words.