Critical Loyalty’s tafsīr ijāzah is a comprehensive two-year online program that combines theory, practice, and research. It is designed to achieve both breadth and depth. These are online courses offered through an Adobe Connect virtual classroom.

To build a solid foundation in tafsīr theory, students will complete the book al-Fawz al-Kabīr by Shāh Walīullāh. This course is not a course on exegesis of all of the verses of the Qur’ān rather it is a course on hermeneutics. Similar to traditional seminaries, the practical aspect will be covered by studying comparative tafsīr.

The students will meet once a week for two years over a two hour time slot, resembling the in-person ḥalaqah system where students discuss the tafsīr and other relevant topics with the teacher.

These sessions are for both men and women, and there is no segregation based on gender.

The sessions will be held as graduate seminars with a lot of focus on discussion.

We will cover the following:

1. Covering al-Fawz al-Kabīr
2. Understanding inter religious AND intra religious dialogue on hermeneutics and exegesis
3. Understanding the difference in exegesis of the Sahabah and Tabi’īn vs the scholars post codification

Going above and beyond traditional seminaries, Critical Loyalty incorporates a strong focus on critical thinking and depth through research. 

The final requirement is that students must attend graduation in-person organized by Critical Loyalty during the second year of the course. Upon completion of all of the above requirements (two years), the student will receive an ijāzāh and a shahādah in the Science of Tafsīr.

Registration into the program opens once every two years. Students may have to go through an interview process with the academic dean prior to being enrolled.

The goal of Critical Loyalty is to graduate students who think like “scholars”. What does that mean? Students should be able to think critically and objectively. They should know how to research, demonstrate open-mindedness, put aside all subjectivity, clearly articulate arguments, write persuasively [through the use of logic, not emotion], and present ideas in a cohesive and convincing fashion, combining evidences from original sources with logical arguments. Students who are unable to demonstrate scholarliness will not receive an ijāzah.

Course information

Name of Course: Ijāzah in Tafsīr and Hermeneutics

Days and Timings: Sundays from 10am-12pm Mountain Standard Time

Duration:  Duration: Two Years From the time you register. Students can join at any time; however, it is preferred that they join in July.