Curriculum for Iftā

Madrasah In’āmiyyah – Camperdown

Under the tutelage of Mufti Ebrahim Desai Sahib (D.B.)

Prepared by Ehzaz Ajmeri, 2^nd Year Iftā Student

First Year

Books that are studied:

• Sharah ‘Uqūd Rasm al-Mufti – Ibn ‘Ābidīn

• First half of Al-Ashbāh wal-Nazā’ir – Ibn Nujaym

• First half of Tuhfat al-‘Ulama – Mawlāna Ashraf ‘Ali Thānwi

• Chapters of Buyu’ from Mukhtasar al-Qudūri with modern day transactions.

• Introduction to Islamic Financing – Mufti Taqi Usmani

• Sharah Manzūma al-Bayqūniyya – ‘Abdullāh Sirājuddīn (Mawlāna Muhammad Abbasomer)

• Once a week introduction to Hanafī books and their status (Mufti Husain Kadodia)

Self reading:

• Al-Mahmūd – Fatāwa of Mufti Ebrahim Desai Sahib

• Ahsan al-Fatāwa (9 vols) – Mufti Rashīd Ludhyānwi

• Muqadima of Radd al-Muhtār – Ibn Ābidīn

• First half of Ahkām al-Qur’ān – Jassās

• Al-Madhhab al-Hanafī Vol 2 - Muhammad Nasīruddin al-Naqīb

Second Year

Books that are studied:

• Second half of Al-Ashbāh wal-Nazā’ir – Ibn Nujaym

• Second half of Tuhfat al-‘Ulama – Mawlāna Ashraf ‘Ali Thānwi

• Al-Ma’āsir al-Shar’īyya (AAOIFI Standards)

• Al-Hīlat al-Nājiza – Mawlāna Ashraf ‘Ali Thānwi

• Nashr al-‘Arf – Ibn ‘Ābidīn

Self Reading:

• Fatāwa Mahmūdiyya (20 vols) – Mufti Mahmūd Hasan Gangohi

• Hadr wal-Ibāha of Al-Fatāwa al-Hindiyya

• Second Half of Ahkām al-Qur’ān – Jassās

• Al-Madhhab al-Hanafī Vol 1 - Muhammad Nasīruddin al-Naqīb

• Reading the of various Islamic Finance papers prepared by the Dārul Iftā (Shares, Takaful, etc.)

** The course may be adjusted at the request of the students to teach a particular book or as per the discretion of Mufti Sahib.

Exercise of answering Fatāwa:

The primary and the most essential aspect of the Iftā program is the practice of answering fatāwa under the supervision of Mufti Sahib. From the first day the students are given questions to answer, albeit simple queries, for which they are required to research on their own and provide a satisfactory answer. Initially the students are required to cite two references from the Arabic books of fiqh/fatāwa as well as two references from the Urdu books of fatāwa (in order to understand the manhaj of the ‘Ulama of Deoband). These answers are thoroughly scrutinized in which a great amount of stress is given to the language, grammar, and layout of answers. At times, the answer is repeatedly rejected until it is in total conformity with Mufti Sahib.

Personal thoughts and impressions of the course:

I am from the United States of America. I had the benefit and privilege of studying at Dārul Ulūm Zakariyya for 7 years under my senior and expert Asātiza from whom I benefitted immensely and to whom I am eternally indebted. Upon completing the Dawrah Hadith (final year of Darse Nizāmi), a student usually has the perception that he has understood the Hanafī School of thought and has covered most of its aspects. Only upon entering into the Iftā class did I realize how little of the vast ocean did I really understand. The complexness and comprehensiveness of the Hanafī School can slightly be perceived after completing the 2 year Iftā course. While studying the Darse Nizāmi, teachers often state to their students that you only become a student after completing the course and the more you study, the more you become aware of your ignorance. The reality of this statement only dawned upon me while doing Iftā under the supervision of Mufti Ebrahim Sahib.

While studying in Madrasah In’āmiyyah, I found the Iftā program to be not only a more profound understanding of fiqh, but also to be the practical implementation of the theoretical discussions of the Darse Nizāmi. In Iftā, a student learns how to execute the knowledge, which was acquired through the books of Darse Nizāmi, into modern day issues. Having the honor of studying under Mufti Sahib, I learned that a student should analyze the issue from all angles, be moderate in the approach when answering an issue, and keep the background and lifestyle of different individuals in mind. While being moderate and finding ease for the masses, the student should not forfeit what he stands for.

One of the greatest advantages I found while studying the Iftā Course in Madrasah In’āmiyyah is that since the institute is world renowned, the AskImam website receives queries from the four corners of the world; from Alaska to Australia, Argentina to Japan. This enables the student to be aware of the various issues faced by people in different parts of the world. The diversity of issues broadens the student’s understanding and makes him more equipped for the outside world. Coupled with that, Mufti Ebrahim Desai Sahib has travelled extensively throughout the world.  For the last 16 years until recently he had been visiting U.S.A. every year. He has also travelled to many European countries, the Far East, the Indian Subcontinent, as well as the Arab world either for da’wah purposes or to attend meetings in regards to Islamic Finance. His experience and understanding of different cultures is remarkable. Time and again Mufti Sahib will share these experiences with his students for their benefit. May Allah grant Mufti Sahib a long and healthy life, may his shadow always be over us. May Allah give us the ability to take full benefit from him and enable us to follow his footsteps, Amīn.