Islamic Studies

As we all know, educational institutions in Islamic countries, especially Afghanistan, hold significant value in society and occupy a special place among other institutions. Therefore, considering that Shari'ah is directly and indirectly concerned with all aspects of human life in Islamic societies—social, cultural, political, etc.—the role of educational institutions in religious matters is paramount, and efforts must be made to provide educational services in this area wisely and thoughtfully. The Faculty of Islamic Studies has two departments (Jurisprudence and Principles of Jurisprudence, and Islamic Education), which we will examine.

Jurisprudence and Principles of Jurisprudence

Principles of Jurisprudence is the knowledge that encompasses the methods of using jurisprudential sources in Islamic jurisprudence. The historical background of this knowledge dates back to after the death of the Prophet of Islam. Principles of Jurisprudence is part of Islamic sciences that discusses the rules for deriving legal rulings. Various definitions of this field exist, and there are differing opinions about them. Researcher Khurasani defines it as: "Principles of Jurisprudence is the science of rules that are prepared for obtaining legal and subsidiary rulings." The author of "Kifayah" states that Principles of Jurisprudence is an art through which rules are identified that may be used in deriving rulings or must be acted upon. Some Sunni jurists, like Abu Zahra, define it as: "This science understands the rules that we rely on to comprehend and derive jurisprudence." This field is divided into the following departments:

Jurisprudence and Law

This section defines the following objectives and plans:

Training specialized and competent Muftis.
Training professional staff in the judiciary, prosecutor’s office, and other legal entities in the country.
Training skilled teachers in jurisprudential and legal sciences for educational institutions.
Training knowledgeable legal experts in jurisprudential and legal matters.
Training capable interpreters and analysts of legal texts in the light of Islamic jurisprudence.
Training professional and specialized advisors in Islamic and legal sciences for the Ministry of Justice and related departments.
Training professional experts in Islamic politics for foreign offices and other executive bodies in Afghanistan.
Providing organized and coordinated legal and jurisprudential solutions that meet the community's needs.
Addressing challenges, needs, and fundamental questions raised in the field of jurisprudence and law.
Presenting jurisprudential and legal discussions in new formats appropriate to the needs of time and place.

Islamic Education

Knowledge, in its essence, means recognition, which is the first step toward familiarity and approaching God. The broader and deeper the knowledge, the closer one becomes to God, to the point where the heart of a person continuously relies on the Almighty and remains attentive to Him. The goal of the Islamic Education program is to embark on this path. By studying, researching, and trusting in God, one can achieve self-awareness and awareness of God.

Department of Noble Interpretation

With the increase in population and the expansion of cities, people's demands have also risen, and the government must respond to the needs of its citizens. One of the pressing needs of current societies is the development of various educational sectors in the country. This department focuses on the following scientific and educational objectives and plans:

Educating professional staff in the judiciary and other legal bodies in the country.
Striving for the realization of an Islamic curriculum free from extremism.
Participating in preserving the valuable heritage of righteous predecessors by disseminating and publishing their great scientific treasures.
Addressing doctrinal, intellectual, and contemporary issues that require clarification and enlightenment.
Striving for the self-sufficiency of Afghan society in Islamic sciences by training scientific and professional staff in these fields.
Working to nurture a generation of Muslims and believers who can understand and articulate Islamic truths with insight.
Disseminating Islamic jurisprudence in society through students of this program.
Training skilled professionals in judicial matters at the national level.
Producing a committed generation of Islamic education specialists in the country.

Department of Noble Hadith

The Holy Quran and Hadith can be considered the sources of various Islamic sciences, recognized across all Islamic sects as the primary sources of religious knowledge and teachings. The study and examination of these sources from the early days of Islam to the present have been among the most important religious studies. The interpretation of the Holy Quran, the collection and verification of narrations, the history of the Quran, Hadith, etc., are topics that Islamic scholars have always studied. This field focuses on historical and scientific studies and examines both the content and form of the Quran and Hadith, addressing topics such as Quranic interpretation, methods of understanding the Quran, the history of the Quran and Hadith, methods of verifying the authenticity of narrations, etc. This department has the following fundamental objectives and plans:

Introducing Sunnah to Hadith as one of the main sources of legislation.
Presenting Hadith as the second source of Islamic legislation.
Eradicating superstitions from society by promoting the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH).
Promoting and reinforcing the ethics of the Prophet (PBUH) in society.
Distinguishing between authentic and non-authentic Hadith.
Working to close the door to attacks and promote non-Islamic ethics.
Following the principles and path of the Companions.
Introducing the concepts of criticism and authentication in Hadith narrators.

Career Opportunities

Among the academic activities available to graduates of this program are teaching at universities, entering cultural fields, and engaging in research activities in relevant areas. Some graduates also participate in executive and cultural activities such as managing Quranic and religious initiatives. Students in the fields of Quranic Sciences and Hadith can pursue careers in education, research, preaching, and promotion. Teaching, professorship, obtaining licenses for educational centers like schools and cultural and religious institutions, employment in research centers, working as researchers in non-research institutions, authoring and researching, employment in governmental, cultural, and religious centers, and engaging in speaking and preaching activities are among the career opportunities available to graduates of this program.

Recommendations for Interested Individuals

The primary sources of the field of Quranic Sciences and Hadith are the "Quran" and "Hadith," which are in Arabic. Therefore, students should strive to strengthen their Arabic language skills and be able to read Arabic texts comfortably. An interest in research and continuous study of Islamic and Quranic issues, as well as having good expression skills and memory, are factors contributing to success in this field.

Department of Islamic Culture

One can start by asking why and for what reason a subject called Islamic Culture should be part of the curriculum, and what would happen if such a subject did not exist. The common answer is that since our society is Islamic and our youth are Muslims, they should become better acquainted with their religion, especially when they reach academic education, where they need a scientific and academic understanding of religious issues and topics. Many believe that our university should train individuals who, alongside their scientific expertise, also have a complete belief and commitment to Islamic values. In other words, we should not only have doctors, engineers, scholars, sociologists, and jurists, but also devout doctors, engineers, scholars, sociologists, and jurists. Scholars believe that this is the most important argument for establishing a subject called Islamic Culture in universities, and this argument appears to be valid, making the concerns understandable. The subject of Islamic Culture is taught with respect to Islamic beliefs and rulings and aims for a better academic understanding.

The objectives and plans of the Department of Islamic Culture are summarized as follows:

Conducting scientific research on various religious, social, and economic topics.
Emphasizing tolerance and moderation in Islam throughout the Islamic Culture course.
Providing scientific and academic responses to religious questions and inquiries from youth.
Striving to clarify religious rulings and explain them in the language of science and high culture.
Promoting Islamic culture among youth and eradicating the influences of foreign and non-Islamic cultures.
Spreading the culture of moderation and coexistence among youth and various Islamic sects.
Equipping students with pure religious and Islamic knowledge on topics such as the rights of parents, women's rights, spousal rights, children's rights, the rights of the elderly, neighbors' rights, and the rights of non-Muslims living in non-Islamic societies.
Eradicating the thoughts of extremism and fanaticism that currently trouble the Islamic world.