A course on the interpretation of Islam in Leicester

Interpretation of Islam: concepts, approaches and effects

An intensive scholarly course for students of religious knowledge and preachers, delivered by Shaykh Abd al-Haqq al-Turkmani.

Venue: Al-Furqan Mosque, Leicester.

Date: Saturday, 16 January 2016. Arabic only.

Duration: 8 hours. Registration and participation were free.

Course objectives

• Introduce participants to the question of the interpretation of Islam and its related terms, concepts and intellectual currents.
• Provide participants with foundational and applied knowledge to distinguish approaches to the interpretation of Islam and understand the aims of their literature as circulated through educational and media channels. Connect their intellectual and theoretical dimensions with contemporary realities, particularly excessive religious zeal, violence and terrorism.
• Emphasise a balanced approach to understanding Islam by recognising the relative levels of religious rulings, without exaggerating particular aspects and interpreting the whole religion through them.

Course content

1. An introduction to concepts and terminology.
2. The approach of Islamic revelation to the interpretation of Islam.
3. Approaches to interpreting religion and their intellectual foundations.
4. Political and utilitarian interpretations of Islam.
5. The grave effects of utilitarian, social and political interpretations of religion.
6. Examples of deviations in the interpretation of Islam.

The course was completed successfully. Sixty-three male and female participants received attendance certificates.