M.A
Islamic Studies
Note: The syllabus
prescribed for the entrance test has been divided into fifteen units. Each unit
carries a weightage of four marks. Paper setters are required to set four multiple
choice type questions with only one correct or most appropriate answer separately
for each unit, giving uniform representation to the whole syllabus contained
therein.
Unit I:
Jahilliyyah Period and Islam in Focus
1. The Tribal Organization.
2. Virtues and Vices of
Jahilliyyah Period.
3. Religious beliefs and
practices.
4. Makkah and its
special position in Arabia.
5. The Qur’an:
Its Revelation and Compilation.
6. Meaning and Message of Islam
(Brief Account).
7. The Fundamental Islamic
Beliefs (Tawhid, Risalah and Akhirah)
8. Ibadah and Arkan: Concepts.
Unit II: The
Prophet (S.A.W.) and his Times, Pious Caliphate and Banu Ummayyah
1. Early Life of the Prophet
Muhammad (S.A.W)
2. The Prophet at Makkah-Dawah
and Major events.
3. The Prophet at Madinah:
Establishment of Islamic Society, its salient features.
4. Important battles:-Badr, Uhad,
Khandaq, Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and Fath (Liberation) of Makkah.
5. Concept of Khilafa and rise of
Apostasy movement.
6. Character and Achievements of
Pious Caliphate.
7. Establishment of Ummayyad and
Contribution of prominent caliphs.
a. Muawiyyah
b. Abd-al-Malik
c. Walid-I
d. Umar bin Abdul Aziz
8. Administration:- Central,
Military and Judicial and the Decline of Umayyads.
Unit III:
Concept of Ethics and Ethical System in Islam
1. Ethics ---the
science of Akhlaq
2. Origin, scope and sources of
Ethics
3. Characteristics and Issues
4. Islamic view of life and
morality
5. Fara’id (obligations ) and
Huquq (Rights)
6. Relation between
religion (‘Aqa’id and Akran) and Ethics, morality, Spirituality.
7. Perfect model of Human conduct
Uswat-ul-Hasanah
9. Basic Pillars of Islamic
Ethics and Ummat-i-Wasatah (The doctrine of golden mean)
10. Role of moral power in Islam.
11. Huququllah (duties towards
Allah) and Haququl ‘Ibad (duties towards other human beings).
Unit IV: Ethical
Concepts and Akhlaq in Practice
1. Ma’ruf and
Munkar
2. Taqwa and Tazkiyyah
3. Fadail (virtues) and Radhail
(Vices)
4. Pride and conceit as worst
vices.
5. Social duties towards family,
parents, friends, relatives and neighbours.
6. Envy and Anger
7. Backbiting and lying
8. Tawbah, Sabr, Shukr and Ithar
9. ‘Adl (Justice), Amanah
(trust), Sidq (truthfulness).
10. Rahmah (mercy)
Unit V: Rise and
Fall of Abbasids and Social and Economic Life
1. Political condition of Umayyad
state on the eve of Abbasid revolution.
2. Establishment of Abbasid
dynasty-Consolidation under al-Mansur.
3. (a) The Golden age of the
Abbasids: Harun and al-Mamun.
(b) Abbasid, Administration,
Central, Judiciary, Military.
4. Class of Society
5. Development of Education Fine
Arts.
6. Industry and Agriculture.
7. Intellectual and Cultural
Contribution.
Unit VI: Islam
in Spain, Intellectual and Cultural Development
1. Socio-Political condition of
Spain on the eve of Muslim Rule.
2. Establishment of Muslim rule
in Spain.
3. Main Contribution of Umayyad
Amirs: Abd al-Rahman I, Al-Hakam I, Abd al-Rahman III, and Al- Hakam II
4. Decline and fall of Muslim
rule in Spain.
5. Main Features of Hispano-Arab
Society
6. Science and Medicine
7. History, Geography and
Philosophy
8. Art and Architecture
Unit VII: Tafsir
and Hadith
1. Meaning and Early Development
2. Following Mufassireen and
their Tafasirs
a. Tabari (d-310/922)
b. Zamakh Shari (d-538/1143)
c. Razi (d-601/1209)
d. Ibn Kathir
(d774/1374)
3. Principles of
Tafsir.
4. Types of Hadith
5. Siha-i-Sitta:
Main Characteristics and their Compilers
6. Place and
Importance of Hadith in Islam.
Unit VIII: Fiqh
and ‘Ilm-ul-Kalam
1. Origin and early Development
of Fiqh
2. Sources of Fiqh
3. Important Schools of Fiqh
(Origin and Characteristics)
a. Hanafi b. Maliki c. Shafa’i d.
Hanbali e. Ja’fari
4. a). Origin and Development of ‘Ilm-ul-Kalam
b). Important Mutakallimin
i) Al-‘Ash’ari
ii) Al-Ghazali
iii) Ibn Taymiyyah.
Unit IX:
Tasawwuf
1. Origin and Early Development
2. Some important Sufis and their
role:
a). Hasan-Basri b. Junaid
Baghdadi. c). Bayazid Bistami
3. Important Sufi Orders
a). Qadiriyah b). Kubrawiyah c).
Chistiyah.
Unit-X
(a) The Arabs:Islamic Movements
(Wahabbiah, Salafiah, Sanusiyah: al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun)
(b) Reassertion of Islamic
Turkey: Modern Movements (Tanzimat, Young Turks, Secular State) Reassertion of Islamic
Heritage.
Unit –XI
(a) Iran: Cultural Development,
Constitutional Movements, Response to Westernism during Pahlave Regime. Islamic
Revolution and its Achievements
(b) India: Fall of
the Muslim Rule (Causes and Consequences) Muslim Response to Modern Challenges,
Aligarh School, Deoband, Nadwatul Ulama.
Unit-XII
Reformers and Thinkers: Shah
Waliullah, Jamaluddin Afghani, Muhammad Abduh, Maulana Ilyas, Maulana Azad,
Allama Iqbal and Mawlana Mawdudi.
Unit-X1II:
Religious and Spiritual Aspects
1. Principles and Dimensions of
Tawhid as Basis of Civilization
2. Different Dimensions of Sunnah
and Sirah of Prophet and its Impact
3. Devotional Life and Religious
Practices
4. Concept of Ibadah
Unit-XIV: Social
Institution
(a)
1. Social Role of Islamic Law (‘Adl and Shari’ah)
2. Basis of Muslim Society
(Family as Social Institution), Marriage (its Sanctity, Purpose/Objectives and
Importance), Polygamy and Hijab
3. Status and Role of Women
4. Early Ummah (under the Prophet
(saw) and Khulafa-i-Rashidun) Social Aspects, Akhuwah, etc.
(b)
1. Importance of Education in Islam
2. Origin and Development
3. Religious and Social Education
4. Role of Teacher
and Educational Institutions
Unit-XV: Islamic
Economic Institutions and Political Aspects
1. Spirit and Guiding Principles
of Islamic Economy
2. Economic Institutions
a. Zakat
b. Batul-Mal (Purpose and
Significance)
c. Waqf
3. Economy prohibitions
(Interest, Gambling, etc)
4. Economic Role of
the State
5. Concept and Purpose of Islamic
State and Administration
6. Ummah: Universal Community
7. Khilafah (Imamah) and Shura
8. Islamic State (Established by
the Prophet (saw) and developed by the Khulafa-i-Rashidun) Salient
Features