Students will be introduced to the methodological rules developed by Muslim scholars in their legal disciplines in handling legal texts and extrapolating rules. After examining the elements of the methodological crisis in dealing with reality, students will be introduced to the general rules that govern the logic of handling legal text and applying it to a reality at a specific time.

The course is an introduction to the concept of Maqassed and the reasoning of Shariah rules (The Objectives of Sharia), featuring the history of this theory as reflected in the jurisprudence of the Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) and the jurisprudence of Fiqh Scholars. The course studies the relationship of the Objectives of Sharia in relation to the principles of jurisprudence and pinpointing the cause of the rules. The course covers the absolute and theoretical aspects of Islamic law, the interest concept, types and conditions, and the evidence that it should be observed in Islamic law. Students will understand the macro-partial relationship in Sharia and the consequences of violating one of them in favor of the other. Students will discuss the categories and sections of the Objectives of Sharia and the sources of developing them by Shatby and Ibn Ashour with a focus on the displacement objective issue and the imbalance in the understanding thereof.

The course introduces students to the approach of the full compatibility between the Sharia provisions and the details of the reality to be applied. Students will have an understanding of not to neglect any element that has the least impact on the instance in a dialectic between reality and the legal evidence, scrutinizing the evidence in both the macro and the partial sides, the reality and the expected with its variability and multiplications, and the expected impact to the ruling’s validity or corruption through stating the importance, rooting and methodology of pinpointing the cause of the rules through practical application models.

The course introduces students to four important elements: 1) The Fatwa and its definition, importance, gravity, etiquette, levels and concepts. 2) The Mufti and its definition, qualifications, responsibilities and ranking. 3) The Fatwa Requester and its ethics and rulings, the issue of imitation and jurisprudence schools, and the danger of not following a jurisprudence school. 4) The Mufti and the evidence of Fatwa in the era of the Companions and examples of their inferences, and the Fatwa in the era of jurisprudence schools. It also focuses on solo narrated sayings, the Fatwa based on unauthenticated sayings, the argument of considering disputed issues, the study of the choices of the people of Medina and choices of locals in other regions, and the approach of the Maliki’s in the derivation of verdicts according to their school’s rules, weighting between the narrated opinions and their terminology in the Fatwa. Students will also learn the important rules for the Mufti that forms the base of the Fatwa process such as the need that can be elevated to the status of necessity, the facilitation rule and the rule of considering the consequences. The course also introduces examples of the Fatwas of the imams of the Maliki school.

Students will be acquainted with the jurisprudence of sales, finance, property and its causes. Students will study the philosophy of transactions in Islam through scenes of general and specific objectives in earning money, savings and expenditures. The course identifies the causes of invalidity and the reasons for prohibiting sales.

Students will receive a general introduction to the study of jurisprudence terms and concepts in English with a focus on the most frequently used terminology in the fields of jurisprudence, principals of jurisprudence, faith, peace, citizenship, terrorism, tolerance and coexistence in line with other terms that serve the overall objectives of the program and the course. Students will study some English texts in the fields of jurisprudential and principals of jurisprudence studies.

The course introduces students to the basic jurisprudential and intellectual principles to understand the phenomenon of religious violence and terrorism by recognizing the historical and social conditions of the emergence of terrorism as one of the forms of the culture of violence in the context of contemporary modernity. The course includes the definition of terrorism between the past and the present and will introduce the jurisprudential accommodation of the terrorist actions in the light of "The Named Crimes" in the jurisprudential heritage, especially the Maliki school. The last three chapters will be devoted to presenting some aspects of the solution: the dismantling and correction of some of the concepts on which terrorism relies to legitimize its violence as well as emphasizing the culture of tolerance and culture of dialogue as therapeutic alternatives to the culture of violence.

Students will be introduced to the status of peace in Islam as its central and pivotal character. Students will learn about the world's need for peace today and the concept of peace as a valued objective in Islam. Students will examine the Prophet's life in his invasions and treaties where he emphasized the principal of peace. They also will explore the relationship of the peace concept to the jurisprudence of peace spread in the mothers of Islamic jurisprudence authored books as well as recognize the humanity of the Islamic discourse in the relationship with non-Muslims both in the Muslim community and outside. The course includes the Islamic rooting of the concept of citizenship, clarifying the legislative and legal value of the Medina document in this regard, the legalization of the principle of international relations, and the notification of the limits of the sovereignty of the national states in the contemporary world.

Students will be introduced to jurisprudential issues disputed among modern scholars that affect different areas of Muslim life which may relate to worship, transactions or family issues. Students will explore modern scholars’ methodologies in scrutinizing contemporary issues and evoking different perspectives on each issue to gain the talent of doctrinal consideration and jurisprudential analysis.

Students will be trained to conduct scientific research. Students will be able to follow up on developments in literature with regards to the specialization area. Students will also develop the knowledge to access research and scientific journals that specialize in the field of Islamic studies and Islamic law. Each student will design a research project in the field of Islamic Sharia, determine its methodology and conduct the research accordingly.

Through training on investigating and scrutinizing scientific evidence in order to assess validity, reliability and appropriateness for use in the court of law, this course prepares students to understand the complex relationships between law and science. Students will also learn how to use the expert testimonies in verifying the validity and credibility of scientific evidence so that the judges and prosecutors can assess its value in the judicial process.

This course trains students to become professional judicial writers and researchers. In this course, students will research and write on different legal issues and challenges and present their research with the highest levels of clarity, linguistic correctness, coherence, argumentation, and persuasion.

This course enables students to understand the factors that impact judicial decisions in court cases in order to achieve justice in their roles as judges and prosecutors.

This course trains students to create a sense of collaboration and teamwork among court members so that they work professionally in order to achieve the maximum outcome and the highest level of justice.

This course provides students with theoretical knowledge and practical experience necessary to solve judicial disputes in untraditional ways. It focuses on the alternative methods of solving disputes and their conditions, their legality and role in achieving justice and their submission to the judicial authority

This course trains students to build logic-based, persuasive legal arguments. Students will learn persuasion methods and skills and how to analyze the addressees’ backgrounds and approach and persuade them.

This course trains students to produce diverse legal texts written in sophisticated but also clear, accurate, and unambiguous Arabic language, so that they can present legal arguments in persuasive and effective ways.

This course trains students to build the skills necessary to be successful and excellent advocates. Students will gain theoretical knowledge on and practice in skillful oration, argumentation, investigation, and interrogation.

This course develops students’ mental capabilities through learning the basics and methods of sound logical reasoning, and practicing them in dealing with legal cases which must be analyzed logically in order for the judge to reach a legally correct and logically persuasive verdict. Students will learn how to understand legal cases deeply and justify verdicts logically.

In this research project, the student will produce a master’s-level research paper in Judicial Studies.