The Maqasid of the Qur’an and Its Surahs (Part 3)

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The Maqasid of the Qur’an and Its Surahs (Part 3)

The Surahs of the Qur’an encompass diverse forms of discourse and address a wide range of themes and issues. Each Surah presents a unique set of topics that, collectively, reflect..

Religious Programs
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Sep 02 - Dec 16

06:00 PM - 07:30 PM

Wed

840 QAR

18 Session/s

About this Program

The Surahs of the Qur’an encompass diverse forms of discourse and address a wide range of themes and issues. Each Surah presents a unique set of topics that, collectively, reflect Qur’anic rulings and the narratives that affirm them. These rulings include practical and theoretical evaluations—legal, theological, historical, and ethical—framed within a purposeful moral vision. They serve as guidance, counsel, and moral insight and exhortation, inviting believers to contemplate the divine message and act upon it with sincerity. In Part 3 of The Maqasid of the Qur’an and Its Surahs, we begin with Surah Al-Kahf and continue the structured reflection (Tadabbur) introduced in the previous parts. We will study the Qur’an one Surah at a time, exploring each one individually to identify its central themes and overarching aims (Maqasid). The aim is to connect each Surah’s Maqasid to its content and structure, and ultimately contribute to an understanding of the broader aims of Qur’anic discourse—motivating us to embody its guidance to the best of our ability. Each class begins with a recitation of the opening verses of a Surah, followed by an analytical discussion. The instructor will then present an analysis of the Surah, explain its central Maqasid, and introduce the methodological approaches used to identify them.

1. Introduce participants to the major scholarly conclusions regarding the overarching aims (Maqasid) of the Qur’an.

2. Cultivate deep reflection on each Surah through an exploration of its main themes and ethical objectives.

3. Develop an analytical framework that connects the specific aims of individual Surahs with the Qur’an’s unified moral and spiritual vision.

4. Encourage participants to apply the Qur’anic aims in daily life and to view Tadabbur as a foundation for personal, familial, and social transformation.

5. Equip participants with accessible methodological tools for engaging the Qur’an, grounded in the interpretive tradition of classical scholarship and responsive to contemporary contexts.

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the thematic structure of each Surah examined and relate it to its overarching Maqasid.

2. Articulate the key ethical and practical purposes conveyed by the Surahs of the Qur’an.

3. Place each Surah within the broader flow of Qur’anic discourse and recognize its relationship to the Surahs that precede and follow it.

4. Distinguish between the thematic elements of each Surah and its ethical aims.

5. Apply foundational analytical tools to everyday situations, drawing on Qur’anic guidance for reflection and ethical action.

Meet our Instructor

Dr. Mutaz Alkhatib

Mutaz al-Khatib is Associate Professor of Methodology and Ethics at the Research Centre for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE), Hamad Bin Khalifa U niversity (HBKU), and Coordinator of the MA in Applied Islamic Ethics at the College of Islamic Studies, (HBKU).

Besides many refereed articles, He authored and edited several books including: Radd al-Ḥadīth min Jihat al-Matn: Dirāsa fī Manāhij al-Muḥaddithīn wa-l Uṣūliyyīn (Matn Criticism: a study of the methods of traditionists and jurists) (2011), Ma’ziq al-Dawla bayna al-Islāmiyyīn wa-l ‘Almāniyyīn (The dilemma of the state between Islamists and secularists) (2016), al-‘Unf al-Mustabāḥ: al-Sharia fī Muwājahat al-Umma wa-l Dawla (Violence Made Permissible: ‘Sharia’ versus the People and the State) (2017) Qabūl al- Ḥadīth (The Reception of Ḥadīth) (2017), Islamic Ethics and the Trusteeship Paradigm (co-editor) (2020), Ḥadīth and Ethics through the Lens of Interdisciplinarity (2023).