​The Centre for Islamic Knowledge (CIK) is pleased to announce the launch of its new Certificate in Uṣūl al-Fiqh​ — a part-time one-year (two-semester) program designed to introduce students to one of the most foundational disciplines of Islamic scholarship.
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Uṣūl al-Fiqh (أصول الفقه), “Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence”, is the science that defines how Islamic law (Sharīʿah – الشريعة) is derived, interpreted, and applied. It examines the authoritative sources of law (al-adillah al-sharʿiyyah – الأدلّة الشرعية) and the principles (qawāʿid al-istinbāṭ – قواعد الاستنباط) guiding their use, addressing foundational questions such as:

  • What is law (ḥukm – الحكم) and who is the Lawgiver (ḥākim – الحاكم) in Islam?
  • How do scholars interpret the Qur’an (القرآن) according to established hermeneutical principles?
  • How is the authenticity of Hadith (الحديث) verified and assessed?
  • When and how can a legal ruling be abrogated (naskh – النسخ)?

Key areas of study include:
  • The Qur’an (القرآن) and Sunnah (السنة) as primary sources
  • Consensus (Ijmāʿ – الإجماع)
  • Analogical reasoning (Qiyās – القياس)
  • Independent scholarly reasoning (Ijtihād – الاجتهاد)
Instructor: Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Iqbal al-Nadvi

Course Details:

Class Time: Saturdays, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Semester 1: September 13, 2025 – January 31, 2026
Semester 2: February 7, 2026 – May 30, 2026
Tuition: $200 CAD per semester
Mode of Delivery: Online and In-Person
Language of Instruction: Urdu with English Handouts and Readings
Prerequisites: None
Certificate Awarded Upon: Successful completion of both semesters

Dr. Mohammad Iqbal al-Nadvi 

Dr. Mohammad Iqbal Masood al-Nadvi is a well-known Muslim scholar in Canada, amongst the few who have the authority to confer an Islamic legal ruling. Dr. Nadvi has extensively studied the Islamic sciences at some of the world's leading institutions of Islamic learning. He spent over a decade at the prestigious seminary Dārul ’Ulūm Nadwatul ‘Ulamā, Lucknow, India, where he completed an ālimiyyah degree. He subsequently moved to Saudi Arabia, where he earned a License in Sharīʿah from the Islamic University of Madinah (Jāmiʻah al-Islāmīyah bi-al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah), and completed his Masters and Ph.D. in Sharīʿah, with a specialization in Fiqh from Umm al-Qura University, Makkah (Jāmiʿat ʾUmm Al-Qurā). In addition to his academic studies, Dr. Nadvi has received ijazāt (certificates of authorization) from many of the most renowned scholars of our time. To complement his comprehensive education in the Islamic sciences, he earned a degree in political science from Bhopal University, India.
 
Dr. Nadvi also has a rich experience in teaching. He was a professor at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he taught Sharīʿah and Fiqh for over half a decade. While he was at King Saud, he dealt with topics such as Usūl al-Fiqh, Islamic culture, Islamic political thought, Islamic movements and the Fiqh of organization.
 
In addition to his teaching, Dr. Nadvi has been very active within the Canadian Muslim community since his arrival. He is the former President of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) and Director of Religious Affairs at Al Falah Islamic Centre and the Muslim Association of Calgary, during which he also served as a member of the University of Calgary chaplaincy team. He is currently the Chairman of the Canadian Council of Imams and the Fiqh Majlis of Canada. Dr. Nadvi also serves on the advisory board of several organizations including the Canadian Muslim Chaplain Organization (CMCO) and the Proposed Islamic Credit Union in Ontario.