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The College of Islamic Studies at HBKU is proud to present the Ummuhat al-Kutub public lecture series this semester to explore and discuss foundational works and manuscripts of Islamic scholarship.
The term “Ummuhat al-Kutub” refers to the major Islamic texts throughout Islamic history that have contributed to shaping the cultural and intellectual lives of Muslims and the production of knowledge rooted in the Islamic tradition.
By engaging with Ummuhat al-Kutub, the lecture series not only celebrates the enduring legacy of these masterpieces but also encourages dialogue and reflection on the ways in which classical Islamic scholarship continues to inform, inspire, and enrich modern academic and cultural contexts.
No lectures will be held during Ramadan.
Al-Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldun
Every Monday, 14:00 - 15:00
This book is an introduction to Ibn Khaldun’s work of world history, Kitab al-ʿIbar ("Book of Lessons"; full title: "Book of Lessons, Record of Beginnings and Events in the History of the Arabs and Foreigners and Berbers and their Powerful Contemporaries"), in which he discusses human conditions, the differences in human nature, and the impact of the environment on humans. The book also explores nations' evolution and states' establishment, and the factors leading to their collapse. The book gained its fame due to its unprecedented theories on societies and nationalism, contributing to the foundation of modern sociology.
Lectures will be held in Arabic and English.
Speaker
Al-Siyasah al-Shari'ah fi 'Islah alRaee wal-Raiyya by Ibn Taymiyyah
Every Tuesday, 10:00 - 11:30
Written in the form of a letter addressed to a ruler, this book outlines the obligations of a Muslim ruler to uphold trust and govern among people with justice in matters of limits and rights.
This work includes numerous important legal rulings and juristic insights of Islamic governance, making it a significant reference in the field.
Lectures will be held in Arabic.
Speaker
Metn Abu Shuja
Every Tuesday, 13:00 - 14:00
Metn Abu Shuja is a foundational text in Shafi’i jurisprudence. Metn Abu Shuja carefully outlines key beliefs and theological concepts and systematically articulates the essential doctrines and epistemological frameworks of the Islamic creed.
Metn Abu Shuja has historically functioned as a key reference for scholars and students engaged in the study of kalām, providing a theoretical foundation for understanding classical Islamic thought and the principles underpinning religious knowledge.
Lectures will be held in Arabic.
Speaker
Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik
Every Tuesday, 14:00 - 15:00
This recension of Imām Mālik’s Muwaṭṭaʾ preserves the Medinan tradition of hadith and jurisprudence through the transmission of Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-Shaybānī, one of the most prominent students of Abū Ḥanīfa.
Alongside Mālik’s narrations, al-Shaybānī records his own legal comments and critiques, offering a rare early dialogue between the Mālikī and Ḥanafī schools in their nascent period. The work is invaluable for studying the formative plurality of Sunni legal thought and early juristic method.
Lectures will be held in Arabic and English.
Speaker
Maqalat al-Islamiyyin wa Ikhtilaf al-Musallin
Every Wednesday, 13:00 - 14:00
Imam Abu al-Ḥasan al-Ashʿari’s Maqalat al-Islamiyyin wa Ikhtilaf al-Musallin is a seminal work in Islamic theology that systematically surveys the beliefs, doctrines, and sectarian divisions of early Muslim communities. The book serves as both a historical and intellectual reference, offering insight into the evolution of Islamic creed, the debates surrounding the development of Ashʿarī thought. This work continues to be widely studied by scholars and students seeking a comprehensive understanding of classical Islamic theology and the spectrum of early doctrinal perspectives.
Lectures will be held in Arabic.
