BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

UNIVERSITI Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) will soon introduce the world’s first Masters and PHD courses in Mazhab Shafi’i research.

Director of the Mazhab Shafi’i Research Centre Dr Abdul Nasir Hj Abdul Rani said that Brunei will be the first nation in the world to introduce the courses with the aim to expand the knowledge and research on the various Mazhab (Islamic school of thought).

“The first enrolment will be held this August,” said Dr Abdul Nasir during the Islamic Forum held at UNISSA yesterday.

“The Sultanate is the first country to offer the course in accordance to fulfilling His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s wishes for the expansion of research to other Islamic schools of thought apart from Mazhab Syafi’i,” he added.

Dr Abdul Nasir said that the courses will not only be limited to Mazhab Shafi’i, as scholars will be able to conduct research on other fields or schools of thought such as Maliki, Hambili and Hanafi.

The research will among others focus on comparisons and similarities of the schools of thought.

“All of the school of thoughts are under one umbrella called Ahli Sunnah Wal Jema’ah or Sunni. Muslims can practise any four of these, but there is a limitation where the over-practising of various of Mazhab could cause the person to be expelled from the religious sect,” the director said.

The primary function of the Shafi’i school of thought in UNISSA is to provide advice and guidance to the public in all matters related to Islam.

It also provides activities and programmes to the public to ensure that the teachings of Islam continues to be practiced the right way as well as spread the views of the Shafi’i school of thought in the Sultanate.

“The course was already opened to public recently and there is no quota for the registration," said Dr Abdul Nasir.

UNISSA is still collecting the research proposals from undergraduates as well as from the public.

Successful candidates will be informed after the proposal review is complete.

The Brunei Times