Areas of Concentration
PART 1: THE QUR’ĀN AND HADĪTH+
Topics to Cover:
- •Revelation of the Glorious Qur’ān: (i) Visits of the Prophet (SAW) to Cave Hira (ii) His reaction to the first revelation and its importance (iii) Different modes of revelation (Q.42:51) (iv) Piecemeal revelation (Q.17:106; Q.25:32) (v) Names and attributes of the Qur’ān.
- •Preservation of the Glorious Qur’ān: (i) Recording, compilation and standardization (ii) Differences between Makkah and Madinan suwar (iii) Role of the Companions of the Prophet (SAW).
- •Importance and Divine authenticity of the Glorious Qur’ān: As a source of guidance; Proof of Divine authenticity (Q.4:82; Q.41:42); Uniqueness (Q.39:27; Q.17:88; Q.75:16-19); Divine preservation (Q.15:9).
- •Tafsīr: Historical development, Importance, and Types of Tafsīr.
- •Introduction to Tajwīd (Theory and Practice).
- •Study of the Arabic text of the following suwar/ayats with tajwīd: al-Fātihah (Q.1), al-cĀdiyāt (Q.100), al-Qari’cah (Q.101), at-Takāthur (Q.102), al-cAsr (Q.103), al-Humazah (Q.104), al-Mācūn (Q.107), al-Kawthar (Q.108), al-Kāfirūn (Q.109), al-Nasr (Q.110), al-Masad (Q.111), al-Ikhlās (Q.112), al-Falaq (Q.113), an-Nās (Q.114).
- •Study of the Arabic text of the following suwar/ayats with tajwīd: al-Acalā (Q.87), ad-Duhā (Q.93), al-Inshirah (Q.94), at-Tīn (Q.95), alcAlaq (Q.96), al-Qadr (Q.97), al-Bayyinah (Q.98), al-Zalzalah (Q.99), Ayatul-Kursiyy (Q.2:255), Āmanar-Rasūl (Q.2:285-6), Laqad jāakum (Q.9:128-129).
- •Hadīth: (a) History of Hadīth literature (b) Authentication (Isnād, Matn, Classification into Sahīh, Hassan and Dacīf) (c) Relationship between Hadīth and the Qur’ān (d) The six sound collectors of Hadīth (e) Muwatta and its author (Imam Malik) (f) Arabic texts of ahādīth from an-Nawāwi’s collection: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 27, 34, and 41.
- •Moral lessons in the Glorious Qur’ān and Hadīth: (a) Sage Luqman's admonition (Q.31:12-18) (b) Goodness to parents (c) Honesty (d) Prohibition of bribery, corruption, alcohol, gambling, stealing, fraud, smoking, drug abuse, arrogance, and extravagance (e) Dignity of labour (f) Modesty in dressing (g) Adultery, fornication, homosexuality, and obscenity (h) Leadership and justice (i) Trust, obligations, and promises (j) Piety (Taqwa) (k) Tolerance, perseverance, and patience (l) Unity and brotherhood (m) Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is wrong.
What JAMB will test you on:
- Analyse the Prophet’s (SAW) visits to Cave Hira, his reaction to the first revelation, the modes of revelation, and why the Qur’ān was revealed piecemeal.
- Analyse how the Glorious Qur’ān was recorded/compiled, differentiate Makkan and Madinan suwar, and evaluate the companions' role.
- Evaluate the proof of authenticity, uniqueness, and divine preservation of the Glorious Qur’ān.
- Trace the origin/sources of Tafsīr, evaluate its importance, and compare its types.
- Recite with correct tajwīd the specified Arabic texts, translate the verses, deduce lessons, and evaluate their teachings.
- Evaluate the history of Hadīth, analyse Isnād and Matn, distinguish Hadīth classifications, and examine the six sound collectors and Imam Malik.
- Interpret the specified ahādīth in Arabic and apply their teachings in daily life.
- Demonstrate and apply the moral teachings from the Qur'ān and Hadīth (honesty, modesty, justice, dignity of labour, etc.) in daily life.
PART II: TAWHĪD AND FIQH+
Topics to Cover:
- •Faith: (a) Tawhīd (Importance and lessons) (b) Kalimatush-Shahadah (Meaning, Oneness of Allah, Servanthood/Messengership of Prophet Muhammad, Universality of message, Finality of Prophethood) (c) Shirk (Worship of Idols, Ancestral worship, Trinity, Atheism) (d) General practices incompatible with Tawhīd (Superstition, Fortune-telling, Magic and witchcraft, Cult worship, Innovation/Bid’ah).
- •Articles of faith: (a) Belief in Allah (Existence, Attributes, Works) (b) Belief in Allah’s angels (c) His books (d) His Prophets (Ulul-azmi) (e) The Last Day (Yawm-al-Bacth) (f) Destiny (distinction between Qada and Qadar).
- •Ibadat and their types: (a) Good deeds (b) Taharah (al-istinja’/istijmar, alwudu’, at-tayammum, al-ghusl) (c) Salah (Importance, description, types, things that vitiate) (d) Zakah (Types, collection/disbursement, difference from sadaqah) (e) Sawm (Types, exemptions, things that vitiate) (f) Hajj (Importance, types: Ifrad, Qirān, Tamattuc; Essentials, conditions, Umrah difference) (g) Jihad (Concept, kinds, manner, lessons).
- •Family Matters: (a) Marriage (Importance, prohibited categories, conditions for validity, rights/duties, Polygamy) (b) Idrar (ill-treatment of wife) (c) Divorce (Attitude of Islam, kinds: Talaq, Khul, Faskh, Mubara’ah, Licān; Iddah; Prohibited forms: Ila and Zihar; Custody of children/Hadanah) (d) Inheritance (Importance, Heirs and their shares).
- •Sources and Schools of Law: (i) The four major sources (Qur’ān, Sunnah, Ijmac, Qiyās) (ii) The four Sunni Schools of law and their founders.
- •Islamic Economic System: (i) Attitude to Riba (ii) At-tatfif (iii) Hoarding (ihtikar) (iv) Sources of revenue (Zakah, Jizyah, Kharaj, Ghanimah) (v) Baitul-mal as an institution of socio-economic welfare (vi) Difference between Islamic and Western economic systems.
- •Islamic Political System: (i) Allah as the Sovereign (ii) Shurah (consultation) (iii) Adalah (justice) and Mas’uliyah (accountability) (iv) Rights of non-Muslims in an Islamic state (v) Differences between Islamic and Western political systems.
What JAMB will test you on:
- Analyse the concepts of Tawhīd, evaluate the significance of Kalimatush-Shahadah, and identify beliefs/actions that constitute shirk or are incompatible with Tawhīd.
- Examine the significance of the articles of faith (Allah, angels, books, Prophets, Last Day, Destiny).
- Identify acts of ibadah, distinguish types of taharah, and assess the importance/types/vitiating factors of salah, zakah, sawm, and hajj.
- Analyse the importance of marriage, examine its validity conditions, rights/duties, and attitude of Islam towards divorce and inheritance.
- Analyse the four major sources of Islamic law and examine the biographies/contributions of the founders of Sunni schools of law.
- Analyse Islamic attitude to Riba, at-tatfif, and hoarding, identify sources of revenue, and differentiate Islamic vs Western economic systems.
- Analyse Allah’s sovereignty, the concepts of shurah, justice, and accountability, and examine the rights of non-Muslims in an Islamic state.
PART III: ISLAMIC HISTORY AND CIVILIZATION+
Topics to Cover:
- •Pre-Islamic Arabia (Jahiliyyah): (i) Jahiliyyah practices (idol worship, infanticide, polyandry, gambling, usury, etc.) (ii) Islamic reforms.
- •The Life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW): (i) Birth and early life (ii) Call to Prophethood (iii) Dacwah in Makkah and Madinah (iv) The Hijrah (v) Administration of the Ummah in Madinah (vi) Battles of Badr, Uhud and Khandaq (vii) Treaty of al-Hudaibiyyah and the conquest of Makkah (viii) Hijjatul-wada (farewell pilgrimage) sermon (ix) Qualities of Muhammad (SAW).
- •The Rightly Guided Caliphs (al-Khulafa’u rashidun): The lives and contributions of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs.
- •Early contact of Islam with Africa: (i) Hijrah to Abyssinia (ii) Spread of Islam to Egypt (iii) Role of traders, teachers, preachers, Murabitun, Sufi orders and Mujaddidun in West Africa.
- •The Impact of Islam in West Africa: (i) Influence on socio-political life of Ghana, Mali, Songhai and Borno (ii) Impact on economic life of Timbuktu, Kano and Borno.
- •Contributions of Islam to Education: (i) Aims/objectives of Islamic Education (ii) Qur’ān and Hadīth on Education (iii) Intellectual activities in West Africa (Sankore University) (iv) Intellectual activities of Ahmad Baba, Sheikh al-Maghili, Sheikh Usman Danfodio, Sultan Muhammad Bello, Ibn Battuta (v) Islamic Education Institutions (House of Wisdom, al-Azhar, Nizamiyyah) (vi) Lives/contributions of Ibn Sina, Al-Ghazali, Ibn Rushd, ar-Razi, Ibn Khaldun.
What JAMB will test you on:
- Distinguish Jahiliyyah practices and trace the reforms brought about by Islam.
- Account for the birth, call, Dacwah, Hijrah, and administration of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
- Account for the causes/effects of the early battles, the Treaty of Hudaibiyya, and the Conquest of Makkah.
- Trace the biographies and evaluate the contributions of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs.
- Evaluate the Hijrah to Abyssinia, the spread to Egypt, and the roles of traders/scholars in West Africa.
- Analyse the influence of Islam on the socio-political and economic systems of West African States.
- Explain the aims of Islamic Education, assess intellectual activities in West Africa, and examine the contributions of classical Islamic scholars (Ibn Sina, Al-Ghazali, Ibn Khaldun, etc.).
Recommended Textbooks
- Abdul, M.O.A. (1976) Studies in Islam Series Book 3, Lagos: IPB.
- Abdul, M.O.A. (1982) Studies in Islam Series Book 2, Lagos: IPB.
- Abdul, M.O.A. (1988) The Classical Caliphate, Lagos: IPB.
- Abdulrahman and Canham (n.d) The Ink of the Scholar, OUP.
- Ali, A.Y. (1975) The Holy Qur’ān Text: Translation and Commentary Leicester: The Islamic Foundation.
- Ali, M.M. (n.d) The Religion of Islam, Lahore.
- Doi, A. R. I. (1997) Shariah: The Islamic Law; Kuala Lumpur: Noordeen.
- Hay Lal, M. (1982) The Life of Muhammad (SAW), Academic Press.
- Lemu, A. (1992) Methodology of Primary Islamic Studies, Lagos: IPB.
- Lemu, A. (1993) Islamic Studies for SSS, Book 1 & Books, Lagos: IPB / Minna: IET.
- Muhammad, S. Q. (2010) al-Burhanu fi tajwīdil Qur’ān Cairo: Shirkatul-Qudus.
- Opeloye, M.O. (1996) A Dictionary of Peoples and Places in the Qur’ān, Lagos: Academic Press.
- Philips, A. A. B. (1997) Usool at-Tafseer, Kuala Lumpur: Noordeen.
- Quadri, Y.A. et al (1990) Al-Iziyyah for the English Audience, Ijebu Ode: Shebiotiuom Publication.
- Rahim, A. (1992) Islamic History, Lagos: IPB.
- Sambo, M.B. et al (1984) Islamic Religious Knowledge for WASC Book 1 & 3, Lagos: IPB.
- Trimingham, J.S. (1993) A History of Islam in West Africa, Oxford, OUP.
