Dr. Taha Speaking on the Study of Islam

“We do not need religious schools only. There are lots of schools for those issues. We do not need just social sciences schools and universities. We need something to put knowledge, sciences and values together.”
—Dr. Taha Jabir Alalwani speaking during August 28th, 1999 graduation

“The Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences teaches the Quran as the constituted source of Islam. Everything comes from the Quran. Sunnah is an explanatory source for the Quran.”

“We are trying to help students develop their critical sense. This does not mean students grab everything we say as Islamic studies, but rather they develop a critical sense. We are trying to help students deal with this society. We need to understand differences between the present time and the time fiqh was developed. How to build on the historical fiqh and how to move from that time to the current time, this is the critical capacity to be developed. Other institutions offer something from Islamic history, from Islamic tradition, but other institutions do not help students understand how to move from that historical stage to this current stage. We need to delve into maqasid shariah, the causes of shariah. We do not intend to fill your mind with details. ‘Do this, do not do that.’ No, we will help you develop an understanding, a critical sense, and you will grow from that. As Jesus said, don't feed them dinner, teach them how to fish.”
—Dr. Taha Jabir Alalwani speaking during Fall 2001 orientation