Al-Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī Program (KBP)
Diploma of Ḥadīth Sciences — A structured journey into the foundations, methodology, and spirit of Ḥadīth scholarship.
Introduction
The Al-Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī Program (KBP) is a 9-month Diploma of Ḥadīth Sciences designed to immerse students in the core disciplines, methodological rigor, and scholarly ethos of classical ḥadīth scholarship.
Inspired by the legacy of Imām al-Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī—a towering figure in isnād sciences, rijāl, adab al-ʿilm, and ḥadīth methodology—this program goes beyond information delivery. It initiates students into the worldview, discipline, and responsibility of the Muḥaddithīn.
- Classical authoritative texts
- Methodological training
- Scholarly etiquettes
- Applied engagement with ḥadīth sciences
It serves as both a standalone diploma and a gateway to advanced study and specialisation.
Taught by Highly Qualified Scholars
This program is delivered by formally trained scholars grounded in the classical ʿilm tradition, with recognised study, teaching experience, and adherence to scholarly method.
- Structured instruction with academic clarity and progression
- Teachers trained in classical texts, isnād-culture, and scholarly adab
- Guidance rooted in responsibility, balance, and integrity
This is not a casual lecture series.
It is a serious, mentored pathway designed for those who wish to study ḥadīth with weight, depth, and authenticity.
Why This Program Matters
In a time when ḥadīth is often:
- Quoted without method
- Selectively applied
- Or dismissed altogether
There is a critical need for structured, isnād-rooted, methodologically sound education.
- Restore clarity and confidence in ḥadīth sciences
- Equip students with proper scholarly tools
- Reconnect learners to the classical tradition, not fragmented modern readings
Who This Program Is For
This diploma is designed for:
- Serious students of Islamic knowledge
- Students of Mishkāt & Dawrah-e-Ḥadīth
- Madrasah graduates seeking structured ḥadīth training
- Academics and researchers engaging Islamic texts
- Students aspiring toward Takhaṣṣuṣ fī ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth
Note: Commitment and discipline are essential. This program is not designed for casual learning.
Program Structure
Darul Irshad’s Ḥadīth pathway consists of three progressive tiers:
- Diploma in Ḥadīth Sciences (Online)
- Advanced Diploma in Ḥadīth Sciences (Online)
- Specialisation (Takhaṣṣuṣ) in Ḥadīth Sciences (Onsite – planned 2028–2029)
📌 This page outlines the Diploma Program, comprising three internal academic levels.
2026 Term Dates
The KBP Diploma is delivered across 4 scheduled terms (total timeline: 32 weeks).
Term 1
28 March – 24 May 2026
Term 2
06 June – 26 July 2026
Term 3
08 August – 27 September 2026
Term 4
10 October – 29 November 2026
Holidays: Between scheduled terms.
Diploma of Ḥadīth Sciences
(Three-Level Structured Curriculum)
Each level includes Core subjects (mandatory) and Electives (selective enrichment).
To qualify for certification, students must complete all core subjects and a minimum of two electives.
Level 1: Foundations of Ḥadīth & Its Authority
Establish the central position of ḥadīth as the second primary source of Sharīʿah, while grounding students in essential terminology and methodology.
Core 1: Authority of Ḥadīth in Islam
📘 Miftāḥ al-Jannah — Imām al-Suyūṭī
Establishes the authority of Sunnah in Sharīʿah, clarifies the relationship between Qur’an and ḥadīth,
and addresses classical and modern objections with clarity and proof.
Core 2: Ḥadīth Nomenclature (Foundational)
📘 al-Tadhkirah fī ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth — Imām Ibn al-Mulaqqin
📘 With guided commentary through al-Tawḍīḥ al-Abhar — al-Sakhāwī
A rigorous introduction to the language and structure of ḥadīth sciences—definitions, classifications,
and early methodological discussions—preparing students for advanced technical study.
Elective: Thulāthiyyāt in Ḥadīth
📘 Thulāthiyyāt of Imām al-Bukhārī and/or Imām al-Dārimī
A focused study of narrations with only three transmitters between the Prophet ﷺ and the compiler—highlighting the honour of isnād and precision of transmission.
Level 2: Ḥadīth Sciences in Practice
Transition from foundations into applied study, cultivating the mindset, discipline, and adab of the Muḥaddithīn.
Core 1: Ḥadīth Texts
📘 al-Arbaʿīn al-Nawawiyyah (with the additions of Imām Ibn Rajab)
A guided study of prophetic foundations—strengthening comprehension, application, and the ability to connect ḥadīth to lived Islam.
Core 2: Muḥaddith Mindset & Scholarly Etiquettes
📘 Sharaf Aṣḥāb al-Ḥadīth • 📘 Naṣīḥat Ahl al-Ḥadīth — Imām al-Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī
A formative module on sincerity, adab of learning and teaching, intellectual humility, and the ethical responsibility of carrying sacred knowledge.
Elective: Isnād & Its Preservation
📘 Selected readings from:
• al-Awāʾil al-Sunbuliyyah — Imām al-ʿAjlūnī
• al-Isnād min al-Dīn — Shaykh ʿAbd al-Fattāḥ Abū Ghuddah
A focused elective on the centrality of isnād, its preservation, and how scholars protected transmission across generations.
Level 3: Advanced Ḥadīth Discourses
Engage technical nomenclature, classical debates, and foundational methodology through the lens of early masters of the field.
Core 1: Detailed Ḥadīth Nomenclature
📘 Nukhbat al-Fikar — Imām Ibn Ḥajar
A deep technical study of ḥadīth classifications and critical categories—building structured mastery and methodological precision.
Core 2: Ḥadīth According to Its Earliest Sources
📘 Muqaddimah Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
A study of early methodological principles of ḥadīth criticism—authorial intent, foundational debates, and the scholarly framework of authentic transmission.
Elective: Writings in Ḥadīth Studies
📘 Ḥadīth Literature: Its Origin, Development & Special Features — Muḥammad Zubair Siddiqi
An academic survey of ḥadīth literature—supporting students who engage research, writing, and teaching.
Mandatory Final Course: Mawʿiẓat al-Muwaddiʿ (Parting Advice)
📘 Selected excerpts from Maʿālim Irshādiyyah — Shaykh Muḥammad ʿAwwāmah
A reflective conclusion anchoring students in responsibility, ethical scholarship, and the lifelong adab required to carry knowledge with amanah.
Fees & Payment Options
Choose a payment plan that suits your situation. Term payment offers the strongest value, while monthly provides flexibility.
Current 2026 Pricing
Start Date: 28 March 2026
Duration: 9 months • Total: 32 weeks
Monthly (Flexible)
$129.99
per month • for 9 monthsTerm (Best Value)
$279.99
per term • 4 termsNote: Term breaks are scheduled between terms. Holidays: Between scheduled terms.
Faculty
This program is taught by qualified scholars committed to preserving authentic transmission, scholarly depth, and ethical teaching.
Lead Instructor — Mufti Humza I. Khan
Ḥadīth sciences, methodology, nomenclature, isnād culture.
View Bio →Senior Instructor — Mufti Abbas I. Khan
Core ḥadīth texts, authority of Sunnah, reflective discourses.
View Bio →📌 Full biographies and academic credentials are available on our Our Team page.
Enrollment
Limited seats available. Quality and commitment are prioritised over numbers.