The Classical Institute is honoured to introduce a new programme with one of the most authentic and distinguished scholars of our era, Professor Shaykh Hasan al-Shafi’i. This monthly class offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from a world-renowned scholar whose life and legacy embody the very ethos of knowledge, scholarship, and human flourishing. It provides access to the highest levels of classical Islamic theology (ʿIlm al-Kalam), taught exclusively in Classical Arabic, preserving the depth, clarity, and nuance of the original tradition. This offering reflects the ethos of The Classical Institute: a commitment to scholarship that is rigorous, enduring, and in deep conversation with the classical tradition.

This advanced class will be based on Tahdhib al-Kalam by Saʿd al-Din al-Taftazani, a seminal classical text in Islamic philosophy and theology recognised as one of the most significant works in the theological corpus. Regarded as a cornerstone in the development of Islamic theological discourse, this text has shaped the thinking of generations of scholars and continues to be studied in leading centres of Islamic learning, including Al-Azhar. Through guided reading and explanation by Shaykh Hasan al-Shafi’i, students will engage directly with its arguments, structure, and conceptual foundations.

About the Lecturer

Professor Shaykh Hasan al-Shafi’i is a leading authority in Islamic Theology and Philosophy, with a distinguished career spanning over six decades.

He serves as:

• A member of Al-Azhar’s Senior Scholars Authority

• Chairman of the Union of Arab Linguistic and Scientific Academies

• Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and Theology at the University of Cairo

• Recipient of the King Faisal Prize for Islamic Studies (2022)

As a living teacher of Al-Azhar, his teaching embodies the highest standards of classical scholarship and intellectual refinement.

Outcomes

1. Mastery of Classical Theology

   • Deepen your understanding of advanced theological concepts within the Islamic tradition.

2. Engagement with Primary Arabic Texts

   • Build the ability to follow and engage with high-level Arabic discourse on theology.

3. Exposure to Contemporary Classical Scholarship

   • Benefit directly from the scholarship and methodology of a world-renowned authority.

4. Intellectual and Spiritual Refinement

   • Cultivate both intellectual precision and moral clarity through immersive learning.

Day and Time: Last Saturday of the month, 8:00pm - 9:30pm (UK time) | Inaugural Class - Saturday, 3rd May 2025
Format: Online Only (live on Zoom)
Method of Delivery: Taught in Classical Arabic
Registration: Free admission | Registration required
Lecturer: Professor Shaykh Hasan al-Shafi‘i