Understanding the Qur’an: Principles of Tafsir

A Full-Day Intensive Based on

Al-Fawz al-Kabīrby Shah Wali Allah al-Dihlawi

An Intensive Seminar with Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi (UK)

Saturday, September 12, 2026
ADAMS Sterling
9:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Qurtuba Community Education invites you to a rare opportunity to spend a full day learning with internationally renowned scholar Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi (UK).

This intensive seminar explores one of the most influential classical works on the principles of Qur’anic interpretation: Shah Wali Allah al-Dihlawi’s Al-Fawz al-Kabīr fī Uṣūl al-Tafsīr.

Rather than offering a verse-by-verse commentary, Al-Fawz al-Kabīr presents a powerful framework for understanding the Qur’an as a coherent, purposeful, and transformative revelation. Under the guidance of Shaykh Akram, participants will explore the foundational principles that generations of Muslim scholars have used to approach the Book of Allah with greater clarity, depth, and appreciation.

Whether you are looking to deepen your relationship with the Qur’an, better understand its themes and objectives, or simply benefit from a day of learning with one of today’s foremost scholars of the Islamic tradition, this seminar offers a unique opportunity to engage with the Qur’an through the lens of the classical scholarly tradition.

Light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

What You Will Learn

• Why principles of tafsir are essential to understanding the Qur’an.
• The significance of Shah Wali Allah’s Al-Fawz al-Kabīr.
• How classical scholars approached the Qur’an.
• Major themes, objectives, and patterns within the Qur’an.
• Practical tools for reading and reflecting upon the Qur’an with greater understanding.
• How these principles can deepen our relationship with the Book of Allah.

About the Instructor

Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi is one of the world’s leading contemporary scholars of Hadith and Islamic jurisprudence. He is the Director of Research at the Oxford Institute for Research in Islamic Sciences and Principal and Co-Founder of Al-Salam Institute (UK).

Originally from India and now based in England, Shaykh Akram received his traditional training at Nadwat al-’Ulama in Lucknow before earning a PhD in Arabic Literature from Lucknow University. He later served as a Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, where he conducted extensive research on Hadith and the Islamic scholarly tradition.

An accomplished author with more than 30 published works in Arabic, English, Urdu, and Persian, he is internationally recognized for his scholarship in Hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, Arabic language, and the classical Islamic sciences. He is especially renowned for Al-Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam, a landmark 43-volume biographical encyclopedia documenting the lives and contributions of female hadith scholars across fourteen centuries of Islamic history.

Schedule

9:00 AM — Doors Open & Light Breakfast

9:30 AM — Seminar Begins

12:45 PM — Lunch Break (Lunch Provided)

1:30 PM — Dhuhr Iqamah

2:00 PM — Afternoon Session Begins

Short water breaks will be incorporated throughout the day.

4:30 PM — Seminar Concludes

Schedule subject to minor adjustments.

Registration

General Admission — $35

Includes admission to the full-day seminar, light breakfast, and lunch.

Student / Youth — $20

For high school, college, and full-time students.

This seminar is offered at a subsidized rate to help make high-quality Islamic education accessible to as many members of our community as possible. If you are able, we invite you to further support Qurtuba Community Education by selecting a Supporter, Sponsor, or Patron registration, or by making an additional voluntary donation

Financial Assistance

No one will be turned away due to financial hardship.

If the registration fee presents a barrier to attendance, please email qurtuba@adamscenter.org to request financial assistance.

Who Should Attend?

This seminar is open to the entire community. Whether you are a parent, student, educator, professional, community leader, or simply someone seeking a deeper understanding of the Qur’an, you are warmly welcome. Join us for a rare opportunity to spend a day learning from one of today’s foremost scholars of the Islamic tradition.

Reserve Your Seat

Advance registration is required.

We look forward to welcoming you for a day of learning, reflection, and a guided exploration of Shah Wali Allah’s timeless insights into understanding the Qur’an.

Interested in the Other Programs During Shaykh Akram’s Visit?

Thursday, September 10
What Every Muslim Should Know About Hadith
Preservation, Authenticity, and Living by the Sunnah
Public Lecture • ADAMS Ashburn • 6:30–9:45 PM

Register: https://givebutter.com/akram-hadith

Friday, September 11
Reviving the Legacy of Female Scholarship in Islam
Rediscovering a Forgotten Tradition
Public Lecture • ADAMS Sterling • 6:30–9:45 PM

Register: https://givebutter.com/female-scholarship