Department of Shari'ah (Islamic Law)

Praise be to Allah, we praise Him, seek His help, guidance and forgiveness. We repent to Him and depend on Him. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils of our souls and the evil of our actions. Whomsoever Allah guides there is none can misguide and whomsoever He misguides, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, Alone, without any partners and I bear witness and testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. May Allah's blessings be upon him, his Household, Companions and Followers up to the Day of Resurrection!

Then

The Department of Shari`ah (Islamic Law) is considered as the kernel of higher education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is the first academic and Shari`ah department to be founded in the Kingdom in 1369 A.H. From such Department, top statesmen, ministers, officials of the Ministry of Justice, General Investigation and Prosecution Board, Ministry of Islamic Affairs, top intellectuals, preachers, imams, orators, notable teachers of Shari'ah sciences, etc were graduated.                

The Department awards students the bachelor's degree in Shari'ah. In addition, some eminent scholars of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and the Islamic world specialized in Shari`ah sciences have joined the staff of this Department.        

Graduates of the Shari'ah Department can work in various fields, including the Judiciary (as Notary Public), General Investigation and Prosecution Board, Legal Profession, Teaching, courses for training university officers (College of Security) and Ministry of Islamic Affairs. While some graduates complete their studies to obtain the master's degree and PhD in the High Institute of the Authority for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice at Umm Al-Qura University, High Institute of Judiciary in Riyadh, High Institute of preparing Imams and Orators in Medina. As for female graduates, they can work as girls' teachers of Shari'ah sciences at different educational stages.

Allah may give us His support. We seek our Lord for giving help and success for the protectors of creed and those who are in authority. And He maintains the stability and security of our country from all evils.  

A- Establishment:

The Department of Shari`ah (Islamic Law) is considered as the earliest department to be established. It was the only department at the College of Shari'ah since it was established in 1369 A.H. afterwards, other departments of the College started to be founded. At the beginning, its mission was only to graduate Shari'ah and Arabic teachers. Therefore, educational courses were added to its main courses in 1372 A.H. to be taught in the middle and secondary stages.   

In 1388/1389 A.H., the Department started to admit female students according to the affiliation system and in 1391/1392 A.H, it applied the system of regular students.

In 1419 A.H. the university council decided not to teach the subjects of educational preparation at scientific departments to enable a student to study them after graduation, if he wishes to be a teacher. The Department awards the bachelor's degree in Shari`ah (Islamic Law).

Since its establishment, prominent Islamic intellectuals of Saudi Arabia, Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and the Islamic world who were well-versed in Shari`ah sciences taught in such Department. Moreover, graduation from the Department requires a student's successful fulfillment of 147 credit hours in eight levels, ranging from 19 to 24 credit hours for each, for four academic years.