The dissertation council for conferring the theological degree of doctor of Islamic sciences held its regular meeting at Bolgar Islamic Academy. The results of expert commissions on a number of doctoral dissertations recommended for defense at the Academy were presented to the council members during the meeting.

Three dissertations were reviewed in preliminary defense, the dissertation of the Mufti of the Republic of Tatarstan Kamil hazrat Samigullin on the topic “The contribution of Tatar scholars to the Quranic sciences and to the study of rasm (rules of writing) of the Quran”, vice-rector for scientific activity of Bolgar Islamic Academy Ruslan Sayakhov on the topic “Quranic approaches to resolving intrapersonal conflict”, doctoral student Salim Gainullin on the topic “Theological views of Muhammad Parsa (1348-1420) in his treatise “Alfusul as-sitta” (“Six sections”): analysis of ideas and tahkiyk”.

Badie al-Lahham, doctor of sharia sciences at Damascus University, pointed out the novelty of Kamil hazrat Samigullin’s research during the discussion, which was due to the involvement of several works by Tatar scholars on tafsir, rasm of the Quran, and tajwid that were previously unknown to the public. “The author examined a number of unstudied works in this field. The dissertation makes an effort to examine the process utilized to approve the first edition of Quran”. According to al-Lahham, the scientific value of the work is in the potential to use the study’s findings to reduce errors in the creation of future editions of Quran.

Regarding Ruslan Sayakhov’s research, Muhammad Tawfik Ramadan al-Bouti, professor at the Faculty of Sharia Sciences at Damascus University, noted that, from a theoretical point of view, the work is an attempt to study Quranic approaches to resolving intrapersonal conflict, often encountered in the modern world.

Salim Gainullin’s dissertation research was highly praised by the Academy’s visiting lecturer, Sheikh Abdurrazzak as-Saadi, who highlighted that the work is a traditional examination of specific provisions of Islamic law through prophetic traditions.

The expert commissions suggested that these works be accepted for defense as a result of the discussion; opponents were approved and the date of defense is October 11, 2022.

The agenda of the meeting also included the issue of accepting ready dissertations for consideration, in particular, the dissertation of Abdulla Adzhimollaev, doctoral student of the Academy, First Deputy Mufti of Dagestan, on the topic “School of fatwa making in Dagestan: history and modernity” and the dissertation of Almaz Miftakhov, doctoral student of the Academy, on the topic “Social problems in the legislative verses of Sura al-Bakara: a comparative study”. The council’s earlier reviews of the works that were presented were favorable, and the findings drawn from the Department of Religious and Humanitarian Disciplines’ discussions were taken into consideration.

The council has established expert commissions for these works, and they must present their findings at the upcoming meeting, which is set for a month from now.

Reminder: Since 2021, the dissertation council at Bolgar Islamic Academy, which is composed of eminent domestic and international scholars, Islamic scholars, and orientalists, has been working in accordance with new requirements, trying to emulate the process used to train and certify highly qualified personnel in secular universities in accordance with the standards of the Higher Attestation Commission. These adjustments are made to guarantee a greater range of specialists, their high level of expertise, and the publicity of the defense process while evaluating dissertations.