What is an Ijazah?
“Ijazah” literally translates to “permission” and signifies a formal certificate awarded upon completing a Quranic learning program. Typically, this certificate is given by a qualified Quranic teacher. While the requirements for obtaining Ijaza have become less strict over time, it still shows that the individual has reached a certain level of Quranic or Islamic knowledge.
Furthermore, Ijaza gives the recipient a lineage of authorized transmitters traced back to the original writer, often including texts on Islamic studies such as Hadith, Fiqh, and Tafsir. The Ijaza certificate can cover a variety of subjects, including the Quran, Hadith, Fiqh, and Tafsir.
Overview of Quran Ijaza
Since the year 100 A.H (700 CE), “Ijazaa” has been a license issued by a higher religious authority, usually an indirect student of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), allowing its holder to transmit a certain text or subject of knowledge. This unbroken chain of certified transmitters connecting to the original writer is called “Sanad.” “Sanad” means something that connects one thing to another, and its technical meaning reflects the connection between Muslims. “Asaneed,” the plural form of “Sanads,” was earned around the same time that Ijazah began being earned, as they are usually obtained together.
Anyone granted Ijazah is called a “Mujeez,” which means one who has received Ijaza. Additionally, scholars have designated “Sanad” with ranks, either “High” or “low,” based on certain characteristics. So, Muslims in the Ijaza system don’t just have “Ijaza” and a “Sanad,” but also either a High or Low-Quality Sanad.
