Can Islam Be Understood Without Hadith?

The Authority of the Sunnah and the Role of Hadith

An Evening with Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi (UK)

Thursday, September 10, 2026

ADAMS Ashburn

6:30 PM – 9:45 PM

Can Islam be understood through the Qur’an alone, without the guidance of the Sunnah? What role do hadith play in preserving and explaining the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ? How do scholars know which hadith are authentic, and why has the Sunnah remained indispensable to Islamic belief and practice for over fourteen centuries?

Join Qurtuba Community Education for a special evening with internationally renowned scholar Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi (UK) as he explores one of the most important questions facing Muslims today: the relationship between the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and Hadith.

Drawing upon the rich legacy of Islamic scholarship, Shaykh Akram will explain how the sayings and actions of the Prophet ﷺ were meticulously preserved, transmitted, and authenticated across generations, while demonstrating why the Sunnah is essential to understanding, practicing, and living Islam.

Whether you are beginning your journey of Islamic learning or seeking a deeper appreciation of the Prophetic tradition, this program will provide a clear, accessible foundation for understanding the indispensable role of Hadith in the Islamic tradition.

What You Will Learn

• Why the Sunnah is indispensable to understanding and practicing Islam.

• The relationship between the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and Hadith.

• How the Sunnah was preserved and transmitted across generations.

• How scholars evaluate and authenticate hadith.

• Common misconceptions surrounding hadith and the Prophetic tradition.

• How to approach hadith with confidence, balance, and respect for the scholarly tradition.

About the Speaker

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.

Through his teaching and writing, Shaykh Akram continues to make the depth and richness of the Islamic scholarly tradition accessible to Muslims around the world.

Schedule

6:15 PM — Doors Open

6:30 PM — Program Begins

~7:25 PM — Break for Maghrib Prayer

Lecture Continues

~9:00 PM — Break for ʿIsha Prayer

Moderated Q&A

9:45 PM — Program Concludes

Who Should Attend?

This program is open to the entire community. Whether you are a parent, student, educator, professional, community leader, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of Islam, you are warmly welcome. No prior background in Islamic studies is required.

Reserve Your Seat

Admission is free, but registration is requested as seating is limited.

We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of thoughtful learning, meaningful discussion, and deeper appreciation of the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the Prophetic tradition under the guidance of one of today’s foremost scholars of Hadith.

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

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

Saturday, September 12

Understanding the Qur’an: Principles of Tafsir

A Full-Day Intensive Based on Al-Fawz al-Kabīr by Shah Wali Allah al-Dihlawi

Full-Day Seminar • ADAMS Sterling • 9:30 AM–4:30 PM

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