ijada

Ijada, also spelled ijada, is commonly a transliteration variant of ijazah (Arabic: إجازة), a term in Islamic educational tradition meaning permission, license, or authorization. An ijazah is a formal certificate granted by a qualified teacher to a student, authorizing them to transmit a text or to teach a subject. The grant of ijazah is typically accompanied by a documented chain of transmission (isnad) tracing the student's authority back to earlier teachers and, in many cases, to the Prophet Muhammad.

In practice, an ijazah specifies the scope of authority, such as a particular Qur’an recital method, a collection of hadith, a branch of fiqh, or another traditional discipline. The student is expected to demonstrate mastery through memorization, precise recitation, accurate transmission of statements, and the ability to teach or adjudicate according to the text. The chain of teachers, sometimes spanning generations, is a key feature that validates the credential.

Historically, ijazahs emerged in early Islamic education and became widespread in medieval Muslim societies, including the Middle East, North Africa, the Persian-speaking world, and the Indian subcontinent. Today, ijazah remains a recognized form of scholarly credential in traditional religious studies and is sometimes used in modern institutions to acknowledge permission to transmit specific texts or teach particular subjects. It is distinct from secular academic degrees, though it can complement formal education in religious contexts.

See also: ijazah, transmission of knowledge.