Hijaz College

doctors, lawyers, engineers etc. As of 2008, Hijaz College is run by the Chief Executive Shaikh Tauqir Ishaq, a chartered civil engineer by profession and Islamic scholar. Hijaz College offers GCSEs in over 10 subjects and several A levels. The LLB law degree is also taught combined with religious sciences. Graduates of Hijaz College are awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Law and Theology and are qualified in Islamic jurisprudence, Qur'anic and Hadith sciences and Arabic etymology. In 1994 the vision of Hijaz College started to take a different shape in the form of Hijaz College Islamic University.[clarification needed] The college takes its name from the region in modern day Saudi Arabia which comprises Mecca, Medina and Taif. Hijaz College has grown in many aspects, one of them being its expansion project covering a total extended area of 97,000 sq ft (9,000 m2), costing over £5 million and intended to increase the student accommodation capacity from 125 to 500 (as of 2008)[1] Its plans include extended teaching facilities and resources including a library which will display over 700,000 books. Hijaz College is independent from any governmental organisation. In December 2007, the UK's first official sharia court was set up at Hijaz college. By September 2008, it had settled more than 100 civil disputes between Muslims. Once parties have agreed to bring their case before the sharia tribunal, they are bound to its decision by English law.