The Foundations of Islamic Belief: The essence of Islam is found in its belief system. Every culture and people has its practices, but where do these practices come from? The heart being the center of the soul, it is important to realize what is required internally for a Muslim to be a true believer, and not just someone who falls into cultural habits due to his/her surroundings. This class will teach you what makes Islam unique and how to perfect your faith.
Deriving Islamic Law: "Fiqh" literally means understanding. So the study of Fiqh, or Islamic jurisprudence and laws is a derivation of the sources of Islam. In other words, if you truly understand Islam, you will understand how to extract rulings (or at least in your early studies understand how scholars came to the conclusions that they did). This class will teach you how to apply Islam in theory and give you a blueprint for fulfilling the duties of a Muslim.
Taareekhatul Islaam - From the Beginning…
Contrary to popular belief, Islam did not start with the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Rather, it started with the creation of man, and with the first human being, Adam ‘alaihis-salaam. Follow the history of the Prophets, including a focus on the biography of the Final Messenger as well as his Companions and Followers radhi'allaahu ‘anhum. In order to truly understand Islam we need to see how it was revealed, practiced, and upheld by the original people it was sent to. Within their examples are our keys to success, for though they lived long ago, they were successful spiritually first and materially later. We as a nation are in a time of training and this class will help us study their lives and see how to shape ourselves so we may attain the true success as we follow the path they established.
'Uloom ul Qur`aan: The Sciences of the Holy Quran
Sciences of the Quran: This is a great opportunity to study with a Shaikh who has 2 ijazahs, has mastered all 10 recitations, and has the highest isnaad in the Americas. This class is an introduction to the divine book, its various fields of study, and is the basis of knowledge for any serious Islamic student.
Akhlaaq: Refining the Self
Developing Islamic Character: The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said that he was sent to perfect the character. It is no wonder since character is how a person conducts his/herself at all times- and what is more fitting for a religion to instruct human beings in. It is the ultimate demonstration of a person’s knowledge, educational training, and faith. Being conscious of yourself and your actions is a must since Islam is an entire way of life. Instead of giving in to being driven by our emotions and weaknesses, conscious or otherwise, this class will map out the ideal Muslim character and inshallah help you in your quest to achieve it.
Usool us-Sunnah:
The Foundations of the Prophetic Sunnah
An Introduction to the Sunnah: The Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was sent with the Quran and he was instructed to explain and exemplify it. In this class you will learn what the status of the Sunnah is in Islam and briefly study selected books of ahadith as well as learn the sciences associated with grading the authenticity of the narrations of our beloved Prophet.
Research Methodology
Students need to be able to research a topic, cite their references, and prove their points. Unfortunately, this is not always a built in skill for many students. This class will help students become proficient in conducting and presenting research, which is a necessary tool for anyone involved in scholarship, Islamic or otherwise.
Optional Modules- Shaikh’s Philosophy
Quranic Hifdh is something that is quite individual. Although there will be some hifdh required, it is not a degree requirement to memorize the whole thing. He also feels that Arabic is not a prerequisite to really know Islam. It is true that the Quran is in Arabic, and he hopes through the courses you will get exposed to so much Arabic you will have a basic understanding of the Quran and even much of the Islamic terminology. But Islam is for all mankind, no matter what language or location, and so he did not require learning Arabic to hold anyone back from the degree.
However, for those ambitious students who wish to go ahead and memorize the entire Quran or learn the Arabic language, there are optional modules offered to assist you in this. This is a good balance since taking class time to focus on memorizing (which varies greatly from person to person) or learning Arabic (after which you would want to retake the Islamic classes in Arabic) will take away from the actual goal- to make sure each student has a thorough understanding of the basics of this religion and its various branches.
Hifdh
Practice your reading, recitation, tajweed, and memorize the entire Quran. We will help you. You will go as far as you plan to go, so set your ambitions high!
Arabic
Learn the original language of Islam. The classes will help you understand, speak, read, and write Arabic. The classes begin with basic Arabic and help you advance as you gain experience.
