Curriculum

Year 1 Program

Fiqh*
Aqida
Arabic
Mantiq (Logic)
Tasawwuf

*Hanafi & Maliki

The word used to describe this program is tabahhur. Literally meaning to sail into the ocean, this is the term used for gaining of deep understanding and delving into what one would normally never examine.

We do this by direct engagement with the classical Islamic texts (mutun) taught by teachers who have ijaza in these texts. This is the method of our tradition of scholarship going back more than 1400 years. Some of these texts, such as Aqida Tahawiyya have been learned and memorized by our scholars for over a thousand years.

Maliki Fiqh

Dr. Shadee Elmasry

Al-Ashmawiyya

Murshid Muin (Ibn Ashir)

Hanafi Fiqh

Sh. Imran Ahmed

Nurul Idah

Aqida
Sh. Murabit Benavidez

Sharh Umm Al-Barahin

Sharh Aqida Ibn Abi Zayd Al-Qayrawani

Arabic
Multiple Teachers

Nahw: Al-Ajrumiyya

Sarf: Matn al-Binaa'

Maharaat (Arabic Skills): Qisas al Nabiyeen & other works

Tasawwuf
Shadee Elmasry

Mahiyyat al-Tasawwuf by Habib Umar

Adab Suluk al-Murid by Imam Haddad

Qawa'id al-Tasawwuf by Ahmad Zarruq

Year 1 Curriculum

Year 2 & Beyond

Year 2: Forming Connections

Students continue to study the Islamic sciences at a deeper level by exploring seminal texts in Fiqh and Aqida. Students in Aqida will traverse the Ash'ari Kalam tradition, reinforcing theological concepts through study of Al-Muqaddimat by Imam Al-Sanusi and Sharh Umm Al-Barahin.

In Fiqh, students will study seminal texts in their madhab, and for the first time will cover a text that encompasses all the Abwab of Fiqh. Malikis will study Qaribat ul-Saalik, a summary of Mukhtasar Khalil, and Hanafis will study Mukhtasar Al-Quduri.

Year 3: Adding Dimension

Students will dive deeper into the tradition by strengthening their skills in Arabic, diving far deeper into Nahw, Sarf, and the other disciplines of Arabic.

At this stage, students will begin exploring and re-visiting books that they have previously studied, but this time engaging in a deeper study, often times with commentaries.

Students will delve into the other sciences as well, expected to take classes in Usul ul-Fiqh, Mustalah ul-Hadith, Adaab ul-Bahth, and other fields of study that supplement the foundational sciences of Aqida, Fiqh, and Tasawwuf.

Year 4: Forming Pathways

By Year 4, students will solidify their understandings of fiqh and aqida, doing more advanced study into the key texts in the madhabs. For example, in Maliki Fiqh, students will turn their attention towards preparing to study Mukhtasar Khalil through study of its summaries.

Students will also begin to take additional responsibilities, asked to teach courses and hold reviews for Year 1 and 2 students as ways for the mashayikh to evaluate the student's progress and understanding.

Teachers will also mentor the students who plan to study abroad, helping them prepare for their journey.

Learning Goals

Year 1:

Studied and corrected their basic aqida with ability to offer rational proofs for the existence of Allah ta'ala and the Prophets.
Capable of explaining and following the ahkam of tahaara, salah, and sawm.
Understands basic Arabic vocabulary related to fiqh and aqida.
Reached a beginner or higher level of fluency of Arabic and can now identify basic sentence structures.
Can explain the importance of following a madhab and can appreciate the complexity of interpreting Islamic texts.
Is engaging with memorization and hifdh, memorizing at least 1 juz' or pushing themselves based on their previous level.

Year 2:

Has studied basic fiqh masa'il related to ibadaat at least twice and can explain exceptions to rulings and give restrictions to general ahkam.
Can explain the basic issues of aqida related to the ilahiyyat, nubuwwat, and sam'iyyat at least at the level of the basic text of Jawharat al Tawhid.
Can explain differences of opinion in aqida between schools and identify characteristics that would constitute bida' or kufr.
Applies concepts of usul and the other tool sciences to fiqh and aqida and asks questions to fiqh and aqida teachers related to mantiq, hadith, adab al bahth, sarf, and nahw.
Can understand the basic matn being studied and can reasonably explain the meaning of each sentence by depending on their written notes/translations.
Has studied ibadaat multiple times, and muamalaat at least once, including rulings related to nikah, buyu', and dhakah (slaughter).
Can actively engage with the terminology of aqida and fiqh, explaining more intricate details regarding the mustalah (terminology) of their madhab and knows details regarding the biographies and methodologies of scholars within their school.
Has learned how to analyze and rebut ishkaal regarding Allah and the Prophets related to the rational proofs by using first concepts.
Understands foundational principles used in Aqida related to subtle concepts such as epistemology, the jawhara, etc.
Displays real growth and maturity in both understanding and outward practice, especially in how they interact with the community.
Can reliably explain and teach all concepts learned in Year 1.
Displays improvement in Arabic level and engages with the ibara of the matn they are studying directly without relying extensively on translation or notes.

See Program Details