Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Syllabus 2009
Year 1-Semester 1
Arees Institute
Bachelor Islamic Law Taught by: Sheikh Isam Rajab Sheikh Waleed Basyouni Sheikh Yassir Fazaga Sheikh Jamal Zarabozo
Contents
Contact Information Course Scope & Objectives Instructors Fees Course Requirements Calendar Course Schedule Course Grades Time Allocation Study Materials Course Modules Aqeedah Fiqh Tareekh Sciences of Quran Akhlaq Sciences of Sunnah Research Methodology Hifdh
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Contact Information
Arees Institute
12288 Westheimer Road Suite 405 Houston TX 77077 Toll Free: 1-866-99-AREES (1-866-992-7337) Email: info@arees.org www.arees.org
All inquiries sent to info@arees.org should be directed to the subsequent person Student Coordinator Marketing Logistics Finances Technical Assistance Bachelor Online E-University Office hours for students:
arees.coordinator@gmail.com Muhammad Hussain Shakeib Mashhood Abdullah Fateen Omar Izfar Kamran Habib Raihan Ashraf Monday and Saturday from 8:45 PM to 10 PM CST. Sheikh Isam Rajab: 1.281.546.4811
Please respect the sheikh and only call during these times and only for questions regarding the classes. All other questions can be directed at info@arees.org.
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________ is not just a continuation, but an entirely new level built off of the foundation laid the previous year. During the initial year, our students will master the basic knowledge of the Islamic subjects. During the second year, our students will probe the Islamic subjects in greater depth. The research component will become more focused. Students are required to research each subject, unlike the first year where students were asked to write only one research paper. By the end of the third year, students will be qualified to become an Imam or teacher of Islamic Education. Students will also have the prerequisite knowledge to pursue their higher education in Islamic studies at most universities around the world. Here is the yearly study plan: First Year
Second Year
Third Year
Tafseer II Fiqh of Hadeeth Qawa'ed ul Fiqh Faraa`idh Qada and Islamic Political System
Mastery of Research
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Instructors
Shaikh Isam Rajab Shaikh Isam Rajab graduated from Madina University with a BS in Islamic Studies. He has 2 ijazas for memorizing the entire Quran and has an ijaza from the Prophetic Masjid in Madina in The Inheritance System in Islam. He also has a MA in Islamic Studies and a PhD in Islamic Studies. He has worked as an Imam for 5 years in Kuwait and 2 years in Albuquerque, NM. He is the Founder of Arees Institute and Foundation and is also currently Imam for Masjid Hamza (Mission Bend) in Houston. Shaikh Waleed Basyouni Shaikh Waleed is the Imaam of Ta'leemul Islaam Masjid in Houston, Texas. He is also one of the instructors in American Open University. He received his Masters in Islamic Creed from AlImam Muhammad Ibn Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He has a Ph.D from GTF (Graduate Theological Foundation). Sheikh Waleed has had the opportunity of studying under some of the notable Scholars of our time namely Ibn Baaz, Abdur-Razzaque Afify, Ibn Jibreen, Al-Barrak and many others. He has been involved in Da`wah since the last 15 years in Saudi Arabia and all over the United States and Canada. Shaikh Yassir Fazaga Yassir Fazaga is an inspiring, multi-lingual speaker sought-after from USA through Canada to the Middle and Far East. He was born in Eritrea in Northeast Africa and moved to the United States at the age of 15; has a Bachelors Degree in Islamic Studies from the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in Virginia; has completed all coursework for his Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from the California State University of Long Beach; is currently undertaking his Masters in Theology at Loyola Marymount University. He serves as the Religious Leader of the Orange County Islamic Foundation (OCIF) in Mission Viejo, California. He is involved as a therapist at FACES, where he helps families with different challenges in life which include: domestic violence issues, communication problems, marital matters, generational gap, difficult teens, some mental and personality disorders, divorce, grief, and single parenting, among others.
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________ Yassir Fazaga has taught the Arabic language and Islamic Sciences for the past 8 years and has taught Islamic courses on Scriptural Exegesis, and Islamic financial contracts for American Open University. Yassir leads the OCIF youth group in many of their educational, spiritual and recreational activities and participates on behalf of the Orange County Islamic Foundation in many outreach and interfaith events. Sheikh Yassir Fazaga has done numerous interviews about Islam on television news stations and radio stations around the globe. He speaks on Islam and related topics for conferences, churches, high schools, colleges and universities. He serves on the Advisory board of the Islamic Studies program at Claremont Graduate School; is listed on Who is Who among America's Teachers where the best students choose their best teachers and was recently featured on the Today Show on spirituality in America. Will be Co-Hosting weekly WISELIVING TV program. Sheikh Yassir Fazaga has this charismatic ability to instantly connect with audiences, through his lucid wit and profound wisdom, his timely humor and the warmth that his presence exudes. Shaikh Jamal Zarabozo Shaykh Jamal Zarabozo is a rare breed - a self-taught scholar of Islam who has achieved a profound command of the original sciences of our religion. Sh. Jamaal Zarabozo is a well known scholar and long time convert to Islam, he converted over thirty years ago in California. He is internationally renowned as a speaker and author of a number of books, including the threevolume Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi, How to Approach and Understand the Quran, Purification of the Soul and others. Sh. Jamal Zarabozo taught himself Arabic in order to better access classical works. This led him to a fascination with the topic of hadith and its sciences, which he dedicated the next few years of his life studying. He moved to Boulder, Colorado, where he had access to a group of duaat who graduated from Imam Muhammad University in Riyadh and were pursuing graduate degrees at the University of Boulder. Additionally, he studied with Dr. Mustafa Azami, a worldrenown scholar of hadith, who was living in Boulder for a few years. With all of their help and tutorship, along with his perseverance and dedication, he managed to achieve a level of scholarship that is rare to find in North America. He translated many works (including Fiqh alSunnah of Syed Sabiq) and wrote some of his own. He also founded and edited al-Basheer
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Magazine, which, at the time of its publication, was the leading and most academic journal of classical Islamic sciences. Currently he is residing in Bay Area California where he is teaching ulasses at MCA, Santa Clara with live streaming.
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Fees
The fees must be paid before the start of the semester in order to attend the class. Please remember that it is your Islamic obligation to pay for what you are receiving. We do understand if you need some assistance with extra time, etc. but again do not assume this- contact us and work out a specific payment plan with your intentions on how you will pay. These will be taken seriously and failure to make timely payments will be grounds for disallowing you to continue with the classes.
Methods of Payment: - Registration via the Arees website (using credit card -- click on register). MOST PREFERRED. Your transaction can be properly tracked with this method. - Via check, mail the check to: 9707 Richmond Ave Suite 103, Houston TX 77042 Fee schedule for 3 year Bachelor Islamic Law: One-Time: $5500 Regular/$5000 Student Due upon enrollment (10% discount)
Annual: $1950 Regular/$1750 Student Due upon start of each academic year
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Course requirements
You are expected to meet the following expectations: (1) Attendance. More than 5 absences, you're disqualified from attending the Institute. After 3 tardies, it will be marked as 1 absence. Being late for 15 minutes qualifies as one tardy. This is to ensure students do not become lax in attending class and benefit from live instructor training. If you have any situations which might prevent you from meeting the attendance requirement you must contact us about them to receive exemptions (do not assume them or wait until its too late). Requests for missed class archives are limited so use them sparingly (do not take many days off hoping to catch the recorded version at your convenience). When requesting an archive you must be SPECIFIC in telling us why you are requesting it and it is our discretion if we allow/disallow an archive. Also you will not be allowed to habitually request archives so again, use sparingly for exceptional situations.
Physical Attendance- For students present in Houston, TX, physical attendance is mandatory. Use Mapquest or any other method for directions to get to Arees Institute, 12288 Westheimer Road Suite # 405 Houston TX 77077. There are good restroom facilities of course as well as room for prayer. It is recommended to bring your lunch and not have to exit the building because the breaks are fairly short.
Online Participation- Take the classes online at the exact same time, participate in the sessions, submit your work and take your exams parallel to the live classes. The same requirements apply as for onsite students. Additional requirements: A fast and reliable internet connection. We do not recommend wireless internet connections. It is recommended you invest in high-speed internet access for optimal experience of the Arees online classes as well as using Internet Explorer (a lot of software out there is not optimized for Mozilla or other browsers). If you do not have high speed you will be more prone to broadcast interruptions etc. and more dependent on audio only or archives.
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Here are general instructions for the online classes (please read before class so you are familiar):
Before class time log on to the Arees online website at: www.dimdim.com. On the right hand side of the screen you will see a blue button join meeting. If you click on that, a screen will pop up asking you to fill in the meeting name and your own name. The meeting name is: Arees. Please do not use nick names, kunya;s etc to sign in, but use the name you are registered with at Arees Institute. You will mainly utilize 3 things: 1. Audio/video this is a small screen which you will see on your left hand side to the bottom.
If you put your mouse on the little arrow in the video screen a menu will slide out which allows you to stop and start video and audio. 2. Main presentation area- majority of the screen you will see all in-class
presentations. 3. Chat- this box allows you ask questions by typing. There are some etiquette rules while
typing in class: As a norm, questions are asked at the end of the session, so when the time for questions/comments is announced, use your chat box to ask your questions. Tip: type your questions in a separate document and copy/paste when the time for questions comes. Reserve all chats unrelated to the class for outside the class time, for example in the breaks or in private through an instant messenger. Note: We do not recommend you run programs such as instant messengers during class time since they might interfere with the webcast program and might cause problems in video/audio. Type all questions in CAPS, this will assist in reading the questions and answering them. Be polite when asking questions since typing is a limited mode of communication.
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
This is the BASIC setup sometimes we might do something different (ex: Shaikh may ask you to speak about something or present from your computer etc.) but not the norm. The live classes have 1 dedicated support technician just for the online students so inshallah there will always be someone to help you during class. If you have any technical problems, contact us so we can help you. You can call 281.596.0300 if you had any technical issue. If you miss class that day due to technical reasons, you still need to contact us and let us know so that your attendance will not be affected. If you do miss a class day, let us know and request an archive. You will also receive an email with location, password, and instructions. If you have any problems contact us by emailing or calling.
*Note- do NOT inform anyone of the login information above- it is private and only for Arees students. (2) Reading assignments and active participation. You are expected to have read the assigned literature prior to the lecture and participate actively in class discussions. You will not receive any pre-packaged notes or outlines for the class, but we encourage you to utilize the traditional method of taking your own notes. For onliners, and for some onsiters with a laptop, you can type notes there onto Notepad, WordPad, Word, or any other text editor file. Others might prefer handwriting notes with pen and paper. Whatever methods you choose, please make sure you save your notes, since you will be needing them for all exams, including the comprehensive exams at the end of the three years. (3) Homework assignments. You are expected to complete and hand in the homework assignments on time. (4) Exams. You are expected to study and prepare for exams, be present on time and hand in all exams within the time designated for that specific exam. Exams are divided into mid-term exams and end-term in each semester for each subject. At the end of the three years there will be global exams, covering all material studied within the three years. All exams are closed book exams. 10
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
(5) Research. You are expected to hand in a research at the end of each year. The subjects of the research will be free to choose. For detailed information see the course module section. (6) Memorization. You are expected at the end of the three years to have memorized 5 Juz of the Quran, which includes Juz Amma. For detailed information see the course module section. (7) Group presentation. Each participant is required to participate in the presentation of one of the sub-themes of the course. Each student will get assigned a sub-theme and a date of presentation. The presentation should be 45-50 minutes and should include the following elements: (i) critical summary of the text; (ii) an answer to the question how the text relates to the daily practice of Muslims; (iii) two debatable questions/statements, which can function as a starting point of class discussion.
Aim For the Best! We are here to help you make the most of your time with us and the money and energy you will expend in this endeavor. Follow the rules and recommendations and be proactive if you have any problems- let us know and we will try to make the best possible arrangements to accommodate you. Also never fail to make suggestions and give feedback as well as volunteer some time to help build the best Islamic institution in the world bi ithnillah!
It is time to Reclaim the Knowledge. May Allah bless all of you in your efforts at studying His religion.
11
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Calendar
January
S M T W T 1 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 8 15 22 29 F 2 9 16 23 30 S 3 10 17 24 31
Start of Classes
February
S 1 8 15 22 M 2 9 16 23 T 3 10 17 24 W 4 11 18 25 T 5 12 19 26 F 6 13 20 27 S 7 14 21 28
Mandatory deadline proposal Non-Mandatory deadline proposal
March
S 1 8 15 22 29 M 2 9 16 23 30 T 3 10 17 24 31 W 4 11 18 25 T 5 12 19 26 F 6 13 20 27 S 7 14 21 28
Mid-term Exams No Class
April
S M T W 1 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 8 15 22 29 T 2 9 16 23 30 F 3 10 17 24 S 4 11 18 25
May
S M T W T F 1 3 10 17 24 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 8 15 22 29 S 2 9 16 23 30
End-term Exams Summer break No Class
12
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
31
Course Schedule
Attendance every day from 9:30 AM Central Time to 2:40 PM Central Time Classes begin Saturday Jan. 17th for weekend students and Jan. 20th for weekday students. Day 1: Sciences of Quran Aqidah Fiqh Akhlaq History of Islam Sciences of Sunnah Day 2: Fiqh History of Islam Aqidah Sciences of Quran Sciences of Sunnah Research Methodology
The Importance of Preparation In order to receive the maximum benefits of your studies with Arees Institute, it is very important that you prepare yourself for the classes from the very beginning. Make sure you have read the entire website information (check for updates) and if you have questions or need to make arrangements in time, payment, etc. you contact us immediately.
13
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Course Grades
Annual grades are primarily based on the exams, both mid-term as well as end-term exams and the research. However, both class participation and the group presentations can influence the final grade, either positively or negatively.
The final grades of the Bachelor course are based on pre-dominantly the Global Exams, which cover all material of the three years.
Each exam counts for 20 points, making it 40 points for exams for the first semester grade. The homework, attendance and participation count for another 10 points. A score of 60% is required for a passing grade. Students on scholarships are required to maintain grades at 80%++.
Time Allocation
175 hours reading (6 pages an hour; +/- 1050 pages)
168 hours attending classes 42 hours group presentation and writing essay (1 hour a week for homework/presentation and 2 hours a week for the research)
14
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Study Materials
Title Author Sciences of Quran An Introduction to the Principles of Ibn Taymiyyah Tafseer Tafseer Ibn Kathir Ibn Kathir- Also available online www.tafsir.com Sciences of Sunnah The Authority and Importance of The Sunnah A Text Book of Hadith Studies Sahih Al Bukhari- Summarized Sahih Muslim-Summarized Zarabozo Kamali Also available online www.sahihalbukhari.com Also available online www.sahihmuslim.com Akhlaq -M. Abu Laylah Dr. Muhammad Ali Al-Hashimi Aqeedah Destination of the seeker of truth Kitab Al Iman Aali shaikh Ibn Taymiyah Fiqh Arees Institute translation History of Islam When the moon split Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri 9960-897-28-1 9960-892-38-7 0-9662140-0-5 1 898649 006 1591440203 ISBN
090746176X 9960-850-42-0
15
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
You can order/buy the books by searching for them on the web or visiting your local bookstores. Dar-us-Salaam Houston has a special webpage for Arees books. Note some of them are online sources you do not need to purchase. If you need assistance in locating a particular book you may contact us. That is for required books only. The recommended books will be utilized and discussed but are not necessary for classwork. We have given online references where possible and if you can find or add additional online resources for people it will be very helpful in reducing cost. Besides the required books, please do bring your own notebooks and pens to take notes.
16
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Course Modules
All modules of the first semester are described below including a study schedule. The study schedule is merely a tool to help students study. These are guidelines and they may change without notice. The study material for the second part of the Aqeedah Module is not included since the book Kitab al Iman is out of print at the moment. Further information will be provided later inshallah.
Aqeedah: The Rope of Faith 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.
Time
Subject Introduction to the Islamic Creed, its definition and subjects, principles of Islamic Creed
Material The Destination of the Seeker of Truth Introduction p.11-18 Chapter 4 & 5
Week 1
17
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Shirk: its reality, danger and its history Week 4 Types of shirk Chapter 3 & 6
Styles of Quran in refuting the suspicions of Mushrikeen and Christians Week 5 Contemporary types of Shirk -
18
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Kitab al Iman Week 10 Definition of Iman , difference between Iman and Islam
Pillars of Iman as its mentioned in the hadeeth of Jibreel Week 11 Belief in Allah and His angels
Belief in divine scripture, difference between Quran and other books Week 12 Belief in Messengers, difference between the messenger and the prophet
Week 16
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Fiqh: Understanding the Religion 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. The study material for this subject is the translation provided by Arees Institute.
Time
Week 1 The History of Fiqh, how it evolved and most famous Fiqh schools
The four Imams and their schools of thought Week 2 Imam Al Shafie, his Mathhab and brief bio of Imam Al Shafie
Purification: Siwak and wiping on the socks Week 4 Purification: Tayyamum, menses and removing the impurity 20
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Prayer: times for prayer Week 5 Prayer: Calling the Athan and Iqama
Prayer: prayer of traveler and fear prayer Week 8 Prayer: Jumuah prayer and two Eids
Prayer: prayer for water and eclipse prayer Week 9 Prayer: Funeral prayer
Zakat: Zakat of gold and silver, Zakat of fruits and crops. Week 10 Zakat: the zakat of money and minerals
Zakat: Zakatul Fitr and division of Zakat Week 11 Fasting: fasting Ramadan
21
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Fasting: optional fasting Week 12 Fasting: staying in the Masjid for worship
Hajj: timings and places of Hajj Week 13 Hajj: Ihram and its conditions
Hajj: description of Hajj Week 14 Hajj: description of Hajj Hajj: description of Umra Week 15 Hajj: missing the Hajj and being unable to continue the Hajj
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 alaihissalaam. 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.
22
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Time
Material
Week 1
History of Islam
Week 2
Political and religious life in Mekka before the Messenger Sallallahualaihi wasallam Social life before the Messenger Sallallahualiahi wasalam.
Week 3
The year of the elephant, the birth of the Messenger Sallallahualiahi wasallam, celebrating the birthday of the Messenger sallallahualaihi wasallam.
Page 17-25 Childhood of the prophet Sallallahualiahi wasallam, cleansing his heart
Knowing Khadija and working for her, meeting with Bahira the monk
23
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Marring Khadija When the moon split Week 5 Seclusion in the cave of Hira and the good dreams Page 32-46
Week 6
The beginning of Prophethood, the revelation and the fear of the Messenger Sallallahualiahi wasallam.
First migration to Abyssinia When the moon split Week 9 Hamza and Omar join the group Page 75-99
Going to Taif 24
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Reason for choosing Madina, the nature of Madina and its history Week 13
Week 14
Migration of Abu Salam, Um Ayman and others When the moon split Migration of the Messenger Sallallahualiahi wasallam, preparation Page 117-135
Week 15
25
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
'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. Time Subject Introduction to the sciences of Quran Week 1 Miracles of the Quran Material -
Essential information about the Quran, levels of scribing and compiling the Quran Week 2
Wisdom behind revealing the Quran in parts, reasons for revelation Mekken and Madanian verses. Week 3 Fundamental and allegorical similar Ayat. -
26
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Tafseer of the Quran, the right way to interpret the Quran Week 4 Books of Tafseer, methods of interpreters, the book of Ibn Katheer
An Introduction to the Principles of Tafseer Entire Book Tafsir Ibn Kathir Page 25-35 Tafsir Ibn Kathir
Surat Al fatiha, its merits the Basmala Week 5 Interpretation of Surat Al fatiha Ten recitations Week 6 Difference between recitations and seven ways of reciting the Quran Page 41-93
Week 7
Surat Al baqara, its virtues its topics and the separated letters
27
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Week 9
Page 182-204
Magic
Week 13
Difference between people before Islam and people after Islam, the argument between jews and Christians
28
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Tafsir Ibn Kathir Week 15 The end of first Juz End at pager 417
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 persons 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. The study material for this subject is the translation provided by Arees Institute. Time Week 1 Subject Introduction on the importance of Akhlaq and its virtue
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Week 6
Week 7
Peace of Mind
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Knowledge
Week 11
Wills
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Pieces of advice
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. 30
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Time
Subject
Week 1
Definition of Sunnah lexically and technically, definition of Hadith Difference between Hadith and Quran
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Tadlis in Hadith
Week 13
Forgery in Hadith
Week 14
Forgery in hadith
Week 15
Week 16
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. Shaikh Yassir Fazaga will be teaching this class. He is available for students on Wednesday and Saturday from 7 am to 9 am PST. Research: The final assignment is to write a research on a topic relevant to Islamic Law and the Muslims nowadays. The research should refer adequately to the Qur'an and Sunnah, using the authentic sources. Also, references should be made to books and articles relevant to the topic. Use precise references to literature and databases in the text and add a list of references. The research should be between 50 and 70 pages and should be handed in on A4-paper, double-spaced. The research should be structured using paragraphs with clear titles and subtitles, which should cover the content of the text. It should be written in fluent English, or Arabic with a correct use of grammar and spelling. The essay should contain the following elements: (i) an introduction with a contested position that has scientific and societal relevance; (ii) argumentation, the position should be defended using a series of at least three logical and convincing arguments and at least one counterargument that should be rejected convincingly. The 33
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________ arguments have to be based both on general statements (theories) and facts
(empirical material); (iii) a conclusion that summarizes the position and the main line of argumentation and mentions the scientific and societal implications of the presented argumentation. To facilitate the writing process there is the opportunity to receive feedback on the chosen position and on a concept of the research. For this, there is a non mandatory deadline to hand in a position on Saturday February 7 2009. Written feedback will be given within a week. The non-mandatory deadline for the concept research is Saturday February 21 2009. In the following week there is the possibility for a personal consultation with the lecturer to discuss this concept. The deadline for the final research is December 31 2009. All assignments can be send in to info@arees.org.
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! By the end of our three year Bachelor in Islamic Law the students are supposed to have memorized at least 5 Juz' from the Qur'an. Juz Amma is mandatory and the choice of the other 4 Juz are up to the student.
34
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________
There's a small book translated to English now that Imam al-Ghazali wrote to a student about the ethics of seeking knowledge. There are many good works on this actually. Your first year work on Akhlaq by ibn Hazm is excellent for this; read and reread it. I can try to give you some advice, things that thinking back would have made my time easier had I discovered these earlier than later. I think most of it involves changing the heart and purifying your intention. Here are some tips:
* Be just to Allah and be just to yourself. The sacred knowledge of this religion is the light, and Allah does not bless the wretched with that light. Imam Shafi once complained to al-Layth, his sheikh, about his memory; al-Layth advised him to stop his sins! The two definitely correlate although this is not obvious to us. This is the right time to abandon your sins, large and small. Be more dutiful in your prayers, be more generous with your wealth, guard your eyes and your tongue, lower your gaze from women and leave all foul speech, impure foods, and practices against the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet; knowledge will not shine down on those who stand with one leg in ignorance and the other in faith.
* Respect your Sheikh. New students are very eager, alhamdulillah, but this sometimes results in people interrupting when the sheikh lectures, or asking questions when the sheikh does not wish to take questions. Sometimes, an idea is so enticing that a student will blurt out the thought as soon as it enters their mind; this is terrible manners. The sheikh is very kind and he did not throw people out of his halaqa although many teachers would have done that for much less. Remember, the scholar compared to the worshiper is like the moon against the stars, show respect and be humble. Speak when spoken to, etc. Imam Shafi said he would turn the pages of his books softly so as not to disturb Imam Malik. His student, Rafi' said he didn't even dare to drink water in front of Imam Shafi. That's real respect!
35
Arees Institute____________________________________________________________ * There's an ethic to asking questions: First, you should wait until the sheikh wants you to ask a question or asks you if you have any, then wait for the sheikh to acknowledge you and then
speak. Begin by praying for your sheikh. Ask Allah to increase him in knowledge and baraka, then ask your question. Phrase it respectfully, do not accuse the sheikh of saying something wrong or dismissing an evidence, rather say "Sheikh I heard you say abc, I understood from this xyz, is it also the case that / can you explain again / what is the reason for ?...etc." If the sheikh does not answer your question, or answers a different question than you asked, and if the sheikh gives you permission to, then reword your question. If again the answer is not what you want, leave it, do not insist on asking again. Either the question is not relevant to the lesson, or the sheikh intentionally did not answer you, or some other good reason for your not having an answer.
* Humble yourself. The reality is that we are all woefully ignorant about Islam. What the sheikh considers average everyday knowledge is well beyond what we consider advanced. If the sheikh seems harsh or even seems arrogant to you, you should not think that it is the fault of his character, often he is doing it on purpose, sometimes to stamp out any complacency in his students, and sometimes to break the egos of students that haven't learned humility. Appreciate the gravity of the subject matter and consider yourself blessed for having the chance to sit with the sheikh.
* Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Guard your intention vigilantly. You are here to spend your time in humble contemplation of sacred law in an attempt to come closer to God. If you feel in your heart that you would like that people consider you knowledgeable or pious, then your studies are a fitnah to you, and among the first to be thrown into the hellfire will be the worshipper who wanted to be thought of as pious. Do not be jealous of your fellow students who surpass you, Allah has chosen them, and you should ask Allah to increase them more as well as you. Do not wish to win debates or to defend your self, this desire is from the vain conceit of the weak in character and faith. Rather, learn from those who have knowledge you don't, and desire only to please Allah.