ʿĀlim Class – Islamic Theology and Sciences

This Full Time Alim Program has been deferred until further notice.

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Requirements for Admission

Completed Application Form:  All applicants are required to complete the online application form.

Application Deadline: August 15 2014

Statement of Interest:  Applicants are required to demonstrate a strong level of motivation in pursuing the ʿĀlim Program by writing a personal statement of 500 words expressing their interest.

Letter of Recommendation

Two letters of recommendation are required to be submitted along with the application form before the deadline. Letters of recommendation could be from a teacher or a community leader (such as an Imam, Scholar, Mosque Board Member, Social Activist, etc.) who the applicant is familiar with.

High School Diploma, Acceptable Equivalent or Evidence of College/University Study

Examples of acceptable equivalence are GED or evidence of equivalent education such as home-schooling certificate of secondary education, foreign secondary education transcript such as the GCSE or College transcript. All foreign language transcripts need to be translated into English.

English Competency

All prospective students must demonstrate competency in English before being admitted to the program.

Arabic Reading Skills

All prospective students must be able to read the Qur’an proficiently. They must also know how to write Arabic at a basic level.

Interview

A personal interview with the applicant will be scheduled after all the submission of the Application Form by the deadline. Applicants who reside in the Greater Toronto Area are required to personally appear for the interview. Those who reside outside the Greater Toronto Area will be interviewed by phone or through web conferencing.

The program has been split in the following three tiers:

Tier 1: Gateways of Knowledge

The Gateways of Knowledge serves as a primer for studying the advanced sciences of Islam. Upon completing this tier, students will have the knowledge Muslims are required to have to live with confidence and insight in the West. They will also be eligible to advance to the next tier.

Duration: 1 year

Course Course Book
Etiquettes of Seeking Knowledge Taʿlīm al-Mutaʿllim
Islamic Mannerism The First Steps in Practising Islam
Introductory Creed, Purification and Ritual Prayer The First Steps in Practising Islam
Intermediate Creed al-Fiqh al-Akbar
Biography of the Messenger s Muhammad the Last Prophet
Biography of the Khulafāʾ The History of the Four Caliphs
Introductory Arabic Grammar Arabic Tutor 1
Principles of Tafsīr ʿUlūm al-Qurʾān

Tier 2: Gardens of Knowledge

Gardens of Knowledge is a series of courses that equips students with the requisite knowledge to be a community guide. It prepares them to identify the right approach when pursuing higher Islamic learning and gets them ready to advance in acquiring a scholarly license.

Duration: 3 years

Year 1

Topic Book
Advanced Creed Comparative Studies on Contemporary Philosophies  (Evolution, Ahmadism, Shiasm)
Introductory ArabicGrammar
Literature
Arabic Tutor 2-4Qiṣaṣ al-Nabīyīn 1-3
Principles of Ḥadīth Quran, Hadith and IslamThe Authority of the Sunnah

A Beginners guide to Hadith Sciences

Principles of Fiqh 1 The Four Imams: Their lives and work
Ḥadīth and Fiqh Mukhtasar al-Qudoorial-Luʾluʾ wa al-Marjā

Year 2

Topic Book
Intermediate Arabic

  •         Grammar
  •         Literature
Taʿjīl al-NadāQiṣaṣ al-Nabīyīn 4-5
Ḥadīth 1 Muʾațțaʾ li Imām MālikMuʾațțaʾ li Imām Muḥammad
Principles of Fiqh 2 Uṣūl al-Fiqh

Year 3

Topic Book
Tafsīr 1 Jalālayn – Juz 23 to 30
Fiqh  1 al-Hidāyah
Principles of Fiqh 3 Uṣūl al-Fiqh

Tier 3:  Fountains of Knowledge

Fountains of Knowledge is the final tier in the students pursuit for Islamic scholarship. Upon the successful completion of these courses students will receive a scholarly license (ijāzah) in the areas of Tafsīr, Ḥadīth and Ḥanafī Fiqh.

Duration: 2 Years

Year 1

Topic Book
Tafsīr 2 Jalālayn – Juz 12- 22
Ḥadīth  2 Sunan Abū DāwūdJāmiʿ al- Tirmidhī
Fiqh 2 al-Hidāyah

Year 2

Topic Book
Tafsīr 3 Jalālayn – Juz 1-11Āyāt al-Aḥkām
Ḥadīth  3 Ṣaḥīḥ al- BukhārīṢaḥīḥ Muslim
Fiqh 3 al-Hidāyah

Post Graduation Courses

  •         Imāmate Certification
  •         Teacher Certification
  •         Publications Training
  •         Organizational Training

Details coming soon