This course will provide students with the skills and knowledge to become confident, adept public speakers and active, positive members of their Muslim communities. Practical activities throughout the duration of the course will help students become comfortable speaking publicly in any situation, whether it be in public addresses, intimate gatherings, or chats in the street. Students will also have opportunities to become active members of their Muslim and mainstream communities via outreach activities that facilitate positive, joyful interactions.

This course features weekly readings and writing exercises that each focus on an individual aspect of writing, along with semester-long work on a creative project. Lessons on submitting your work, choosing a publication route and effective marketing ideas round out the syllabus. By the end of this course, students will have sharper writing skills and a firmer idea of what to do after the writing is done.

This introductory level course provides aspiring, novice, and veteran teachers opportunities to learn and practice effective teaching strategies for students enrolled in Islamic Studies programs. During this course, we will examine components of skillful teaching, including deep learning, lesson planning, classroom management, nurturing the Prophetic model of emotional and moral intelligence, assessment, professionalism, and upbringing within an Islamic framework.

This course provides a survey of the crises and trials that have challenged Islamic civilization over the centuries, along with an account of the Muslim “renewers” of the faith (mujaddidīn). As the Prophet ﷺ said, “Allah ﷻ will raise for this community at the end of every hundred years one who will renew its religion for it.” Throughout this course, students will study the lives of those whom Allah ﷻ sent as a cure for the crises and trials faced by the ummah, and how they were able to overturn the current situation, renew the religion, and restore peace and faith to the Muslim ummah. Students will learn about the factors that contributed to each trial, how each mujaddid was able to overcome the trials of the time, and gain an understanding of the characteristics that enabled each to succeed.

This course is an introduction to the world into which Shaykha Nana Asma’u was born followed by a study of her life. Over 60 works of Shaykha Nana have been preserved. We will examine the genres she wrote in and read excerpts to see how she used poetry in her mission. As we read these writings we will attempt to understand the story behind the pieces and how it was used in the educational system she developed. We will wrap up the course with a look at the legacy Shaykha Nana Asma’u has left the world.

This course explores the lives and legacies of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs—Abu Bakr, ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, and ʿAlī (raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhum)—as models of leadership, faith, and resilience in the face of historical and moral challenges. Through a study of key events, decisions, and societal transformations during their eras, students examine how each khalifa embodied prophetic guidance while navigating times of political transition, social unrest, and emerging diversity within the Muslim community. Emphasis is placed on extracting lessons in governance, justice, and spiritual steadfastness that remain relevant to contemporary leadership and community life.

This course will take an in-depth look at Black American spirituality. Participants will examine Black spirituality, the Islamic spiritual tradition in Black Africa, the experiences of enslaved Black Americans, and the evolution of Black American Muslim movements. They will consider the contributions Black American Muslims have made to the greater Muslim community, while extrapolating lessons from the challenges and successes of Black Muslims.

This course explores the important position of the mosque/masjid in the history of Islam. We will examine the mosque as a concept and an institution, learn the history of major mosques, and consider mosque architecture. We will also examine the function of the mosque historically and the contemporary challenges the mosque is facing with an emphasis on the mosque in the countries where Muslims are a minority.

A focused study of the soul’s path from life to the Hereafter, based on Ibn al-Qayyim’s The Soul’s Journey After Death and grounded in Quran and hadith. We will look at the souls of the living and the deceased, their possible relationship, and the moments surrounding death, the grave, and the Barzakh. The course addresses common questions and controversies with guidance from the early scholars. Students will leave with clear, practical insight into what the living should do for their own souls and how to honor the souls of others.

This course will explore selected hadith and conversations of the Prophet ﷺ, as reported by his companions (raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhum). Through the study of these hadith, students will learn Prophetic etiquette in communicating with others and learn lessons to apply in daily life. They will also learn how the Prophet ﷺ used kind and gentle words to guide others, communicate effectively, and build positive relationships.

This course walks students through an introduction to the exemplary characteristics and noble conduct of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as meticulously documented in early hadith books, the course will focus on a thematic exploration of selected topics in Shami’il al-Tirmidhi.

Through the course, students will gain an appreciation for the Prophet’s ﷺ physical attributes and standards of moral excellence, fostering a deeper connection to his way of life. Emphasis will be placed on understanding key concepts through English explanations, while gradually introducing new and frequently repeated Arabic vocabulary words in each session to build foundational linguistic skills relevant to hadith studies. This course aims to instill a love for the Prophet ﷺ and an understanding of his exemplary life which serves as a timeless guide for humanity.

This ijāza course guides students through Imām al-Nawawī’s Arbaʿīn—the renowned collection of forty hadith that encapsulate the essence of Islam. Each hadith, brief yet profound, offers timeless lessons on faith, ethics, and spiritual growth.

Students will read the Arabic text accurately, study vocabulary and variant readings, and explore the meaning and relevance of each hadith in personal and communal life. The course connects learners to the classical chain of transmission (sanad), linking them to a living tradition of scholarship and devotion.

Students will have the opportunity to sit for an oral assessment and receive an ijāza in this hadith compilation in the oral tradition.

This is an introductory course that takes the learner into the profundity of the Prophetic teachings, helping us position ourselves as humble listeners. The focus will be on how to learn from the hadith in a holistic manner and how to appreciate the great guidance they offer.

This course covers the 400+ hadith in the book al-Shama’il al-Muhamadiya as collected by the 9th century scholar al-Tirmidhi. Each hadith will be read, discussed, and explained. Students will receive an ijāza in the Shama’il at the successful completion of the course. All hadith will be read in Arabic by each student, and the explanation will be in English. Advanced Arabic is necessary.

The Forty Hadith of Palestine is a collection of hadith about Palestine, Sham, the people, events in the past, and future events that will occur in the area. In this class, students will become familiar with the Arabic of the hadith and be able to read them correctly, and they will gain an appreciation and understanding of the Islamic worldview toward Palestine. We will cover topics like the Day of Judgment, the Dajjal, Isra’ wa-l-Mi’rāj, story in hadith, place blessings, and more. Students will be able to deepen their dua and soothe their hearts regarding the people and land of Palestine. By the end of this short course, students will have an appreciation for the importance of this land in the Islamic tradition. Qualifying students will also have the opportunity to receive an ijāza in this hadith compilation.

This course studies the narrators, meanings, and practical applications of the hadith found in the famous collection of hadith by Imām al-Nawawī. Throughout this four-part course, we will study the four-volume commentary (one book per course) of Riyāḍ al-Ṣaliḥīn entitled; “Fawh al-Rayahīn” by one of the foremost hadith scholars of the twenty-first century, Shaykha Samar al-‘Asha. This four-volume work includes commentary and lessons derived from each hadith. Students will read the book in Arabic and discuss the content in class in English.

This course will explore what it means to be a superwoman. Students will be led through a study of women in the Quran, women companions, women around the prophets, and women in history. Students will learn what made them unique and powerful each in her own way, and how to apply the same in their own lives. Through this study students will be able to identify their own superpowers and kryptonite and learn how to discover their own karamāt.

Based on the historical information learned in “Superwomen: Powers, Kryptonite, and Karamāt” (ISL 0401) about superwomen in history, this course explores how each one of us can discover and nurture our own superpowers and identify and avoid our kryptonite. Learners will be exposed in this course to superwomen of the past and present. We will also discuss karamāt and the path to becoming of the people of karamāt.

This course takes students on an epistemological journey with the Quran. Its focus is on awakening the heart in an effort to understand the Quran on a deeper, more personal level. The course will train students on the most effective methods of engaging with the Quran in order to attain the transformation that our Mother ‘Aisha, raḍiya Allāhu ‘anha, stated firmly: “Verily, the character of the Prophet of Allah ﷻ was the Quran.”

Upon the completion of the course, the students will be able to apply the skills they learned in contemplating the Quran to reevaluate their perceptions and perspectives of Allah’s ﷻ creations (family, friends, co-workers, and members of the community and society at large) and the role they play in maintaining the sanctity of each relationship.

This course helps to transition your Islamic learning into practical terms. Discover the barriers to a fulfilling spiritual (and material!) life. The concept of Falah as a course was created and developed by Anse Sawsan Imady. This course includes new material and has been expanded and developed by Anse Tamara Gray. It is a life changing course. Snap in your seatbelt and get ready to speed along the straight path in company with others seeking Falah!

This Star Wars themed 14-week course invites women to step into their everyday force—that inner blend of skill, spirit, service, and sacred beauty that holds families, communities, and selves together. Drawing on the concepts of Falah and the Superwomen series, this class will help students walk in balance, reflect on prophetic wisdom in modern times, and build courage and strength for the daily trials of life.

This course is a continuation of the journey of tazkiya, which is the purification of the heart/self. The course consists of a series of the wisdoms of Ibn ʿAṭāʾ Allāh, that will be explained, discussed, and reflected upon. Students will have insights to the wisdom of this scholar, which will advance their understanding and practice of a state that results in Allah’s ﷻ satisfaction.

Building upon the foundational concepts introduced in Training the Tongue, Purifying the Heart and expanded through The Spiritual Journey with Ibn ʿAṭāʾAllāh, this course deepens the student’s engagement with the path of tazkiya (purification of the self) through the timeless wisdom of Imām al-Ghazālī. Students will examine selected writings that illuminate the inner dimensions of worship, sincerity, and moral refinement.

Through guided readings, reflection, and discussion, participants will explore al-Ghazālī’s approach to balancing outward practice with inward transformation. Emphasis will be placed on developing spiritual awareness, diagnosing subtle ailments of the heart, and cultivating virtues that draw one nearer to Allah ﷻ. The course aims to prepare students to integrate al-Ghazālī’s insights into personal spiritual growth and informed guidance of others on the inner path.

Spiritual development and upbringing are the core purposes of religious practice and the bequeathed duties of prophets. Students will be preparing themselves to be community leaders and upbringers; applicable to work in chaplaincy, teaching, motherhood, and the traditional work of a shaykha.

In this first of a two-part course, we will explore the meaning of the Arabic word “tarbiya,” working to understand it both as applied to the self and the other. We will examine stages of development as well as methods and tools of growth and upbringing. Islam as a stage of development will be thoroughly studied. The heart, its states, diseases, health, and its role in spiritual and personal development will begin the study of imān.

This course provides an accessible introduction to the Islamic worldview and core beliefs, exploring how faith shapes one’s understanding of truth, morality, and human purpose. Students study foundational theological principles alongside key social and legal questions facing Muslims today. Through guided discussion and reflection, the course addresses controversial and contemporary issues—such as gender, authority, ethics, and pluralism—within the framework of Islamic thought. Emphasizing intellectual honesty and spiritual grounding, students learn how to navigate doubts, reconcile faith with modern challenges, and engage confidently in conversations about Islam in diverse social settings. The course nurtures clarity, resilience, and conviction in belief while fostering compassion and integrity in dialogue.

This course is designed to create an experience like no other by enhancing students’ relationships with each of the prophets of Islam. From Adam (alayhi al-salām) to Muhammad ﷺ, the message of tawhīd was brought to generations of believers by specially blessed individuals. In this course, students will become familiar with each of them and their unique challenges. In-depth lessons and thought-provoking exercises will bring the legacy and history of Islam to life.

Part 1 of this two-part course covers from Prophet Adam to Prophet Ayyub, and Part 2 covers from Prophet Shu’aib to Prophet ‘Isa.

This course is designed to create an experience like no other by enhancing students’ relationships with each of the prophets of Islam. From Adam, alayhi al-salām, to Muhammad ﷺ, the message of tawhīd was brought to generations of believers by specially blessed individuals. In this course, students will become familiar with each of them and their unique challenges. In-depth lessons and thought-provoking exercises will bring the legacy and history of Islam to life.

Part 1 of this two-part course covers from Prophet Adam to Prophet Ayyub, and Part 2 covers from Prophet Shu’aib to Prophet ‘Isa.

This course provides a foundational study of Islamic ʿaqīda (creed), guiding students toward a deeper understanding of faith at both the intellectual and spiritual levels. Over the semester, students will examine core tenets of belief, including the oneness of God (tawḥīd) and divine decree (qaḍāʾ and qadar). By integrating academic study with reflection and dialogue, students develop the ability to articulate their beliefs with clarity, confidence, and sincerity—strengthening their own connection to faith and their capacity to convey its beauty to others.

This course provides a foundational study of Islamic ʿaqīda (creed), guiding students toward a deeper understanding of faith at both the intellectual and spiritual levels. Over the semester, students will examine core tenets of belief, including prophethood, revelation, the unseen world, death, resurrection, and the Day of Judgment. By integrating academic study with reflection and dialogue, students develop the ability to articulate their beliefs with clarity, confidence, and sincerity—strengthening their own connection to faith and their capacity to convey its beauty to others.

This course introduces students to the core acts of worship in Islam—ṭahāra (purification), salah (prayer), and ṣawm (fasting)—with a focus on both understanding and application. Students explore the rulings, wisdoms, and spiritual dimensions of these pillars through straightforward readings and class discussion. Emphasis is placed on practical guidance for everyday life, including how to maintain purification, perform prayer in public or workplace settings, and navigate common challenges in modern contexts. The course also develops students’ ability to teach and coach others in these essential practices with clarity, confidence, and compassion—fostering both personal discipline and community leadership grounded in the Prophetic example.

This course will take students on a journey with the Quran to gain deeper understandings of its words and derive lessons from Allah’s ﷻ words. Students will be guided through an in-depth study of verses from the Holy Quran and reflect upon the lessons that can be learned as they sit with one of our modern scholars of the Holy Quran.

This course guides students through an in-depth tafsir experience, exploring a selected sura or group of suras from the Holy Quran each term. Under the guidance of an instructor deeply rooted in traditional scholarship, students will discover the layered meanings of the verses while connecting them to modern-day realities. The course bridges the legacy of women’s Quranic scholarship with contemporary reflection, allowing participants to extract profound life lessons and strengthen their relationship with Allah ﷻ and His words.

An introduction to the concept of tazkiya (purification of the self/heart in Islam), this course will provide an introductory look at diseases of the heart and sins of the tongue, as well as the relationship between the two. Students will learn some general cures and understand some of the skills necessary to begin the path of tazkiya.

The first of a two-part course providing an in-depth study of the sixty companions discussed in the book Stars in the Prophet’s Orbit. Students will learn the stories of these companions, draw conclusions about Islamic precepts from their lives, understand their relationship to the Prophet ﷺ, and derive personal lessons from their lives. Students will apply and extend what they have learned in class by writing an analysis paper about one of the companions studied.

The first thirty companions of this text are covered in Part 1 of the course, and the second thirty are covered in Part 2. It is not required to complete Part 1 before Part 2.

An in-depth study of the sixty companions discussed in the book Stars in the Prophet’s Orbit, this is a continuation of Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, Part 1. Students will learn the stories of these companions, draw conclusions about Islamic precepts, understand their relationship to the Prophet ﷺ, and derive personal lessons from their lives. Students will apply these skills to an additional companion upon whom research will be done.

The first thirty companions of this text are covered in Part 1 of the course, and the second thirty are covered in Part 2. It is not required to complete Part 1 before Part 2.

A survey of the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, beginning with an understanding of the political and social layout of the Arabian Peninsula at the time of his birth and concluding with a deeper understanding of why he was indeed “the chosen one”. Throughout Part 1, students examine the major events and incidents that took place up until the hijra of the Prophet ﷺ to Medina, extrapolating the wisdom and lessons one can gain from them. Weekly assignments focus on the lessons learned, enabling students to draw parallels to modern day struggles in their own lives and make lasting changes, following in the footsteps of the Prophet ﷺ.

This course covers lessons we can gather for our lives from the beautiful life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The focus is to examine events and circumstances and consider deeply how the Prophet ﷺ responded. In Part 2, students will examine the major events and incidents that took place after the hijra to Medina, extrapolating the wisdom and lessons one can gain from them. Assignments focus on the lessons learned, enabling students to draw parallels to modern-day struggles in their own lives and make lasting changes, following in the footsteps of the Prophet ﷺ.

The most important relationship we have is with God, and one of our main purposes in life is to know Allah ﷻ and worship Him. And in order to cultivate that relationship, Allah ﷻ tells us who He is. He reveals at least 99 names in order for us to know Him, love Him and to love worshiping Him. The aim of this course is to introduce the student to an in-depth study of some of the names of Allah ﷻ. This particular course will focus on the names that Allah ﷻ reveals in the Quran in Sūrat al-Fātiḥa, Sūrat al-Ḥashr, and Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ. We will examine their meaning, the context in which they appear, and their manifestations through stories of the Quran and the sīra of the Prophet ﷺ, as well as in our own lives.

An introduction to the foundation of Islamic law as the basis for a life of devotion and servitude to God. Students will learn about the reasons Islamic schools of law evolved and the nature and rationale of the legal schools. Students will learn the detailed rulings relating to purification (ṭahāra) and prayer (salah), including its pillars, conditions of correctness, nullifiers, how to perform congregational prayers, and other prayers.

An introduction to the foundation of Islamic law as the basis for a life of devotion and servitude to God, students will learn the detailed rulings related to fasting (ṣawm), charity (zakat), major pilgrimage (Hajj), and minor pilgrimage (ʿumra). Students will delve into the intricate details of each pillar, gaining a deep understanding of their significance, conditions, and practical applications. The course will cover topics such as the spiritual benefits of fasting, the categories of wealth subject to zakat, and the rituals and etiquettes of Hajj and ʿumra.

An in-depth study of the forty-hadith compilation of Imām al-Nawawī, this course is designed to provide students with a foundation in the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ was given jawāmiʿ al-kalim ( جوامع الكلم), or the ability to say much in very few words. The hadith of the Prophet ﷺ combine eloquence with deep, encompassing meanings in a uniquely simple way. This particular compilation was chosen because it includes ṣaḥīḥ hadith and covers a variety of subjects.

By the end of this course, students will be able to translate, understand, and draw practical life lessons from the text of the forty hadith in this compilation. The first twenty hadith are covered in Part 1 and the second twenty hadith are covered in Part 2.

An in-depth study of the forty-hadith compilation of Imām al-Nawawī, this course is meant to provide students with a foundation in the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ was given jawāmiʿ al-kalim (جوامع الكلم), or the ability to say much in very few words. The hadith of the Prophet ﷺ combine eloquence with deep, encompassing meanings in a uniquely simple way. This particular compilation was chosen because it includes ṣaḥīḥ hadith and covers a variety of subjects.

By the end of this course, students will be able to translate, understand, and draw practical life lessons from the text of the forty hadith in this compilation. The first 20 hadith are covered in Part 1 and the second 20 hadith are covered in Part 2.

This course introduces students to the foundational principles of uṣūl al-ḥadīth—the science developed to preserve, verify, and interpret the sayings and actions of the Prophet ﷺ. Rooted in the Divine promise of preservation, this discipline reflects the Muslim community’s devotion to safeguarding both the Quran and the Sunna as inseparable sources of guidance. Students will explore how early Muslim scholars memorized, recorded, and transmitted prophetic reports, and how later generations refined methods to distinguish authentic narrations from fabrications. Through study of key terminology, historical development, and critical methodologies, students will gain a deep appreciation for the precision, ethics, and intellectual rigor that define the hadith sciences.

An introduction to some of the historical figures who carried the legacy after the Prophet ﷺ and his companions. These men and women came in the generation after the companions, knew them personally, and were raised by them. This course will introduce some of these inspiring personalities and glean the lessons learned from their lives.

This course examines Muslim women scholars in both historic and modern times. It explores the lives, accomplishments, studies, worship practices, and cultural impact of Muslim women scholars, leaders, and shaykhāt from different eras and continents. Students will be guided through a study of what it meant and what it means to be a Muslim scholar and leader and how these women shaped lives, minds, and society. It employs the use of biography, content analysis, and prosopography to further knowledge of the topic and encourage knowledge production.

The history of Islam is rich with the impactful lives of scholars who played a prominent role in preserving the religion, documenting it, and excelling in its categorization, so that it has reached us, the later generations, in this magnificent form. The companions (raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhum) were the first teachers after the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, conveying what they heard and witnessed from the Prophet ﷺ and establishing what they transmitted as the foundational proofs of Islamic teachings alongside the Quran (the primary source of Islam). Through their efforts, they became role models for the generations that followed, including the tabiʿīn (followers) and those who came after them, continuing through to later eras.

This course is a comprehensive study of more than forty prominent male scholars of Islam who played a significant role in preserving the faith and establishing various Islamic studies, including hadith, jurisprudence, principles of jurisprudence, language, tajwīd, tafsīr, and sīra, spanning a period from the time of the companions to the eleventh century AH.

Students will learn about their biographies, their fields of expertise, and their most famous scholarly contributions.

They will apply what they have learned by conducting a study on a specific scholar they choose.

This course offers an accessible exploration of Juzʾ ʿAmma, guiding students through its short yet profound suras that illuminate the themes of faith, morality, and the afterlife. Students study selected verses with attention to language, context, and spiritual insight, developing a foundational understanding of Quranic meaning and method. Alongside textual study, the course introduces practical training for those who teach or share Quranic knowledge—emphasizing audience awareness, developmental appropriateness, and compassionate pedagogy. Students learn how to convey the Quran’s messages of mercy, justice, and accountability with wisdom and sensitivity, ensuring that lessons uplift and nurture rather than overwhelm. By the end of the course, students will be able to explain key themes of Juzʾ ʿAmma, connect them to daily life, and model a Prophetic approach to teaching that balances truth with gentleness.

An introduction to the sciences related to the Quran and its understanding. Students will learn about different definitions of the Quran and modes of revelation, the history of the written and oral text and its transmission, variant readings of the Quran (qira’at) and its miraculous nature (ʿi’jāz). The second half of the course will introduce the students to different aspects of knowledge that is related to the understanding of the Quranic text: the concept of abrogation (naskh), distinct and ambiguous verses (muḥkam and mutashābihāt), occasion of revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), chronology of revelation, beginnings of suras. Excerpts and discussions stemming from contemporary scholarship on the Quran will be addressed as these are important to understand and deal with most of the controversies revolving around the Quran.

This course invites students into a journey with the Quran, exploring its meanings while developing the skills needed to teach tafsīr effectively. Through the study of selected suras, students will learn to explain verses using reliable classical and modern resources, reflect on thematic lessons, and design ways to communicate those lessons to diverse audiences. Emphasis is placed on understanding the linguistic, historical, and spiritual dimensions of revelation and translating that understanding into engaging, age-appropriate lessons. By combining study, reflection, and pedagogy, students will strengthen both their relationship with the Qur’an and their ability to share its light with others.

This course engages students in a study of the systemic roots of many social ills in the United States. It will pose questions we should ask ourselves as women who love this faith. Do we understand the issues that impact many Black Americans and do we seek to take these issues to our Lord in prayer? What role do we personally play in society, and what can we do to make a change in our spheres of influence as well as our spheres of concern?

How would your life have changed had you experienced mentorship that was rooted in the bedrock of Prophetic virtues, values, and vigor? What would our communities look like if our imam was ‘Umar (raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu) and our resident scholar was Aisha (raḍiya Allāhu ‘anha)? What would work look like if the boss was soaked in prophetic guidance? What would the world look like if we knew how to embrace the legacy of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as the foundation of our leadership?

This seminar will open this door of mentorship and change us all into the leaders we wish we had. Here, you will find theoretical, ethical, and practical foundations of leadership based soundly on the prophetic example. Students will be able to immediately apply the learned behavioral models, tools, and benchmarks to their personal, professional, and community lives.

Here you will find essential skills found in the life of the Beloved ﷺ and seen in more modern case studies. Students will be able to immediately apply the learned behavioral models, tools, and benchmarks to their personal, professional, and public lives and create more wholesome families, communities, and a larger Muslim society. Let’s bring back the sunna of leadership, one leader at a time.

This course is designed to examine the natural resources, physical and cultural characteristics, and historical development of Islam in a broad range of global regions. The major course themes will include population, percentages of Muslims, impact of Christian missionaries and colonialism, gender issues, food, natural resources, and borders. A major goal of this course is to familiarize students with global issues that affect Muslim peoples. This course will not cover political movements, political parties, or political figures. It will cover concepts of human geography and physical geography as well as the cultural makeup of the various regions where Muslims reside.