Intro to 'Ilm
1-Year Intensive
A strong foundation in Islamic knowledge for high school graduates and professionals, equipping students to practice and uphold their faith confidently in the real world.
A strong foundation in Islamic knowledge for high school graduates and professionals, equipping students to practice and uphold their faith confidently in the real world.
High school graduates before college, individuals taking a gap year, and ḥifẓ students before entering public high school.
The One-Year ʿIlm Intensive provides a strong foundation in Islamic knowledge for those not pursuing full-time scholarship, equipping students to practice and uphold their faith confidently in the real world.
The program covers the structure and preservation of Islam through the core principles of the Qurʾān, Ḥadīth, and Fiqh, with practical training in worship, marriage, and financial matters.
It also provides an Arabic foundation that prepares students to continue part-time Islamic learning, alongside full-time careers and daily life, while spiritual development, character formation, and scholarly mentorship support lifelong growth and guidance.
The following is a brief glimpse into the curriculum. For a detailed overview of the authors, texts, and teaching methodology, please refer to the attachment at the end.
During the first four months, this course focuses on completing the first two volumes of Al-Durūs al-Lughah, providing students with a strong entry point into Arabic grammar through contextual and immersive learning. Emphasis is placed on vocabulary development and internalizing sentence structure, with ample class time dedicated to guided instruction, practice, and careful review. The double-period format allows students to adjust to studying Arabic at an academic level while building confidence and consistency in their understanding.
In separate class periods during this same phase, students study the fifteen most essential lessons of naḥw and receive focused instruction in the fundamentals of ṣarf. These complementary courses reinforce and formalize the grammatical concepts encountered in Al-Durūs al-Lughah, ensuring students are fully prepared to begin formal grammar study.
Starting in the fifth month, students begin Al-Naḥw al-Wāḍiḥ, the first formal text to introduce naḥw entirely through Arabic. Using simple sentence structures that gradually increase in complexity, the text guides students step by step through grammatical rules and applications. Through clear explanations and applied exercises, students develop the skills to read, understand, and work with Arabic sentences confidently.
The first two months of this course equip students with the tools for independent Arabic reading. Students build essential vocabulary, learn to use an Arabic dictionary effectively, and study fifteen key naḥw principles to jump-start grammatical awareness ahead of their formal Naḥw classes.
For the remaining eight months, students read and analyze the first two volumes of Qiṣaṣ al-Nabiyyīn. Through short stories from the lives of the Prophets (peace be upon them), they strengthen reading fluency, apply grammar skills, and practice reading without ḥarakāt. Students also expand their vocabulary with over 500 words commonly used across classical Arabic texts.
This combination of language development, applied naḥw, and spiritually meaningful content deepens both proficiency and connection to the material.
The first three months focus on foundational ṣarf through a double-period structure, covering verb identification, morphological patterns, and effective dictionary usage. This intensive format equips students with the tools needed for independent reading and continued Arabic study.
The remaining seven months are dedicated to Tarbiyyah through a single daily period. Students study Min Ādāb al-Islām by Shaykh ʿAbd al-Fattāḥ Abū Ghuddah and Tadhkirat al-Sāmiʿ wa al-Mutakallim by Badr al-Dīn Ibn Jamāʿah, cultivating proper conduct, sincerity, humility, and discipline in the pursuit of knowledge.
The course concludes with guided discussions on spiritual refinement and the diseases of the heart, drawn from the teachings of past scholars.
The first three months focus on foundational ṣarf through a double-period schedule, six days a week. Students build essential skills in verb identification, morphological patterns, and effective dictionary usage, giving them the tools they need for confident, independent reading and continued Arabic study.
For the remaining seven months, the focus shifts to Sīrah with a single-period schedule, three days per week. Students explore the life of the Prophet ﷺ during the Makkan and Madīnan periods using al-Mujtabā, a condensed version of Sīrat al-Muṣṭafā ﷺ, or a similar text.
Beyond learning historical events, students are encouraged to reflect on the Prophet’s decisions, leadership, and character. Through guided discussion and reflection, the course helps students internalize lessons from his life, develop ethical clarity, and apply these principles thoughtfully in their own lives and communities.
Three days per week, students study uṣūl al-fiqh using Shaykh Farḥūn al-Zubayrī’s book and selected texts. The course introduces core principles of Islamic legal theory and analytical reasoning, with a focus on understanding why scholars of fiqh reach different opinions.
Special attention is given to the Ḥanafī madhhab, showing how the Qurʾān and Sunnah are interpreted and applied. Students also explore the role of scholarly authority, transmission, and disciplined methodology in preserving sound practice.
By the end, they gain a clear, principled understanding of Islamic legal reasoning and the intellectual framework behind differing scholarly conclusions.
Students study the first volume of Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn, focusing on tazkiyah of the heart. Selected aḥādīth are explored reflectively to cultivate sincerity, humility, mindfulness of Allah, and excellence in character.
Guided discussion encourages students to internalize these lessons and apply them in daily life.
During the first five months, students study the foundational sciences of the Qurʾān using Mufti Taqi Usmani’s ʿUlūm al-Qurʾān. Topics include stages of revelation, compilation and preservation, Makkan and Madīnan revelation, causes of revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), abrogation (naskh), and the distinction between clear and ambiguous verses. Students gain a structured understanding of the Qurʾān’s methodology and scholarly framework.
In the final five months, students study Uṣūl al-Ḥadīth using Shaykh Farḥūn al-Zubayrī’s text or a suitable alternative. This course covers the principles of ḥadīth sciences, including authenticity, transmission, and classification, providing a framework for understanding how aḥādīth are preserved, evaluated, and applied.
This course is taught in English and provides a foundational introduction to the essential rulings related to the farḍ (mandatory) aspects of Islam. Students begin with Ascent to Felicity, an English translation of a classical Ḥanafī text, through which they study the core acts of worship, including purity (ṭahārah), ṣalāh, zakāh, ṣawm, and ḥajj. This approach allows students to engage with the traditional structure and legal reasoning of Islamic jurisprudence while remaining accessible at an introductory level.
After establishing this textual foundation, the course transitions into a structured, presentation-based format for additional areas such as nikāḥ, ṭalāq, and Islamic finance. Emphasis is placed on practical understanding and contemporary relevance, equipping students with a clear framework to fulfill their religious obligations with confidence, clarity, and awareness in everyday life.
This course introduces students to the foundational principles of Qur’ānic recitation, with a strong focus on accurate pronunciation through proper articulation of each letter from its makhraj (point of articulation) along with its ṣifāt (characteristics). Students learn the rules of tajwīd in a clear and accessible manner while developing precision and consistency in their recitation.
Instruction combines memorization of essential tajwīd rules in English with extensive mashq (guided recitation practice) under a qualified instructor. Students gradually implement these rules into active recitation, helping them avoid major errors that could affect the validity of prayer and refine their pronunciation in accordance with the principles of tajwīd.
This course presents a structured study of the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah through Al-ʿAqīdah al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah. Students explore core theological beliefs, including Allah’s attributes, prophethood, the unseen, and the Hereafter, grounding their understanding firmly within the classical Sunni tradition.
Alongside the text, students engage with rational proofs and theological arguments that highlight the coherence and depth of Islamic belief.
The course also addresses contemporary challenges to faith, such as atheism, secularism, and questions surrounding divine justice, equipping students with clarity and confidence to understand, articulate, and defend their beliefs in both academic and social settings.
Students study Juzʾ ʿAmma and selected well-known sūrahs using Miftāḥ al-Qurʾān or a suitable alternative. Lessons focus on translation, meaning, context, and spiritual guidance, helping students connect with the Qurʾān in daily life.
Emphasis is placed on vocabulary, thematic understanding, and reflection to internalize the Qur’ān’s guidance with awareness and sincerity.
On Saturdays, students attend a dedicated 90-minute session focused on Qurʾān memorization as well as the memorization of selected Ḥadīth. During this period, students both memorize and recite to the teacher, ensuring retention.
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