Bachelor’s Degree in Islamic Studies

A rigorous undergraduate program grounded in the classical Islamic tradition and designed for serious students ready to commit to high-level study of the sacred sciences.

3 Elective
Courses
Live online or onsite attendance
9 credits offered
per semester
4 year
graduation track

A Higher Standard of Islamic Scholarship — On Your Schedule

Miftaah Institute’s Bachelor’s Degree in Islamic Studies is a 126-credit academic program designed to produce students with advanced grounding in the Islamic sciences. It offers 72 credits of higher-level coursework in Arabic, Fiqh, Hadith, Tafsir, and more.

While the curriculum is rigorous and rooted in traditional learning, the program is flexible and self-paced. Students may choose how many courses to enroll in each semester, allowing them to balance their studies with other commitments.




Students will explore advanced content in the following disciplines:

Arabic Language & Literature- Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence)
Usul al-Fiqh (Legal Theory)
Hadith Sciences & Literature
Tafsir & Quranic Studies
Islamic History
Theology, Ethics, and Spirituality
Academic Writing & Research

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, students will be able to:
Analyze and interpret classical Arabic texts with linguistic precision
Understand advanced jurisprudential rulings and legal methodologies
Engage critically with tafsir, hadith, and Islamic historical sources
Compose academic research papers with structured argumentation and scholarly sourcing

Program Courses

3 Year Track
Arabic 101

Course Length: 1 Year
Text Used: Miftaah Arabic Grammar & Morphology 101

This course provides students with a needed base understanding of how Arabic root letters are conjugated to create different words that give information about the subject and action of a sentence. By the end of the course, students will know how to conjugate verbs in various tenses, determine base letters from non-base letters, and identify verbal patterns that convey information about the number, gender, and voice of the subject of a sentence. Through rigorous repetition of the various patterns as applied to different verbs, newly learnt concepts are applied to ensure complete comprehension of the material covered.

First we will start with the 4 properties of a word, then look at fragments, and finally study the different types of sentences found in the Arabic language.
Second will study the different sarf families, learn the implications of each family,  and understand word meanings based off of their unique patterns.
Third, we will begin Irab studies with grammatical analysis of simple sentences and then move to the Quran and focus on complex structures and ayahs.

Quran Exegesis (Juz Amma)

Course Length: 1 Year
Text Used: Miftaah Quranic Exegesis: Juz Amma

Like Introduction to Hadith, this course allows students to try their hand at applying the grammatical concepts learnt in other courses to analyze and interpret Islamic primary sources. The course methodically guides students through the last Juz’ of the Qur’an and gives students experience translating the uniquely dynamic and engaging style of the Qur’an’s Arabic into English. Along with simple translation, students will learn to recognize and appreciate the thematic coherence between verses and chapters, the deeper meanings of Arabic words, grammatical nuances, the historical context of the revelation of various ayahs, and Qur’anic commentary based on Hadith and the authoritative interpretations of the recognized exegetes of the first generations of Islam. Students are also encouraged to develop and discuss personal reflections on the Qur’anic text and lessons for their contemporary times.

Sacred Foundations I: 40 Hadith of Imam Nawawi

Course Length:1 Year
Text Used: Miftaah 's 40 Hadith of Imam Nawawi

This class is an introduction to the comprehension of primary religious sources in their original language and forms the basis of one’s ability to interpret, analyze, and apply Islam’s holy texts. Using the concise and to the point sayings of God’s Messenger (pbuh) collected in the classical text The 40 Hadith of Imam Nawawi, students will begin to utilize concepts learned in their morphology and syntax classes to understand the Prophet’s (pbuh) words. A discussion of the grammar and vocabulary included in each hadeeth will be accompanied by a lesson on the hadeeth’s meaning and a discussion of its application in our place and time.

Prophetic Biography (Seerah)

Course Length: 1 Year
Text Used: Miftaah Sirah al-Nabawiya

In this course, students will cover the events which occurred in the life of the Prophet SAW from his birth to the end of his life. Students will explore the challenges which the Prophet SAW faced and how he dealt with them. They will discuss valuable lessons which can be applied from the life of the Prophet SAW and his companions.

Alhamdulillah my experience so far is amazing, the vibe and the personalities of the teachers really bring the class together. They all know when to be funny and when to be serious. The topics for this year were absolutely amazing, my favorite class would have to be Mufti Abdul Rahman’s class “Etiquettes of a Seeker”. I feel like in whatever you’re learning, the teacher makes or breaks the class for you. Alhamdulillah these teachers are always positive and always put their students first.

Mujaba Ahsan
Year 2 Associate Student

Program Instructors

Learn from traditionally trained scholars
Mufti Aasim Rashid
Instructor

Mufti Aasim Rashid is a distinguished Muslim scholar, speaker and educator (the title ‘Mufti’ indicates his expertise and authority in Islamic law). He is devoted to the study and explanation of Islamic sacred texts and their relation to the modern context. His lectures, delivered at conferences and institutions around the world, are known to be inspiring and pertinent to the issues and pressing questions of the day. Mufti Aasim is the founder of the Al-Ihsan Educational Foundation, which has initiated the ‘Islam Unravelled’ project.

Shaykh Abdullah Waheed
Instructor

Shaykh Abdullah Waheed was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, MI. Shaykh Abdullah specialized in the Tafseer of the Quran. Shaykh Abdullah spent years studying the details and beauty of our Holy book since understanding and mastering the language of the Holy Quran was always the primary goal. Shaykh Abdullah is a co-founder and instructor at Miftaah Institute and is also the Director of Islamic Affairs at Flint Islamic Center. Shaykh Abdullah travels across North America for khutbas, workshops, and seminars. He is known for his motivational and enthusiastic style of speaking, which leaves the audience desiring to better themselves.

Shaykh Ali Suleiman Ali
Instructor

Dr. Ali is a co-founder, Core Scholar, and member of the Board of Trustees of the American Learning Institute for Muslims (ALIM), an academic institution where scholars, professionals, activists, artists, writers, and community leaders come together to plan and develop strategies for the future of Islam in the modern world.He serves as the Imam and Director of the Muslim Community of Western Suburbs, Canton Michigan.


Mufti Abdul Rahman Waheed
Instructor

Mufti Abdul Rahman gives insight to various literature in the Islamic world. Mufti Abdul Rahman is serving as a principal and is a  full-time instructor at Michigan Islamic Institute, the brother organization of Miftaah Institute. He travels across North America as a khateeb and lecturer. He is well-known for his calm and down-to-Earth demeanor.

Shaykh Mohamed Almasmari
Instructor

Shaykh Mohamed Almasmari, of Yemeni descent, was born and raised in Michigan. He memorized the Qur'an at a very early age and after high school, left to study at Sana'a University. Soon after, he obtained his Bachelor/Master Degrees in Islamic Law & Islamic Science from Yemen. During his studies, he was able to obtain ijaazas in recitation & teaching of Al-Qur'an, Qur'anic Exegesis (Tafseer-ul-Qur'an), Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), Sahih Bukhari & Muslim and Imam Nawwawi's works such as the commentary to Sahih Muslim and Riyaad-us-Saliheen. He has lead taraweeh prayers during the month of Ramadan since the age of 18. Now Shaykh Mohamed Almasmari is the Imam and Khatib at UMMA.

Shaykh Abdul Aziz Waheed
Instructor

Shaykh Abdul Aziz Waheed was born in East Lansing, Michigan. He began Islamic studies at Jaamiah al-Uloom al-Islamiyyah, where he became a Hafiz.Upon the completion of his memorization of the Quran, Shaykh Abdul Aziz decided to continue his studies in Islamic sciences. He also travels extensively across North America for Dawah purposes. Throughout his travels, Shaykh Abdul Aziz addresses communities across the United States – and particularly in Michigan – on a wide range of Islamic topics and Inshallah, continues to do so with the Tawfiq of Allah SWT . Shaykh Abdul Aziz is a Co-founder of Miftaah Institute and also serves as Dean of Academic Affairs at Michigan Islamic Institute.

Shaykh Maqsood Sher
Instructor

As a senior seminary teacher and scholar, Shaykh Maqsood is an exemplary mentor in Islamic studies, scriptures, and Holy Book interpretations. With an education in Quranic studies, and a bachelor’s in Islamic studies and the Arabic language, Shaykh Maqsood drives to create engaging lectures, foster meaningful discussions, and maintain a healthy and intellectually challenging space for students to grow. Shaykh Maqsood’s recent endeavors include informational lectures discussing “FAMILY TIES, ” “COMMUNITY BUILDING,” ”JUSTICE IN ISLAM,” and “LOVE OF GOD (ALLAH) & PROPHETS,” and will continue his teachings at Miftaah.

Mufti Abdul Wahab Waheed
Instructor

Mufti Abdul Wahab completed his Hadith Intensive in the renowned Islamic University  founded by Sheikh Yusuf Binori RA known as Jamia Binoritown, where he had the fortune of studying under teachers who had received their Ijaazat from Al- Azhar, Madina Univsirty, and Ummul Qura. Upon graduation, Mufti Abdul Wahab wanted to pursue his passion in understanding and education in the field of Islamic Jurisprudence and Law.

Shaykh Mohammed Ishtiaq
Instructor

He moved to Michigan in 2010 and taught at the IAGD Hifz Program from 2011 to 2013. He served as the Director of Quran and Islamic Studies at Huda School in Franklin, MI from 2013 to 2016. He was the principle of Islamic Association of Greater Detroit (IAGD) Weekend School from 2013 to 2016. He was the Chaplain at the University of Michigan from 2016 to 2018. He led the group for Umrah in 2017 through Miftaah Institute.

Shaykh Oosman Mustoofa
Instructor

Born in England, with ancestral ties to Mauritius, and having been raised in Ethiopia, profoundly influenced his personality, worldview, and life perspective. In 2005, his pursuit of knowledge and spiritual growth began under the guidance of the esteemed Mufti Aasim Rashid in Montreal and later at Al-Ihsan Institute in Vancouver, a mentor cherished for seven transformative years. Following his graduation from Al-Ihsan, he relocated to Montreal, where he served as a full-time federal prison chaplain, providing spiritual services and aiding in the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates in the province of Quebec. Concurrently, he resides in Windsor and has become an integral figure at Muneer Academy and an instructor at Miftaah Institute, where his passion for Islamic studies and pedagogy continues.

Shaykh Hunzla Zaidi
Instructor

Shaykh Hunzla Zaidi was raised in Canton, Michigan. He started the memorization of the Quran at Masjid Bilal Ypsilanti under Qari Shahid Mahmood, and finished when he was ten years old. After middle school, high school, and a couple years of university level studies in the field of Biochemistry, Hunzla left the field and devoted himself full time to learning Deen. He studied at AlHussnain Seminary, a branch of senior scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel’s schools based in Pakistan. Shaykh Hunzla then finished his studies under the guidance of world renowned scholars in Jamia Uloom-ul-Islamia in Binori Town, Pakistan, receiving his certification of Hadith from there. He is currently a Miftaah Institute instructor.

Semester Schedule

Last day to register
September 1st, 2025
First day of semester
September 9th, 2025
Last day of semester
December 16th, 2025
Completion
May 12th, 2026

Registration

Limited Spots Available

sign up for the program

associate program

$350.00/semester
or $530.00/year

Purchase

Apply for Financial Assistance

Click the link below to apply for financial tuition assistance or to pay your tuition in instalments payments.

Learn more

Not ready to enroll but want to learn more?
Download the program catalog to review program details.

Download

frequently
Asked
Questions

What payment options are available?

Tuition payments may be made per semester or per year.