Lite - Canton

September 11 -
December 4, 2023

Mondays

6:00 - 9:00 PM EST

MUSLIM COMMUNITY OF WESTERN SUBURBS

Quran

Seerah

Hadith

Arabic

What is the
Miftaah Lite?

Miftaah Lite provides college students and adults a primer on their journey to attain in-depth knowledge of the various disciplines of Islamic studies. Students will study Islam and cover classical scholarly approaches, providing them an introduction to the rich Islamic tradition and application of the Islamic disciplines. The course establishes a basic foundation and introduction to Islamic Studies and prepares students for further academic study.

‍Students in the Miftaah Lite Program must complete 8 courses to graduate. Upon completing the Miftaah Lite Program, students have the option of transitioning into the 3 Year Associate of Islamic Studies Program.

Courses

2 Semesters

Arabic Conversation

Building upon what is learnt in Introduction to Arabic Grammar, this class aims to reinforce many of the concepts learned in Introduction to Arabic Grammar, increase students’ vocabulary, and introduce them to new grammatical forms. The class focuses on providing students with a firm grasp of phraseology that is common to both spoken and written speech, including, but not limited to, a thorough review of Arabic possessive, descriptive, vocative, and indicative phrases. The class also covers how gender is used in Arabic, the full range of Arabic subjective, objective, and possessive pronouns, and the Arabic broken plural. As with Introduction to Arabic grammar, preparation for class and homework are essential so that students may devote in-class time to communicating in the language rather than talking “about” the language. Upon completion, students will be able to formulate basic sentences and speak Arabic on a beginner’s level.
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Text Used: First Steps to understanding Arabic

Arabic Morphology

This course provides students with a necessary base understanding of how Arabic root letters are conjugated to create different words. 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. Students will also be able to identify the usage of verbs in the Qur'an.
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Text Used:

Arabic Grammar

This course consists of a systematic study of Arabic syntax and parallels the material learnt in Beginner Arabic Morphology I. The comprehensive text used in this course covers the various classifications of different types of sentences and the different components of a sentence’s anatomy, provides a basic but detailed understanding of the Arabic case system, and discusses how Arabic nouns respond to prepositions and verbs in accordance with the role the noun plays in the sentence.
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Text Used: Hidayat ul Nahw, Duroos ul Lughat (Shaykh Hashim al Qalam), Arabic Tutor 2

Arabic Literature

This course aims at giving students a chance to put their Arabic comprehension skills used in their first-year grammar and conversation class to use. It also develops those skills. The class uses Sheikh Abu Hassan Ali Nadwi’s classic didactic text Qasas al-Nabiyin (Stories of the Prophets) to provide students with a manageably challenging reading experience. The fun and engaging text of Qasas al-Nabiyin gradually introduces more complicated and varied grammar and vocabulary as the text goes on. Therefore, each qissah (story) becomes like a baby step towards higher level Arabic comprehension for the student. This class gives students the skill and confidence to begin digesting some of the Islamic intellectual traditions’ most difficult and important works.
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Text Used: Tafsir al Jalalyn

Quran Comprehension

Students will study a compilation of verses from both the Quran. Various ayahs will be analyzed covering areas such as grammar, syntax, definitions, and moral conduct, encouraging the student to improve their knowledge of the Arabic language.
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Text Used: Tafsir al Jalalyn, Safwtul al Tafseer

Hadith Comprehension

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, 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.
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Text Used: 40 Nawawi, Riyadus Saliheen HC

Tazkiah: Purification of the Heart

This Tazkiyah course will read and reflect over texts by Imam Ghazali, Imam Zarnuji, and other select texts. The objective of these readings is to train the student of knowledge by helping them learn practical tools to purify their hearts and build a stronger relationship with Allah SWT.
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Text Used: Purification of the Heart, Selection’s from Ihyaa, Ayuhal Wald Ghazali

Fall semester

The Fiqh of Tahara

‍Course Length: 1 Semester
Text Used: Islamic Jurisprudence: Introduction to Fiqh, Purification, and Salah

Works on Islamic Law (Fiqh) often begin with the chapter on Purification (Taharah). This is a must take class for every Muslim, as purification is a mandatory condition before one prays. This class will cover the principles and rulings of pure and impure substances, wudu, tayammum, ghusl, their nullifiers and more.

Arabic 101: The Beginner’s Guide to Learning Arabic

Course Length: 1 Semester
Text Used: Beginner Arabic Morphology I
‍
This course consists of a systematic study of Arabic syntax and parallels the material learnt in Beginner Arabic Morphology I. The comprehensive text used in this course covers the various classifications of different types of sentences and the different components of a sentence’s anatomy, provides a basic but detailed understanding of the Arabic case system, and discusses how Arabic nouns respond to prepositions and verbs in accordance with the role the noun plays in the sentence. The practice drills and required reading of this course contain more than 3,000 words and prepare students for the study of advanced texts in future years.

Quran Exegesis (Juz Amma)

Course Length: 1 Semester
Text Used: Tafseer Juz Amma by Miftaah Institute
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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.

Winter semester

Prophetic Traditions I

Course Length: 1 Semester
Text Used: Miftaah 40 Hadith of Imam Nawawi Textbook

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 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. Students will cover the first 25 hadith of Imam Nawawi’s compilation in this course

Arabic 101: The Beginner’s Guide to Learning Arabic

Course Length: 1 Semester
Text Used: Beginner Arabic Morphology I

This course consists of a systematic study of Arabic syntax and parallels the material learnt in Beginner Arabic Morphology I. The comprehensive text used in this course covers the various classifications of different types of sentences and the different components of a sentence’s anatomy, provides a basic but detailed understanding of the Arabic case system, and discusses how Arabic nouns respond to prepositions and verbs in accordance with the role the noun plays in the sentence. The practice drills and required reading of this course contain more than 3,000 words and prepare students for the study of advanced texts in future years.

Prophetic Biography

Course Length: 1 Semester
Text Used: Sirah al-Nabawiya by Miftaah Institute
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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

I love coming to Miftaah; the classes give me tools to deal with hardships in life and help me be a better person overall. The instructors are sincere and real. We learn from not just what they are teaching about the subjects but their demeanor, their values and views and their stories and tangents.

Sumreena Hussain
Advanced Associate Student

Miftaah Institute has been an answer to my du'aas. The classes are very well taught and the instructors are exceptional. The best part about it is that if I cannot attend live, I can go back and watch the recordings. There are a lot of resources to help us understand and pass the class like the PowerPoints and the notes. The administration is also very receptive to any questions or concerns I have.

Fazia Abrahim from Sunrise, Florida
Miftaah Online Winter 2022 Student

Arabic vocabulary and its forms with definitions

Better understand the Hadith, in that the student will be familiar with the history of its revelation and collection, and the various aspects that aid its comprehension

Explore the different types of Hadith compilers and their books

The foundation of Islamic Knowledge

Understand the development of the script of the Quran

Course Instructors

Learn from traditionally trained scholars

Shaykh Abdullah Waheed

Instructor

Shaykh Abdullah Waheed was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, MI. He commenced his studies at the age of ten in Toronto, Canada, where he went to memorize the Quran. He completed the memorization of the Holy Quran by the tender age of thirteen and then went on to study in the seven-year extensive Shariah program in Toronto, Canada. Shaykh Abdullah then continued his research and studies, which took him on global journeys to Pakistan, Kuwait, England and other countries. Shaykh Abdullah is a co-founder and instructor at Miftaah Institute and is also the Director of Islamic Affairs at Flint Islamic Center. He is known for his motivational and enthusiastic style of speaking, which leaves the audience desiring to better themselves.

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.