Lite - Hamtramck

January 11 -
May 9th, 2024

Thursdays

7:00 - 9:00 PM EST

8228 Conant
Detroit, MI, 48211

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.

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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

Sacred Foundations I: 40 Hadith of Imam Nawawi

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

Winter semester

Introduction to Islamic Jurisprudence

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

This course introduces students to the rulings regarding two of the five pillars of Islam: the declaration of faith (Shahādah) and ritual prayer (Salāh). The latter includes a study of ritual purification (Tahārah). The course introduces relevant Islamic theological concepts and covers topics that include the meaning of jurisprudence (Fiqh), rulings related to ritual prayer, the etiquette of supplication, and the spiritual dimensions of worship. The course primarily focused on the rulings and understandings of the Hanafi school of thought, but gives reference to differences of opinion amongst the schools.

Quran Exegesis (Juz Amma)

Course Length: 1 Semester
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.

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 Mohammed Ishtiaq

Instructor

Shaykh Ishtiaq moved to Michigan from Bradford, England 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 and 2021 through Miftaah Institute. He was the Principal at Muneer Academy and Assistant Principal at Michigan Islamic Institute. He is currently the Principal at Oakland International Academy, Middle School and an Instructor at Miftaah Institute. He received his BA in Biology and MEd in Educational Leadership from Oakland University, Michigan. Shaykh Ishtiaq is known for his humor and humbleness.

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. These early formative encounters, interwoven with a rich tapestry of diverse cultures, ignited this individual's transformative journey into the realm of Islamic studies, driven by a desire to contribute meaningfully to society. 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.