Posts Tagged alim course
Posted on May 30, 2010 with No Comments
Shazed’s take on this alim course gives real insight. Here are his words…
As-salamu alaikum to all readers, I am a first year student and am writing a brief account of my studies to give you some input on how Sirajul Uloom has helped me.
Until the start of this course, I had been through many short courses in Sarf and Nahw, but was unable to move forward, as an average learner I was finding it difficult to carry my study on a one lesson a week basis. I was craving for intensive study. I was searching for a course which I could fit in with my family commitment, employment, and a course which would be affordable for me. I have always desired seeking knowledge, never believed that I would be able to study full time or travel a year abroad for study.
Would you believe it, after years of part time studies, my prayers were answered, I was shown the entrance to Sirajul Uloom, a 6 year intensive Alim course, evening based classes to accommodate mature students and workers like me who would be otherwise unable to attend a full time Darul Uloom, with low, affordable fees, not allowing the global recession to stop us from learning.
I am now on my month number 9, and the Alim course is fast developing me into a Real Muslim, both in terms of knowledge and in practice. I am studying in a traditional manner under inspiring teachers whom have learned under unbroken chain of transmission dating back 1400 years to our beloved prophet Muhammad (saw). We are studying the Dars e Nizami curriculum; it enriches one with grammar and with natural progression. There are regular drills in lesson allowing us to recap on each topic covered previously.
Each evening we study the following subjects: Tajweed ul Quran, Sarf, Nahwa, Fiqh and Urdu. Amongst the Kitabs studied include asan nahwa, asan sarf, tashheel fiqh, behisti zewar, durusul lughatul arabiya (Madina Books) qasas an nabiyeen, books to come include: safwatul masadir and rowdatul arab.
We have mashallah great, inspiring teachers, whom have studied the Dars e Nizami syllabus, not just in the U.K but in the far continents. They, the teachers inspire and motivate you to keep your learning going. We get to ask questions, these are in addition to our study, allowing us to consolidate our learning.
The course is wholesome, not only does it come with one to one dialogues with our Ustads, fellow colleagues and senior students on higher classes too can be called on for extra support, this is a bonus to attending an institution like Sirajul Uloom. We have Dhikr assembly once a week, where all students gather with the Ustads, and listen to the oral traditions of the messenger Muhammad (saw).
Our year is almost coming to a climax, I am eagerly anticipating the 2nd year with books like Nurul Izah and others.
Sirajul Uloom understands the needs of the youths and adults who crave for knowledge and desire the opportunity to tread the path of the learned. Sirajul Uloom have opened a gateway of opportunity for older students like me who can fit in an Alim course alongside daily work schedule, family commitment, and not to forget the course fees are affordably low.
Respected reader, if you desire to tread the path of sacred knowledge and learn how to live as a human being in today’s world, then…
Note by Amin: Please figure out the rest of his sentence.
Posted on May 28, 2010 with No Comments
Living in South London, I was keen to complete the full 6 year alim course. The part time aalim course at lantern of knowledge has allowed me to both complete my studies whilst having the opportunity to work full time.
Within the London area I found this aalim class to be the most appropriate for brothers working and who have other responsibilities.
With knowledgeable teachers, and enthusiastic students, I feel that this course is ideally suited for people who, for whatever reason, are not able to attend a full time course.
The teachers are all qualified scholars who work with students in teaching classical works both in Arabic grammar and syntax and well as advanced studies in quran and ahadith.
Some of the books that we have studied so far in the first year are easy grammar and syntax, stories of the prophets and the Arabic Medina books series volume 1.
In later years, we will be looking in depth into principles of Islamic theology as well as studies of Quranic verses and narrations of the prophet Muhammad (sallalaahu alahi wa sallam).
I would recommend this alim course to brothers who are unable to attend full time courses and wish to specialize in various fields of Islamic theology.
Zafar
Posted on May 21, 2010 with No Comments
Aslamalikum
My name is Adnan Ali and I am fifth year student of this Alim course.
I am married and have children. I work in daytime and study in the evening. I also teach some of my family members.
Alhamdulilah by studying in this Alim class it has improved my spirtual life as well as my practical life.
I am in need of your dua’s and may Allah help us all to be steadfast on our deen and to acknowledge the value of this deen.
Ameen
Jazakallh wassalam
Note from Amin: Link to the alim course is in the sidebar
Posted on May 19, 2010 with No Comments
I am in the third year of Alim class and I am a Pharmacy student at University. In all honesty, initially I joined this alim course with the intention of leaving after a year, but after studying under such learned personnel, enjoying my learning experience so thoroughly and seeing the transition this experience was making in my life there was no way I could leave!
You may wonder that how do people spend the whole day at work or at University, be married and have families and still have time to spend three hours in madrasah everyday!
Not just that, but homework also! Don’t these people relax!?
Well… that is exactly what I thought. In fact, I worryingly asked my respected teacher during my A-Levels (first year Alim class) that “how am I going to keep up with University and Alim Class at the same time”?
All he replied was ‘Let the time come and we’ll deal with the problem as it comes’ and Alhamdulilah through the infinite grace of Allah (SWT) I and the other Alim class students have come to know that if you sincerely want to seek this sacred knowledge then Allah will divinely open up those doors for you and he will put barakah in your time.
As for studying at the institution under Ulama: it is a joy to study Quran, Hadith, Fiqh, Arabic and other Islamic sciences under students of Shaykh Yusuf Motala, Mufti Umar Farooq as well as other scholars who are respected across the globe.
After spending time studying for years under such noble and knowledgeable individuals, the advice and the springs of wisdom of these teachers are invaluable.
Our teachers remind us that you are in this world with a purpose and you only have one shot at life, so be an influential person and leave a legacy behind!… Now what legacy can be better than the legacy left behind by the Ambiyaa (A.S.)?
Thus doing this alim course can really help not only enhance one’s own life but also the lives of others, and therefore inshalah gaining the reward for all those you benefited.
May Allah keep us all steadfast on his deen. Ameen.
Mubeen Ahmed
Posted on May 16, 2010 with No Comments
Assalamualaikum
My name is Usman & I’m 25 years old. I work as teacher in a state secondary school & I am also in my 3rd year of the alim course.
Just before I started the part time alim course, I had a realisation that to learn knowledge was compulsory for every muslim male & female and that ignorance will not be an excuse on the day of judgement. We will be asked about the knowledge that we acquired and how we acted upon it. At the same time I didn’t want to commit myself for a couple of hours every weekday.
I started the alim course and found that this actually helped me to be more organised with my time outside the alim course and made me more focused. The alim course opened up my mind and made me more humble and made me realise how little I actually knew about Islam. It has helped mould me into the individual I now am and has made me get nearer to Allah and increased the love of the prophet (sallalahoalaihiwasalam) and his sunnat.
Alhamdulillah with the duas and efforts of my asaathidha (teachers), Allah has given me the tawfique to carry on studying and I am now in my 3rd year.
Moreover the course is not just set up to give knowledge, but also to spiritually rectify oneself through the guidance of our respected ulama within the darul uloom.
After nearly completing my 3rd year of the alim course I have realised that knowledge is not cheap. The religious knowledge is what the ambiya (prophets, peace be upon them) left behind, one who acquires this knowledge acquires great wealth. Sacrificing a couple of hours every evening for the sake of Ilm was worth it & I have no regrets.
I make dua that Allah Ta’aala accept the efforts of my asaathidha, accept the institution and accept me to continue studying and utilize me for the khidmat of deen
Wassalmualaikum
Mohammad Usman Butt
Posted on May 4, 2010 with No Comments
Asalamulaikum, my name is Raza Ali.
I am 20 years old and in my third year of my alim course.
Alhumdulillah I have made it this far with the blessing of Allah and insha-allah will finish with the blessing of Allah.
There’s nothing more pleasing than knowing what is needed from us as Muslims directly from the sources the Quran and Sunnah, and helping others to do the same.
It all starts from an intention which could even be typing in alim online on the internet but it is the best thing anyone could do for a better Islamic day to day life and to know how to get closer to Allah (swt) and his prophet (saw) for a better day to day hereafter.
Posted on May 3, 2010 with No Comments
Assalamu alaykum,
My name is Abdul Baasit, I am 20 years old. I am a university student and I am also currently taking part in the aalim course being run at Lantern of knowledge (Siraj ul Uloom). I started the course 2 years ago when I was in my second year of college and ever since then I have never regretted it. Before joining, I searched for many aalim courses but because this one was the closest one to me and it was part-time I chose this one.
The alim course has enhanced my knowledge of Islam and has given me a deeper understanding and insight to the laws and beauty of the Quran. This knowledge has helped me a lot in dealing with day to day situations where confusion occurs amongst the common people with regards to matters of deen and fiqh.
Not only that but the love for Allah and His beloved Messenger Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam has also increased through the studying of hadeeth with ulama.
I believe that such benefits cannot be gained through any other way, apart from being taught directly from a scholar himself. Reading books is one thing but having that teacher there to explain it to you and add any other relevant knowledge that can apply to it as well is what really does help.
A lot of people may assume that this course is painstakingly hard and that they wont be able to cope. If you can make the hours that are in place then all it takes is one or two hours outside of class to quickly go over what you have learnt.
If this course is taken seriously by a person and effort is made to fit it in, then I am confident that Allah Ta’ala will grant that person the ability to manage and to stay on top of his work. It has been done and it can be done
but like with all things valuable it may take a little bit of a sacrifice.
Wassalamu alaykum
Posted on April 21, 2010 with No Comments
You’ve seen from my previous posts the importance of ‘Talabul Ilm’ with the aid of an alim course.
The time has now come to reveal my no.1 choice for the institution with whom you should undertake the course.
This post is about my recommendation but the site for the recommended darul uloom is here. The name of this darul uloom is ‘Siraj ul Uloom’. It is based in Leyton, North East London. This darul uloom is also known as ‘Lantern of Knowledge’.
First of all, I should point out that this darul uloom operates its alim course on a part time basis. Part time in this case, means, daily attendance but only between the hours of 5 to 8 in the evenings. This will last for a period of 6 years.
This institution caters for all those that cannot attend full time boarding darul ulooms such as those in Bury, Dewsbury and Kent.
So if you work during the daytime or have a family to support, undertaking a part time alim course at this institution is the perfect solution to change the direction of your deen (for the better) without upsetting the established parts of your life (kids and commitments).
My second reason for recommending this darul uloom is its tenacity for upholding and adhering to the recommended ways of teaching throughout the generations. Students sit around benches in front of the teacher. Manners and respect are upheld.
The classes are generally taught in Urdu. If you think learning in English is a good idea, think again – even if you don’t know Urdu to begin with.
With Urdu, you will learn the same way the big ulama of the past have learned and have passed on.
Furthermore, you can get a much better understanding of the arabic language when translated into urdu as compared with direct translation into english. You just can’t express some arabic terms in english as you can with urdu.
Even if you don’t know urdu at this stage, you don’t need to worry. That will be taught to you (along with arabic) and you will also pick it up along the way during your first 2 years. Even students who didn’t know a word of urdu before starting, were eventually translating arabic into urdu like a pro.
Having said that, this darul uloom does translate lessons and books into english for the first year to help new students become accustomed to urdu. With this help, you have no excuse.
So even if there is a darul uloom who is offering to teach an alim course directly into english and at the same time, you don’t know urdu at all, I would still suggest that you undertake an alim course that translates into urdu first.
This darul uloom follows a syllabus known as the ‘nizami syllabus’. It is the same syllabus that has been taught throughout the major darul ulooms across the world for a very very long time.
My third reason for recommending Siraj ul Uloom is: The Great Environment.
When you undertake an alim class, you absolutely must have an environment which is conducive not only for learning, but also for spiritual enlightenment and upliftment.
This darul uloom has great learned teachers who really help the students in all aspects of deen. The relationship between student and teacher is brought closer due to the environment which helps in learning and necessary advice.
Click Here to visit the Jamia Siraj ul Uloom site
When conducting periodic activities, all students join in and form a great environment of brotherhood and harmony. It really is a great place in multiple ways. The atmosphere is generally quite relaxed but everyone knows their limits and what is required of them. Discipline is always maintained.
Classes are generally small and so learning and listening has its benefits.
The kitabs/subject matter studied are the same as those studied at the major full time darul ulooms. Within the first year, students are able to read arabic books such as Qasas un Nabiyyeen as if they’ve been reading arabic for a while beforehand.
I am a student in my second year (at the time of this writing) and I find it a great place to learn and advance my deen while at the same time, working during the day.
I don’t think 6 years of evening class is too long a commitment when you understand the benefits.
If you want to know more about the benefits of becoming a student of Ilm, go to the Jamia Siraj ul Uloom site (link below) and sign up for the newsletter. It has some great ahaadeeth and information on the benefits of Ilm. Some of the hadith will astound you!
If you live in or around London, I would highly recommend that you contact the darul uloom and get an application form from now. New year classes start after Ramadhan. So if you do intend to start, get in early and avoid procrastination, because that’s exactly what shaytaan wants you to do. Eventually, procrastination leads to ‘mind changes’ and not doing anything at all.
Mention my name and I may give you a sweet if you start in arbi awwal!
Here is the Recommended Jamia Siraj ul Uloom Website
Below you will find some other student opinions and reviews.
Hope this helps,
Amin
Posted on April 20, 2010 with No Comments
Kathir bin Qays (he is a taabi’ee – a taabi’ee is one who saw a Sahabi in a state of Islam and also died as a Muslim) relates: “I was sitting in the musjid of Damascus with Hadrat Abu Darda radiallahu anhu.
A person came to Hadrat Abu Darda radiallahu anhu and said: “O Abu Darda, I have left Madinah and come to you so that I may learn a particular Hadith from you.
I have been given to understand that you have heard this Hadith from Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. I have not come to you for any other purpose.” Hadrat Abu Darda replied: “Without doubt, I have heard Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam saying: “Whoever takes a path seeking knowledge therein, Allah Ta’ala will make easy for him, a path to jannah.
The angels, out of happiness, will place down their wings for the seeker of knowledge (laying down the wings is out of humility for the seeker of knowledge.
Or it means that they have kindness and mercy for the seeker of knowledge, the result of which is making dua for his success. This is a sign that the person is accepted in the eyes of Allah because angels are sinless and are the special servants of Allah.
To be accepted by the angels is like being accepted by Allah Ta’ala because your friend’s friend is also your friend) and whatever is in the heavens and the earth seek forgiveness for the seeker of knowledge (that is they seek forgiveness for his sins) and even the fish in the sea seek forgiveness for him.
It is apparent that the disbelievers and the shayateen are not included among those who seek forgiveness, because they do not deserve this bounty.
If they disobey the Creator, how can they have good relations with the friends of the Creator? This is something that is obvious, therefore it was not mentioned in the Hadith. The Ulama say that it refers to all animals and not only fish.
Fish have been specifically mentioned because water comes into existence through the barakah of the ulama and it is also the source of life, and we also know that fish are dependent on water.
The superiority of an aalim over an aabid (worshipper) is like the superiority of the fourteenth moon over all the stars. In other words, it is as if the aalim is the fourteenth moon and the worshiper is like the stars.
The aalim is likened to the moon of the fourteenth night which illuminates the entire universe. Because the benefit of knowledge extends to others as well, and the entire universe is illuminated with this knowledge, he has therefore been likened to the moon of the fourteenth night. As for the worshiper, his benefit is restricted to himself. Others cannot benefit from him. He has therefore been compared to the stars.
One can argue that by looking at the aabid one also yearns to do Ibaadat and that through the blessings of his Ibaadat, the mercy of Allah descends on the people. And in the same way, the land is also illuminated by the stars.
Then the answer to all this is that all these benefits are nothing compared to the benefits of the aalim and the moon. In fact, they are not even worthy of consideration.
Aalim in this context refers to that person who knows more than the
basic tenets (such as salaat, fasting, etc.) of Islam while an aabid refers to that worshipper who has a basic knowledge of Deen and occupies himself in Ibaadat and is not inclined towards intellectual pursuits. It does not refer to an ignorant worshipper because what Ibaadat can he make, and how can his Ibaadat be correct? It is therefore necessary for the aabid to have a
basic knowledge of the Deen.
There is no doubt that the Ulama are the inheritors of the Prophets. We know that they did not leave behind any dinars or dirhams (i.e. they did not make anyone inheritors of worldly possessions). They did not leave behind any inheritance besides knowledge. So the one who acquires this knowledge has in fact acquired a lot of good.
(This Hadith has been quoted from Mishkaat and narrated by Imam
Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Abu Daud and Daarimi).
Hope this gives you a deeper appreciate for seeking knowledge.
Inshallah, if you undertake an alim course with the correct intentions, you will be witness to the rewards mentioned above.
Posted on April 17, 2010 with No Comments
Everyday we hear Quran and Hadith lectures/taaleem at our local masjids and yet, we wish we could understand it better.
Then again, some of us have a different agenda. Some of us wish to gain thawab by propagating the deen of Allah to others with a deeper understanding.
The worst intention to undertake an aalim course is fame. Doing it for this reason will possibly see you being thrown into the fire pit, head first, according to the famous hadith.
But if you do have the right intention, then it’s definitely commendable and also important that you get started.
There are many, many benefits to becoming an aalim. The most obvious benefit is the ability to understand the Quran and Hadith in its original language. This allows you to gain a better understanding without needing to consult an alim on a regular basis.
Furthermore, Fiqh is an important science of Islam and one which has the most controversy in certain areas.
If one had the knowledge of the 4 aimmah and their ijtihaad, then he could apply his fiqh knowledge practically throughout his life as well as others around him.
If you had a question about salah or marriage, who do you turn to? A Doctor? Of course not. You’d refer the question to an expert in this field and this would be an alim.
You’d listen to him and take his advice because he would be speaking from the quran and hadith.
Similarly, when you undertake an alim course, you will be in that position where you can research and find answers to questions asked by the common man.
