Academic Overview 2017-18
Table of Contents About Tayseer 2 The Program 4 Student Life 5 The Curriculum 7 The Instructors 11 The Location 13 Important Dates 14
About Tayseer Seminary In the Name of God, Most Merciful, Most Benevolent. Peace be upon our Master Muhammad, his family, companions and followers. Tayseer Program for Islamic Studies Mission Tayseer Seminary aims to transform Muslim individuals through the enlightened and relevant study of Sacred Knowledge and through spiritual immersion. Vision In recognition of the growing demand in the American Muslim community for relevant scholarship and educational opportunities, Tayseer Foundation has established Tayseer Seminary: a full-time Islamic theological seminary in Knoxville, TN. 2
And say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge. Quran 20:114
The Program Tayseer Seminary provides a one-year program aimed at: Introducing a comprehensive curriculum that combines serious learning, enlightening spirituality and effective activism. Providing our students with the opportunity to delve into the foundational Islamic sciences without losing sight of their American reality. Enabling students with the necessary skills to become serious seekers of knowledge, critical thinkers and Prophetic activists. Creating a learning community that is forward-looking, responsive to the challenges of Muslims, and interacting with the larger religious and intellectual American milieu. 4
Student Life The time students have at Tayseer goes beyond learning in a classroom it extends to their spiritual and social life. Students share in learning, worship, breaking bread together, outdoor activities, spiritual retreats, and much more. In addition to acquiring a strong foundation in Islamic studies, students also contribute to the local community as part of the activism component of the program. Students can offer their support and services in the state prison system, participate in interfaith dialogues, volunteer with the local Muslim youth group, and serve the community in various ways. Tayseer graduates have gone on to work as youth leaders and community teachers. Tayseer Seminary is about fusing two worlds together. It is grounded in the classical Islamic methodology allowing the students to continue the sacred traditional style of learning while preparing them with the necessary tools to implement Islam in a Western civilization. - Iman Al-Kassir, Tayseer Seminary 2016 Graduate 5
Whosoever Allah wishes good for, He gives him understanding of the religion. - Prophet Muhammad
The Tayseer Curriculum Tayseer Seminary strives at providing a life transforming experience that not only brings students to a better understanding and appreciation of our scholarly tradition, and enables them to become efficient leaders of their communities, but also endeavors at creating in them the urge to forge a profound and everlasting relationship with the Divine. Tayseer Seminary s curriculum is built on three pillars: 1 2 3 KNOWLEDGE SPIRITUALITY ACTIVISM 7
Pillar 1: Knowledge SUBJECT DESCRIPTION DURATION FREQUENCY MEMORIZATION Seekers of knowledge have always memorized portions of Qur`an and other foundational Islamic texts. Students will memorize these texts and review their memorization twice daily. 20 MINS TWICE DAILY ARABIC A serious student of Islam must be well-versed in Arabic to understand most Islamic texts. Students will take an initial placement test to assess Arabic proficiency (no minimum level is required to apply). 75 MINS DAILY TAJWID Reciting Qur`an without the proper pronounciation can entirely change its meaning; every Muslim should know proper Tajwid. DAILY METHODOLOGY OF RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE A critical study of the Book of Knowledge in the Ihyā` `ulūm al-dīn of al-ghazālī, with emphasis on the importance of seeking knowledge and the most beneficial methodology for doing so. EVERY OTHER DAY QUR`ANIC STUDIES & TAFSIR Diving into the Qur`an s meanings, students will better appreciate the spiritual, linguistic, and sociological gems in the Qur`an and the context of its passages. EVERY OTHER DAY TAWHID (THEOLOGY) Knowing one s creed is the most important component of our dīn. Students will learn about God, the Unseen, and the Afterlife. EVERY OTHER DAY PURIFICATION OF THE HEART Without a pure heart, knowledge can be harmful. Students will learn common spiritual ailments and their cures. EVERY OTHER DAY SIRAH (PROPHETIC BIOGRAPHY) A journey through the Prophet Muhammad s life and his companions lives, emphasizing relevant lessons for individuals, families, and communities today. EVERY OTHER DAY HADITH (PROPHETIC TRADITIONS) An in-depth study of the basic terminology and sources of Hadith, along with extensive commentary on some of the most influential small compendiums of Hadith. EVERY OTHER DAY USUL AL-FIQH (PRINCIPLES OF JURISPRUDENCE) An introduction to the principles of deriving Islamic law. Students will gain an understanding and appreciation of diverse intepretations within Islamic jurisprudence. EVERY OTHER DAY FIQH (JURISPRUDENCE) A detailed study of the fiqh of worship including prayer, fasting, and zakat. Students will review hadith from which fiqh rulings were derived in all four schools, with an emphasis on the Shafi`i school. EVERY OTHER DAY
Pillar 2: Spirituality SUBJECT DESCRIPTION DURATION FREQUENCY DHIKR For students of Sacred Knowledge, a daily litany (wird) from the Quran and Prophetic invocations is a must. It cleanses the heart, reminds us of our true purpose, and initiates the day with blessings. 30 MINS DAILY PRAYER Coming together for extra congregational prayers, such as Qiyam-ul-layl, will instill habits that bring hearts closer to Allah and fortify the soul for daily life. N/A WEEKLY FASTING Students will often fast on Mondays and Thursdays, and other recommended days, to foster taqwa-building routines and discipline. 75 MINS TWICE WEEKLY 9
Pillar 3: Activism SUBJECT DESCRIPTION DURATION FREQUENCY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT An enrichment class on how to utilize Islamic knowledge and principles in developing stronger, Prophetic Muslim communities. 75 MINS BIWEEKLY COMMUNITY SERVICE Students will participate in service projects within the Muslim community in Knoxville to enhance their speaking, teaching, and management skills. N/A N/A ISLAM IN AMERICA An overview of the history of Islam in the United States, with an emphasis on themes of cross-cultural encounters, migration, transnational movements, and the black liberation struggle. 75 MINS WEEKLY COUNSELING An introduction to the field and principles of mental-health counseling. Students will learn practical skills for effective engagement with members of their communities. 75 MINS BIWEEKLY 10
SHAYKH Hassan Lachheb President and co-founder of Tayseer Seminary, Shaykh Hassan Lachheb earned his Ph.D. in Religious Studies at the University of Indiana, Bloomington. His academic research focused on the intellectual history and religiosity of the Muslims of Maghrib and Andalus. Shaykh Hassan completed his M.A. in Islamic Theology, Islamic Legal Theory, and Maliki Jurisprudence at Dar al-hadith al-hassaniyyah for Higher Islamic Studies in Rabat, Morocco with honors in 2000. In addition, he completed his B.A. with distinction in Arabic Language and Literature at Mohamed V University in Rabat. Shaykh Hassan has extensively studied several disciplines including Principles of Jurisprudence (Usul al-fiqh), Arabic Grammar, Philology, and Literature. He has also received many ijazaat (licenses to teach) from prominent scholars in Hadith, Comparative Jurisprudence (fiqh), and the Sciences of Quran. He has studied under several of the foremost Islamic scholars in Morocco. Shaykh Hassan is resident scholar of the Muslim Community of Knoxville and the spearheading faculty member of the Tayseer Seminary. 11
USTADHA Zaynab Ansari Zaynab Ansari spent a decade studying Farsi, Arabic, and traditional Islam, sitting with male and female scholars in seminaries in the Middle East, including traditional scholars in Damascus in the 1990s. Upon her return to the United States, she earned degrees in history and Middle Eastern Studies from Georgia State University. Since 2014, Zaynab Ansari has served as a scholar-in-residence for Tayseer Foundation, offering enrichment courses and halaqahs to women and youth in the Muslim Community of Knoxville, and working on interfaith dialogue. She is currently an instructor at Tayseer Seminary, which features a one-year intensive in Islamic Studies, drawing students from Tennessee and all regions of the United States. Ustadha Zaynab has previously written and taught for SunniPath. She has been a freelance writer for Azizah Magazine, a certified speaker with the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta, and a contributor to online Islamic educational portals such as SeekersHub. She has also served as the coordinator of oral histories for the After Malcolm Project, a digital archive of African-American Muslim history. She is part of the teaching faculty of the Ribaat Program, an online Islamic Studies curriculum led by Anse Tamara Gray, a leading woman scholar of traditional Islam. She is also a board member of Lamppost Productions. 12
The City The Community Knoxville is the third-largest city in Tennessee, with a population of over one million people within its metropolitan area. Situated at the foothills of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the city is surrounded by natural scenery, the Tennessee River, and five major lake ways. The city is accessible from an international waterway and three major interstates. In addition to the city s picturesque beauty, Knoxville s cost of living index is 11 percent lower than the U.S. average. The city is also a college town, home to the state s flagship university: the University of Tennessee. Knoxville has a steadily growing Muslim community of approximately 5,000 people. The community is a united and diverse one with only one main mosque built in 1989. At the University of Tennessee, the community has always had an active Muslim Student Association; an MSA that founded the first-ever Fast-a-thon in 2001. About twenty years ago, the community initiated a fulltime Islamic school: Annoor Academy. Today the school has its own dedicated building with over 200 students in pre-k, elementary, and middle school grade levels. The Facility Tayseer Seminary is located in a three-story building in a quiet, scenic area of West Knoxville. While the building is nestled between acres of trees on all sides, a peaceful learning environment, it is easily accessible through a nearby highway. The seminary has multiple classrooms, a break room for students, a library, and a cozy prayer space. Within a couple of miles of the seminary, students can easily locate affordable housing and access local stores. 13
Important Dates PRIORITY APPLICATION DEADLINE JANUARY 10, 2017 REGULAR APPLICATION DEADLINE FEBRUARY 28, 2017 LATE APPLICATION DEADLINE MAY 1, 2017 CONFIRMATION DEADLINE MAY 31, 2017 STUDENT ORIENTATION SEPTEMBER 9, 2017 FIRST DAY OF CLASSES SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 LAST DAY OF FALL SEMESTER DECEMBER 8, 2017 CLASSES RESUME JANUARY 8, 2018 GRADUATION CEREMONY MAY 5, 2018 How to Apply Apply by going online to www.tayseerseminary.org Tuition and Financial Aid Tuition is $5,000 annually for the full-time program. Material fees are extra. Financial aid is available on a limited basis. To request a financial aid application form, please email admin@tayseerseminary.org 14