Young Muslims residing within the context of modernity are in a precarious situation. They are nestled between tradition and modern narratives of reality and morality. Among the challenges many Muslims face is a fragile understanding of the foundational principles of Islam, the reality of Allah’s existence and the truth of the Prophet (s).
Darul Qasim has developed this unique Islamic Essentials Program to tackle the intellectual issues of today, how does the modern Muslim discern between false and true narratives of our deen today? This program will cover these issues while clarifying the principles of Islam in an engaging way. The Islamic Essentials Online Program is ideal for high school students, young professional, or college students.
Please e-mail [email protected].
Mohammed Pervaiz was born and raised in Southern West Virginia. He holds an undergraduate degree from Haverford College where he studied Sociology and Chemistry, a Masters degree in Middle East Studies from The University of Chicago and a Ph.D in Social, Political, Ethical and Cultural Thought from Virginia Tech. He taught various courses for five years in the departments of Religion & Culture, Political Science and History at Virginia Tech before joining Darul Qasim. Dr. Pervaiz’s training in the liberal arts and humanities focuses on secular and religious power and embodiment in modern times (especially the early Turkish Republic), utilizing concepts developed out of the anthropology of the secular and critical theory.
In addition to his studies in the Western academy, he has studied with Muslim scholars in Amman, Istanbul, Chicago. His initial training in the basic Islamic sciences began with Shaykh Amin at Darul Qasim. He later completed the classical Arabic program at the Qasid Institute, and continued studying the basic Islamic sciences in Tajwid, Tafsir, ‘ilm al-akhlāq, Grammar, Hanafi Law, and biography with a number of scholars.
Firas Alkhateeb holds a B.A. in History from the University of Illinois – Chicago and an M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago, with a focus on Ottoman intellectual history and Islamic legal theory. He is the author of Lost Islamic History: Reclaiming Muslim Civilization from the Past. He previously taught Islamic History at Universal School in Bridgeview, IL from 2010 to 2015. He has been teaching at Darul Qasim since 2014.
Noman Zaheer spent his early years in Hong Kong, then pursued memorization of the Qurʿān during his teenage years in Pakistan at the well-known Islamic seminary, Ashraf al-Madaris, under the auspices of Hakim Akhtar (may Allah bestow His mercy upon him).
Noman moved to Houston, Texas in 1995 where he completed his education in aviation maintenance at Westwood College of Aviation and began working in commercial aviation maintenance while serving in the community in various capacities including Imam, youth mentor and Qurʿān recitation/memorization teacher.
In 2001, Noman relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee where he continued working in commercial aviation maintenance, completing his aviation career as a Supervisor in aircraft maintenance work flow management in 2013. During these years, Noman led the Muslim Community of Knoxville in various capacities as a volunteer Imam, khaṭīb, youth coordinator, community board member, Islamic school teacher, retreat and events director, Qurʿān recitation teacher and more.
In 2009, Noman met with Shaykh Amin and found his calling at Darul Qasim to pursue his quest for more knowledge. He volunteered his services for the first few years, and in 2013, he was appointed to the position of Registrar in which he continues to serve. Additionally, Noman has studied Shaykh al-Hind level coursework and is now continuing into intermediate-level courses with various instructors at Darul Qasim.
While maintaining his on-going quest for more knowledge and keeping his full-time position, over the years, Noman has received curriculum orientation and training by Shaykh Amin and Shaykh Musa Sugapong (senior faculty member at Darul Qasim) for the development and teaching methodology of the Islamic Studies Essentials Online Program. He has been teaching this curriculum to high school and college students for the past several years.
“I’ve been to numerous halaqas and lectures of the course of my life but for some reason it felt distant. I could never entirely connect with what the speaker explained or spoke about. It was as if I was in that mindset that I had to become a scholar in order to feel the true meaning of what they spoke of. However, from the first day in this class I truly connected to the subject – I am relearning but with an academic approach.”
“Having gone through an Islamic school from kindergarten through middle school, I was taught these pillars but was never approached in the lens of the universality theory.”
“Growing up in America with all sorts of wild philosophies and theories, this course has reminded me of the truth and instilled confidence in it more than ever before.”
“From this course, I learned what Islam is and WHY Islam is… the greatest thing I take away from this course is a yearning to learn and understand more.”
“One of the most common questions adherents of monotheistic religions ask is: what/who is God? However, I feel as if the essential question is ‘What/Who is God to YOU?’ Through following this course, I have been able to thoroughly answer this question.”
“In the beginning, I wasn’t sure about this class. My mom had put me in courses before, however, this was different.. I broadened my views on ordinary acts that we do everyday.”
“I knew Muhammad ﷺ was the last prophet, but I was blind sighted to the massive lineage and family tree it took to get there.”
“Coming out of this class, I can say with full confidence that I am on the right path and I am more than pleased, thankful, and humble to say that I am a Muslim.”
“This class was mostly about logic. All the pillars and the history behind them makes more sense than any other religion. There’s so much to appreciate what Muhammad ﷺ has done for us and what Allah has blessed us with.”
