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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Woah - what is this all about?
ARK is a brand new series of weekly Islamic classes, taking place in the MSA office Wednesdays after the Maghrib prayer. It will explore the varied and diverse fields of Islamic knowledge including Aqeedah (Islamic theology), Seerah (Life of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him), Fiqh (Islamic law), Usool al-Fiqh (Islamic legal theory), Usool at-Tafseer (Principles of Interpreting the Qur'an), Mustalah al-Hadith (Hadith classification and verification), and LOTS MORE!
So what makes this class different from other Islamic classes?
This class follows a unique and unprecedented format that is designed to expose students to the full range of Islamic studies in an academic and inspiring manner. Most other classes pick one subject and reflect on it, and tend to take a long time in order for someone to emerge with a deeper understanding of the topic.
On the other hand, this class is designed by students, for students and intends to discuss the fundamentals of each Islamic discipline, as well as how the various sciences are interconnected and complementary. It aims to deliver as much knowledge as possible with clear objectives for each class and a clear curriculum.
Thus, students will be presented with common problems and basic questions at the beginning of each class (eg. How do scholars determine which hadith are authentic?) that they will be able to answer at the end of the class.
This sounds waaaay too intense for me.
Classes will provide full introductions to the subject matter before delving into the jucier details, in order to cater to both beginners and advanced students. Also, you will have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you want to clarify any areas that are unclear to you. We will have a feedback thread on the forums for students to help us in directing the class and determining what level is appropriate. Feedback can also be given in person.
Who is this class open for? Is it for both brothers and sisters?
Yes, this class is absolutely open for everyone!
Would non-muslims benefit from this class?
The material for this class will likely be too unfamiliar for non-muslims and many of the subjects will not be relevant. Non-muslims interested in learning about Islam are welcome to contact our Islam Awareness team (dawah[at]macmsa.com) for more info on resources, lectures, weekly information booths, and people whom they can get in contact with.
Okay, but what's with the name 'ARK'?
A recurring theme as we delve into the various Islamic sciences, will be the concept of the 'Sunnah'. We will discuss what the term 'sunnah' denotes as well as its significance in each and every subject we delve into. The name of the class is taken from a statement made by the eighth century Muslim jurist and eponym of the Maliki school of law - Imam Malik ibn Anas (d.179H) - who said:
"The Sunnah is like the Ark of Nûh; whoever embarked upon it was saved, and whoever abandoned it drowned."
Similarly, in this class we will be embarking upon the Ark of the Sunnah as we travel to the amazing worlds of Islamic studies, feel the impact of the religion on our lives in our journey towards our Creator, and witness the great intellectual heritage of Islamic scholarship. Also, in order to immerse ourselves in the concept of the Sunnah, we will also be discussing many of the hadith from the 40-hadith collection by Imam Nawawi (d.676H). We will look at one hadith each week that is relevant to the topic that will be discussed.
What will this class require from me?
Your enthusiasm and desire to always learn more. The class is not meant to be didactic, it will be interactive and you will have a say in what you learn. Your questions and input will help play a role in determining the level of study and also the topics that are interesting within these various subjects.
Where can I get a taste of these different subjects?
You can check out the "ARK COUNTDOWN" thread on the MacMSA forums:
Be sure to share your comments!
Yo, this is awesome. But how much do I pay?
Exactly $0.00. Classes are free.
Incredible! When do we start?
There will be a short intro to the class on Wednesday, September 16th during iftar at IAHS 143. The first official class will take place Wednesday, September 30th in the MSA Office.
I have questions that are not in this FAQ!! Who can help me?? Who should I contact!
You can email islamic[dot]education[at]macmsa[dot]com
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