I think therefore iSyllabus
1-Year Diploma in Islamic Studies
Taught by two of Scotland’s most respected and approachable Islamic scholars September 2021 - May 2022
Understand Islam To Avoid Confusion
We all want to take our understanding of the Quran and the Sunnah to the next level, but we’re living in confusing times!
With the web full of both truth and mis-information, it’s easy to get confused by contradicting opinions. Often the information conflicts and we can struggle to make sense of what is correct and what is potentially dangerous.
We all have a responsibility to both understand our religion and also only pass on true and authentic knowledge, lest we harm anyone by our ignorance and earn the displeasure of Allah ﷻ.
We all try to make sense of what we read about Islam on the web or in books, and try our best not to follow incorrect information. But you may be tired from hearing so many different opinions on the same question. You may even wonder why there are so many opinions out there on a single issue.
Until you decide to take action, learn, and understand why scholars have these differences…you will stay tired, frustrated, and confused.
Can You Confidently Answer The Following Questions?
Do you know all the individual obligations (Fard ‘Ayn) acts of worship which each and everyone of us MUST know and act upon?
Do you feel like you understand the spiritual, ethical, and legal aspects of Islam as a comprehensive whole?
Do you feel you understand how and why scholars come up with different opinions and how to explain this to others?
Do you feel you know “Why” as Muslims we do all the actions asked of us by Islamic law?
If you can’t confidently answer these questions with YES, you will benefit immensely from furthering your Islamic studies.
Get Started Now
Enrol now to transform your understanding of your Deen
The Problem Many Muslims Face When Studying Traditional Islamic Education
If the idea of studying Islamic sciences makes you feel nervous, that’s understandable!
You may feel you don’t have the time—what’s often seen as years of intense study—to devote to your Islamic education.
You may also feel intimidated by the Arabic (and other languages) you may think you need to learn in order to benefit from scholarly research and texts.
However, the reality is that—in as little as two – three hours a day—you can unwind from your weekly stressors while absorbing your deen in English—a language you completely understand, while still ensuring that you’re learning from the best sources
A Disconnect From The ‘Soul’ Of Islam
Over time, our daily Islamic rituals and practices can become mechanical. We may perform them, but feel they are lacking passion and soul.
For us to understand the heart of Islam, our Islamic education needs to be both relevant and compelling.
We must also reconnect with the spirit and explore both the spiritual and ethical significance of our outward acts of worship and devotion. Only in this way can we give life and meaning to the lived reality that is Islam.
What Is An ‘Alim’?
If the idea of studying Islamic Sciences makes you feel nervous, that’s understandable!
You may feel you don’t have the time—what’s often seen as years of intense study—to devote to your Islamic education.
You may also feel intimidated by the Arabic (and other languages) you may think you need to learn in order to benefit from scholarly research and texts.
However, the reality is that—in as little as two hours a day—you can unwind from your daily stressors while absorbing your deen in English—a language you completely understand, while still ensuring that you’re learning from the best sources
This question is bereft of any substantive meaning in the present age. The state of Islamic education in most parts of the Muslim world means that what was previously considered an Alimiyyah level education can arguably be what is offered today in many Islamic seminaries.
As an alternative, we should be asking another question: What is the religious and social function for which students are being prepared?
The pressing challenge for contemporary Muslim educators is to create syllabi that answer to the needs of this age. However, graded courses should also allow students to work up to a high level competency in the Islamic sciences. Students should be prepared, upon completion, to pursue further studies through the medium of the Arabic language.
Is Knowledge Only For Scholars?
A common misconception you may have is that studying Islamic sciences is too difficult or out with your reach. This, coupled with the belief that “only scholars need to know about that, not me” might be holding you back.
You may otherwise believe that there’s no urgency to learning the basic do’s and don’ts of your faith, and that you’ll do it “someday”, or worse, think you don’t need to learn it at all! These all couldn’t be further from the truth.
It may seem that scholars live in a world apart from the rest of us, but in reality, many others have accrued a wealth of knowledge and laid the ground work to make accessing sacred knowledge much easier for us in today’s digital age.
Introducing...
Islamic Knowledge You Can Trust
The iSyllabus Diploma Course is designed to give Muslims of all backgrounds confidence in themselves by empowering them with Islamic knowledge they can trust.
The course aims to equip you to be confident in what you know, while respecting legitimate differences of opinion. We will explain not only what scholars disagree upon, but also why.
The modules will provide an indispensable base from which to increase your faith. The Diploma course serves as an excellent entry to a nuanced yet fulfilling experience of the Islamic sciences as they relate to both the individual and society in the 21st Century.
Additionally, using the momentpin app enhances the learning experience with iSyllabus – allowing you to interact with your fellow students, your teachers, and view the many additional resources and information shared on this platform by your instructors.
Over the last 10 years, iSyllabus Programmes enrolled 7000+ students, and taught over 4500+ lessons across 15 cities! And now we’re bringing our learning online to help even more students become confident in their Deen.
How Can This Course Benefit You?
We designed the iSyllabus Diploma Course to serve as an excellent entry to a nuanced yet fulfilling experience of studying the Islamic sciences as they relate to both the individual and society in the 21st Century.
The modules and bespoke written materials are fully integrated and refined so as to cover core hermeneutical concepts in a graded manner. It also incorporates life-hacks that make living one’s faith a fulfilling experience. The course both contextualises core texts as well as enhances the spiritual aspect of one’s religious observance.
Before taking this course, you may:
Feel put off with other Islamic knowledge experiences.
Not be able to make sense of your faith in this modern world.
Feel that your faith conflicts with your daily reality.
Not know where to get authentic answers that are balanced, make sense, and reflect your lived experiences.
Have trouble navigating all of the different opinions you read or watch online.
After taking this course, you may:
Understand how your faith can help in your wider family and social interactions.
Create a lifelong habit to increase your commitment to helping others.
Discover a new vigour and passion for learning about your faith.
Come to know and love the final Messenger ﷺ through knowing his legacy.
Take firm steps in gaining proximity to your Creator ﷻ.
Though the course is taught through subject modules, we believe that Islamic education can only be fully appreciated when the spiritual, ethical and legal aspects of the faith are seen as a comprehensive whole.
I'm Ready To Learn A Holistic View Of Islam
Enrol now to transform your understanding of your Deen
Topics Covered In This Course
THE LAWS OF PURITY AND PRAYER
TOWARDS A TRANQUIL SOUL
UNDERSTANDING THE DIVINE SOURCES
LIVING THE LAW
ORTHODOXY AND ORTHOPRAXY
FAMILY AND SOCIETY
ARTICULATING MUSLIM CREED
In essence, this programme will give you a complete holistic understanding of key Islamic concepts and traditions, while also enabling you to connect more deeply and enthusiastically to your faith
Meet Your Instructors
Shaykh Amer Jamil
Shaykh Amer has been described by the Sunday herald as one of the Scotland’s most prominent and respected Muslim thinkers. He holds a (LLB) law degree from Strathclyde university and BA (Hons) in Islamic studies from the University of Wales. He spent 10 years studying the Islamic sciences including 6 years with distinguished scholars in the Middle East (Syria and Yemen), gaining him teaching licenses (ijaza) in various Islamic sciences.
His main field of interest is primarily Islamic family law; an area in which he has studied in depth having studied all four schools of Islamic jurisprudence. Currently, he is conducting a PhD research on the relationship between Islamic family law and Scots family law. He also has a certificate in counselling skills accredited by COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland).
He is an Islamic family law consultant to a local Scottish law firm and a Family support consultant at Unity Family Services. Part of his role at Unity involves delivering pre-marital and post-marital courses UK wide. In 2007 he authored the booklet “What Islam Really Says About Domestic Abuse”. He is also the author of the Reminder series – a series of short leaflets covering contemporary issues affecting the Muslim Community and wider society.
In 2009 he co-founded the Solas Foundation and with Shaykh Ruzwan Muhammad, established the iSyllabus Islamic studies programme. He is currently the co-director of the programme. He was also the Muslim Chaplin at Glasgow Caledonian University, where he delivered the Friday sermon and regular classes for students. Shaykh Amer is consulted by Scottish Law firms for his specialist knowledge in Islamic Family Law
Shaykh Ruzwan Mohammed
Shaykh Ruzwan Mohammed is a Sunni theologian and scholar. A graduate in Geopolitics and Arabic from the University of Glasgow, in 1993 he left to travel and study with a wide array of leading scholars and theologians in various countries in the Muslim world. In the process, he studied the Turkish language at the University of Ankara and as part of his formal Islamic training, he graduated from the Fat’h Islamic Law College in Damascus, graduating from the prestigious 6-year programme with a distinction of merit, achieving overall first position in his year of graduation from the college.
In the summer of 2009, he co-founded the Solas Foundation, which focuses on offering quality and transparent religious consultancy in the areas of Islamic ethics and education. He is the author and educational director of the iSyllabus Islamic studies programme.
He is a regular panellist on shows such as BBC One’s “The Big Question”, BBC radio 4’s religious analysis programmes, and is a contributor to national Scottish newspapers and magazines. He is currently engaged in research into the effect of textual hermeneutics and environment on Islamic legal ethics, and is working on a study and translation of an early juristic text by the Spanish philosopher Averroes. He also serves as an advisor to various Muslim educational organisations in the United Kingdom and is actively involved in interfaith work, as well as wider social issues. He was tasked with the responsibility of drafting the ‘Edinburgh Declaration‘, launched in 2018, on the shared ethical values between Christianity and Islam in the area of finance and wealth creation.
Both Shaykh Ruzwan Mohammed and Shaykh Amer Jamil were awarded the ‘Religious Advocate of the year Award’ at the British Muslims awards in 2014.
What You'll Recieve
A small one-time investment to prepare you for success in
this life and the Afterlife, insha'Allah.
Entire iSyllabus 1-Year Diploma Course
This comprehensive iSyllabus 1-Year Diploma course contains 15 in-depth modules. The length of the course is from 28th September 2021 till the following May. You get instant access to all the contents immediately when you sign up. There are three live lessons every week.
We endeavour to provide students with the best bespoke Islamic educational material in the English language. Period. The material used in the modules is created specifically for use in our integrated courses. Extracted from the most well-respected works of Islamic scholarship, with extensive original texts translated directly from the sources, it affords students a glimpse into the vast ocean of Islamic religious and devotional literature
Access To The Online Learning Portal
You can progress through the graded weekly course material at your own pace for the duration of the course. You can go back and review any lesson or chapter anytime during this time period and have recourse to the recorded live sessions each week.
Comprehensive Course Materials and Workbook
We wrote these comprehensive course notes (over 350 pages) to accompany the 1-year Diploma course. They include pre-reading material, discussion questions, and exercises. You can access these books in the members’ area or order as a book.
Each lesson has its own set of notes. Each class has clearly defined aims and objectives to enable students to track their own progress.
All material is made up of originally produced material, fully referenced and checked to represent the most widely accepted understanding of Sunni Islam. Clear, well-produced presentations summarise the material covered in the lesson notes by the latest thinking on creating presentation material.
Interactive Sessions with Qualified Scholars
We endeavour to provide you with teachers whose knowledge you can trust. Central to the teaching ethos of the iSyllabus is that all instructors faithfully convey mainstream Sunni Islamic teachings, as represented in the main teaching centres of the Muslim world. Through this, students can be safe in the knowledge that what is taught is reliable and consistently upheld throughout the teaching staff. Central to ensuring this is the system of the teaching ‘ijaza’.
The system of Ijaza is a scholarly chain of transmission for each subject, which links each generation of scholars back to the previous ones, all the way back to the source of all guidance, may God bless and grant him peace, thus ensuring that each generation has acquired knowledge directly from recognised scholars, rather than gleaning pieces of information from books alone. Teachers are chosen on the basis of not only recognised qualifications, but also on their ability to connect with the students.
Special Bonuses
Along with all the above content, you’ll also receive the following
bonuses for free when you sign up today
BONUS: Tutorial Time with Scholars
Included in the bonus tutorial aspect of this course is an element of continuous voluntary assessment of your progress and feedback from our esteemed scholars. As a paying student of this course, you also have the option to ask questions and clarify understandings outside of live class hours.
BONUS: Community Building With Classmates
We’ve also partnered with the momentpin app to bring you an interactive, supplementary, and community element to this online course. This offers you the opportunity to ask questions outside of class time and participate in peer learning with other students
This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to interact directly with both scholars and your fellow students.
Your Satisfaction Guarantee
Enrol now. If by 7pm on 19th October, you feel this course isn’t right for you, then email us and we will give you a full refund. Basically you get to try out the course before committing fully!
That is our promise to you, because we are confident in the course and because we want this purchase to be fair to you.
What others say about the course
Listen to success stories and testimonials from current students