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Mentors Program [Module One]

The purpose of this module shall be to lay a foundation of Islamic thought grounded in the Quranic and Prophetic methodology of reformation.

Starts July 10th 
Saturdays 7:30 to 9:30 am CT

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Course Description

 The students shall survey the major themes of the Surahs of Quran predominantly revealed during the Makkan phase of the Prophetic mission. Simultaneously, the students shall survey the major events of the life of the Prophet Muhammad. Inshallah, this shall provide the students with an appreciation for the cohesion between Revelation and the phases of development for the budding Muslim community.
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Section Descriptions

Tafhim ul Quran (Makki Period)

Course Overview: A comprehensive overview of the major themes of the Quran and its individual surahs according to the order of revelation. This will be a study of the Tafhim ul-Quran by Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maududi with the methodology of organization according to the Tafsir of Imam Abdul Rahman Al-Maydani. In this term, we will be covering the Makki Surahs.

Author and Text: Tafhim ul Quran by Syed Abul A’la Maududi

Lesson 1

Intro to class

Introduction to Tafhim ul Quran by Maududi

Lesson 2

Introduction to Tafhim ul Quran by Maududi continued

Introduction to Tafsir Maydani

Lesson 3

Surahs: Alaq, Mudathir, Muzammil

Major discussions and themes:

  • Beginning of revelation

  • Early dawah

Lesson 4

  • Surahs: Qalam, Fatiha, Lahab, Takwir, A’la

  • Major discussions and themes:

Lesson 5

Surahs: Layl, Fajr, Duha, Sharh, Asr, adiyaat, kawthar

Major discussions and themes:

  • Natural phenomena and the proof of Allah as creator

  • The difficulty of the Prophetic dawah as proof of prophethood

  • Allah providing comfort to the Prophet

  • Inimitability of the Quran and the Quranic challenge

Lesson 6

  • Surahs: Takathur, Maun, Kafirun, Fil

  • Major discussions and themes:

Lesson 7

Surahs: Ikhlaas, Falaq, Nas

Major discussions and themes:

  • Tawheed - Existence, Qidm, Baqa, wahdaniyyah, ilm, irada, qudra

  • Illness and Prophethood

  • Magic, superstition

  • Ruqya

Lesson 8

Surahs: Najm, Abasa, Qadr

Major discussions and themes:

  • power of the Quran and its sanctity

  • Methodology of dawah

  • “Satanic verses”

  • Hijrah to Abysinnia

Lesson 9

Surahs: Shams, Buruj, Tin, Quraysh

Major discussions and themes:

  • Previous Prophets

  • Outcome of those who rejected the Prophets

  • Warning to Quraysh for rejecting this Prophet

Lesson 10

Surahs: Qariah, Qiyamah, Humaza, Mursalat, Qaf

Major discussions and themes:

  • Description of Day of Judgement and Hereafter

  • Relationship between this life and hereafter

Lesson 11

Surahs: Balad, Tariq, Qamar, 

Major discussions and themes:

  • The position of man in this world

  • The inevitability of the akhira

  • Stubbornness of the Mushrikin

  • Revisiting the stories of the Previous Prophets

Lesson 12

Surahs: Saad, A’raf, Jinn, Yasin, Furqan, Fatir

Major discussions and themes:

  • Death of Abu Talib and Quraysh Delegation

  • Year of Sadness

  • Taif and the Jinn

  • Why such resistance to Tauhid?

Lesson 13

Surahs: Maryam, Taha, Waqia, Shu’ara, Naml, Qasas

Major discussions and themes:

  • Detailed exposition of Isa before habasha (Allah knows what is to come)

  • The Purpose of the Quran

  • Conversion of Umar

  • Significance of the fact that the majority of early sahaba were poor, slaves, or youth.  Mushrikin scoffed at this.

  • Shu’ara-->Qasas = Complete story of Musa

Lesson 14

Surahs: Isra, Yunus, Hud, Yusuf, Hijr

Major discussions and themes:

  • Isra and Mi’raaj after year of sadness and taif

  • The significance of the stories of the Prophets

  • Hud and it’s sisters and the severe warning against the disbelievers

  • Quran is a comfort for the Prophet→ the intimate conversation between Allah and the Prophet

Lesson 15

Surahs: An’am, Saffat, Luqman, Zumar, Ghafir

Major discussions and themes:

  • Absurdity of Shirk

  • Historical consistency of Tawhid, not something new

  • The concept and permissibility of Hijrah

  • Perseverance in the face of resistance

  • Quran addressing - believers, kuffar, and those on the fence

Lesson 16

Surahs: Fusilat, Shura, Zukhruf, Dukhan, Jathiyah

Major discussions and themes:

  • Mushrikin offer wealth and power to Prophet, but rejected

  • The conversion of Hamza

  • Summary of the Quranic answer to opposition

  • The rationality of the Prophetic message and the Nobility of the Prophetic character

  • Proof of Prophethood

  • Allah and Prophethood rationally conceivable

Lesson 17

Surahs: Ahqaf, Dhariyat, Ghashiyah, Kahf, Nahl

Major discussions and themes:

  • Year of sadness and Taif revisited

  • Hereafter

  • Purpose of Life

  • Materialist thought nothing new (idolatry and rejection of hereafter due to materialism/naturalism of the mushrikin)

  • The Five stages of the Makkan phase, 

Lesson 18

Surahs: Nuh, Ibrahim, Anbiya, Sajda, Tur

Major discussions and themes:

  • Prophethood revisited

  • Promise of punishment for the disbelievers

  • Success and prosperity in this life is not the criterion of success in the sight of Allah

  • Addressing the doubts regarding tawhid, prophethood, and hereafter

Lesson 19

Surahs: Mulk, Haqqa, Ma’arij, Naba’a, Nazi’aat, Infitar, Inshiqaq

Major discussions and themes:

  • Perfection of universe evidence of absolutely perfect Volitional being with absolute ‘ilm, ‘irada, ‘and qadr

  • Accusations against the Prophet - magician, poet

  • Limitation of Prophet - he doesn’t have control of revelation or the day of judgement etc. 

  • The reason for emphasis of Hereafter in early Surah’s of Quran

Lesson 20

Surahs: Rum, Ankabut, Mutaffifeen

Major discussions and themes:

  • World powers at the time

  • Persecution of Sahaba intensified after death of Abu Talib

  • Hijrah revisited

  • Emphasis on economic justice in Quran

  • Belief has impact on our personal and social dealings

  • Morality and Hereafter


Seerah Of The Prophet Muhammad PBUH

The Life of Prophet Muhammad


Course Overview:This course shall provide a survery of the noble life of Prophet Muhammad (S).  We shall review the major events in his life along with pertinent lessons for the believer.  We shall reflect most prominently on the prophetic method of dawah (calling) and tarbiya (development) of his people.  We shall look at the reformative methodology of Quran and Sunnah.   




This course will cover the major phases of the Prophetic biography including:

  • Before Prophethood

  • Beginning of Prophethood to Migration of Abyssinia

  • Migration of Abyssinia to Hijrah

  • Hijrah until settling in Madinah

  • The Battles of the Prophet

  • Conquest of Makkah until the Prophet’s death


Author and Text: The Life of Muhammad Highlights and Lessons by Mustafa Sibai


Course Breakdown:



Lesson 1

Introduction to the seerah, text, and author

  • Major Discussions:

    • Why study the seerah

    • Sources of seerah

Lesson 2

Chapter 1: Before Prophethood

  • Major Events

    • Orphan

    • Shephard

    • Black stone

    • Travel twice outside of Makkah

    • Marriage to Khadijah

  • Major discussions

    • History of Islamic Revival and the role of Prophets

    • Ibn Jama’ah (Prophet’s lineage, Mothers and Brothers from nursing)

    • Jahiliya

    • Prophet as a child

    • Prophetic reputation with his people

    • Prophetic experience of orphanhood

    • Qualities of the Daiya

Lesson 3

Chapter 2: Beginning of Prophethood to Migration of Abyssinia

  • Major Events

    • Revelation

    • Khadijah

    • Waraqa bin nawfal

    • First companions of the Prophet

    • The pause in revelation

    • Tarbiya of the early companions

    • Dawah of Abu Bakr

    • Persecution of the believers

  • Major Discussions

    • Why sudden change at 40 years old?

    • Qualities of Prophet self evident truth

    • Process of Tarbiya - Quran

    • Self and Society

Lesson 4

Chapter 3: Migration of Abysinnia until Hijrah

  • Major Events

    • Two Hijrahs to Abysinnia

    • Boycott of Banu Hashim

    • Death of Abu Talib and Khadijah

    • Events at Taif


  • Major Discussions

    • Adversity a method of Tarbiya

    • Recognizing just leadership

    • The opinions regarding the king of Abyssinia - Negus

    • Mut’im ibn Adiy and our relationship with disbelievers

    • Prophetic mercy


Lesson 5

Chapter 3: Migration of Abysinnia until Hijrah

  • Major Events

    • Israh and Miraaj

    • Islam of the the Ansar - Baiyatul Aqabah

    • Dawah of Musab ibn Umayr


  • Major Discussions

    • Significance of Salah

    • Significance of Masjid al Aqsah

    • The methodology of dawah as seen by Musab ibn Umayr


Lesson 6

Chapter 4: The Hijrah until settling in Madina

  • Major Events

    • Hijrah of the Muslims

    • Hijrah of the Prophet

    • Qubah

    • First khutbah of the Prophet in Islam

    • Pact of Brotherhood between the Muhajireen and Ansar

  • Major Discussions

    • Preparation and Tawakkul

    • The trustworthiness of the Prophet

    • The Role of youth in the Islamic dawah (cite Abdullah ibn Abu Bakr)

    • The role of women in the Islamic dawah (cite Ayesha and Asma)

    • The lessons from the first khutbah

    • The methodology of integration and developing the early Muslim community


Lesson 7

Chapter 5: The Hijrah until Settling in Madinah

  • Major Events

    • Pact with Jewish tribes and Non-Muslims

    • Muslims from Abyssinia migrate

  • Major Discussions

    • The principles of the early Islamic state

    • The importance of the Islamic state and Islamic governance

    • The role of the Islamic state of in Islamic understanding

    • Relationship with the jewish tribes

Lesson 8

Chapter 5: The Battles of the Prophet

  • Major Events

    • Year Two

    • Permission to fight

    • Early ghazawat

    • The Adhan legislated

    • Battle of Badr

    • Changing of Qiblah

    • Fasting of Ramadan

    • Zakat ul Fitr


  • Major Discussions

    • The concept of Jihad in Islam (between extremes)

Lesson 9

Chapter 5: The Battles of the Prophet

  • Major Events

    • Year Three

    • Ghazwat Ghatafan

    • Battle of Uhud

    • Birth of Hasan ibn Ali

    • Year Four

    • Banu Nadheer

    • Salatul Khawf

    • Shortening of Prayers

    • Ayah of Hijab

    • Birth of Hussain ibn Ali

  • Major Discussions

    • Following command

    • Death of the Prophet, not death of the mission

    • Dealing with setbacks

    • Prophets leniency critical

    • Controversy of hostilities with Jewish tribes

Lesson 10

Chapter 5: The Battles of the Prophet

  • Major Events

    • Year 5

    • Battle of the Trench

    • Banu Quraydha

    • The slander of Ayesha (al-ifk) during Gahazwat Muraysi

    • Ayah of Tayammum

  • Major Discussions

    • Controversy of hostilities with jewish tribes continued

    • The slander and affect of the Muslim community

    • The Prophet’s dealing with the hypocrites

Lesson 11

Chapter 5: The Battles of the Prophet

  • Major Events

    • Year 6

    • Treaty of Hudaybiyah

    • Year 7

    • Khaybar

    • Abu Hurayrah becomes Muslim

    • The drought and Salat al Istisqaa


  • Major Discussions

    • The importance of hudybiyah

    • Surah Fath and the Promise of Allah

    • Role of Abu Hurayrah in sunnah (other companions of hadith)

Lesson 12

Chapter 6: Conquest of Makkah until Prophet’s death

  • Major Events

    • Year 8

    • Conquest of Makkah

    • Battle of Hunayn/Battle of Taif


  • Major Discussions

    • Mercy, not vengeance

    • Victory not from the numbers

    • Dealing with the new Muslims

    • The status of the muhajireen and ansar

Lesson 13

Chapter 6: Conquest of Makkah until Prophet’s death

  • Major Events

    • Battle of Tabuk

    • Surah Taubah, ayat us sayf, and discussion

  • Major Discussions

    • The testing of the believers

    • Concept of abrogations

    • Historical practice of the believers gives explanation to relationship with non-Muslims

Lesson 14

Chapter 6: Conquest of Makkah until Prophet’s death

  • Major Events

    • Farewell pilgrimage

  • Major Discussions

    • The major points of this final pilgrimage

Lesson 15

Chapter 6: Conquest of Makkah until Prophet’s death

  • Major Events

    • Death of the Prophet

  • Major Discussions

    • Preservation of Quran

    • Expediency of baiyah to Abu Bakr

    • Inheritance of the Prophetic Mission



Revival and Reform In The Islamic Tradition

Course Overview: This course shall discuss the fundamentals of the Islamic Movement (organized effort in revival and reform). Discover the principles of this organized effort developed from the Islamic tradition.

Topics will include:
  • Centrality of Revelation as a source of Change in light of Sirah
  • Understand basic features of Jahilia and its impact on belief, relationships and society
  • Gain an insight into Prophethood in light of Jahilia
  • Gain an insight into the concept of Renewal in light of Prophethood
  • Understanding Textual and traditional Basis for Revival and Reform
  • Understand the basic framework of Traditional Islamic Scholarship and the role of revival and reform in Islamic thought and scholarship
Learning Objectives: Gain an understanding of the fundamentals of the Islamic Movement (its basis, concepts, and principles by a study of select readings.

Lesson 1

Assigned Readings: A Short History of the Islamic Movement, Syed Abul Ala Maududi pgs 15-36 (book excerpt)


Academic Focus: Gain insight into the concept of renewal in light of Prophethood

Lesson 2

Assigned Readings: Raheequm Makhtum: The Period of Jahilia, Safi Din Mubarkpuri (Book Excerpt)



Academic Focus: 

•  Centrality of Revelation as a source of Change in light of Sirah

•  Understand basic features of Jahilia and its impact on belief, relationships and society

•  Gain an insight into Prophethood in light of Jahilia

Lesson 3

Assigned Readings: 

  • Islah and Tajdid: The Approach to Rebuilding Islamic Civilizations. (Article)

  • Reform and Renewal in Islamic Thought. (Article)


Academic Focus: Understanding Textual and traditional Basis for Revival and Reform

Lesson 4

Assigned Readings: Research Methodology in Traditional Islamic Scholarship (Article)


Academic Focus: Understand the basic framework of Traditional Islamic Scholarship and the role of revival in and reform in Islamic thought and scholarship

Lesson 5

Assigned Readings: Renewal in Islamic Sciences (Article)


Academic Focus: Understand the basic framework of Traditional Islamic Scholarship and the role of revival in and reform in Islamic thought and scholarship