Archive for the ‘Education’ Category

By: Shahida Alikhan

Dear Parents,

Assalamu – Alaikum. On behalf of The Sunday School, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new and returning families for the 2011-2012 school year. We are looking forward to a year filled with a lot of learning and many exciting and new experiences. Below you’ll find the required supplies as well as the Sunday School Policies.

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By: Editor 

Join the AIT as they launch Module I of the 2011-2012 year. All are welcome regardless of educational or religious background.

Visit www.academyofislamicthought.org for information & registration.

434 S Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020 • Email us: info@academyofislamicthought.org

It is not by chance that the first word revealed to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) by Angel Jibreel was ‘iqra’ or ‘read’. The importance of education has long been a focal point in the Islamic faith. From the crayons of the kindergarten room to science labs of high school to the thesis statements of graduate school, Muslims are encouraged to pursue knowledge in any and every form available to them.

ICSC and the Bureau of Islamic and Arabic Education (BIAE) have honored the graduates of this community every year for the past nine years and this year was no exception. On the sunny Saturday afternoon of June 12, twenty-one middle school, high school and college graduates gathered to be honored by their friends, families and the ICSC and BIAE staff. Mrs. Azmerelda Alfi presented each graduate with a Diploma as well as a signed copy of Dr. Maher Hathout’s latest book, Islam 2.0.

Each graduate shared their thoughts on what they were proud of as an American-Muslim student and acknowledged their friends and families for the continued support to get them through the daily struggles of school and life.

After the ceremony, everyone gathered in the Social Hall to enjoy celebratory graduation cakes and chat over refreshments. ICSC and the BIAE are incredibly proud of the young women and men who struggle to pursue their education, while retaining their strong Islamic identities. We salute you!

On June 9th, ICSC officially joined Claremont School of Theology’s “University Project,” the first graduate-level consortium in history to educate Christian ministers, Jewish rabbis and Muslim imams.

The University Project is comprised of Claremont, a Methodist university, the Academy for Jewish Religion, California (AJR, CA) and the ICSC, with the goal to foster understanding, correct misconceptions, and promote mutual respect between the faiths. Although each group will maintain its own school and curriculum, all three will also contribute to a unique shared curriculum in areas including ethics, politics and society.

According to ICSC’s Religious Director, Jihad Turk, Islam has the most to gain from the project because it remains the most misunderstood faith in the U.S.
“This is a very American approach. It’s an expression of an American religion and American religious attitude,” notes Turk. “It’s better that future religious leaders are getting their training in America if they’re planning to work in America.”

The ICSC is working closely with the University Project to create an Islamic program that will set the standard for training American imams, an endeavor that is slated to be completed by 2011.

The Islamic component of the University Project will cater to the hallmarks of Islam in America, which is more inclusive of women in leadership roles, involved in interfaith relations and has a higher degree of civic engagement.
Claremont has already received $10 million to begin funding this collaboration, but is seeking additional donors to reach its $40 million mark.

With a very successful launch of the ICSC’s Academy of Islamic Thought and completion of the first module on Islamic knowledge taught by Dr. Maher Hathout, AIT is now looking forward to the second module on personal development. I have been tapped to teach this course which will focus on laying the foundations for our relationship with God.

As Muslims living in the United States, we are often challenged to find opportunities to deepen in our knowledge of Islam. The AIT program is designed to provide just that opportunity. The curriculum is designed to enhance one’s whole personality and this coming module is intended to help individuals improve in character and faith to help in achieving greater success in the hereafter as well as in this life. Read the rest of this entry »

The Academy of Islamic Thought, spearheaded by Necva Ozgur, kicked off its cutting-edge academic program to full enrollment this month, with its first course given by Dr. Maher Hathout.  The academy is designed to bridge the gap between knowledge of Islam and the practical application of it in our daily lives.  The first series of courses is entitled “Intellectual Development: An Introduction to the Quran.”

via Creative Commons

Dr. Hathout started the academy’s first class by introducing the Quran with the definition, “the inimitable Arabic text, sent down by God to Muhammad (pbuh), carried by angel Gabriel.”  After this quintessential definition, Dr. Hathout reminded attendees that the Quran was sent to humanity, not just to the scholars of the world.  With this realization, we are able to develop a personal relationship with the Quran.  That lesson was part of the first in a series of courses that will take students through the miracles of the Qur’an and its major themes, and it will present us with a journey into the substance of this divine holy text.  Read the rest of this entry »

Among the many gifts that Allah has given to us, the most precious gift is our children. This gift needs to be protected, guided, molded and nurtured.

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The upbringing of our children is one of the most challenging but also the most important responsibility of any parent. Children are a trust given to parents by Allah. We have to fulfill our responsibility by providing parental care, guidance and the best possible education.

I would like to share with you what I consider the most important responsibilities of parents:

1. Parents as role-models: The starting point for education is the example of parents. Read the rest of this entry »