2019 Catalog
Nuturing Our
Future Muslim Leaders Today
CONTENTS 04
15
05
16
06
18
Our Mission
Our Vision
TISA Partners
08
Degrees | Professional Certifications
Course Schedule Fall 2019
Faculty
TISA Board of Directors
Ihsan Bagby TISA President
Yasir Qadhi
TISA Dean of Academic Affairs
OUR MISSION Our mission is to be the world’s preeminent community of scholars where generations of religious scholars and ethical leaders pursue the highest levels of knowledge, research and training, rooted in the Quran and Sunnah and integrating the rich traditions of classical Islamic knowledge with Western academic scholarship.
OUR VISION Our vision is a world constantly bettered by religious scholarship and ethical leadership. The Islamic Seminary of America, an Islamic Seminary Foundation institution, aspires to be a lighthouse of knowledge and faith devoted to equipping American-based leaders and serving as an authoritative voice for a balanced Islam.
PARTNERS One of the distinguishing characteristics of TISA is its effort to lay the foundation of an Islamic Seminary by forging partnerships to provide synergy in developing and delivering high quality educational initiatives.
YAQEEN INSTITUTE FOR ISLAMIC RESEARCH From the very beginning, TISA and Yaqeen Institute envisioned an intimate partnership where TISA would focus on academics and Yaqeen would focus on research. Yaqeen was founded and is still led by Shaikh Omar Suleiman. Yaqeen “aims to address relevant topics head-on with the help of the foremost experts in this space. In addition to translating and analyzing classical works on the subject matter, we also aim to actively participate in the current day discourse touching on all topics that are related to establishing conviction in the hearts and minds of Muslims, and battling the false notions that underlie Islamophobia and extremism.”
SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY (SMU) TISA has established a mutually beneficial relationship with SMU’s Graduate Liberal Studies Program, which offers a MA program in Islamic Studies for non-traditional students. Omar Suleiman presently teaches courses in this program. In the future, TISA students will be able to take courses at SMU and TISA and earn a MA from both SMU and TISA.
ASSOCIATION OF MUSLIM CHAPLAINS (AMC) From the very beginning, TISA understood that it must have a strong relationship with the professional association of Muslim chaplains–AMC. The Association of Muslim Chaplains is the professional organization of Muslim chaplains, and it seeks to offer regular training that promotes the ongoing skill development of Muslim Chaplains. TISA and AMC organize an Annual Shura and In-service Training Conference for chaplains, Imams and other service providers to the Muslim community; and the Shura hosts the annual meeting of AMC. For the past few years the Shura and In-Service Conference has been held at Yale University.
6
UNITED MISSION RELIEF (UMR) UMR is “one of the fastest growing NGO’s in the country, with a focus on building humanitarian coalitions to tackle developmental needs. At UMR we believe everyone has a right to live free of poverty in a secure and more equitable world where they are able to fully realize their potential.” TISA and UMR are collaborating to develop academic programs that will provide humanitarian workers with the professional skills to be successful in their field.
A CONTINUOUS CHARITY The goal of ACC is to “promote the Islamic and intellectual development of Muslims throughout North America by providing non-interest based loans and scholarships for higher education.” To date, ACC has provided almost 1 million dollars in interest-free loans to graduate students. ACC and TISA will work together to provide interest-free educational loans to TISA students.
YALE UNIVERSITY CHAPLAINS OFFICE The Chaplains Office at Yale has been a supporter of the Annual Shura and Inservice Training Conference. During the past two years, they have provided logistical coordination for the sponsors of the conference—TISA, AMC and MECC.
MUSLIM ENDORSEMENT COUNCIL OF CT (MECC) MECC’s aim is to attract, screen, support and endorse Muslim Chaplains for placement in public and private institutions in Connecticut; and to provide advisement on religious matters to institutions. MECC is a co-sponsor with TISA and AMC of the Annual Shura and In-Service Conference. TISA will work with AMC and MECC in establishing standards and then providing training for Muslim chaplains.
7
DEGREES | PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS MASTER OF ARTS IN ISLAMIC STUDIES Graduates of TISA’s MA in Islamic Studies should be conversant with the major classical and modern texts in the main areas of Islamic scholarship, accessing the texts in their original language; able to conduct and produce research in fiqh and other essential areas with an understanding of its relationship to the American context. Careers: the MA in Islamic Studies provides the background for a student to serve as a teacher in Islamic schools, public schools or junior colleges; graduates can serve in some cases as a chaplain in county or state prisons. The MA in Islamic Studies is also a stepping stone for those who wish to become an imam, scholar-in-resident or chaplain, which requires a Master of Divinity.
Course requirements 48 credit hours—16 courses There are two concentrations: Islamic Sciences and Islamic Leadership Required Core Courses for both Islamic Sciences and Islamic Leadership (10 courses—30 hours) ∙ Advanced Qur’anic Sciences and Tafsir (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Advanced Hadith Sciences and Hadith Commentary (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Advanced Aqidah (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Fiqh al-Ibadat ∙ Fiqh al-Mu’amalat: Marriage, Divorce, Inheritance, Economic ∙ Transactions (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Advanced Akhlaq and Spirituality (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Comparative Religion and Interfaith Involvement ∙ Contemporary Issues in the Muslim Ummah ∙ Islam in America ∙ History of Islamic Civilization and Muslim Cultures
Concentration: Islamic Sciences (2 required course and 4 electives) This concentration is for students who are more interested in pursuing a career in scholarship. ∙ Advanced Qur’an Memorization and Tajwid (students must memorize 3 ajza’ with tajwid) ∙ Advanced Arabic (3rd Year Arabic) I and II ∙ Contemporary Issues in Fiqh (Prerequisite: Usul al-Fiqh) (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Foundations of Effective Organizational Leadership 8
∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙
Counseling and Cross-Cultural Communication Imam and Chaplain Functions Family Counseling Non-Profit and Masjid/Islamic Center Management Planning Effective Youth Work Islamic Economics Islam and Gender in the Contemporary Context (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Finance and Resource Management
Concentration: Islamic Leadership (4 required courses and 2 electives) This concentration is for those students who desire to pursue a career as imam or chaplain. Required Courses (4 courses—12 hours) ∙ Advanced Qur’an Memorization and Tajwid (students must memorize 3 ajza’ with tajwid) ∙ Imam and Chaplain Functions ∙ Foundations of Effective Organizational Leadership ∙ Counseling and Cross-Cultural Communication Electives (Choose 2 courses from the following list—6 hours) ∙ Advanced Sirah (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Evolution of Islamic Law and Usul al-Fiqh (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Advanced Arabic (3rd Year Arabic) I and II ∙ Contemporary Issues in Fiqh (Prerequisite: Usul al-Fiqh) (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Family Counseling ∙ Non-Profit and Masjid/Islamic Center Management ∙ Planning Effective Youth Work ∙ Islamic Economics ∙ Islam and Gender in the Contemporary Context (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Finance and Resource Management
9
DEGREES | PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS MASTER OF DIVINITY Master of Divinity Degree (M.Div.) Concentrations: Religious Leadership and Islamic Chaplaincy The Master of Divinity (MDiv) is for those students who want to pursue a career as an imam, scholar-in-resident or chaplain. The concentration in Religious Leadership is intended for those who are interested in a career as an imam or scholar. The concentration in Islamic Chaplaincy is intended for those who desire a career as a chaplain.
Course Requirements: 72 credit hours Required Courses from the MA-Islamic Studies degree (10 courses—30 hours) ∙ Advanced Qur’anic Sciences and Tafsir (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Advanced Hadith Sciences and Hadith Commentary (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Advanced Aqidah (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Fiqh al-Ibadat ∙ Fiqh al-Mu’amalat: Marriage, Divorce, Inheritance, Economic Transactions (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Advanced Akhlaq and Spirituality (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Comparative Religion and Interfaith Involvement ∙ Contemporary Issues in the Muslim Ummah ∙ Islam in America ∙ History of Islamic Civilization and Muslim Cultures Required Core Courses for the MDiv (6 courses—18 hours) ∙ Advanced Qur’an Memorization and Tajwid (students must memorize at least three ajza’ with tajwid) ∙ Spiritual Formation ∙ Imam and Chaplain Functions ∙ Counseling and Cross-Cultural Communication ∙ Foundations of Effective Organizational Leadership ∙ Public Speaking and Homiletics Required Courses for the Religious Leadership Concentration (4 courses—18 hours) ∙ Evolution of Islamic Law and Usul al-Fiqh (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Advanced Usul al-Fiqh (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Practicum for Religious Leadership (6 hours) ∙ Practicum for Religious Leadership (6 hours)
10
Electives for Religious Leadership (3 courses—9 hours) ∙ Advanced Sirah (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Advanced Arabic (3rd Year Arabic) I and II ∙ Contemporary Issues in Fiqh (Prerequisite: Usul al-Fiqh) (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Pastoral Care and Counseling ∙ The American Mosque and Issues of Management ∙ Finance and Resource Management ∙ Effective Youth Work ∙ Islamic Economics ∙ Islam and Gender in the Contemporary Context (reading knowledge of Arabic required) Required Courses for the Islamic Chaplaincy Concentration (4 courses—18 hours) ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙
Pastoral Care and Counseling Comparative Religion and Interfaith Dialogue Practicum for Islamic Chaplaincy (6 hours) Practicum for Islamic Chaplaincy (6 hours)The American Mosque and Issues of Management Finance and Resource Management Effective Youth Work Islamic Economics Islam and Gender in the Contemporary Context (reading knowledge of Arabic required)
Electives for Islamic Chaplaincy (2 courses—6 hours) ∙ Advanced Sirah (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Advanced Arabic (3rd Year Arabic) I and II ∙ Contemporary Issues in Fiqh (Prerequisite: Usul al-Fiqh) (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ The American Mosque and Issues of Management ∙ Effective Youth Work ∙ Islamic Economics ∙ Islam and Gender in the Contemporary Context (reading knowledge of Arabic required)
11
DEGREES | PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS MASTER OF NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT This degree program is aimed at students who wish to obtain the professional skills and Islamic foundation to serve in Muslim nonprofits such as mosques (youth directors, executive directors, etc.), relief organizations and public advocacy organiztions.
Course requirements 36 credit hours—12 courses (*Means courses required for graduate certificate in nonprofit management. Students would take 4 required courses and two electives for a graduate certificate) Required Core Courses (6 courses—18 hours) ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙
Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector* Fundraising (Executive Certificate in Fund Raising)* Financial and Human Resource Management* Non-Profit Management and Leadership* Strategic Management for Nonprofit Organizations Islam in America
Electives in Nonprofit Management (choose 4 courses—12 hours) ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙
Foundations of Effective Organizational Leadership Civil Society and Public Policy Ethics and Values of Nonprofit Organizations Counseling and Cross-Cultural Communication Principles and Practices of Family Counseling Principles and Practices of Islamic Humanitarian Work (new proposed course) Contemporary Issues in the Muslim Ummah Comparative Religion and Interfaith Involvement Planning Effective Youth Work
Electives in Islamic Studies (choose 2 courses—6 hours) ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ 12
Qur’anic Sciences and Tafsir (reading knowledge of Arabic required) Hadith Sciences and Hadith Commentary (reading knowledge of Arabic required) Aqidah (reading knowledge of Arabic required) Usul al-Fiqh (reading knowledge of Arabic required) Fiqh Ibadat, Marriage/Divorce, Business, Jihad(reading knowledge of Arabic required) Comparative Fiqh (reading knowledge of Arabic required) Sirah (reading knowledge of Arabic required) Akhlaq and Spirituality (reading knowledge of Arabic required) Contemporary Issues in Fiqh (Prerequisite: Usul al-Fiqh) (reading knowledge of Arabic required) Imam and Chaplain Functions Islam and Gender in the Contemporary Context (reading knowledge of Arabic required) History of Islamic Civilization and Muslim Cultures Advanced Arabic (3rd year)
DEGREES | PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS SMU AND TISA Collaborative SMU’s Master of Liberal Studies (MLS)-Concentration Islamic Studies and TISA’s Master of Arts in Islamic Studies This collaborative degree program with SMU and TISA involves students enrolling in both SMU’s Master of Liberal Studies-Concentration Islamic Studies and TISA’s Master of Arts in Islamic Studies. Students will fulfill all the requirements of SMU’s program, which equals 36 hours, but will also take 21 extra hours in TISA’s Master program to receive a degree from both institutions. What this means is that TISA will accept all the hours from SMU, but a student must take from TISA certain essential courses to complete a degree at TISA. The logic for taking both degrees is that SMU offers an accredited degree in general Islamic Studies, and TISA’s degree adds a more in-depth slate of Islamic courses that will better prepare a student for service to the Muslim community. Students will receive two separate degrees—one from SMU and one from TISA. SMU’s Master of Liberal Studies—Concentration Islamic Studies Masters of Liberal Studies’ Required Courses (3 courses—9 credit hours) ∙ The Human Experience: An Introduction to Liberal Studies ∙ Writing Course ∙ MLS Capstone MLS Concentration Islamic Studies requirements: 6 courses from your area of concentration—18 credit hours). Here are possible courses that a student can take from SMU. ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙
Islamic Civilization Islamic Law and Modernity Modern Islamic Movements Principles and Objectives of Islamic Law Islam in America Islam in State and Society Islam and the American Civil Rights Movement
MLS Electives (3 courses—9 credit hours) ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙
Independent Study: Qur’anic Sciences and Commentary Independent Study: Islamic Theology Comparative Religion and Interfaith Dialogue Intercultural Communication Cultural Intelligence and Multicultural Communication Organizational Communication Organizational Leadership
13
DEGREES | PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN ISLAMIC STUDIES Course Requirements (15 hours – 5 courses) Required Core Courses (3 courses) ∙ Advanced Qur’anic Sciences and Tafsir (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Advanced Hadith Sciences and Hadith Commentary (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Advanced Aqidah (reading knowledge of Arabic required) Electives (Choose 2 course from the following list) ∙ Fiqh al-Ibadat (reading knowledge Arabic required) ∙ Fiqh al-Mu’amalat (marriage/divorce, inheritance, economic transactions) (reading knowledge of Arabic requird) ∙ Advanced Sirah (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Advanced Qur’an Memorization and Tajwid ∙ Advanced Usul al-Fiqh (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Comparative Fiqh (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Contemporary Issues in Fiqh (Prerequisite: Usul al-Fiqh) (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Advanced Akhlaq and Spirituality (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Islamic Economics ∙ Islam and Gender in the Contemporary Context (reading knowledge of Arabic required) ∙ Advanced History of Islamic Civilization and Muslim Cultures ∙ Arabic Language: Reading Arabic Texts I ∙ Arabic Language: Reading Arabic Texts II
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN NONPROFIT Course Requirements (12 hours – 4 courses) Core Requirements (4 courses) ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙
14
Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Fundraising (Executive Certificate in Fund Raising) Financial and Human Resource Management Non-Profit Management and Leadership
COURSE SCHEDULE FALL 2019 TISA Courses Advanced Qur’anic Studies and Tafsir (MAIS-601) (3 credit hours) (reading knowledge of Arabic required) Instructor: Yasir Qadhi Hybrid Course: Two intensive weekends, September 20-22 (Friday evening to Sunday afternoon) and December 6-8 (location to be determined); and 10 online sessions (times to be determine) Advanced Sirah (MAIS-615) (3 credit hours) Instructor: Tamara Gray Hybrid Course: Two intensive weekends, September 20-22 (Friday evening to Sunday afternoon) and December 6-8 (location to be determined); and 10 online sessions (times to be determine) Foundations of Effective Organizational Leadership (MANP-760) (3 credit hours) Instructors: James Jones and Bonita McGee Hybrid Course: Two intensive weekends, Aug 23-25 (Friday evening to Sunday afternoon) and Nov 15-17 (location to be determined); and 10 online sessions (times to be determine) Principles and Practices of Family Counseling (MAIS-751) (3 credit hours) Instructors: Mohamed Magid and Salma Abugedeiri Hybrid Course: Two intensive weekends, Aug 23-25 (Friday evening to Sunday afternoon) and Nov 15-17 (location to be determined); and 10 online sessions (times to be determine)
SMU Courses SMU is offering two courses in collaboration with TISA. These courses are taught as part of SMU’s Master of Liberal Studies Program. Students must enroll and register for courses at SMU. Principles and Objectives of Islamic Law Instructor: Omar Suleiman Intensive Course: Two intensive weekends, September 6-8 and November 1-3. Islam in America Instructors: Ihsan Bagby and Dalia Mogahed Intensive Course: Two intensive weekends, September 13-15 and November 8-10.
TISA/Fawakih Arabic Courses TISA has partnered with Fawakih to offer online Arabic courses. Go to www.islamicseminary.us for more information Beginning Arabic Online course beginning October 8. Intermediate Arabic Online course beginning October 7. 15
TISA FACULTY Yasir Qadhi
TISA Dean of Academic Affairs (MA, Islamic University of Madinah; PhD, Yale University)
Dalia Mogahed
(Director of Research, ISPU; MBA, U of Pittsburgh)
Zainab Alwani
(Professor, Howard School of Divinity; PhD, International Islamic U Malaysia)
Tamara Gray
(Executive Director, Rabata; traditionally trained in Syria; PhD candidate, U of St. Thomas)
Roula Allouch
(Board Chair, CAIR; JD, U of Kentucky)
Taharah Akmal
(Supervisor, Clinical Pastoral Education; MA, Claremont)
Abdool Rahman Khan
(Chair, ICNA Shari’ah Council; BA, Madinah)
16
TISA FACULTY Omar Suleiman
(Founder and President, Yaqeen Institute; Adjunct Professor, SMU)
Mohamed Magid
(Imam, ADAMS Center)
Muzammil Siddiqi
(Chair, Fiqh Council; MA, Madinah; PhD, Harvard)
Ubaydallah Evans
(Scholar-in-Residence, ALIM Program; BA, Azhar University)
James Jones TISA Chair
(Professor of Religion, Manhattanville College; D.Min, Hartford; MDiv, Yale)
Shariq Siddiqi
(Executive Director, ARNOVA; PhD, Philanthropic Studies, IU; JD, IU)
Ihsan Bagby
TISA President
(Professor Islamic Studies, U of Kentucky; PhD, Michigan)
17
TISA BOARD OF DIRECTORS James Jones TISA Chair
Professor of World Religions and Chair of the Dept of World Religions and the African Studies Program at Manhattanville College (Purchase, NY). Dr. Jones’s research focuses on the intersectionality of between Islamophobia and racism. DMin from Hartford Seminary and a MA in Religion from Yale Divinity School. He is President of the Malik Human Services, a marriage counselor for more than two decades and a member of the Association of Professional Chaplains. He sits on the National Board of Directors of CAIR.
Bonita McGee Vice Chair
Former board member of the Islamic Social Services Association-USA (ISSA-USA). She also is a former board member and co-founder of the Muslim Family Services of Ohio. Ms. McGee is the Tobacco Control Program Director with the District of Columbia Department of Health working in policy, systems and environmental change to address the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine use and exposure. Ms. McGee is a Certified Public Manager. She has a MA in Islamic Studies from the Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences where she studied under Dr. Taha al-Alwani. She also has a BA in Business Administration from Ohio State.
Yasir Qahdi
Dean of Academic Affairs Adjunct Professor at Rhodes College (Memphis). Resident-Scholar at Memphis Islamic Center. Dean of Academic Affairs at Al-Maghrib Institute. MA in Islamic Theology from the Islamic University of Madinah. PhD in religious studies from Yale University.
Athar Haq President and Founder of A Continuous Charity (ACC) which gives non-interest based loans for higher education. Dr. Haq has a Doctorate of Osteopath and practices at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center where he brings a strong background in aiding the underserved.
Abdul Alim Khandekar Former, long-time Chair of ISNA Founders Committee. Former President of Muslim Society of Memphis. Thoracic and Cardiac Surgeon who serves multiple hospitals in Memphis. 18
Ihsan Bagby TISA President
Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Bagby’s research focuses on the study of the American Muslim community in general and masjids in particular. PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Michigan. Director of ISNA’s Masjid Development Initiative. Research Fellow at the Institute of Social Polity and Understanding. Board member of Muslim Alliance of North America, Masjid Bilal (Lexington, KY) and CAIR-KY.
Shazeeda Khan
Secretary and Treasurer Chaplain Shazeeda Khan has an economics degree from New York University. She began her career as a commodities accountant at a Wall Street firm. She is currently a volunteer chaplain at the United States Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, CT since 2005 where she serves Muslim women. She also serves as the Director of Islamic Education and teacher for the Baitul Mukarram Masjid of Greater Danbury. Since 2000, Chaplain Khan has served on the board of the Association of Religious Communities (ARC), an interfaith community service organization. She is currently President and one of the founding board members of the Muslim Endorsement Council of Connecticut (MECC, Inc.).
Farooq Selod Board member of ISNA Founders Committee. Board member of Islamic Association of Tarrant County (Fort Worth). Founder and Chair of PIOUS, a dawah organization. Orthopedic Surgeon in Fort Worth.
Iqbal Unus Retired Director of The Fairfax Institute at International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT). Dr. Unus served terms as President of both MSA and ISNA. Served as Secretary General of ISNA in the 1980s. He presently serves on the Majlis ash-Shura of ISNA. PhD from Emory University. He received two life-time service awards from CAIR and ISNA.
Abed Ayoub President and CEO of United Mission Relief. PhD International Development. In 2010 he was appointed by the US Agency for International Development to serve on its Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid. He also is serving a second term on the US State Department’s Religion and Foreign Policy Working Group. 19
A bold initiative to develop the preeminent seminary in America
Dallas, TX is the headquarters of TISA
islamicseminary.us