Classical Learning Test Partners with Zaytuna College

Justin Poe

By God’s grace, I have been blessed to study under Zaytuna’s brilliant graduate faculty. The lectures and discussions with the teachers and their support have been the highlight of my experience in the graduate program, which emphasizes concentration on texts and close reading. I am currently in the third semester of the kalam/ falsafah (theology and philosophy) track. During these three semesters, I was introduced to new concepts and texts, a history of ideas with which I was unfamiliar, the recent and current state of the field, and an academically rigorous approach to research into kalam and falsafah. Now that the end of the third semester draws nigh, I think of the lost time and missed opportunities to benefit more from the instructors through office hours, reading sessions, or casual discussions. And I think of ways to continue to study with them and explore more texts and subjects and expand on the foundations they have taught. May God continue His blessings and grace upon them, the founders, and donors. And may He guide the students to what pleases Him. Justin Poe is an MA student at Zaytuna College. His thesis examines the nature of prophethood in the writings of Ibn Khaldūn and Al-Shahrastānī.

Fatima Alemam

As a Muslim from the Midwest who grew up without a local Muslim community, I never realized the significance of God-fearing suĥbah (fellowship). At Zaytuna, I have met some of the most genuine students, faculty, and staff who constantly strive for iĥsān (spiritual excellence). Being in an environment where like-minded individuals are seeking the pleasure of God stretches and pushes you as an individual in unimaginable ways. I am deeply grateful for all the life-long friendships, lessons learned, and community at Zaytuna, alhamdullilah.

Fatima Alemam is a junior in the BA program at Zaytuna College. She serves as a resident advisor and is the president of the Pre-Med Club.

Established in 2015 by Jeremy Tate, the Classical Learning Test (CLT) is an alternative standardized test that measures the reasoning and aptitude of students through their comprehension and analysis of passages from the great works of core subjects such as literature, mathematics, and science. Many colleges and universities have used the CLT as an acceptable alternative to the usual SAT and ACT tests. Several years ago, Zaytuna College did the same, since many of the classical texts used in the CLT are also studied in its undergraduate curriculum. Now, Zaytuna has deepened its relationship with CLT in various ways, including through the addition of President Hamza Yusuf to the organization’s Board of Academic Advisors. Zaytuna and CLT will also cooperate to share admissions information about the College to Muslim students who take the CLT. In addition, President Hamza Yusuf recently recorded a podcast on Zaytuna and classical education with Jeremy Tate. He has also agreed to teach a seminar for the CLT on Averroes, one of the authors from the Islamic tradition featured in the exam.