cordoba student manual

7/29/2019 Cordoba Student Manual

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THE STUDENT MANUAL

www.cordobaacademy.com

Cordoba AcademyFrom ignorance to tolerance From darkness to brightness

A Beneficial Guide

For the Honorable Students

at Cordoba Academy

for the Classical Islamic Sciences

Brought to you by the team at Cordoba Academy


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Table o conTenTs...................................................................02

Preace............03

InTroducTIon..............04

The naTure o sTudyIng onlIne..........................06

Keys To successul sTudyIng In general...............09

Keys To successul onlIne sTudIes..................12

JoInIng The classroom...............................17

conclusIon..........18

aPPendIx a..................19

aPPendIx b..............22

Table of ConTenTs


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This is a short treatise meant to aid the students o Cordoba Academy or the

Classical Islamic Sciences. It is in no way meant to be a conclusive guide tostudying online but is intended as a helpul tool giving the student some o the

keys necessary to succeed.

In todays technological/inormation age, the western concepts o having

everything ast and easy has spread like a virus. Unortunately knowledge is

also expected in this way despite the years o striving and sacrice given by our

scholars (both past and present). It is due to our realizing this that we aimed

to put together a treatise small enough that the student will be able to read it

without hardship but with enough inormation that it is still benecial. And truly,

success is with Allah.

PrefaCe


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Cordoba Academy is striving to be the pre-eminent seat o learning worldwide or the

instruction o the Sacred Islamic Sciences, merging traditional methods o inheriting

knowledge through Isnad with imparting knowledge using modern technology and

techniques in instruction. It is a non-prot organization that is not aliated to any

government, political party or sect. It oers courses or both genders rom various

backgrounds and levels o Islamic Knowledge.

This is done via the internet, using web-conerences to allow interaction between

students and the scholars. This has been done in order to join those truly seeking Sacred

Knowledge with high level scholars o our Sacred tradition rom around the world.

The Cordoba Academy was established with the vision that it would be the worldwide

orerunner in the Hadith Sciences as there is a vacuum in this extremely important eld

even amongst the scholars. This eld is still the main ocus o the Academy but the ocus

has widened to include various studies such as qh, usool al-qh, taseer and other than

these. The aim is to produce well rounded students with a rm oundation in the sacred

Islamic sciences who will move within their own communities living the sunnah o the

beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), acting as ambassadors o Islam.

And it is rom the aims o Cordoba Academy that this deen and the sacred sciencesbelonging to it are preserved and protected in this modern age. From the ways o

protecting the sacred knowledge o Islam is the Ijaaza system, and this is one o the

hallmarks o Cordoba Academy. All o the scholars teach texts that they themselves

have taken with sound chains o narration and it is through them that the student is

joined in the chain going back to the scholars o Islam and oten, ultimately back to the

Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Can this be done through online studies? The oundation o the tradition has always

been aural and as long as the student hears the words rom the mouth o his Sheikh in a

live interaction , even without seeing him, the condition remains intact. It is or this reason

that in order or the student to receive an Ijaaza they must have ull punctual attendance

o live sessions, recordings will not suce. The student should participate in in-class

discussions and the questions & answers as well. The student should acquire a very good

understanding o the text being studied and be able to answer any question related to

the text. Thus, any and all assignments given by an instructor must be completed i the

student is hoping or an Ijaaza in the text being studied. There is no need however, or

the memorization o the text, though this is encouraged or shorter texts.

inTroduCTion


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inTroduCTion

Rest assured that the methodology used at Cordoba Academy or the Classical Islamic

Sciences meets the highest standards and is based on sound knowledge and understanding

o the deen.

As or this short treatise, it is meant to introduce the student to online studies at Cordoba

Academy, to oer some keys to successes in online studies in general, and to oer some

keys or the student to assist in success in the seeking and attaining o the Sacred Islamic

Sciences. This text is meant only as a guide to assist the students at Cordoba Academy and

is in no way meant as a comprehensive or conclusive text on the subject o online studies or

seeking knowledge in general. I used properly, it is hoped that it will be a benecial tool or

the seekers o sacred knowledge. And with Allah is all success.


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In general:

Today, we have the ability to study the Sacred Islamic Sciences over the internet - in

various academies and programs, through recordings, internet-conerencing, Skype,

etc.. We have, at our ngertips, access to what students and scholars alike used to have

to make long journeys and many sacrices to reach. All praise is due to Allah alone, this

is one o the great blessing rom Allah in our age and it has been a means to make this

knowledge more accessible to everyone.

Every institution and instructor is likely to approach online learning in a slightly dierent

way, but some commonalities exist throughout most online educational programs.

To avoid any conusion, this treatise will be specically discussing the online learningthrough Cordoba Academy.

When you take an online class, you wont have a physical classroom to attend, but you

still have many similar responsibilities as i you were to attend a physical class - such as

the need to prepare, attend and participate in class and also the need to complete any

assignments.

Much o what you will need is provided on CAs website, however as ar as the delivery

o the courses, we currently use the internet conerencing and education site, WIZIQ- which will be discussed later. Upon signing up to our programs and/or our courses,

youll be provided with the necessary links and inormation to access everything you

need, including lectures, tests, assignments, the student orum, etc - to help you make

the most out o your CA experience. Most o the texts that are taught are provided via

PDF les, although at times, one may also nd it benecial to purchase a hard-copy.

TaKe IT serIously:

You have to take your learning seriously. This is regardless o whether one is studying

privately with a teacher, in a University setting or via the internet. It is imperative that one

does not think less o their studies simply due to the medium in which they are taken.

From ones seriousness is that they plan and prepare or classes, as well as participate

regularly. Understand, in order to really remain serious in your learning you must have

clear and dened goals as well as condence in your teachers.

The naTure of sTudying

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are They legITImaTe:

To begin with, the Cordoba Academy invites and encourages you to look at our academy;

our teachers; our ounder; our values and mission; as well as look at the testimonials.

Inormation pertaining to all o that can be ound on our website with little diculty

and we highly encourage you to look into all o those things beore taking classes with

us as it is very important to know who you are taking knowledge rom. As ar as

studying Islam online as it was mentioned in the introduction, it is rom the aims o

Cordoba Academy that this deen and the sacred sciences belonging to it are preserved

and protected in this modern age. From the ways o protecting the sacred knowledge

o Islam is the Ijaaza system, and this is one o the hallmarks o Cordoba Academy. All o

the scholars teach texts that they themselves have taken with sound chains o narrationand it is through this that the student is joined in the chain going back to the scholars

o Islam and oten, ultimately back to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

The oundation o the tradition has always been aural and as long as the student hears

the words rom the mouth o his Sheikh in a live interaction, even without seeing him,

the condition remains intact. It is or this reason that in order or the student to receive

an Ijaaza they must have ull punctual attendance o live sessions, recordings will not

suce.

moTIvaTIon:The Internet is a tool which can acilitate ease in ones journey o seeking knowledge

but in no way, should you consider online learning easy. Online learning comes with its

own line o diculties and struggles. With that being mentioned, one must begin with

and maintain motivation.

The ultimate key to being motivated through hardship and ease is doing whatever

it is you are doing or the sake o Allah to earn His love and pleasure. No hardship can

outweigh Allahs love and pleasure. The way to keep up your motivation: Make your aim

Allah, The Exalted.

When the going gets tough be patient, trust in Allah, turning to Him in supplication.

Always renew your intention and keep working toward your goal. High Aspirations:

High aspirations either infates your ego or keeps your eet rmly upon the ground.

Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd said in his book on the etiquettes o seeking knowledge,

Adorning onesel with high aspirations is one o the characteristics o Islam. Having

high aspirations eliminates trivial hopes and actions and it uproots within your heart the

tree o humiliation, degradation, adulation and compromise on behal o the religion; so

the person with great aspirations is composed and not terrorized in dire situations. As

or the person who has lost it, then he is a earul coward, whose mouth is shut by his

impotence.


online


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But do not conuse high aspiration with pride, because the dierence between them is

like the dierence between the heavens that give rain and the earth which splits. High

aspiration is the adornment o the inheritors o prophets and pride is the sickness o

those who are sick with the sickness o the wretched tyrants.

The seekers o Sacred Knowledge should aspire to be servants o Allah and not judges

over people. You should never think o yoursel as better than anyone else. Rather you

should think, now more than ever, o yoursel as a servant to humankind and you should,

as mentioned in the introduction, act as an ambassador o the Truth, the deen, your

community and o the Ummah.


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deInIng successul sTudIes:

What is success in general? Success is earning the pleasure o Allah. So what is successul

studying? Simply put, it is studying that which will acilitate earning the pleasure o

Allah. But successul studying has a lot o implications. It implies that one must have a

pure intention. It implies that one must uphold good manners. And it implies that one

must have good goals or their knowledge.

The mark o knowledge taken sincerely is that it impacts the seeker it changes you.

That one takes the knowledge one receives and implements it into ones own lie.

Pure InTenTIon:

It has been narrated rom Umar Ibn al-Khattab (ra): I heard the Messenger o Allah,

sallallahu alayhi wasallam, say: Actions are (judged) by intentions (niyyah), so each

man will have what he intended. [Al-Bukhari & Muslim] The seeking o sacred

knowledge is a tremendous action and as we embark on this action, we must careully

determine our intentions are we doing it sincerely or the sake o Allah or or worldly

gain what are our motives? From your intention to your learning; rom your learning to

your implementation it should all go back to being or the sake o Allah.

The rst thing we should all intend in seeking knowledge, ater intending to seek thepleasure and nearness o Allah, is to benet onesel. Ater establishing the initial intention,

we should go back and review & renew our intention every so oten and hold ourselves

accountable.

ProPer adab:

Al-Hasan ibn Ismail said, I heard my Father say, In the gathering o Imam Ahmad (may

Allah be pleased with him), around 5000 people or more would gather. Less than

500 would write narrations and the rest would be learning good manners and correct

behavior rom him.

Keys To suCCessful sTudying

in general


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As a student o knowledge, there are many dierent aspects o good adab:

Wit t:

1 - Be quiet

2 - Listen

3 - Be punctual

4 - Honor them as they are to be honored; always displaying respect and kindness

5 - Be humble beore them

Wit w tt:

1 - Dont insult or belittle them in anyway

2 - Share with them

3 - Benet rom them

4 - Display kindness and care or one another.

Wit :

1 - Puriy your intention

2 - Puriy your limbs rom sin

3 - Manage your time

4 - Talk, Eat and Sleep little

5 - Choose good companions

6 - Dont compromise on what is right

Wit t kw:

1 - Pay attention

2 - Take notes

3 - Keep up with your study materials

4 - Act upon whatever you learn

5 - Share with others

6 - Review oten


Wit t/tt t ititti:

1 - Beware o pride

2 - Beware o argumentation

3 - Be open to benet rom others

Wit pp i :

1 - Never look down on anyone

2 - Be gentle and kind


a pif t ti i:

1 - Close all other tabs/screens/documents that do not directly relate to the

class you a currently attending.

2 - Participate!

3 - Create an area o study within your home


in general


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KnoWledge Is a means, noT a goal:

Seeking knowledge is a lie-long journey. It begins at birth and should not end until

the day you die. Knowledge is not a goal there is never a point in this journey that

someone can say that they have achieved all the knowledge that there is.

What is the purpose o knowledge, the end goal? The messenger o Allah (may the best

benedictions and peace be upon him) said what means, wisdom is the lost property o

the believer, wherever he nds it, let him take it. with that in mind, we quote the British

philosopher Herbert Spencer who said, The great aim o education is not knowledge,

but action Since learning is a lie-long journey, we must have clear and dened goals

to guide and direct us. We are seeking knowledge to get closer to Allah but what arewe going to do with our knowledge? As believers we should be seeking knowledge

in order to act upon it in such a way as to take with us the provisions or a successul

hereater.

Ater this, the question then arises, to what end are we studying in this lie? Are we

learning just enough that we can ulll our personal obligations? Are we learning so that

we can be o those through which Allah preserves the Quran? Are we learning so that

we can preserve and pass on the ahadeeth with sound unbroken chains o narration?

Are we seeking to preserve he sacred trusts o this Deen by passing on the knowledgeto the next generations? What is the pathway o knowledge we are seeking to traverse

and to what end?

Once we have these goals, we need to implement them. Talk with our mentors and our

teachers, our beloved scholars. Ask those who have tread the path that we are seeking

to take and ask their advice, ask them what steps you should be taking, what courses

you should be taking, what books you should be reading, etc. And implement the advice

they give you.


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From the keys to successully acquire knowledge through online studies is to remember

the three Ps - Plan, Prepare and Participate.

PlannIng

Perhaps the rst step to successul online studies is an honest look at you schedule and

asking yoursel when. This does not mean that you are limited to the ree time you

currently have but rather should lend to an honest review o your time, what activities

are actually necessary in your lie, what can be moved around and what activities are

you willing to sacrice.

This rst step o reviewing your schedule is important because many times people beginto lag behind in their studies or quit due to an inability to keep up with them due to

mis-scheduling.

A person should look at their work hours, the times o obligatory acts o worship

which are time sensitive such as maghrib & Jummah prayer. And also take amily time

into consideration as well. Looking at ones own schedule in this way will aid in choosing

classes and succeeding in them.

Ater taking into account ones own schedule, look at the classes being oered. Canyou t any o them into your schedule even i one must manipulate and sacrice to

do so?

Also ask yoursel important relevant questions such as what classes do I need most?

Have I learned my personal obligations (Fard Ayn) ? Have I taken the preliminary texts

o this eld? Can I implement this knowledge in my lie (ie, is this knowledge actionable

or me)? These questions will not only help to choose courses but prioritize them so

you build your knowledge base and grow with your classes.

Planning your classes is important because many times students take classes they are

interested in or classes they like or they heard were good. But never having taken

any preliminary courses, do not receive ull benet rom the classes; or not having rst

established their ard ayn correctly they act upon the supererogatory acts while alling

short in their obligations.

Sometimes the student simply doesnt understand the course material and becomes

rustrated or worse, they give up. Due to this, planning the class times as well as

prioritizing them is a must.

Keys To suCCessful online

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sTudies

The third and nal aspect o planning is that one actually prepares or their course.

Preparation is going to be discussed on its own but here we want to mention general

preparations such as making sure you have a copy o the text to be studied (hard copy

or a pd); a reliable device on which to study, a reliable connection and again; a time in

your schedule where you can actually concentrate and study.

Because we are speaking specically about succeeding at live online studies, having the

hardware, sotware, and knowhow is vitally important. Plan ahead by visiting the host

site (usually WizIQ) and make sure you are registered on the site, that you remember

your password & can enter the site easily. Also, make sure your registered or the class

ahead o time, check your invites and conrm the schedule or your time zone. (I

no invite is ound, check the host site or your spam mail beore contacting Cordoba

Academy.)

Again, the preparation aspect o planning is vital as oten students come 15 minutes to

an hour late or class due to some technical problem that could have been taken care

o long beore class time. Also, because it is via the internet, there are enough technical

problems that could arise beyond anyones control, such as weak connections adding

to the inherent problems will only add to the students rustration which can weaken

their resolve.

To conclude this section, proper planning includes planning your schedule and your

classes as well as preparing or them. Planning ahead will go a long way in helping the

student not only succeed in a particular class, not only their learning experience but

their building their oundations o the Islamic Sciences. At the very least, it is a saeguard

against unnecessary rustrations and academic shortalls.

PreParaTIon

Ater having planned your course, coming to class prepared is the next key to successul

online study. Honestly, there is very little dierence between preparing or classes online

and classes in general. So we will mention that which is specic to online classes beore

moving onto general preparations.

Make certain that anyone you may live with understands that you are going to class and

are not spending leisure time on your device. (This includes parents, spouses, children

or room-mates.) This will help to cut down on conusion which may lead to interruptions

and distractions.


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As has been mentioned, nding a space conducive to study, making certain you are able

to access the internet and more specically, the host site are all important preparatory

steps. Ater this is accomplished, make certain that you are able to enter the classroom

at least 15 minutes to a hal hour beore class is scheduled to begin. This will give you

time to troubleshoot any problems i they arise.

Along with what has been mentioned, make certain your speakers or headphones are

working and your sound level is high enough to hear the lecture. Also, i there is a need

to speak, check your microphone and sound levels.

Other than these matters, general preparation should be a regular part o any study.

Every student should have a pen and paper at the ready (even when not in class).

Perhaps in this technological age this is replaced by an electronic means o note-taking.

I so, have it prepared beore class begins.

Along with this, a copy o the text should not only be available but at hand beore class

begins. Even though the student is not usually asked to read the text to the class, they

should be reading along with the teacher. Having the text and reading along helps to

keep the student ocused and on track. This brings another detail; can your computer or

device maintain the classroom, the text and the note-taking program all at once?

Reading the entire text beore class is helpul but generally not necessary. However,

reading the section o the text to be gone over in class as well as the next section is

a good step or preparing or class. This can also be supplemented by reading other

articles, texts, or essays on the subject to be discussed. Preparing or class in this way

also aords the student the ability to generate questions which they can write ahead o

time and bring to class. I this is done (and it should be), the student should listen to the

lecture and see i their questions are answered i not, they can ask them at the end o

class i time permits . I time does not permit, the questions may be posted on the orum

in order to benet all the students.

It is also a very good practice to review the lecture, the text and your notes within 48

hours o the class and then again beore the next class begins. This way you will be more

amiliar with the inormation and the knowledge will begin to take root in your long term

memory.

This in no way is meant to enumerate all o the ways a student may prepare but it is

in order to introduce some o the ways that may acilitate ease and success or the

students.

And with Allah is all success.


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ParTIcIPaTe In class

W i it iptt:

Participation, with both your teachers and your ellow classmates, in class has many

benets. It allows you to really get the most out o your course experience. Perhaps

your teacher will impart to you knowledge that can deepen your insight that cannot be

attained through recordings. Also, all o the assignments given are given with a purpose

so it is benecial to make complete and make use o them.

att itt:

Strive not to miss any classes. I you do miss a class, even i you have access to

recordings, you miss out on many things. Amongst them is that you miss out on takingthe knowledge directly rom your teacher, one o the living scholars o our time. Also,

you miss out on being in that sacred gathering about which the Prophet (may the best

benedictions and peace be upon him) said whats translated to mean, when you come

across the gardens o paradise, endure in them. So it is or your benet that you strive

to consistently attend your classes.

att ti:

Be on time. This actually means, be early ve minutes or ten minutes. When your

teacher begins the class, you should be in the classroom and you should be ready tobegin. Your teacher should never have to wait on you. Your ellow students should never

have to wait on you. And or yoursel, i you are late, you run a chance o missing out on

something grand.

u t :

The orums are there to acilitate and encourage student participation. I you have

questions post them there. I you have notes especially key points or remarkable pieces

post them. I you have something worth discussing with your peers post it. While

you can use the orum simply or asking questions and/or posting notes, a good thing

to do is start and participate in discussions. Perhaps there is an interesting topic being

covered that you have read something about share it, share your thoughts, discuss

it with your classroom. The teachers o the Cordoba Academy like to see students

discussing their classes, the texts and related topics o study in the orums.


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cpt it:

Complete all assignments that the teacher gives to you. Make use o and complete

your assignments as they are meant to be study aids to enhance your learning and

understanding, as well as to assist your teacher in how to best help you learn and

grow.

sk t tii t t:

Dont conne yoursel to the methods o participation that I have mentioned here. Seek

out other possibilities and make use o them. Perhaps you will nd a study-buddy or

something o this sort. Make the most out o your class experience.


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hoW To enTer The WIzIQ classroom:

Cordoba Academy courses are generally taught via WizIQ. When you register or one

o our programs/courses, you will be sent a WizIQ invitation to attend class. Its quite

simple, ater you create your account, to join the live sessions. There are basically just 5

steps to entering your live class:

1 - Go to your WizIQ home, on which should be your upcoming classes, and click on the

particular course you are looking to enter.

2 - Once you are on the course page, click launch class.

3 - Wait or the page to load. There will be a pop-up asking you to enable your camera

and microphone. You have to click and enable both - this does not mean when you

enter, you will be seen and/or heard - it does mean that i necessary, you can be given

access to the camera and speaker, by your teacher.

4 - Ater that, you will need to click and close the pop-up.

5 - You should now be in the classroom. Now, try to be the rst to give salaams to yourteacher.

Joining The Classroom


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Having completed this manual, it is our hoped that within it there is benet or the

reader and that in it are pieces o advice that will be implemented. We have gone

over numerous keys to help you acilitate your online learning rom understanding

how it works to joining your classroom, rom planning and preparing or your class to

making the most o your class time, And specically we discussed some inormation

about Cordoba Academy, the aims o the Academy and the educational programs are

instituted.

The Cordoba Academy aims at preserving the traditional system o transmitting sacred

knowledge. It suces the honor o a believer that their name is orever connected to the

names o the greatest scholars o this Ummah. And it suces the honor and blessings o

a believer, that their name be connected to that o the one whom is the most honorable

and blessed o this Umma (peace and blessings be upon him). Many times, one doesnt

realize the blessings o Allah upon us until we become deprived o them. We ask Allah to

protect us rom being amongst those who deprive ourselves o His blessings amen.

Any mistakes ound in this manual are due to the shortcomings o the team which put

it together; while every good comes solely rom Allah.

And success is with Allah alone.

ConClusion


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The traditional system o transmitting knowledge in Islam is through the system o Ijazah.

That is, where the one conveying the knowledge also conveys the chain o narration

which connects this knowledge (and the conveyor) back to its original source. I the

one who received the knowledge wishes to convey it rom himsel, he will then mention

the one who conveyed it to him along with every narrator going back to the source. It

is through this system that the knowledge has been preserved and alsehood has been

guarded against.

This Traditional Islamic System can be seen even in the time o the Prophet (may Allah

bless him and grant him peace) himsel. One example directly rom the prophet (may

Allah bless him and grant him peace) is his narrating rom Tamim al-Dari. Fatimah bintQais reported that Allahs Messenger sat on the pulpit and said, O people, Tamim al-Dari

has reported to me. And then he narrated a story rom him. (Muslim 7031)

Another such example rom the lietime o the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant

him peace) is a narration ound in Bukhari and Muslim where Umar (Radi Allahu Anhu)

narrates, I was sitting in the Masjid when I heard Hishaam ibn Hakeem recite surah al-

Furqan. I was almost about to jump on him in his prayer, but I waited until he nished

and then grabbed him by his garment and asked him, who taught you to recite in such

a manner? He replied, It was the prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)himsel! I responded, You are mistaken, or indeed I learned this surah rom the prophet

and it was dierent rom your recitation! Thereore, I dragged him to the prophet and

complained to him that Hishaam had recited surah al-Furqan in a manner dierent rom

what he (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) taught me. At this, the prophet told

me to let go o Hisham and asked him to recite surah al-Furqaan. Hisham recited it the

way I heard it beore. When he nished the prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him

peace) said, It was revealed his way He then asked me to recite the same surah. When

I nished, he said it was also revealed this way. The Quran has been revealed in seven

dierent ahru, so recite whichever way is easy or you. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Ater the lie o the Prophet (pbuh), in the time o Abu Bakr, we nd that he would

sometimes reject peoples narration i they did not have witnesses to it. Umar was known

to orce people to make clear whether they heard a narration directly rom the Prophet

(s), as has been seen. And Ali would sometimes orce a person to take an oath. It was

ater the time o Uthman, in the Caliphate o Ali that the Isnad system took rm root.

This is as Ibn Sereen said, They did not ask about the isnaad but when the tna arose,

they began to say, Who are your men? It was the year 110ah when Ibn Sereen died and

this year also marked the end o the period o the companions; by this time the isnaad

system was rmly established. It came to the point where the early scholars would not

even consider a narration i it had no isnaad.

aPPendix a

Cordoba aCademy and the

traditional islamiC system


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It is through this traditional Islamic System that Allah has preserved that which He

revealed to this Ummah through His beloved (may Allah bless him and grant him peace),

both the Quran and the Sunnah. What is more, our scholars have preserved this system

or the last 14 centuries; this is something unique to Islam. It is through this Isnad System

that the reality o Sacred sciences were protected as Imam Abdullah Ibn Mubarak

amously said, Isnaad is rom this religion. I it were not or the Isnaad, whoever likes to

would say anything which they would like to say.

Imam ash-Shatabi said the meaning o which is, Allah opens to the student o knowledge

who is sitting at the eet o his shaykh, that which he does not open to those who lack

the company o a shaykh. There is a barakah in the traditional method o study and

earning an Ijazah and this can be witnessed by the number o Islamic university graduates

who lack understanding o the texts they have studied and even the basic adab and

decorum o a scholar. They have only raw knowledge that proves to be more o a trial

and a burden or them than anything else. Many o these Islamic University have allen

into imitation o the Western University systems o learning due to various causes, all

stemming rom the occupation o the Muslim lands in the 19th century. This occupation

and colonialization set out to ruin the traditional Isnad system, to lower literacy and

understanding o the Arabic language and replace the entire education system with

their own. It was by means o this that they segmented the societies orming a class o

social elites and those who would serve them while simultaneously removing respect

or, and thereore the eciency o, the Ulama (Islamic scholars). It is this dismantling o

the traditional Islamic system that has led to much o the decline o the Islamic states.

The traditional Islamic System requires painstaking eorts on the part o the teacher

to ensure that students ulll the requirements o Ijazah. Unortunately due to the trust

involved in the inherent nature and process o traditional Islamic instruction, today we

continue to see Islamic institutions heading more and more towards the secular models

o the west. The Ijazah system has then been neglected due to the ease o awarding a

western style university degree. This is indeed heartbreaking as the western university

degree itsel would not exist i not or the Ijazah system since the western degree system

was a cheap, watered down imitation o what they ound in the Islamic world.

But to be air, on the other end o the spectrum are those who possess Ijazah but do not

possess the knowledge that should accompany it. Many exploit this or personal gain or

to establish their portolios and biographies seeking to give others the impression that

they are knowledgeable when the reality is that they are hiding behind their Ijazah as

one hides behind a shield seeking thereby to veil their ignorance rom others.

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21

The Islamic Sacred knowledge is divided into two parts, Dirayah (understanding) and

Riwayah (Tradition o Sanad) and i one had to choose between the two, then the most

important is Dirayah. However, the most complete and eective and that which contains

the most blessings is to have both.

The Sanad is a means o protecting the student rom being misled by alsehood as Imam

Ash-Sha (Radi Allahu Anhu) said: The example o the one who seeks knowledge

(without Isnaad) is like the one who gathers wood at night wherein there is a snake

that bites him without him realizing it. Similarly it is a means o elevating the student,

connecting him to the loty luminaries that came beore him. This is as Imam az-Zuhri

(Radi Allahu Anhu) said, Is a roo raised without a ladder? Still urther, the Sanad isa weapon or the student as Suyan ath-Thawri (Radi Allahu Anhu) mentioned: The

Isnaad is the weapon o a believer; i he does not have a weapon, with what will he

ght? Concerning this, Shaykh Muhammad Sharee ibn Fareed (Hadhuhu llah) said,

Realize that preoccupation with memorizing and preserving the successive chains o

authority is among the most important aairs o the Deen, or the scholars and the

sincere worshippers. It is essential or every person serious about the deen, that they

take reliance upon the weapons o the believers.

Our akaabir explained the relationship between the Dirayah and the Riwayah in a beautiulmetaphor. They said, Dirayah is similar to the pulp o an orange and the Riwayah is like

the rind (peel) o the ruit. For the ruit to be whole, you need both. Part o the beauty

o this metaphor is that the reality is the pulp o the orange is the meat o the matter

while it is the rind that protects it and gives o the sweet citrus smell. So understand

that someone who is teaching or studying without Ijazah should not be aulted because

what they are doing is the most important part o knowledge; but it would be better i

they beautied and completed it this with Riwayah (that is with the Sanad and Ijazah).

We here at Cordoba Academy are trying our utmost to provide students o knowledge

both o these crucial ingredients simultaneously in order to produce the best scholarship

or the troubled times we nd ourselves in.


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22

According to the Shariah, a person is legally responsible based on two pre-conditions

puberty and sanity. Puberty, or the most part is clear; sanity, however, is another matter.

Sanity is generally explained as the ability to tell right rom wrong, good rom bad and

harm rom benet; according to such a criteria, it seems we are living in an age emerged

in insanity. The dominant world culture seems to be one exported rom the west, which

seeks to homogenize the world into a single hedonistic society based on materialism, a

culture that sees what is harmul or it as benecial and what will benet it as harmul;

a culture where what is right and good is viewed as evil and wrong. Indeed the modern

age is upside down.

In the past, Muslim communities were insulated rom much o the infuence o the

disbelieving peoples but that changed with colonialization and the age o Empire.

During that period we see the disbelieving nations dividing up the Muslim lands, dividing

communities and spreading their infuence through political manipulation and military

might. In the last century, the all o the empire was witnessed and many nations around

the world gained their independence or the rst time in generations. Unortunately, this

did not mark the end o colonialization. Today through the various orms o wide spread

media, be it music, movies, television or the internet, the propaganda has taken its eect

leaving much o the Muslim world looking into a polished aade o western lie and

longing or it. It is a sad reality that today many Muslims adore the West, imitate what

they perceive as a western liestyle and even make hijra to the lands o Kur. Whether

it is love, hope or ear, many Muslims today hold the western way o lie in a sense o

awe.

The Cordoba Academy is not aliated with any government, political party or sect and

has been established in order to transmit the Sacred Islamic Sciences so then why

is this being mentioned in a student guide? It is rom the aims o Cordoba Academy

to establish students o sacred knowledge as ambassadors o Islam in their respective

communities; and it should be rom the intentions o the students to be shining examples

o the true guidance in these troubled times.

It seems as though the root o all diseases and maladies today is ignorance and the cure

or ignorance is seeking knowledge, but it must be sought through its proper channels.

Sacred knowledge is not to be looked or in the opinions o the masses; nor should its

primary source be rom that which has no lie or intellect. Rather, sacred knowledge is to

be taken rom its people, those who have taken rom those who have taken knowledge.

The seeking o knowledge is not about accumulating and regurgitating inormation but

taking in knowledge rom the hearts o the scholars, understanding it well, and applying

it in our lives. In this way, the student does not just become a receptacle o inormation

but becomes an example o the Islamic manners and prophetic character he takes rom

his teachers. In this way (becoming an example), the circle (o learning, living according

to the knowledge and then calling others by it) is again complete.

aPPendix b

being a lighthouse on a

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23

The seeking o the sacred knowledge is an obligation upon us as the Prophet (may Allah

bless him and grant him peace) commanded us, Seeking knowledge is an obligation

upon every Muslim. Everyone is not required to become scholars or even students o

knowledge but everyone is required to learn that which is personally obligatory upon

them. There are many ayat o the Quran and Prophetic narrations extoling the seekers

o knowledge. It is true that Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala) says,

Are they equal, those who know and those who do not know?

(39:9)

And,

Allah will raise them by degrees(58:11)

The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, He who ollows on a

path in quest o knowledge, Allah will make the path o Jannah easy to him. The angels

lower their wings over the seeker o knowledge, being pleased with what he does. The

inhabitants o the heavens and the earth and even the sh in the depths o the ocean

seek orgiveness or him. The superiority o the learned man over the devout worshipper

is like that o the ull moon to the rest o the stars. The learned are the heirs o the

Prophet who bequeath neither dinar nor dirham but only that o knowledge; and hewho acquires it, has in act acquired an abundant portion. (Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi)

Also, it is upon the Muslims to show honor and respect to the scholars o our deen, but

what is more, as students o sacred knowledge, one should recognize the greatness and

sacrice o the scholars o this deen. I the seekers o knowledge do not recognize the

lotiness, i those seeking to gain benet rom them and be connected to them do not

honor them, how then can others be expected to do so?

With mentioning this however, we must also add a word o caution. It has been

mentioned that the disease o this age is ignorance but be aware that there are diseases

o the heart associated with seeking knowledge also, the prime diseases being pride,

arrogance and sel-righteousness. And know it only takes one ill-mannered student to

act as an example to cause others to look down on other students, our scholars and

even seeking sacred knowledge itsel. Taking knowledge rom righteous scholars goes

a long way to shield one rom this but the actual medicine is servitude. Students o

knowledge should be active in serving their communities, cleaning the masjids and their

neighborhoods, eeding the poor, etc. Allah said,

And repulse not the beggar

(93:10)

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stormy night


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24

And also, the prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace, told us, One who

strives to help the widows and the poor is like the one who ghts in the way o Allah.

The narrator (Abu Hurairah) said: I think he also added: I shall regard him as the one who

stands up (or prayer) without rest and as the one who observes asts continuously.

(Bukhari and Muslim)

Through this servitude that the heart is humbled and it is also through this servitude

that the hearts o others are healed. This is a benecial healing that spreads and opens

the doors or dawa . And it is spreading o the truth in word and deed that leads to the

true healing o our societies.

Still, servitude and its eects can only be had and maintained with sincerity! Everything

that we do should be or the sake o Allah alone. This knowledge, serving others and

inviting to Islam must not be to acquire the feeting things o this lie. It is just such

intentions that lead to the twisting o the message by those who should know better;

that leads to the callers compromising well established manners and etiquettes or

the sake o Dawa.; that leads to Imams and scholars remaining silent in the ear o

disobedience in order to displease their employers. Likewise, this knowledge, servitude

and inviting to Islam must not be or the sake o eeding your ego. The Prophet (may

Allah bless him and grant him peace) let or us a rm warning. On the authority o Abu

Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu), the messenger o Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him

peace) said, You will covet or getting a position o authority, but remember that it will

be a cause o humiliation and remorse on the Day o Resurrection. (Al-Bukhari)

We must ask ourselves, do we truly believe in Allah? That He has power over all things?

That nothing can occur, good or bad, except by His will? That He hears those who call

out to Him and He responds?

Do we believe that out o His mercy, He sent mankind guidance and that He revealed the

Quran as a recital, a purication a healing, a mercy but most importantly as a guidance

or our lives? Do we believe that there is an answer to guide us ound therein?

Do we believe that out o the mercy o Allah taala, He sent the Messenger (may Allah

bless him and grant him peace) was sent as a mercy to all creation and so every decision,

every act, every word he uttered is rom that mercy? That the prophet (may Allah bless

him and grant him peace) is the best example or those who believe in Allah and the

last day.

Honestly, do we believe that there will be a lie in the graves o either punishment or

ease? Do we believe we will be brought back to lie again and stand beore Allah or

judgment? That there are only two outcomes, the mercy o Allah or His justice; Success

or ailure; Heaven or Hell? What are we sending orth beore us?!

aPPendix b


stormy night


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The student must ask himsel this and then act accordingly inward and outward,

publicly and privately.

It is through the right action o the people o knowledge, scholars and students alike,

that deep and lasting change can be eected. It is a duty upon them to be agents o

change, ambassadors o Islam and beacons o light in these stormy times. We leave

you with a reminder rom Umar (Radi Allahu anhu) and an ayat to take as a mantra.

As or the words o sayyidina Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he said, We are

a people Allah has raised in honor by Islam whoever seeks honor in other than it, Allah

will humiliate them.

And as or the words o Allah, to keep in your heart and upon your tongue, they are,

Say: Truly, my prayer and my service o sacrice,

my lie and my death are (all) or Allah,

the Lord o the Worlds. (6:162)


aPPendix b


stormy night

cordoba student manual

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