A Testimonial by Farhan Hashmi for the Toronto Shariah Program
As-salamu alaykum,
I would like to share with you the unique experience I had this past summer
during the two-month intensive. I decided to take this course because I was
becoming dissatisfied with the level of incompetence I had with regards to
understanding the language of the Qur’an.
Due to the fact that this program was fairly new and not many people knew
about it, the size of the class during the summer was relatively small. I
am now studying in a larger class with the January students and have exposure
to more teachers. However, over the summer I studied primarily under Mufti
Yusuf Mullan. Alhamdulilah, I am grateful to Allah for allowing me the experience
of studying with such a knowledgeable and forbearing teacher. He understands
his students well and adjusts his curriculum to optimize results. His method
of teaching with emphasis on repetition is really helpful in cutting down
the time required for memorization.
Initially I was a little nervous because I wasn’t sure what to expect.
I did not have any training in the language whatsoever prior to this course.
When I was in the process of registering, I spent almost a week leafing through
various books on “tajweed” and “intro to Arabic” in
order to avoid embarrassment during the first week of class.
Alhamdulilah there has not been a single instance where I have felt embarrassed
or discouraged. With a basic understanding of the alphabet one can go a long
way. The lessons are dynamic and every part of the course comes together
to reinforce a solid understanding of the core concepts.
At the end of every class, I walk out with so many interesting things to think
about. Whether they are profound verses from the Qur’an or wise words
to a student from a teacher who lived a thousand years ago, the program proves
to be much more than what can be expressed by a mere listing of the course
outline.
This program is truly a strong undertow in the sea of knowledge in the West.
All you have to do is take a dive and the current will take you to amazing
places Insh’Allah. I came across the following quote in one of the
books during the first week of class which sums up my feeling for the program
in a beautiful way:
“Although I was able to spend only a few years in the company of such
guides [the traditional scholars], my progress was rapid. Such is the fortune
of the debris that manages to land itself on a rapidly flowing, pristine
river.” - Shaykh Husain Abdul Sattar
wa-salam,
Farhan Hashmi
hashmi_f@lycos.com
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Now formally registering for the 2009 Online Arabic Foundations Program
Course content, goals and methods can be accessed from the Curriculum page.
Click here for first semester syllabus (March 21, 2009-June 21, 2009).
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