Two students from England and two students from North America arrived in Damascus in September 2007 to start the four year course at the Islamic Institute for Postgraduate Studies (IIPS). The concentration in the first year is learning Arabic, the language of instruction in later years, and the correct recitation of the Holy Qur’an.
IIPS Students with Ayatullah Husseini in September 2007
Alhamdulillaah all the four students are progressing beyond expectations. They are now able to recite the Holy Qur’an and duas correctly and with confidence. With their knowledge of Arabic language, the students are able to understand Majalises and Khutbas in the Haram of Seyyida Zaynab alaihassalaam.
Since the course is designed to teach the students the practical aspects of a Resident Aalim’s position in a community, the students have received a number of practical lessons:
IIPS Educational Director oversees the students learning Halal slaughtering
The management team of the Institute have now put in place the lecturers and lesson plans for the modules that are to be taught in the second year at the Institute. Specialists in their fields have been carefully selected to fit the IIPS standards of excellence and to ensure the modules are addressing the practical needs of the community.
Students will be lectured by eminent scholars like
- Ayatullah Syed Mohammad Ali Miski on Akhlaq.
- Dr Sajjad Rizvi on Islamic Ethics.
- Syed Mazar Qazwini on Arabic Grammer and Khataaba.
- Sheikh Kasim Akhundi on Mantiq (Logic), Usul (Principles of Jurisprudence) and Aqaid (Islamic Theology).
- Dr Riaz al-Akhras on Qur’anic Sciences and Qur’anic Tafseer (Exegesis).
- Dr. Mahmood Abdulla on 'Quran - Scripture and Signifier and Critical Thinking.
- Sheikh Samir Ubayd on Fiqh (Jurisprudence) and Hadith Studies (Science of Traditions and their application).
- Shaykh Safder Jaffer on Islamic Finance.
- Dr. Hasnain Walji on Islamic Cultural Heritage and Preaching, Teaching and Reaching.
- Sheikh Ali Qa’id Kassim, on Nahj-ul-Balaagha.
- Syeda Rafeef al-Safi on Fiqh (Jurisprudence) for women.
Maulana Zaffar Abbas discussing the needs of the IIPS with Ayatullah Syed Mohammad Ali Miski.
As last year’s entrants to IIPS move on to the second year we are opening the admission for the next intake that is due to start in Damascus on Saturday 6 September 2008, 5 Ramadhaan 1429. Further information can be obtained from the IIPS website.( www.wfiips.org) or by emailing the manager Al Hajj Hussein Ravji (iips@world-federation.org)
Effort is at present being concentrated on creating awareness about the programme amongst the youth of the community. This included an intensive presentation at the recent Orlando Sports festival, at the Council of Gujerat youth gathering in Bhavnagar and at the Malaysian Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Student Association gathering in Kuala Lumpur. This month presentations are planned for Mauritius, Reunion, Tananarive, Tulear, Majunga and Dubai, followed by one in Mumbai in April.
By the grace of Allah, The World Federation is pleased to announce the appointment of Shaykh Mohammed Ali Ismail as the Institute Tutor at IIPS in Damascus, to complete the staffing needs for the academic year 2008/09.
Tutoring is a proven and highly effective way of improving teaching success. It is a special kind of teaching that complements, but is often quite unique from, that performed by the lecturers. As a tutor, one shares with the lecturers the goal of leading students toward independent learning. As a peer, the tutor is an ally with the tutees, a teammate who guides or coaches them by sharing skills and knowledge, as well as by communicating confidence and encouragement. The Tutor also serves as an example, showing how a successful student approaches academic challenges. The benefits for students are obvious: one-on-one attention, individualised explanation, and a chance to ask as many question as they like.
Shaykh Mohammed Ali Ismail discussing his role as the Designated IIPS Tutor with Mawlana Zaffar Abbas, the IIPS Mushrif, Jafferbhai Dharamsi, the Muballigheen Training Coordinator, and Abbasbhai Ismail, the World Federation Islamic Education Manager.
Shaykh Mohammed Ali Ismail studied in Qum, obtaining a Bachelors of Arts degree in Quran and Hadith Studies from the Imam Khomeini International Seminary. He also holds a bachelor of Arts degree in Islamic Studies from the same institution, and a degree in Law and Accounting from De Montford University in Leicester. At present he is completing the Postgraduate Certificate in Education at Portsmouth University.
Shaykh Mohammed, who is fluent in English, Arabic and Persian, has various experience in teaching, from providing Madressa teachers an intensive course in Islamic Theology to teaching youths at summer camps in Qum.
As a tutor, Shaykh Mohammed Ali Ismail is expected to:
- Establish immediate and continuing rapport with the IIPS students.
- Help the IIPS students develop positive self-concept;
- Identify and address the academic challenges of the IIPS students by using the students' own experience and skills in tutoring;
- Continually evaluate and improve his tutoring expertise. By using a variety of tutoring methods, not only will he help the students understand the material better, but will also increase his own knowledge of the subject area that he is tutoring; and, last, but not least,
- Evaluate and aid in the continuing development of the tutoring programme.