Part-time, short intensive modules for specializing in disciplines of Islamic Sciences. What will you study? Islamic Creed Islamic Jurisprudence Qur’anic Sciences Exegesis of the Qur'an History and Hadith
What is Pathways to Islamic Scholarship?
Producing the Islamic Scholars of tomorrow is a core mission of the Mathabah Learning Centre. Generally, pursuing Islamic Scholarship is a daunting and time-consuming task. Many who wish to pursue it are deterred by time constraints and thus never embark on achieving their dream. To solve this dilemma, the Mathabah Learning Centre (MLC) is introducing a revolutionary program in which students can gradually achieve Islamic scholarship without having to disrupt their daily commitments to family and work. Students can pursue their goal at a pace that best suits them.
Pathways to Islamic Scholarship is a series of modules that leads a student to fulfil one prerequisite for specializing in a discipline of Islamic Sciences, whether it may be tafsir studies, hadith studies or fiqh studies thus qualifying them as a scholar of that discipline by the Centre. The other prerequisite is graduating from the Centre’s Arabic Program.
Upon the successful completion of each module, students will be granted a certificate (ijazah) authorizing them to teach the material they studied even if they do not wish to pursue further studies. This allows knowledge to become more accessible to the masses, thus fulfilling the Centre’s vision for making every Muslim more informed of their din.
Below is a video from our recent podcast, explaining the ‘Pathways’ modules in detail.
Modules available for Study in 2025
STARTS JANUARY 27th, 2025
7:30pm to 9:00pm EST | Mondays only
Live Classes via ZOOM
Exploring Islamic Theology & Understanding Contemporary Sects
Creed is the foundation of Islam; without knowing it and thoroughly understanding it, the
structure built on it will be without merit and recognition. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The Children of Israel were divided into 71 sects, while my nation will be divided into 73. Each one of them will go to the Fire except one.” Someone asked him, “Which sect is the one?” He responded, “The [people who follow the] path that my companions and I are on today.” (Mustadrak 444) To address the need of knowing one’s creed, the Mathabah Learning Centre has carefully designed the Creed Program to educate students on the very creedal path that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his companions.
The following topics will be covered:
1) The origins and development of Islamic Theology
2) Previous and contemporary theological arguments and their responses
3) The correct approach to theological matters
4) The criterion that must be always employed to judge the validity and invalidity of religious notions
5) Contemporary theological challenges
6) The theological differences between Ahmadism and Islam
7) The theological differences between Shiasm and Sunnism
Upon completing this program, students will have all their misconceptions and confusions cleared and will be able to impart their newfound clarity to others in our society.
SHAYKH OMAR SUBEDAR
Mohammed Omar Subedar was born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. In 1990, he enrolled in the Institute of Islamic Education located in Dewsbury, W. Yorkshire, United Kingdom. There, he became a ḥāfiẓ of the Qurʾān in 1993. In 2001, he graduated from a seven-year dars-i niẓāmī program offered by the same institute. He was thus conferred the title of Scholar of Islamic Sciences and Arabic Literature.
This seven-year program covered:
- Arabic grammar (naḥw), morphology (ṣarf), rhetoric (balāghah), vocabulary
and literature - Islamic creed (ʿaqīdah)
- Exegesis (tafsīr) of the Qurʾān and the principles (uṣūl) of exegesis
- Prophetic traditions (aḥādīth) and the principles (uṣūl) of ḥadīth studies
- Islamic law (fiqh) according to the Ḥanafī School (madh’hab)
- Comparative studies of the four schools of Islamic Law (Ḥanafī, Shāfiʿī, Mālikī
and Ḥanbalī) and the principles of jurisprudence (uṣūl al-fiqh) - Islamic history
- Pronunciation of the Qurʾān (tajwīd) according to the 10 major styles of
recitation (qirāʾāt).
STARTS TUESDAY FEBRUARY 4th, 2025
7:30pm to 9:00pm EST | Tuesdays only
Live Classes via ZOOM
Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to a group of young men from another town, who stayed with him for 20 days when he was sending them off, “Pray the way you have seen me pray.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6008) Ironically there are over 200 differences on the ritual prayer itself; whether something is permissible or impermissible, required or not required, preferred or not preferred etc. yet there is only one Prophet and one Qur’an. Today, there are four schools of Islamic law that are followed in the Sunni world. Each adherent of a school claims that their school is right the one. This leaves many Muslims perplexed and confused. To clear these confusions the Mathabah Learning Centre is launching its unique Fiqh Program in which students will learn the biographies and the fiqh methodologies of the Four Imams.
The following topics will be covered:
The comprehensive methodologies of the Four Imams along with studying the chapters of:
1) Purification
2) Ritual Prayer
3) Fasting
4) Zakah
5) Hajj
6) Marriage
7) Divorce
8) Penal law
9) Campaigns
Mufti Yūsuf Badāt
Mufti Yūsuf Badāt was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Mufti Yūsuf Badāt is the main Imam at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto. He serves as a director and instructor at Mathabah Institute. He is also the President of Imam Services Inc. Mufti Yūsuf Badāt was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. He has studied under numerous scholars, receiving several formal authorizations in the sacred Islamic sciences with top honors. He memorized the Quran at age 14 and then completed a rigorous 6-year alim course at Darul Uloom Zakariya, South Africa graduating in 1998, where he achieved his masters in the Islamic sciences, which included but was not limited to, Arabic language, exegesis (tafseer), and jurisprudence (fiqh). He earned authorizations in Hadith under the Grand Mufti of South Africa, Mufti Radha-ul-Haq.
STARTS THURSDAY APRIL 24, 2025
7:30pm to 9:00pm EST | Thursdays only
Live Classes via ZOOM
Qur’an Sciences (‘Ulūm al-Qur’an) & Exegesis of the Qur’an (Tafsir al-Qur’an)
Many Orientalists in the post-modern era have attempted to expose gaps, inaccuracies and
inconsistencies in the Qur’an to argue against the notion that the book is the unaltered and
uncorrupted word of God. While their arguments largely fall on deaf ears and gain little public
traction, they do have the potential to leave people questioning and confused when being
exposed to them. The Mathabah Learning Centre has thus created its Quran Sciences program
to expose the fallacy of their arguments and satisfy the questions and concerns that may have
been generated in the minds of Muslims.
The following topics will be covered:
1) The history of the Qur’an’s revelation and compilation
2) Arguments of the Orientalists and our responses
3) The principles or Qur’anic tafsir
4) The biographies of classical Qur’an commentators
5) Orientation on the main Qur’an tafsir texts
Dr. Shariq Lodhi
Born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick, Ustadh Dr. Shariq Lodhi is currently a staff physician in the Departments of Family and Internal Medicine at Brampton Civic Hospital. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, McMaster University. When not reading, studying or preparing for courses, he enjoys competitive cycling, cross country skiing and searching for the perfect latte. He holds a BSc. in Chemistry from McGill University as well as having completed his medical studies from Queen’s University. In 2008, Dr. Lodhi took up traditional Islamic studies at the Islamic Society of Peel, where he studied the dars-i niẓāmī curriculum under Shaykh Omar Subedar. He graduated with a certificate of Scholar of Islamic Sciences and Arabic Literature in 2016.
How do these Modules work?
Students have completed some basic courses at another institution or completed the Essentials/Seekers courses at Mathabah Learning Centre. Have questions if this is right for you or not? Email us at admin@mathabah.org with your study history and we can guide you further.
Must be able to ready Arabic fluently. This is referring to the arabic script. The courses will be conducted in english.
Each specialization module is its own individual study. Students can take any module they like. The length and duration of the modules within each program of study can vary depending on the content of the program. For example: Islamic Creed (‘Aqidah) starts Jan 27th it ends in October. That includes two courses within the module of ‘Aqidah. Some may end earlier or finish later, depending on each program.
This course is online with a live instructor.
Each Module is $600 to complete. There is a payment plan available to pay monthly installments of $100 over 6 months. If you take multiple modules together, the fees would be incremental accordingly. For example, if you take ‘Aqidah and Fiqh modules, thats $1200 for both, or $200 monthly for 6 month installments.
Each module is its own certification. This is designed so students who want to study all, can have all the certification and enroll in our graduate program, or they can study the program they need and exit the institute as they desire. For example, a student can take the ‘Aqidah module, and the ‘Uloom ul-Qur’an module, skipping the Hadith and Fiqh modules. Each module is its own certification; thus, students can complete as many as they like in a calendar year.
Yes. Exams and research papers are due within the program.
We advise all students to commit for the duration of the program. The programs are designed this way to accommodate short intensive studies of a larger curriculum. We understand circumstances arise that may hinder continuation in the program, therefore a student may withdraw if they wish to do so, however, the fees paid will not be refunded for that portion.
Why Mathabah?
Accessibility
Online classes that are shorter in duration. Designed to fit your schedule. This course is great for university students, working adults, and stay-at-home individuals.
Qur'anic lens
All of our courses use the Qur'an as a starting point. It's important for Muslims to know how the main source text is the bases for all the sciences.
Appreciation
Covering the vast texts of our tradition and making them accessible to all Muslims worldwide.
After course care
Students are given the necessary toolkits to complete their studies and teach others. Students also gain access to the teacher after the completion of the course for a more meaningful connection.