Academic Overview2 0 17-1 8

About Tayseer 2

The Program 4

Student Life 5

The Curriculum 7

The Instructors 11

The Location 13

Important Dates 14

Table of Contents

About Tayseer Seminary

Mission

Vision

In the Name of God,Most Merciful, Most Benevolent.

Peace be upon our Master Muhammad, his family, companions and followers.

Tayseer Seminary aims to transform Muslim individuals through the enlightened and

relevant study of Sacred Knowledge and through spiritual immersion.

In recognition of the growing demand in the American Muslim community for relevant

scholarship and educational opportunities, Tayseer Foundation has established Tayseer

Seminary: a full-time Islamic theological seminary in Knoxville, TN.

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Tayseer Programfor Islamic Studies

And say: ‘My Lord, increase me in knowledge.’

Quran 20:114“

The ProgramTayseer Seminary provides a one-year program aimed at:

Introducing a comprehensive curriculum that combines serious learning, enlightening

spirituality and effective activism.

Providing our students with the opportunity to delve into the foundational Islamic

sciences without losing sight of their American reality.

Enabling students with the necessary skills to become serious seekers of knowledge,

critical thinkers and Prophetic activists.

Creating a learning community that is forward-looking, responsive to the challenges of

Muslims, and interacting with the larger religious and intellectual American milieu.

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Student Life

In addition to acquiring a strong foundation in Islamic studies, students also contribute to

the local community as part of the activism component of the program. Students can of-

fer their support and services in the state prison system, participate in interfaith dialogues,

volunteer with the local Muslim youth group, and serve the community in various ways.

Tayseer graduates have gone on to work as youth leaders and community teachers.

“Tayseer Seminary is about fusing two worlds together. It is grounded in the

classical Islamic methodology allowing the students to continue the sacred

traditional style of learning while preparing them with the necessary tools

to implement Islam in a Western civilization.”

- Iman Al-Kassir, Tayseer Seminary 2016 Graduate

The time students have at Tayseer goes beyond learning in a classroom—it extends to their

spiritual and social life. Students share in learning, worship, breaking bread together, out-

door activities, spiritual retreats, and much more.

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Whosoever Allah wishes good for, He gives him understanding of the religion.

- Prophet Muhammad“

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The Tayseer Curriculum

Tayseer Seminary’s curriculum is built on three pillars:

Tayseer Seminary strives at providing a life transforming experience that not only brings

students to a better understanding and appreciation of our scholarly tradition, and enables

them to become efficient leaders of their communities, but also endeavors at creating in

them the urge to forge a profound and everlasting relationship with the Divine.

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KNOWLEDGE SPIRITUALITY ACTIVISM

Pillar 1: Knowledge SUBJECT DESCRIPTION DURATION FREQUENCY

MEMORIZATION

ARABIC

TAJWID

METHODOLOGY OF

RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE

QUR`ANIC STUDIES & TAFSIR

TAWHID(THEOLOGY)

PURIFICATION OF THE HEART

SIRAH(PROPHETIC BIOGRAPHY)

HADITH(PROPHETIC TRADITIONS)

USUL AL-FIQH(PRINCIPLES OF

JURISPRUDENCE)

FIQH(JURISPRUDENCE)

20 MINS

75 MINS

60 MINS

60 MINS

60 MINS

60 MINS

60 MINS

60 MINS

60 MINS

60 MINS

60 MINS

TWICEDAILY

DAILY

DAILY

EVERYOTHER DAY

EVERYOTHER DAY

EVERYOTHER DAY

EVERYOTHER DAY

EVERYOTHER DAY

EVERYOTHER DAY

EVERYOTHER DAY

EVERYOTHER DAY

Seekers of knowledge have always memorized portions of Qur`an and other foundational Islamic texts. Students will memorize these

texts and review their memorization twice daily.

A serious student of Islam must be well-versed in Arabic to understand most Islamic texts. Students will take an initial placement test to assess

Arabic proficiency (no minimum level is required to apply).

Reciting Qur`an without the proper pronounciation can entirely change its meaning; every Muslim should know proper Tajwid.

A critical study of the Book of Knowledge in the Ihyā` `ulūm al-Dīn of al-Ghazālī, with emphasis on the importance of seeking

knowledge and the most beneficial methodology for doing so.

Diving into the Qur`an’s meanings, students will better appreciate the spiritual, linguistic, and sociological gems

in the Qur`an and the context of its passages.

Knowing one’s creed is the most important component of our dīn.Students will learn about God, the Unseen, and the Afterlife.

Without a pure heart, knowledge can be harmful. Students will learn common spiritual ailments and their cures.

A journey through the Prophet Muhammad’s life and his companions’ lives, emphasizing relevant lessons for individuals,

families, and communities today.

An in-depth study of the basic terminology and sources of Hadith, along with extensive commentary on some of the most influential

small compendiums of Hadith.

An introduction to the principles of deriving Islamic law. Students will gain an understanding and appreciation of diverse

intepretations within Islamic jurisprudence.

A detailed study of the fiqh of worship including prayer, fasting, and zakat. Students will review hadith from which fiqh rulings were

derived in all four schools, with an emphasis on the Shafi`i school.

Pillar 2: Spirituality

DHIKR

FASTING

PRAYER

30 MINS

75 MINS

N/A

DAILY

TWICEWEEKLY

WEEKLY

For students of Sacred Knowledge, a daily litany (wird) from the Quran and Prophetic invocations is a must. It cleanses the heart,

reminds us of our true purpose, and initiates the day with blessings.

Students will often fast on Mondays and Thursdays, and other recommended days, to foster taqwa-building

routines and discipline.

Coming together for extra congregational prayers, such as Qiyam-ul-layl, will instill habits that bring hearts closer

to Allah and fortify the soul for daily life.

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SUBJECT DESCRIPTION DURATION FREQUENCY

SUBJECT DESCRIPTION DURATION FREQUENCY

COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT

ISLAMIN AMERICA

COMMUNITYSERVICE

COUNSELING

75 MINS

75 MINS

75 MINS

N/A

BIWEEKLY

BIWEEKLY

WEEKLY

N/A

An enrichment class on how to utilize Islamic knowledge and principles in developing stronger, Prophetic Muslim communities.

An overview of the history of Islam in the United States, with an emphasis on themes of cross-cultural encounters, migration, transnational movements, and the black liberation struggle.

Students will participate in service projects within the Muslim community in Knoxville to enhance their speaking,

teaching, and management skills.

An introduction to the field and principles of mental-health counseling. Students will learn practical skills for effective

engagement with members of their communities.

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Pillar 3: Activism

S H AY K H

Hassan Lachheb

President and co-founder of Tayseer Seminary, Shaykh Hassan Lachheb earned his Ph.D. in

Religious Studies at the University of Indiana, Bloomington. His academic research focused

on the intellectual history and religiosity of the Muslims of Maghrib and Andalus.

Shaykh Hassan completed his M.A. in Islamic Theology, Islamic Legal Theory, and Maliki

Jurisprudence at Dar al-Hadith al-Hassaniyyah for Higher Islamic Studies in Rabat, Morocco

with honors in 2000. In addition, he completed his B.A. with distinction in Arabic Language

and Literature at Mohamed V University in Rabat.

Shaykh Hassan has extensively studied several disciplines including Principles of

Jurisprudence (Usul al-Fiqh), Arabic Grammar, Philology, and Literature. He has also

received many ijazaat (licenses to teach) from prominent scholars in Hadith, Com-

parative Jurisprudence (fiqh), and the Sciences of Quran. He has studied under

several of the foremost Islamic scholars in Morocco.

Shaykh Hassan is resident scholar of the Muslim Community of Knoxville and the

spearheading faculty member of the Tayseer Seminary.

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U S TA D H A

Zaynab Ansari

Zaynab Ansari spent a decade studying Farsi, Arabic, and traditional Islam, sitting with

male and female scholars in seminaries in the Middle East, including traditional scholars in

Damascus in the 1990s. Upon her return to the United States, she earned degrees in his-

tory and Middle Eastern Studies from Georgia State University. Since 2014, Zaynab Ansari

has served as a scholar-in-residence for Tayseer Foundation, offering enrichment courses

and halaqahs to women and youth in the Muslim Community of Knoxville, and working

on interfaith dialogue. She is currently an instructor at Tayseer Seminary, which features a

one-year intensive in Islamic Studies, drawing students from Tennessee and all regions of

the United States.

Ustadha Zaynab has previously written and taught for SunniPath. She has been a freelance

writer for Azizah Magazine, a certified speaker with the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta,

and a contributor to online Islamic educational portals such as SeekersHub. She has also

served as the coordinator of oral histories for the After Malcolm Project, a digital archive of

African-American Muslim history. She is part of the teaching faculty of the Ribaat Program,

an online Islamic Studies curriculum led by Anse Tamara Gray, a leading woman scholar of

traditional Islam. She is also a board member of Lamppost Productions.

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The City

The Community

Knoxville is the third-largest city in Tennessee, with a

population of over one million people within its met-

ropolitan area. Situated at the foothills of Great Smoky

Mountains National Park, the city is surrounded by

natural scenery, the Tennessee River, and five major

lake ways. The city is accessible from an international

waterway and three major interstates. In addition to

the city’s picturesque beauty, Knoxville’s cost of living

index is 11 percent lower than the U.S. average. The

city is also a college town, home to the state’s flagship

university: the University of Tennessee.

Knoxville has a steadily growing Muslim community of

approximately 5,000 people. The community is a unit-

ed and diverse one with only one main mosque built

in 1989. At the University of Tennessee, the community

has always had an active Muslim Student Association;

an MSA that founded the first-ever Fast-a-thon in 2001.

About twenty years ago, the community initiated a full-

time Islamic school: Annoor Academy. Today the school

has its own dedicated building with over 200 students

in pre-K, elementary, and middle school grade levels.

The FacilityTayseer Seminary is located in a three-story building

in a quiet, scenic area of West Knoxville. While the

building is nestled between acres of trees on all sides,

a peaceful learning environment, it is easily accessible

through a nearby highway. The seminary has multiple

classrooms, a break room for students, a library, and

a cozy prayer space. Within a couple of miles of the

seminary, students can easily locate affordable housing

and access local stores.

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Important Dates

How to Apply

Tuition and Financial Aid

Apply by going online to

Tuition is $5,000 annually for the full-time program. Material fees are extra. Financial

aid is available on a limited basis. To request a financial aid application form,

please email admin@TayseerSeminary.org

www.TayseerSeminary.org

PRIORITY APPLICATION DEADLINE JANUARY 10, 2017

REGULAR APPLICATION DEADLINE FEBRUARY 28, 2017

LATE APPLICATION DEADLINE MAY 1, 2017

CONFIRMATION DEADLINE MAY 31, 2017

STUDENT ORIENTATION SEPTEMBER 9, 2017

FIRST DAY OF CLASSES SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

LAST DAY OF FALL SEMESTER DECEMBER 8, 2017

CLASSES RESUME JANUARY 8, 2018

GRADUATION CEREMONY MAY 5, 2018

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