Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is ALIM?

A: ALIM is a specialized institute. ALIM is not committed to making scholars of its students; rather it seeks to produce Islamically literate members of society that will have a positive effect on Muslim society as well as the society at large. Islamic Literacy goes well beyond the simple memorization or passive reception of texts. ALIM provides tools that allow a student to seek and process knowledge critically, with the proper balance of the Mind and Heart. These students will be able to engage scholars in a productive discourse that allows for mutual development and the true coming of an Islamic Renaissance.

Q: What is the Seerah program?

A: The Prophet (SAW) was the last messenger of God who came as a model and teacher to all of humankind. However, many Muslims forget that He (SAW) was also a man who lived in a particular place and time, and was part of a particular culture and spoke a particular language. This Seerah course invites students to ponder this relationship between the universal and the particular. They will see how the Prophet (SAW) exemplified the universal values of Islam, while always remaining aware of the particular cultural values of his seventh century Arab society. Students will learn the story of the Prophet (SAW), but not simply as a story, rather, they will continuously be asking themselves, "How does his example help me to better understand and live Islam in my own cultural context?"

Q: Where will the program be held?

A: The program will be held at ICNEV (Scottsdale, AZ). Very generally, the major cross-roads are Frank Lloyd Wright and Shea.

Q: When does the program start?

A: The program is not finalized completely. Please check the website for updates. However, the tentative plan is:

Friday, Nov. 7th from 7:30pm to 9:30pm;
Saturday, Nov. 8th from 9am to 7pm; and,
Sunday, Nov. 9th from 9am to 3pm.

Q: Does registration include food or lodging?

A: No, registration does not include food or lodging. We do plan to have a halal food vendor on the premise and we encourage participants to stay at the facility and engage in dialogue with fellow participants and the scholars. The vendor will determine the price for food (current estimate: $6/meal). In regards to lodging, we have worked out a discounted rate with the Courtyard Marriot (Scottsdayle/Mayo Clinic). Please contact them at (480) 860-4000 and mention the 'ALIM' discount rate of $65/night. For a limited time only!

Q: Can I volunteer?

A: Yes, please contact Br. Yasir Shareef at 248.470.3181 or shareefy@yahoo.com if you would like to volunteer.

Q: Who can attend?

A: The program is intended for a mature audience; participants should minimally be high school seniors. This is not a "college-only" event; we welcome and expect adults of all ages to come.

Q: Who are the speakers?

A: There are two confirmed speakers, Dr. Muneer Fareed and Dr. Abd al-Hakim Jackson. Background info is below.

Dr. Muneer Fareed

Dr. Muneer Fareed is currently the Secretary General for ISNA, the Islamic Society of North America. Previously, Dr. Fareed was an associate professor of Islamic studies in the Department of Near Eastern and Asian Studies at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.

Fareed is a graduate of King Abdul Aziz University, Mecca, and Dár al-`Ulúm, Deoband. He obtained his doctorate in Islamic Studies from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Since his arrival in the United States in 1989 he has served the Muslim community in various capacities, including imam and scholar-in-residence for the Muslim community in Metropolitan Detroit.

Dr. Fareed is co-founder of the American Learning Institute for Muslims (ALIM), a primary instructor at its programs, and a member of its Board of Trustees.

He is also a senior adviser to The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), a think tank that provides cutting-edge analysis and policy solutions through publications, public events, media commentary, and community research.

Dr. Abd al-Hakim Jackson

A native of Philadelphia, he received his Ph.D from the University of Pennsylvania in Oriental Studies –Islamic Near East in 1990. Presently, he is Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Visiting Professor of Law, and Professor of Afro-American Studies at the University of Michigan. From 1987-89, he served as Executive Director for the Center of Arabic Study Abroad (CASA) in Cairo, Egypt.

Dr. Abd al-Hakim Jackson has taught at the University of Texas at Austin, Indiana University and Wayne State University, and he recently declined a full-professorship at Stanford University. In addition to numerous articles on Islamic law, theology and history, he is author of Islamic Law and the State: The Constitutional Jurisprudence of Shihâb al-Dîn al-Qarâfî (E.J. Brill, 1996), On the Boundaries of Theological Tolerance in Islam: Abû Hâmid al-Ghazâlî’s Faysal al-Tafriqa (Oxford, 2002) and, most recently, the controversial Islam and the Blackamerican: Looking Towards the Third Resurrection (Oxford, 2005).

Dr. Abd al-Hakim Jackson is co-founder of the American Learning Institute for Muslims (ALIM), a primary instructor at its programs, and a member of its Board of Trustees. Jackson is also a former member of the Fiqh Council of North America, past president of the Sharî‘ah Scholars’ Association of North America (SSANA) and a past trustee of the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT). He is a sought-after speaker and has lectured throughout the US and in numerous countries abroad.

Q: Is the program focused on a certain ideology?

A: ALIM’s ideology is one of inclusion and respect for all ideologies within the Islamic framework. We believe in the free marketplace of ideas. As such, it does not seek to impose a certain ideology on its students. Our programs will explore the different perspectives on any given issue in order to encourage critical thinking. If this methodology can be considered an ideology than, that is what ALIM espouses.

Any educational program carries with it some sort of philosophy and this program is no different. This philosophy is not easily described but one might label it an academic/social/practical approach to Islamic Studies. Our instructors include accomplished scholars as well as experienced activists familiar with the Muslim American landscape. The content of the program is composed of the different views of these instructors (Please see Biodata link on homepage). The program is not affiliated with any particular group, party, or organization (i.e. Ikhwan, Sufiyyah, Salafiyyah, Hizbut-Tahrir, etc.). The program’s content may concur with or contradict the views of any given group or ideology on many issues but it is unlikely that the program as a whole can be categorized under one group’s ideology or as opposing an ideology in its entirety.

Q: How much do I have to know?

A: While there is no set level of knowledge, it is necessary to have at least a basic understanding of Islamic principles. This means that one should know the basics of prayer, be familiar with the meaning of the Qur’an, know the general life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and be familiar with at least a few common hadith. This program will assume at least this basic knowledge and it is unlikely that one would benefit without this level of exposure. If you are not sure you meet this level please contact one of the listed resource people (located on homepage) and insha-Allah they can help.

Q: Can we record the sessions?

A: Individuals are only allowed to record sessions for personal use AFTER obtaining permission from the individual scholar.

Q: Will we be able to ask questions?

A: Yes. ALIM encourages an interactive environment in its classes and we encourage you to ask any and all questions. Certain professors may prefer to take their questions all at once at the end of a session, but most will encourage and allow you to ask questions throughout a session. Please be respectful of other students, however, and try to keep your questions focused on the session at hand.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? PLEASE E-MAIL phoenix@alimprogram.com, THANK YOU.