The first year of the program is designed to cater to the learning needs of both everyday Muslims & aspiring students of knowledge.

In Year One of the IISDP you will:

1) Begin the journey of Islamic learning the right way - with its proper adab.

2) Develop a comprehensive, functional grasp of foundational Islamic theology, Islamic law & Islamic spirituality required to be a Muslim, especially in today's world.

3) Address any major doubts or misconceptions in your understanding of Islam.

4) Build the capacity to read Arabic text (with understanding) to a beginner-intermediate level.

Prerequisites: None

The second year of the program is designed to introduce learners to classical study texts & traditional Islamic knowledge, and develop Arabic reading skills.

In Year Two of the IISDP you will:

1) Develop an appreciation of the intelligence, rigor & relevance of the Islamic tradition in the context of the world today.

2) Build a framework & layout of traditional Islamic knowledge for later studies.

3) Address any major doubts or misconceptions in your attitude towards & perspective of the Islamic tradition.

4) Learn about the characteristics & life of the Prophet SAW in a way that is comprehensive & analytical, yet useful & relevant.

5) Improve Arabic skills with an intensive reading program as preparation for reading classical works.

Note: ARB2 does not have any class time, only progress checks and assessments. It is required to progress in the program.

Prerequisites: IISDP Year One or equivalent

In the third year, the learner will move beyond the practical to the theoretical, and start building the conceptual knowledge necessary to embark on the path of Islamic scholarship.

In Year Three of the IISDP you will:

1) Start constructing a principle-based, scholarly outlook on Islamic knowledge, it's history and references.

2) Generate a deep understanding and appreciation of the role language & reason play in Islam & the Islamic sciences.

3) Start applying Arabic Language rules in understanding the Qur'an.

4) Understand the importance of learning intellectual history to understand the traditional Islamic sciences.

Prerequisites: Intermediate fluency in Arabic reading comprehension (tested), IISDP Year One & Two or equivalent

This is the most challenging year of the program. This is the Arabic & Fiqh year of the program. HDTH3 and HST2 are courses are to soften the impact of an otherwise demanding year. A competent graduate from this year would be similar in level to a Bachelors graduate from some Islamic universities.

In Year Four of the IISDP you will:

1) Establish a strong capability in Arabic syntax & linguistic analysis of the Qur'an to prepare for further studies in tafsir.

2) Develop a capable understanding of the internal structure of Islamic Law & Islamic Legal philosophy and how they work.

3) Learn what a scholarly level of analysis of Prophetic Hadith is and how to critically analyze & apply the knowledge and wisdom of the Prophet SAW.

4) Start the journey of learning the complex political history of Islamic civilization to put knowledge in context.

Prerequisites: Previous IISDP Years.

The fifth year is the Qur'an year. This year is designed to introduce students to a more methodical & systematic understanding of the Qur'an, while still enjoying the blessings of its dhikr.

In Year Five of the IISDP you will:

1) Start applying previous knowledge of Arabic to the meanings of the Qur'an, and develop a deep appreciation of the internal structure & balaghah of the Qur'an.

2) Embark on a journey of understanding the structure, content & method of the 6 (and more) famous books of hadith.

3) Explore the history of Arabic literature through a study of Arabic poetry.

4) Conduct select independent reading in Kalam.

Prerequisites: Previous IISDP Years.

The sixth year is the Hadith year. This year is designed to introduce students to a more analytical approach to Hadith which focuses on the finer details of the isnad and matn of the hadith.

In Year Five of the IISDP you will:

1) Engage in a comprehensive study of the Hadith sciences, while developing a more focused approach in studying isnad and matn by examining Imam al-Bukhari's technique in his Jami'.

3) Contextualize traditional knowledge learned within the program with both contemporary knowledge and Islamic History, exploring way in which knowledge can be used to improve the current state of the Muslim ummah.

Prerequisites: Previous IISDP Years.

The final year is where learners are expected to put their acquired knowledge & understanding to the ultimate test. There will be two options:

1) A student must either start or work alongside a preexisting community project, working with a partner organization to bring about tangible & lasting change in the local community. They must demonstrate how they are using their knowledge to aid them.

2) A student must demonstrate their aptitude for understanding theoretical issues with a research paper that intersects between their traditional & contemporary knowledge of Islam.

NOTE: A possible third option may be provided, although conditional on availability: An online Ifta training program via scholars in the Middle East.

Prerequisites: Previous IISDP Years.