A rigorous undergraduate program grounded in the classical Islamic tradition and designed for serious students ready to commit to high-level study of the sacred sciences.

3 days
per week
online
and onsite
9 credits offered
per semester
4 year
graduation track

A Higher Standard of Islamic Scholarship — On Your Schedule

Miftaah Institute’s Bachelor’s Degree in Islamic Studies is a rigorous, text-based program grounded in classical scholarship and structured academic learning. Building on the foundation of Miftaah’s 54-credit Associate’s Degree, the Bachelor’s program offers an additional 72 credits of higher-level coursework in Arabic, Fiqh, Hadith, Tafsir, and related Islamic sciences. This degree is designed for students seeking depth, fluency, and precision in their Islamic studies. Students engage directly with primary Arabic texts under qualified instructors, developing advanced understanding across both theoretical and practical subjects of the Islamic tradition.

While the curriculum is demanding and academically structured, it is also flexible. Students have the ability to choose how many classes they take per semester, allowing them to tailor the pace of their studies to suit their individual schedules and responsibilities. Whether taken onsite at our Michigan campus or live online from anywhere in the world, all students are required to attend live sessions and complete examinations and classwork to receive credit.

Through this program, students will not only build intellectual depth, but also a framework of spiritual discipline, critical thinking, and service to the ummah.


Students will explore advanced content in the following disciplines:

Arabic Language & Literature
Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence)
Usul al-Fiqh (Legal Theory)
Hadith Sciences & Literature
Tafsir & Quranic Studies
Islamic History
Theology, Ethics, and Spirituality
Academic Writing & Research

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, students will be able to:
Analyze and interpret classical Arabic texts with linguistic precision
Understand advanced jurisprudential rulings and legal methodologies
Engage critically with tafsir, hadith, and Islamic historical sources
Compose academic research papers with structured argumentation and scholarly sourcing
Transfer credits to Islamic Institute to complete the full aalimiyah program

Who Should Enroll

This program is ideal for students who:
Have completed Miftaah’s Associate’s Degree (or equivalent program)
Are proficient in foundational Arabic grammar and morphology
Are committed to serious academic study and spiritual growth
Intend to pursue further scholarship in the Islamic sciences
Are capable of attending live sessions and completing coursework with discipline
Enroll Now

Semester Schedule

Last day to register
September 1st, 2025
First day of semester
September 9th, 2025
Last day of semester
December 16th, 2025

Fall Courses Offered

4 Year Track
Advanced Arabic Grammar

Text Covered: Hidayat al-Nahw
Course Code: ARB 401
Status: Requirement 

This course provides an in-depth study of advanced syntactic structures in classical Arabic, emphasizing the application of theoretical grammar principles from Hidāyat al-Nahw. Students will refine their ability to analyze and deconstruct complex sentence patterns, resolve ambiguous constructions, and develop an advanced understanding of grammatical nuance. The course includes applied exercises using excerpts from Qur’anic passages, Hadith, and classical prose, preparing students for independent reading and comprehension of unvoweled Arabic texts.

History and Canonization of Hadith Collections

Text Covered: Tadwīn al-Sunnah al-Nabawīyah by ʿAbd al-Majīd al-Ghawrī
Course Code: HAD 401
Status: Requirement

This course provides an in-depth historical study of the processes through which hadith literature was collected, compiled, and canonized. Using ʿAbd al-Majīd al-Ghawrī’s research as a foundational text, students will explore the transition from oral transmission to formal written collections. The course analyzes the methodologies of early compilers, the evolution of genre and classification in hadith literature, and the sociopolitical factors that shaped the canonization of the Ṣiḥāḥ Sittah and other major collections. Students will gain critical insight into the historical reliability and preservation mechanisms of prophetic tradition.

Classical Tafsir Reading

Text Covered: Sections from Tafsir al-Jalalayn, Tafsir Ibn Kathīr, and Tafsir al-Qurṭubī
Course Code: TFS 402
Status: Requirement

This reading-intensive course immerses students in classical tafsir texts, focusing on 3 selected Juzʾ of the Qur’an. Through close textual engagement with Tafsīr al-Jalālayn, Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, and Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī, students explore varying exegetical approaches and theological perspectives. The course highlights the interplay between language, context (asbāb al-nuzūl), and juristic or spiritual interpretation. Students will gain exposure to how classical scholars interpreted key verses, reconciled apparent contradictions, and conveyed deeper meanings. Emphasis is placed on identifying patterns in reasoning, the use of hadith and athar, and the integration of Qur'anic rhetoric into commentary.

Pathways of Spiritual Refinement: Madārij al-Sālikīn

Text Covered: Madārij al-Sālikīn by Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawzīyah
Course Code: TZK 451
Status: Elective

This course offers an in-depth exploration of the spiritual path as outlined by Ibn al-Qayyim in Madārij al-Sālikīn, focusing on select “stations” (maqāmāt) of the soul’s journey to Allah. Topics include sincerity, repentance, reliance on Allah, gratitude, and love for the Divine. The course combines close reading of texts with practical applications for personal transformation and spiritual discipline, cultivating students’ moral awareness and interior refinement in the framework of traditional Islamic spirituality.

Intermediate Disciplines in Quranic Studies

Text Covered: al-Tibyān fi ʿUlūm al-Qurān by Muhammad Ali al-Ṣābūnī
Course Code:
ULQ 401
Status:
RequirementThis course provides a structured introduction to the foundational sciences of the Qur’an (ʿUlūm al-Qurʾān), using al-Tibyān by al-Ṣābūnī as the primary text. Topics include the stages of revelation, reasons for revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), abrogation (naskh), the collection and compilation of the Qur’an, the order of surahs and verses, and principles governing Qur’anic interpretation. Students will also explore the nature of miraculous language in the Qur’an, its modes of recitation, and classification of verses. The course equips students with tools for approaching tafsir literature with intellectual rigor and historical awareness.

Program Instructors

Learn from traditionally trained scholars
Mufti Aasim Rashid
Instructor

Mufti Aasim Rashid is a distinguished Muslim scholar, speaker and educator (the title ‘Mufti’ indicates his expertise and authority in Islamic law). He is devoted to the study and explanation of Islamic sacred texts and their relation to the modern context. His lectures, delivered at conferences and institutions around the world, are known to be inspiring and pertinent to the issues and pressing questions of the day. Mufti Aasim is the founder of the Al-Ihsan Educational Foundation, which has initiated the ‘Islam Unravelled’ project.

Shaykh Daood Butt
Instructor

Shaykh Daood Butt was born and raised in Montreal, Canada and has always had a desire to learn and teach Islam. Following secondary studies, he obtained a degree in Automotive Technology and graduated as valedictorian in 2002. During this time, he studied with local Imams and was hired as an Imam and Qur’an instructor at a local Mosque. Back in Canada, he is involved in various Da’wah activities including giving lectures and Khutbah in English, French, and Arabic. He has always been really interested in youth-related programs and is quick to develop a rapport with them. Shaykh Daood has traveled the world extensively in efforts to help others understand Islam through his teachings. He currently serves as Director of Community Outreach and Education at the Islamic Community Center in Milton, as a Muslim Chaplain at the Milton District Hospital, and was awarded Imam of the Year for 2015 in Mississauga, Canada

Mufti Abdul Wahab Waheed
Instructor

Mufti Abdul Wahab completed his Hadith Intensive in the renowned Islamic University  founded by Sheikh Yusuf Binori RA known as Jamia Binoritown, where he had the fortune of studying under teachers who had received their Ijaazat from Al- Azhar, Madina Univsirty, and Ummul Qura. Upon graduation, Mufti Abdul Wahab wanted to pursue his passion in understanding and education in the field of Islamic Jurisprudence and Law.

Shaykh Oosman Mustoofa
Instructor

Born in England, with ancestral ties to Mauritius, and having been raised in Ethiopia, profoundly influenced his personality, worldview, and life perspective. In 2005, his pursuit of knowledge and spiritual growth began under the guidance of the esteemed Mufti Aasim Rashid in Montreal and later at Al-Ihsan Institute in Vancouver, a mentor cherished for seven transformative years. Following his graduation from Al-Ihsan, he relocated to Montreal, where he served as a full-time federal prison chaplain, providing spiritual services and aiding in the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates in the province of Quebec. Concurrently, he resides in Windsor and has become an integral figure at Muneer Academy and an instructor at Miftaah Institute, where his passion for Islamic studies and pedagogy continues.

Shaykh Hunzla Zaidi
Instructor

Shaykh Hunzla Zaidi was raised in Canton, Michigan. He started the memorization of the Quran at Masjid Bilal Ypsilanti under Qari Shahid Mahmood, and finished when he was ten years old. After middle school, high school, and a couple years of university level studies in the field of Biochemistry, Hunzla left the field and devoted himself full time to learning Deen. He studied at AlHussnain Seminary, a branch of senior scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel’s schools based in Pakistan. Shaykh Hunzla then finished his studies under the guidance of world renowned scholars in Jamia Uloom-ul-Islamia in Binori Town, Pakistan, receiving his certification of Hadith from there. He is currently a Miftaah Institute instructor.

Mufti Sultan Mohiuddin Mohammed
Instructor

Mufti Sultan is a Canadian Scholar who began his formal Islamic education at a tender age commencing with committing the Qur’an to memory in Canada simultaneous to his academic education. Subsequently, he enrolled in the 8-year Intensive Aalim program in Canada initially but traveled overseas to a traditional seminary (Madrasah Arabia Islamia, Azaadville, South Africa) for its final years. After acquiring proficiency and receiving Ijaazah (where applicable) in the major fields of traditional Islamic theology including Arabic grammar, Islamic Credence, Jurisprudence, Prophetic Traditions (including all six authentic books and more), Quran Exegesis etc, he was selected to specialize in Jurisprudence through a postgraduate course (Iftaa) authorizing him to issue verdicts according to the Hanafi school of thought. The Iftaa was done in Al Mazaahir Institute in Sandton, South Africa.

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Alhamdulillah my experience so far is amazing, the vibe and the personalities of the teachers really bring the class together. They all know when to be funny and when to be serious. The topics for this year were absolutely amazing, my favorite class would have to be Mufti Abdul Rahman’s class “Etiquettes of a Seeker”. I feel like in whatever you’re learning, the teacher makes or breaks the class for you. Alhamdulillah these teachers are always positive and always put their students first.

Mujaba Ahsan
Year 2 Associate Student

frequently
Asked
Questions

Who is this program designed for?

This program is designed for students who have already completed foundational Islamic studies—such as Miftaah’s Associate’s Degree—and are ready to engage in advanced coursework rooted in classical texts and Arabic literacy. It is best suited for students who are serious, self-motivated, and disciplined in their studies.

How long does it take to complete the Bachelor’s program?

The program typically takes 3–4 years to complete, depending on how many courses you choose to take per semester. Students may study full-time or part-time.

Is the program offered onsite or online?

The Bachelor’s program is offered in a hybrid format. Students can attend either onsite at the Miftaah campus in Warren, Michigan, or join live online from anywhere in the world. However, all students are required to attend classes live during their scheduled times.

Will I receive a degree upon completion?

Yes. Upon successful completion of the full curriculum, students will receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Islamic Studies from Miftaah Institute. Please note that Miftaah Institute is a private Islamic educational institute and is not accredited by any regional or national accrediting body.

Can I transfer credits from another institute?

In some cases, yes. If you have completed course work else where that is equivalent in content and rigor, you may apply for credit transfer. All transfer requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may require exams or interviews.

Can I take this program if I haven't completed Miftaah’s Associate’s Degree?

If you have studied elsewhere and can demonstrate equivalent knowledge (especially in Arabic), you may be eligible to take a placement exam for admission.

Is the program live or self-paced?

The program is self-paced in terms of course load, but live attendance is required for all classes. There is no recording-only option. Students must attend their registered courses in real-time, whether onsite or online.

Can I audit courses or take classes without doing exams?

No. This is a credit-based academic program. Students must complete all coursework, exams, and attendance requirements to earn credit and progress through the program. There is no casual or audit option available.

Do I need to be fluent in Arabic?

You should already have a strong foundation in Arabic grammar and morphology (nahw and sarf) before beginning the program. Many of the primary texts used in the curriculum are written in Arabic.

Will there be exams?

Yes. Each course includes at least two formal assessments per semester. Passing all assessments is required to complete the course and remain in good academic standing.

Will I have lifetime access to class materials?

Yes. Enrolled students will retain lifetime access to their course materials for personal review and continued benefit.