Boston Islamic Seminary (BIS) is pleased to offer the Introduction to the Islamic Sciences Certificate, a structured program providing a broad introduction to the major disciplines of Islamic studies. This certificate is designed to orient students to the scope, aims, and methods of core Islamic sciences within a coherent academic framework.
| # | Date | Area | Sub-Disciplines / Areas | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saturday, April 11, 2026 | Theology & Spirituality | Beliefs, Kalam, self-purification | Dr. Ikram ul-Haq |
| 2 | Sunday, May 3, 2026 | Hadith Sciences | Hadith methodology, terminology, major collections | Dr. Suheil Laher |
| 3 | Saturday, June 20, 2026 | Arabic | Nahw, Sarf, Balaghah, Adab | Dr. Carl Sharif El-Tobgui |
| 4 | Saturday, June 27, 2026 | Islamic Law (Fiqh) | Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Maqasid al-Shari’ah | Dr. Mariam Sheibani |
| 5 | Saturday, July 11, 2026 | Islamic Thought | Philosophy, political thought | Dr. Adnan H. Rehman |
| 6 | Saturday, July 25, 2026 | History | Sirah, Khulafa’ al-Rashidun, later Islamic history | Dr. Mohammed Bushra |
| 7 | Saturday, August 15, 2026 | Quranic Sciences | Tafsir, Tajwid, ‘Ulum al-Qur’an | Dr. Basyouny Nehela |
Each session provides a broad introduction to a different domain of Islamic Studies, structured around the Ten Foundational Principles (المبادئ العشرة / al-Mabādiʾ al-ʿAsharah):
This structured approach ensures that students gain a comprehensive understanding of each domain, while preparing them for further study in the Islamic Foundations Certificate and Islamic Intellectual History Certificate programs.
The Islamic Studies Preliminaries Certificate is designed for anyone seeking a comprehensive introduction to the major domains of Islamic sciences. It is ideal for:
Students beginning their journey in Islamic studies
Learners who want a structured overview of foundational Islamic knowledge
Individuals preparing for the Islamic Foundations Certificate, which covers these subjects in greater depth
Those intending to continue with the Islamic Intellectual History Certificate for advanced study
The recommended sequence of study is:
Islamic Studies Preliminaries Certificate
Islamic Foundations Certificate
Islamic Intellectual History Certificate
By completing this certificate, students gain the essential knowledge and context needed to confidently progress through Boston Islamic Seminary’s advanced Islamic studies programs.
The Islamic Studies Preliminaries Certificate runs from April 11 through August 15, 2026.
The program consists of seven monthly sessions, each covering a different domain of Islamic sciences. Each session is approximately 5–6 hours and can be attended in-person or remotely via Zoom.
Session dates are listed in the table above, and registration is available through the registration page.
Students are encouraged to follow the sequence of study for optimal learning:
Introduction to the Islamic Sciences (Preliminaries Certificate)
Islamic Foundations Certificate
Islamic Intellectual History Certificate
Individual sessions: $99 per session ($59 for students with a .edu email address or MIRL students)
Financial aid is available for eligible students. Apply via the financial aid form during registration.
Payment is completed at the time of registration through our secure online system.
Click here to register.
These sessions will be held in person, with the option to attend remotely via Zoom.
The exact session dates, times, and in-person location will be announced soon and shared on the registration page.
