Studying the Alim Course Part-time
Please use the menu to the left to understand what the Alim Course is, how it works, its structure and progression routes. On this page you will find additional information about studying the Alim Course part time.
Some Important Questions About the Part-time Alim Course
Will part-time study compromise standards and content?
At EC studying the Alim course part-time does not mean that you will compromise content or standards. You will study the same content and mutual expectations will be the same. We will expect the same commitment and performance from part time Alim Course students as we do from full-time Alim course students, and the students can expect the same standards of teaching, assessment and services from us. The difference is simply in the way the courses are structured and timetabled and the allowances we make for the sake of flexibility.
What is the difference between being a part-time Alim course student and a part-time non-Alim course student?
It is possible, in fact quite common, for 2 students to be enrolled on the same course yet one is enrolled as an Alim course student while the other isn't. In such a case there is no difference in the content of the course just in expectation and ambition. We would monitor the Alim course student more closely and would have certain expectations of him/ her that we may not have of the non-Alim course student. This may seem odd and unfair but in our view the Alim course student is studying to occupy a position of responsibility and exemplariness in the community. This is something that we cannot be casual about but need to monitor closely. We expect greater adherence to the shari'ah and the sunnah, and a commitment to adorning oneself with Islamic traits and characteristics. At EC we are trying to make it easier for people to study the Alim course by creating flexibility but we cannot expect Alim course students to be lax or casual about their studies or their resposibilities.
What is the maximum number of contact hours?
The maximum contact hours for the part time Alim course is 12, although we will always try our best to keep it below this. You will also need to dedicate another 5-6 hours of personal study in addition. We will try to keep the scheduling as flexible as possible but it will be mainly evening and weekend based.
Course Maps for the Islamic Sciences Programme (Years 1, 2 and 3 of the Alim Course)
Jump to Section: ISP Level 1 | ISP Level 2 | ISP Level 3
Note: These course map shows a brief breakdown of all of the courses at each level so students can plan and map their studies. Full details of each individual course including start dates, course specifications and syllabi will be uploaded in the courses running soon page they are close to launch. You may also find information in the full course list.
ISP level 1 Course Map (part-time study)
| Course Title | Brief Description of Course | Part time or Short Course | Status | start dates | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP1 Aqeedah | You will study the basic Islamic beliefs and fundamentals focusing around the pillars of Iman; taught as a short course over 1-2 weekends. | SC |
Mandatory for ISP1 completion | See the main PT course list page for dates. Click here... |
|
| Fiqh of taharah and Salah (ISP1Mod1) | A Comprehensive course on the rules of purification and salah. This course is obligatory on every Muslim if one is not certain of the validity of one’s salah. Normally taught over 12 weeks. | PT and SC |
Mandatory for ISP1 completion | Subject to demand, the four schools of juristic thought may be taught separately. | |
| Fiqh of Fasting and Zakah (ISP1 Mod2) | A comprehensive course on Fasting and Zakah to ensure that every Muslim completes both obligations correctly. Normally taught as a weekend intensive before Ramadhan. | ||||
| Fiqh of Hajj & 'Umrah (ISP1 Mod3) | An intensive weekend course on the rules of hajj with a good explanation of the fiqh rules and a special emphasis on practical advice for people who are travelling soon. | ||||
| ISP1 Tajweed & Qira'ah |
You will practice the correct recitation of the Qur'an under a trained teacher and systematically complete the supervised recitation of parts of the Qur'an depending on your individual ability. You will also study the theoretical rules of recitation at a basic level. Some training in Tarteel Qira'ah will also be conducted. This course will be taught as a part-time course over many weeks. | PT |
Mandatory for ISP1 completion | Students must be able to read the Qur'an to study this course. A separate course for basic Arabic and Qur'an reading will be available from time to time. | |
| ISP1 Seerah |
You will study the life of the Prophet SAW based on a selected text; taught as a short course over 1 weekend. | SC |
Optional for ISP1 | ||
| ISP1 Arabic Language | You will learn to read and write Arabic from the basic level upwards and acquire basic skills of communication, learning to understand and speak basic Arabic set in every day life contexts. You will study Arabic grammar covering etymology and syntax. The main focus will be to understand grammar and its implementation in classical, Qur'anic, and modern Arabic literature. | PT |
Mandatory for ISP1 completion | Students will have the option to sit the GCSE Arabic exam which is usually sat in May/June. | |
| ISP1 Arabic Literature | This course complements ISP1 Arabic language and will involve a specific study of classical and modern Arabic literature to further enhance the knowledge acquired in the above course. This course will be delivered either part-time as one course or broken down in to several short courses. | PT and short. |
Optional for ISP1 |
ISP level 2 Course Map (part-time study)
| Course Title | Brief Description of Course | Part time or Short Course & Cost | Status | start dates | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ISP2 Aqeedah |
The Aqeedah of Ahlussunnah wa al-jama'ah based on al-Aqeedah al-Tahawiyyah and its commentary. | SC |
Mandatory for ISP2 completion | See the main PT course list page for dates. Click here... |
|
| ISP2 Hadith | Study of selected Hadiths and their brief commentary from various well known Hadith texts. | PT and SC |
Mandatory for ISP2 completion | ||
ISP2 Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) |
Study of the essential rules of Muamalat (dealings) i.e. Business and trade dealings, marriage and divorce etc. Taught in modules which will be delivered as part-time or short courses depending on the size of the module. | PT |
Mandatory for ISP2 completion | Subject to demand, the four schools of juristic thought may be taught separately. | |
| ISP2 Tajweed & Qira'ah (Qur'anic recitation) |
You will practice the correct recitation of the Qur'an under a teacher and systematically complete the supervised recitation of parts of the Qur'an depending on your individual ability. You will continue what you have studied in year 1 and undertake a detailed study of the rules of Tajweed. | SC or PT |
Mandatory for ISP2 completion | Students must be able to read the Qur'an to study this course. A separate course for basic Arabic and Qur'an reading will be available from time to time. | |
| ISP2 Tareekh (History of the Muslim world) |
You will study the history of the Khilafah Rashidah and the various Muslim dynasties after the Prophet SAW up to the modern era. Enhance the knowledge acquired in the above course. This course will be delivered either part-time as one course or broken down in to several short courses. | PT and short. |
Optional for ISP2 | ||
| ISP2 Arabic Language | You will study various forms of Arabic literature, both modern and classical. You will improve your communication skills and advance your ability in reading, writing, and translating. | PT |
Mandatory for ISP2 completion | Students will have the option to sit the GCSE Arabic exam which is usually sat in May/June. | |
| ISP2 Arabic Grammar covering Sarf (morphology) and Nahw (syntax) | Building on the knowledge you have gained in level 1, you will study grammar texts directly in Arabic. These texts will introduce you to more complex grammar concepts in the Arabic language. |
|
Mandatory for ISP2 completion |
ISP level 3 Course Map (part-time study)
| Course Title | Brief Description of Course | Part time or Short Course & Cost | Status | Start Dates | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP3 Arabic Language | Continuing your studies of Arabic literature at level 2 you will study more complex classical and modern Arabic literature from a variety of sources and materials. The lessons will be conducted mainly in Arabic. | PT |
Mandatory for ISP3completion | See the main PT course list page for dates. Click here... | Students will have the option to sit the AS/A2 Arabic exam which is usually sat in May/June. |
| ISP3 Arabic Grammar | You will cover advanced grammar topics by studying selected sections of the famous text, Sharh ibn 'Aqeel. |
|
Mandatory for ISP3 completion | ||
ISP3 Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) |
Detailed study of the essential rules of Ibadaat (acts of worship) and Muamalat (dealings) directly from a core Arabic text such as Nur' al-Idhah. | PT |
Mandatory for ISP3 completion | Subject to demand, the four schools of juristic thought may be taught separately. | |
| ISP3 Tajweed & Qira'ah (Qur'anic recitation) |
You will practice the correct recitation of the Qur'an under a teacher and systematically complete the supervised recitation of parts of the Qur'an with the aim to complete the whole Qur'an under a teacher and learn to improve the quality and beauty of your recitation. | PT |
Optional for ISP3 completion | Students must have have already studied tajweed before, either at EC or elsewhere. External students will be assessed before admission. | |
| ISP3 Tareekh (History of the Muslim world) |
TBC | PT and short. |
Optional for ISP3 | ||
| ISP3 Hadith | Study of selected Hadiths and their brief commentary from various well known Hadith texts. | PT and SC |
Mandatory for ISP3 completion | Taught from an Arabic text. | |
| Ulumul Hadith | Introduction to Uloom al-Hadith covering the History of Hadith, how it was preserved, the different classes of Hadith and narrators, and the terminology of Hadith. | PT and SC | Optional for ISP3 | Taught from an Arabic text. There will be a separate course in English for non Alim course students. | |
| Ulumul Qur'an | Introduction to Uloom al-Qur'an covering the history of the Holy Qur'an, how it was revealed, recorded and preserved; terminology related to it and other details necessary for the study of Tafsir; different types of Tafsir and the principles of Tafsir. | PT and SC | Optional for ISP3 | Taught from an Arabic text. There will be a separate course in English for non Alim course students. | |
| Usulul Fiqh | Introduction to Usul al-Fiqh which is the study of the sources and principles of Islamic Jurisprudence, which are necessary to understand how rulings are derived from the sources of Shariah. | PT and SC | Optional for ISP3 | Taught from an Arabic text. There will be a separate course in English for non Alim course students. |
Mandatory Courses: Mandatory courses have to be successfully completed for a student to be deemed to have completed ISP1 or ISP2, which ever may be the case, and thus receive the completion certificate. Students can enrol on the next level of any subject provided they have completed the previous level of that subject. They are not required to have completed the whole of the ISP program if they do not wish to. However to be eligible to receive the ISP completion certificate (be it ISP 1, 2 or 3), all of the the ISP courses within that particular program would have to be completed within 2 academic years.
Optional Courses: Optional means that the course is optional for that ISP program and without it a student may still receive the ISP completion certificate. However, students should be aware, the course may be a requirement for later levels. For example, although the ISP1 Seerah is not a requirement for completion of ISP1, it will become a requirement at later levels for those who have not completed it.
*Costs: The fees of each individual course may change slightly when the course is launched. The total cost of the whole ISP1 programme thus is approximately £1625. Student who register for all of the courses at once and commit to pay within 1 academic year in 3 instalments will get a 10% discount. For enrolment with payment of the first instalment 2 weeks prior to the course start date, a further 5% discount will be granted. This discount may vary on individual courses when they are launched.You will get this discount if you book your place now. You can make your final decision when we confirm the start date and course schedule. So if you plan things properly you could pay up to 15% less; that's a saving of £244.
Conditions for completion of an ISP level: To be deemed to have completed any particular ISP level and receive the certificate, all compulsory modules in the course map must be completed within 2 academic years. If it takes longer, students may have to repeat certain courses and/ or sit additional assessments to prove that they still have a good recollection of course content. We want to ensure that any student who recieves a completion certificate for any ISP level has a balanced recollection and knowledge of all of the subjects taught at that level. That is the benchmark for anyone progressing through the Alim course.