Students and graduates of Dārul-‘Ulūm al-Ashrafiyya are making significant strides and impacts every day. Learn more about their stories below.
What is one thing that madrasa has taught me? In short, madrasa has taught me a lot about life and, of course, about the religion of Islam. However, one of the greatest lessons that I’ve learned is the fact that I don’t know anything. Sometimes when we learn one aspect of the religion, we think we know it all, but once we dive into the subject matter a little deeper we realize, SubhanAllah, I was and am so ignorant about the whole picture.
I consider my opportunity to study at Darul Uloom the greatest blessing of Allah in my life. Not only did we receive a world-class Islamic education, we did so with local scholars and without the need to travel far and wide.
Furthermore, studying with American-born scholars gave us an added insight into the practical application of the subjects we learned into our local and regional contexts. We performed limited duties in our communities from delivering speeches, leading Friday prayers, and conducting academic research under the tutelage of our teachers. This required us to practice what we were taught in the real world and also prepared us for our responsibilities after graduation.
There's no glory in getting a label attached to one's name. The sacrifices our teachers made to be there for us and to be present and to sacrifice for us means everything — that's the true achievement. To be able to sacrifice one's life for the sake of the religion of Islam. The madrasa was my gateway to appreciating what our righteous scholars continue to do every single day. I can only pray that one day I also will be given the opportunity to serve the religion in such a way to be deserving of their prayers.
Studying Islam from the original sources provided me with an authentic and balanced perspective on my religion. The open-minded instructors engaged us in difficult topics while inspiring us to inculcate a long-term vision aimed at benefiting the world.
I’d like to say it is my good fortune to be honored with the opportunity to serve the students of Shaykh Tameem and his colleagues at Dārul-‘Ulūm al-Ashrafiya. Furthermore, I’d have to say that my job was very easy and extremely rewarding as the students were well prepared by the diligence and loving care of Shaykh Tameem and his associates. That prepared them with all the knowledge and expertise that was necessary for them to enter into the study of the divine knowledge of the Quran and prophetic traditions. So I have no doubt that each one of them, God willing — these hard working and intelligent students will be used by Allah in the further establishment of His deen and themselves, their families, and in the global community.
And through the blessing of their sincerity, etiquettes and continuous struggle in the path of propagation, education, and nurturing. So, I would also advise them, as I first of all would advise myself, of the saying of the Prophet (PBUH), “Fear Allah wherever you may be, fear Allah in private and public” — May Allah make them, their teachers, and all of those who’ve shared in the effort of their development, to make them blessed wherever they may be, even until the last moments of their lives.
And that they, the students, may also excuse me of my shortcomings and perhaps the shortcomings of any of those who are also engaged in the nurturing of the students.
Last but not least, don’t forget me and all of the teachers and all of those who’ve contributed to the betterment of the students in their righteous acts and in their precious time.
We all recognize the role of a good teacher in the development of a student. I will add that good students also play a role in the advancement of the teacher. My experience with the students of the class of 2021 at Dārul-‘Ulūm al-Ashrafiya only further confirmed this for me.
All praise belongs to Allah as it was an honor to have an opportunity to teach and learn with the scholars of tomorrow, the students of Mawlana Tameem. Mawlana, MashaAllah, has put great efforts in establishing a sound mindset and an exemplary humble mentality within these future scholars. I only can say and make dua that Allah the most high will call for great work from these Ulama inshaAllah. May Allah ta’ala accept all of our efforts and make it a means of goodness in this world and the hereafter. May Allah ta’ala become happy with all of us and protect us in this world and in the next.
If a good question is half of knowledge, then a good student is much more. Fortunate is the teacher who has an entire group of reflective, inquisitive, intelligent, and excellent students. I personally have benefited greatly and enjoyed tremendously teaching the students at Dārul-‘Ulūm al-Ashrafiya.
