Mufid Academic Seminary (MAS) is committed to training the next generation of leaders and scholars who will be comfortable with both Islamic tradition and modern academic tradition. The vision of MAS is to produce scholars for Western academia and qualified Imams and leaders for mosques and Islamic centers throughout North America.
Mufid’s Hawzah Program is equivalent to a Bachelor of Art in Islamic Studies. It consists of traditional hawzah courses that have been taught in the Shi’i seminaries of Najaf and Qom for centuries with textbooks which transmit the core values of Islam from one generation to another.
In addition to teaching traditional courses, MAS will train its students to play leadership roles, including the role of Imam/Resident Scholar, in communities. We will also equip them with complementary skills of mediation, conflict resolution, and other necessary skills to facilitate a successful leadership in their communities.
Level of Hawzah Studies
The BA equivalent in Hawzah Studies is a 3-year (Part-time) traditional study that focuses on what is commonly taught in the seminaries of Najaf and Qom. It is an adapted version of “muqaddamat” or “sutuh” in the classical Shia Seminaries. Read more about the Hawzah Studies courses here.
Manner of Instruction
Since the Hawzah Studies curriculum is offered in the evenings, students can enroll in another academic program or work while taking these courses. Courses are offered both in virtual and on-site settings, and students will be required to participate in online sessions. Every core course will have mandatory on-site sessions as well. When required, students will need to attend in-person seminars, conferences, and professional workshops.
Each week students will attend four live, online, 75-minute sessions. In addition to the online classes, there will be intensive in-person classes during holidays (the winter breaks, spring breaks, or summer holidays) where all students from across North America will come together to learn and share their experiences with their teachers and fellow students. The location of the in-person intensive courses is Detroit, Washington, D.C. or elsewhere based on the number of students in the program. Read more here.