Religious Education
A second part of I.M.A.M.’s five core functions is to promote Religious Education as in:
- Cultivating an Islamic lifestyle of strong faith and good citizenry for the North American community
- Providing Islamic education and practice through various mediums to the far reaches of our community
- Sponsoring ambitious students from our various communities to study in seminaries abroad
Religious Education – Online Resources:
Religious Education – An Overview
Public Religious Classes (Headquarters)
I.M.A.M. provides several classes at different levels of Islamic Sciences (education) for children, adolescents, and adults, both male and female, per capacity and availability. Islamic Sciences classes consist of belief (aqaed), jurisprudence (fiqh), Quran commentary (tafsir), morals and ethics (akhlaq), history of Islam and the infallible leaders (seerah), and other related topics.
All public religious classes at I.M.A.M. are free and open to everyone. There is no formal institute or system of controls for these classes. I.M.A.M. offers these classes as public education services that can help community members have a better understanding of Islam. I.M.A.M aims through these classes to embed the underlying tone of being faithful and productive citizens who play a positive role in their country and community.
Notwithstanding the above, it is important to note that these classes can take place when at least five committed students come forward and are ready to enroll. I.M.A.M. provides a qualified instructor, a suitable environment, and all educational materials, free of charge. New instructors who wish to benefit the community in Arabic and/or English are welcome as well. For more details, contact us and give us the pleasure to serve you.
Seminary (Hawzah) Private Classes
With the never-ending demand for clergy who have the proper qualifications to teach and offer all services in English, I.M.A.M. coordinates, facilitates, and links different religious scholars with applicants on an intermediate and advanced level who are interested in Islamic studies. Classes are on a one-on-one online private teaching basis that aim to prepare junior clergy who can assist and serve the community. If junior clergy show sufficient seriousness and desire, I.M.A.M. will arrange a long-term, in-depth, customized study at the Islamic seminary in the Holy City of Najaf, Iraq. For more details, contact us here.
Request a Speaker
I.M.A.M. participates in academic and interfaith programs across the country. These include events at colleges and universities, as well as religious organizations of different faiths and denominations. These are especially important where there is a need for representation of the Islamic faith at a scholarly level. To learn more about requesting a speaker for your academic or interfaith program, click here.
Books
Religious education requires, in no small part, the publication of Islamic books, which undergo tireless editing, formatting, translating (where needed), and publishing. To this regard, I.M.A.M.’s publishing team is hard at work to make important Islamic written resources available.
Books currently available are as follows:
Islamic Laws, His Eminence al-Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani, Translated by Mohammed Ali Ismail
Published by The World Federation of KSIMC and distributed in North America by I.M.A.M., this comprehensive text contains rulings of His Eminence, al-Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani on the practical laws of Islam. Topics include, and are not limited to, purification, prayer, fasting, khums, zakat, hajj, buying and selling, property, marriage and divorce, eating and drinking, charitable endowments, Islamic wills, and inheritance. Click here for details.
Islamic Laws of Food and Drink, According to the Rulings of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid al-Sistani
Islam is a comprehensive and perfect system that covers every aspect of life. This includes not only acts of worship and religious obligations but also day-to-day activities, from the most complex transactions to the most mundane acts, which some may overlook and think are outside the scope of religion. One of these aspects concerns nutrition, which is the interaction of nutrients and other substances in food as they relate to person’s bodily maintenance, growth, reproduction, health, and disease. Islam places special emphasis on eating and drinking because an unhealthy diet and poor manners and habits have the potential to affect both the body and the soul of a person. This booklet provides valuable Islamic guidance that covers every aspect of eating and drinking – important ethical considerations and a description of various types of foods, their qualities, and the consequences of consumption. In addition, it covers the etiquette of hospitality and the appropriate decorum when one is eating with others. I.M.A.M wishes its readers the best of health and well-being with this new publication, which earnestly seeks to improve yet another part of our daily lives. Click here for details.
Islamic Laws of the Will, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid al-Sistani
God Almighty has decreed that every soul will taste death, and no living thing can deny, avoid, or even delay this reality. In His infinite mercy and wisdom, the Almighty Creator has granted rights to each person, and in addition, He has imposed certain obligations for the disposition of their personal property and the execution of their affairs after death. These obligations preserve not only the rights of the deceased but also of the heirs. Therefore, this booklet describes the Islamic laws related to the will (al-wasiyyah), which are among the most important issues that Muslims must understand and implement, because they are relevant both during life and after death. Furthermore, the proper execution of these rules ensures that the deceased can fulfill any lapsed obligations and thus continue to receive blessings, rewards, and expiation even after leaving this world. Unfortunately, ignorance of these laws and the procedures decreed by God has led to misappropriation of property, violation of individual rights, and rancor and dispute within families. This occurs either because a Muslim is unaware of the process of preparing a will or is unaware of the personal freedoms and limitations imposed by Islam, or it is due to the ignorance of the heirs in executing the will. Therefore, this booklet seeks to educate Muslims about the Islamic will, detail the specific elements related to its contents and directives, provide instructions on how to properly create it, remove misconceptions, clarify challenging issues, and spread awareness of its importance. Click here for details.
Islamic Laws of Expiation, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid al-Sistani
Islam is the religion of mercy, and as such it provides a code of practice for every aspect of human life. The foundation of this code rests on the principle that human beings have been given the choice to decide the course of their actions, and they will be rewarded or punished based on the choices they make in the life of this world. Inherent to this system is the recognition that although humankind is capable of great devotion and obedience to the Creator, people are also prone to disobeying Him and committing sins, not only to the detriment of themselves but others as well. It is for this reason that Islam provides expiation for sins, which have the potential to spiritually cripple a person and, in some cases, disrupt the tranquility of society. These acts of expiation are practical obligations enacted by the Creator that begin the process of negating the deleterious effects of sins and even serve as a deterrent to future transgressions. In the end, they ensure not only personal balance and harmony but the balance and harmony of society. Click here for details.
Youth: Advice from Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid al-Sistani
Every society’s success and advancement is tied to its youth and their continuous motivation to be the better generation. However, what they may not lack in drive and energy, they may lack in experience and direction. This small booklet offers deep-rooted advice, inspiration, and spiritual guidance from one of the greatest leaders worldwide today—one who has spent over eighty years of his life striving for humanity and the religion of God—the Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani (may God prolong his life). It provides a progressive foundation to formulate the direction for a productive and meaningful life that will enable the youth of today to be the better generation of tomorrow. It is our sincere wish that this work provide the benefit its author intended and that it be spread across cultures and ideology to uplift all of humanity. Click here for details.
Fasting: A Haven from Hellfire, According to the Rulings of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid al-Sistani
Each year, over 1.6 billion Muslims across the world embark on a month-long spiritual journey and period of self-reflection. This is the very essence of the Holy Month of Ramadan. But where did it all begin? What is it that drives nearly a quarter of the world’s population to fast from dawn to dusk? For that matter, are all Muslims required to do so? What if they can’t, or simply don’t want to? Does Islam have an answer to these and similar questions? Find out for yourself in this concise reading, made possible by I.M.A.M. Click here for details.
The Illuminating Lantern – An exposition of subtleties from the Quran, by Shaykh Habib al-Kadhimi
For over a millennium, numerous explications have been written and published around the world about the Holy Quran. The book you are holding in your hands is one of the new explications. The author, Shaykh Habib al-Kadhimi interprets the thirtieth section of the Quran in a new and functional style to practically benefit from the holy Revelation. The author has relied on the bullet method instead of explaining every word and every expression as is customary in most explications. He collects the components of every short chapter and chooses the main points that pertain to our daily life. He then adds a moral and spiritual aspect with a language that speaks to the spirit and the mind to present practical Quranic solutions that can shape human personality in the three dimensions of mind, spirit, and morals. Click here for details.
Who is Hussain?, by Dr. Mehdi Hazari
Who is Hussain son of Ali? Why do we need to know about him? Why is it important to know about the Battle of Karbala? Why is it important to know about it today? These are just a few of the questions that this short selection intends to answer. It shows how Hussain is a significant historical figure not only for Muslims but for all people because he took a stand for truth, justice, and human dignity. This concise read should be a welcome addition to the literary collections of both Muslims and non-Muslims. It sheds light on the horrible events we see playing out in the world today as a consequence of events that took place in the vaults of Islamic history from the time of its formative early years in the Arabian peninsula. Click here for details.
¿Quién es Hussain?, by Dr. Mehdi Hazari
¿Quién es Hussain, hijo de Ali? ¿Por qué necesitamos saber sobre él? ¿Por qué es importante saber acerca de la batalla de Karbala? ¿Por qué es importante tener este conocimiento hoy en día? Estas son solo algunas de las preguntas que este breve folleto intenta responder. Muestra cómo Hussain es una figura histórica importante no solo para los musulmanes, sino también para todos los pueblos porque él defendió la verdad, la justicia y la dignidad humana.Este delgado volumen debería ser una adición bien recibida en las bibliotecas de musulmanes y no musulmanes. Nos ofrece información sobre los horribles hechos que vemos en el mundo de hoy, como consecuencia de los acontecimientos que tuvieron lugar en las bóvedas de la historia islámica desde sus primeros años de formación en la península arábiga. Click here for details.
Shia Muslims: Our Identity, Our Vision, and the Way Forward, by Sayyid M.B. Kashmiri
In a time of exceptional complexities, where the risk of being subjected to misinformation in the global media is prevalent, it is important to find trustworthy resources to attain true understanding. This booklet was written to clarify misinformation about the principles and goals of Twelver Shia Muslims.
The author, Sayyid M.B. Kashmiri, a Shia religious scholar and the North American representative for many Shia jurists and religious authorities, relies on the doctrines, provisions, and reflections shared by prominent Shia Muslim scholars. All of this is done in alignment with the Holy Quran and the teachings of the infallible progeny of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon them. This text focuses on three major elements: the identity of Shia Muslims, their vision, and the approach to achieve their goals, hence exemplifying how Shia communities play a positive role in the countries they live in. Click here for details.
God’s Emissaries: Adam to Jesus, by Sh. Rizwan Arastu
The book before you is the first of its kind. It has elevated the genre of Prophetic stories to new heights. Rather than simply collecting and translation scripture and traditions, God’s Emissaries: Adam to Jesus presents a comprehensive, theologically sound, captivating and believable set of stories. Click here for details.
Tajwid – A Guide to Quranic Recitation, by Sh. Rizwan Arastu
A guide to the proper recitation of the Holy Qur’an. In this book, you will learn how to properly recite each letter in the Arabic alphabet, the rules of proper recitation, as well as any laws associated with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an. Click here for details.