Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa raḥmtullāhi wa barakātuhu,
The primary purpose of requesting select students to document their experiences with us and then sharing their reviews publically is simply to assist potential students who require further information about the courses. It also helps potential donors in deciding whether to contribute or not.
Ultimately, our greatest concern is that Allah, the Exalted, accepts our humble efforts and imperfect endeavours. We implore Allāh Taʿālā for forgiveness of our shortcomings.
Please note that many of the respected students have provided their reviews, but opted to remain anonymous. We solemnly affirm that each review is genuine and comes solely from an independent student without any coercion, insistence, or persuasion from our side. I swear by Allāh Taʿālā that each comment is published exactly as received, without any alterations.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that we did not deem it necessary to solicit reviews from every student, nor are we publishing every comment that we received. The comments provided below should adequately serve the stated purpose.
Please pray that Allāh Ta’ālā accepts our weak attempts.
Jazākumullāhu khayran
“I have no regrets signing up for this course. I benefitted thoroughly from all the lessons that were taught and learnt. Doing this course throughout the year consistently increased my love for Rasulullah peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
The efforts made by Mufti Sahib HA in compiling and executing this course was clearly tremendous and it is truly appreciated.”
Mawlānā Masood Abdullah, Rashadi Foundation, Cunupia, Trinidad, West Indies
“Alhamdulillah the first year has been excellent. I think honestly, that studying under Mufti Saheb has completely opened my mind and diffently changed my life, made me realised how ignorant i am in
Islamic knowledge despite completing the aalim course. One is academically but spiritually also. Also what I’ve learned alot, is how deficient I am with regards to my respect for my teachers, this is a point that I’ve really learnt this year. Insha Allah I’ll definitely try to improve on this. Would definitely recommend it.
When you sit with other Ulama and in Different talks, you realised how much you’ve learnt in just one year.”
Mawlānā Ismael Omar, Qualified from Dārul ‘Ulūm Zakariyya, 2016
“Alhamdulillah I am very grateful to Allah for giving me the opportunity to be part of this amazing takhaṣṣuṣ program. Allah has blessed me to travel to other countries and discuss ulūm al-hadīth with different students and scholars such as those of Al-Azhar Ash-Sharīf which is known as the Ka’batul Ilm and in my humble opinion (currently if things don’t change) this course is definitely more beneficial than what a student seeking to study Takhaṣṣuṣ in Hadith would find elsewhere. Also, the Manhaj and methodology of the course is such that irrespective of what views you hold [classically/contemporary/ controversially] it does not deter you away from benefiting fully in the course Alhamdulillah.
Alhamdulillah, Through the Barakah and effort of our respected Mufti Ismail Sahb I really enjoyed the first year of the Takhaṣṣuṣ program. The content and methods used were very beneficial and mind opening. Alhamdulillah it wasn’t very difficult to understand the lessons. When I travelled and moved to Egypt after Ramaḍān I began discussing Ulum al-hadith in general based on the topics we covered with many scholars and students here I found that the depth research done and provided by our respected teacher was far much more than what is discussed among scholars and students here in their lessons. The very same answers of the scholars in certain Masā’il which we could not accept are used among scholars here. So I felt very fortunate to be part of such an advanced course and things like this would increase my confidence in our respected teacher and the takhaṣṣuṣ course.
Qārī Muhammad ibn Qarī Ismail Aziz, Madrasah Tarteelul Quraan. Pietermaritzburg
“I’ve had the pleasure of studying with Mufti Isma’il and benefitting from his teaching method and style for a few years now, and I have no hesitation in saying that his deeply researched and thorough way of explaining the content of what he is teaching is simply unmatched anywhere else. It is not uncommon to see Mufti Isma’il quote 20+ references to explain one single point. A single 30 minute class used to take me more than 2 hours to take notes on because of how much substantive content he packs into each lesson. The best way to understand it is like a machine gun of Nuqool being fired your way that covers the entire scope of the scholarly discussion that has taken place throughout our tradition in that topic. This approach can be overwhelming to some people, but it is what real knowledge is and after studying with Mufti Isma’il, it is difficult to be satisfied with most other classes i’ve attended. You will get the full breadth of the controversy and discussion that has occurred in a given topic along with each, thoroughly researched and verified quote of each opinion traced back to it’s original source along with the exact, original Arabic ibarah for that opinion, and then a comprehensive assessment of which opinion the scholars preferred with the same level of precise referencing. This is just simply not found anywhere else in my experience, even after studying with close to 100 teachers now.
Perhaps the greatest benefit is that there are notes provided for each lesson which do all of the referencing, quoting, summarising etc for you, so you can pay full attention to understanding the discussion and absorbing it without having to worry about sitting there (for what would literally take hours for a single lesson, due to the number of references given) and taking notes to retain it all.
If you want a cozy, rhetorical lesson that unpacks the text at a very simple level just to move through the Mutoon of the Islamic sciences, then Mufti Isma’il is perhaps not the best teacher for you. But if you want a deep, comprehensive, thoroughly referenced discussion on each issue with a detailed Tahqiq of it underlying it which you can rely on for the rest of your scholarly career, then Mufti Isma’il provides that and then some.”
Shaykh Suwaid Ibn Abdil Wadud Siddiqi, Sydney, Australia
“A very recommended course. The detail and art of teaching is unheard of. We are very happy and would continue with any future courses taught by mufti saheb. We are also very happy that mufti saheb is extremely punctual on beginning the lessons.”
A Mufti from Germany
“This course was well conducted and at a great pace. Although at first, it seemed like there would be too much information packed into each session, the notes that were provided made it easier to digest and retain the information.
The quoting of various works throughout the lessons, and the provided notes allowed the students to greatly expand their horizons regarding the works written on the topics. This allows for students to refer to these works for extra reading, and future research.
The Respected Ustadh conducted the lessons very well. The examples he would provide and the advices he would mention were greatly appreciated and invaluable.”
Mawlānā Zahoor Leghari, Australia
“I thoroughly enjoyed the course. The gradual learning did not make it overwhelming for an amateur like myself. Difficult concepts were explained with clarity , precision and simplicity There was great consideration for students. I truly appreciate punctuality of the lessons and availability of our Respected Teacher in answering questions. The best part of it all was that the course is all rounded The focus was not just on the academics , rather working towards our rectification alongside the lessons. The knowledge Allah Ta ala blessed our Respected teacher has left me in awe . May Allah Ta’ala allow us to take maximum benefit. Amin.”
Aapa Naeemah bint Ibrahim, Lusaka, Zambia
“Masha’Allah the takhassus fil hadith is an incredibly thorough program that is focused on teaching advanced students how to engage with the science of hadith. Mufti Ismail Moosa is one of the best teachers and leading scholars of this field. His skills and expertise shine within each lesson. It is a privilege to study with him. AlhamduliLlah, the learning environment was ideal for women. Female students had equal access to asking him questions, attending his classes, and receiving personal feedback.”
Ustadhah Naielah Ackbarali, United Kingdom, CEO of Muslima Coaching
“I have learned a huge amount from this course and hugely appreciate the level of research and study being put into the content. I have already begun to use much of what I have learnt into my own khidmah and studies; this current year I had been studying an MA in Islamic Studies, and much of what I had learnt had been very helpful in examining the level of study in the field of Hadith, and the depths to which it goes in preserving Hadith. I have also used what I have learnt to impress upon my own students interested in the Islamic sciences of the sheer amount of detail involved in the subject, contrasting heavily with what most people who are unfamiliar with the subject would believe, and encouraging them more towards studying Islam to a scholarly capacity. I have already recommended this class to several of my colleagues, and even several of my asaatidhah who were interested and impressed by my progress in studying this course.”
Teacher, Stepney Shahjalal, London
“I joined while being very hesitant on whether I would understand everything, but alhamdulillah, even though a lot of it is very detailed, Mufti sb explains in a way that is simple and easy to understand. I would recommend students to study under Mufti sb even if it be a little.”
Maryam bint Muhammad, Durban, South Africa
“Ulum al Hadith caters for all student’s beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. The pedagogical structure of teaching is very comprehensive yet understandable at the same time accommodating both Arabic and English-speaking students. The Takhasus fil Hadith course is a postgraduate course on the methodology of Hadith for graduates of a traditional Alimiyyah course. The course facilitates the student with an in-depth experience of social context at the time, historiography, in depth biography of narrators, rigorous analysis of the methodology found in Usul al Hadith and understanding how chains of narration work. This is a great course for students who take an admiration for hadith and would like to expand their knowledge through a transformational paradigm integrating an academic taught syllabus involving modules, coursework and homework. The course equips the student with pertinent information through critical thinking and self-research. This course has benefited me in appreciating the rich history of Ulum al Hadith and has allowed me to inculcate myself and others on this potent science. I would recommend this course to all lovers and partisans of Hadith. It is also very affordable Alhamdulillah considering this sort of content is taught at a MA level in a recognised university.“
Aapa Sanaa Malik, Jamea al kauthar (2021), Warwick (2022), United Kingdom
“I think the classes were amazing and informative and notes were so well prepared everything was presented to us on a platter without us doing any takleef”
Teacher, Zainab Institute
“Mufti Ismail Saheb’s Takhassus program is of incredible value. The detailed explanations, along with the recordings and highly proficient notes, not only facilitate the learning but also give me the confidence to teach in the future. He also inculcates within you a deep passion and thirst for furthering your studies in this science as well as others. Excellent and rewarding program.”
A student of sacred knowledge
“I came across this incredibly extraordinary Hadith Takhassuss online by chance. I didn’t know anything about Ulumalhadith or respected Mufti sb. What appealed to me most then was the discount in fee. I gave it a try and since then I have come to know how little I knew. The curriculum, the assignment, the assessments all were of the standard of any reputed world class university. But it was not just empty knowledge but also spirituality, God consciousness, emulating the prophet ﷺ dhikr was also part of this rigorous course. Mufti sb is one of the most sincerest, kindest, lenient, hard working, intelligent teacher I have ever known. I have completed one year with them and I want to stay on.”
Aapa Naila Shah, Islamabad, Pakistan
“This Takhassus program has been extremely beneficial, and life changing. It is a wholesome program with Ilm but also Tazkiyyah. Mufti Sahib provides students with two sets of notes. Notes prior to class so it is easy for students to follow along, and then detailed notes thereafter so that students don’t miss anything. It is very helpful. I have not found support like this in any other institute. Alhamdulillah.”
Female student from Canada