Seekers Youth

Instructors: Shaykh Yusuf Weltch & Ustadh Amjad Tarsin

Level: One

Course Overview

Are you a young boy? Do you have young boys in your family? This course seeks to empower young Muslim youth with the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the religion of Islam. Ustadh Amjad Tarsin gives young Muslims the tools to be exemplary and confident people of faith in modern times. Coming of age can be awkward, challenging, and confusing for both parents and their children. Although many of the changes are biological, they have religious implications as well. This course seeks to provide a framework for young men to learn about the qualities of a true man of faith. By contextualizing the wisdom and example of the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, and his companions to deal with contemporary issues, young men will gain insights into the practice, spirituality, and virtue of the believer.

Learning Outcomes

• Coming of age and how it affects your life

• Being like the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him

• Obligatory knowledge and the importance of seeking it

• The physical changes, moral responsibilities, and masculine qualities

• Private parts of the body and fiqh

• Qualities of good friends and brotherhood

• Drugs, alcohol, and dealing with peer pressure

• Friendships with girls, pictures, and lowering the gaze

• How to treat girls, parents, and elders

• The masculine virtues of manliness, strength, chivalry, forbearance, service, and mercy

• The great historic role models

• The path of knowledge, devotion, and da’wah

About The Instructor

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he then completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied inheritance law, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

Ustadh Amjad Tarsin was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Michigan in English Literature and Islamic Studies.

After completing his BA, Amjad spent an intensive year studying at the illustrious Dar al-Mustafa for Islamic Sciences in Tarim, Yemen. He then enrolled at Hartford Seminary’s Islamic Chaplaincy program where he completed his Master’s Degree.

He previously served as the Executive Director and Head Chaplain of the Muslim Chaplaincy at the University of Toronto, becoming Canada’s first full-time Muslim Chaplain at a university in September 2012. In addition to his administrative duties and leadership responsibilities, he counseled and taught students.

Ustadh Amjad currently is a faculty member at Al-Maqasid, and he also teaches for SeekersGuidance Online Islamic Seminary.

He currently lives outside of Allentown, Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.

Level One - Course One of Six

This is course One of Six of the Islamic Studies Youth Curriculum - Level One Certificate. Upon completion of all six, students will receive a certificate. To browse all six courses, please visit the Level One page.

Course Overview

Our children are the most precious gift and blessing from Allah Most High, yet this entails that we must fulfill our trusts by educating them in the most important aspect of our faith which is a sound creed or Aqidah. This course expounds on the core essential elements of a sound creed, and focuses on what is known as the “Articles of Faith.”

It is often mentioned in most texts of Aqidah that the first obligation upon those who reach the age of puberty is to know Allah (the Exalted). However, we find that most of our youth when they reach the critical age of adolescence have often been neglected. Whilst they learn to recite the Quran and memorize a few chapters they are not taught the foundational matters of creed which are obligatory upon all muslims. In this course, the focus is to teach the core beliefs that all muslims must hold on to, and align their hearts and minds with. The concepts covered in this course include knowledge of the divine and the purpose of life. It also covers the day of judgment, the afterlife, paradise and hell, angels and prophets, as well as the “Qadr” or predestination.

Learning Outcomes

• The foundational creed of Muslims as mentioned in the hadith of Jibreel.

• The beliefs concerning God, His prophets, angels, the hereafter, heaven, and hell as well as the divine decree.

Course Outline

Lesson 1: Discussion on Iman, Islam, and Ihsan

Lesson 2: Correct Beliefs Concerning Allah (the Exalted)

Lesson 3: Prophets and Messengers

Lesson 4: Angels, Jinn and Revealed Books

Lesson 5: The Day of Judgement

Lesson 6: Paradise and Its Descriptions

Lesson 7: Hell and Its Torments

Lesson 8: Qadr or Predestination

About the Instructor

Yama Niazi has studied with local scholars in the US for a number of years which culminated in him becoming an imam of the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara for 8 years. He served the community by teaching and leading prayers.

In 2015 he founded “ the blessed tree “ a nonprofit specifically for bridging gaps between the Muslim community and others.

He has spoken on many Muslim platforms and programs throughout the US and Canada.

He currently teaches and is an instructor at SeekersGuidance and is leading youth education programs as well as conducting programs in local communities/masjids in North America.

He is married and has 3 children.

Level: One

Instructor: Imam Yama Niazi

Course Overview

“Adab is the reflection of wisdom.”

In this course, we will take a journey into the lush gardens of radiant flowers that grew from the waters of knowledge of the life-giving Muhammadan springs. Youth will learn what it means to have good character and etiquette, not only regarding the pursuit of knowledge, but also in interacting with others and honoring their parents, teachers, and neighbors. Through rich content, this course seeks to instill in young Muslims the excellent qualities that the noble prophet left as a legacy to be emulated and followed in our daily lives.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn the virtues of noble character

• Gain insight into the character of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)

• Youth will learn how to emulate a noble character

• Key hadith encouraging moral excellence

• Youth will attain an understanding of Islamic morals critical to their spiritual growth

Course Outline

Lesson One: Virtues of Noble Character

Lesson Two: Personal Manners/Adab

Lesson Three: Manners Towards Parents

Lesson Four: Manners Towards Teachers/ Scholars

Lesson Five: Manners with Guests and Neighbors

Lesson Six: Manners with Friends and Other Muslims

Lesson Seven: Kinship Bonds and keeping Ties / Cutting Ties

Lesson Eight: Comprehensive Description of Good Character

About The Instructor

Yama Niazi has studied with local scholars in the US for a number of years which culminated in him becoming an imam of the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara for 8 years. He served the community by teaching and leading prayers. In 2015 he founded “ the blessed tree “ a nonprofit specifically for bridging gaps between the Muslim community and others. He has spoken on many Muslim platforms and programs throughout the US and Canada. He currently teaches and is an instructor at SeekersGuidance and is leading youth education program as well as conducting programs in local communities/ masjids in North America. He is married and has 3 children.

Level One - Course Six of Six

This is course Six of Six of the Islamic Studies Youth Curriculum - Level One Certificate. Upon completion of all six, students will receive a certificate. To browse all six courses, please visit the Level One page.

Course Overview

We are so eager to learn and teach our loved ones prayer (salah) and the proper manner in which one makes wudu; in order to purify our limbs before our Master. It's been said, “I’m amazed at the one who washes his/her limbs multiple times a day and doesn’t purify their heart.”

The heart is in greater need of purification. When corrupt, the entire body becomes corrupt. But one might ask, “What makes the heart sick, what are its diseases?”

Our beloved Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said in a hadith, “Allah does not send down any disease, but He also sends down the cure for it.”

Enrol in this course to learn about these sicknesses of the heart, their cures, and why diseases such as envy are bad for both for your worldly life (dunya) and your next life (akhirah).

May Allah grant us pure, clean hearts

Learning Outcomes

• You will acquire a detailed definition of a sound heart

• You will learn the spiritual diseases of the heart

• The cause and cures of the maladies

• Practical and spiritual guidance into achieving a sound heart

• Learn key verses of the Qur’an and hadith covering spiritual guidance

Course Outline

Lesson 1: Importance/ Virtues of a Sound Heart

Lesson 2: Adab with Allah, Envy, Arrogance, Ostentation

Lesson 3: Hatred, False Hopes, Heedlessness, Anger

Lesson 4: Displeasure with the Qadr, Desire for Wealth, Love of Status

Lesson 5: Miserliness, Negative Thoughts, Rancor, Blameworthy Modesty, Fantasizing

Lesson 6: Boasting, Obliviousness to Blessings, Derision/Mocking Others, Dislike of Death, Relying on Other than Allah

Lesson 7: Comprehensive Treatment and Actions Which Benefit the Heart

Lesson 8: The Root of All Diseases of the Heart/ Recommended Litany

About the Instructor

Yama Niazi has studied with local scholars in the US for a number of years which culminated in him becoming an imam of the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara for 8 years. 

He served the community by teaching and leading prayers. In 2015 he founded “ the blessed tree “ a nonprofit specifically for bridging gaps between the Muslim community and others. 

He has spoken on many Muslim platforms and programs throughout the US and Canada. He currently teaches and is an instructor at SeekersGuidance and is leading youth education program as well as conducting programs in local communities/ masjids in North America. 

He is married and has 3 children.

Level One - Course Two of Six

This is course Two of Six of the Islamic Studies Youth Curriculum - Level One Certificate. Upon completion of all six, students will receive a certificate. To browse all six courses, please visit the Level One page.

Course Overview

In this course, Imam Yama Niazi gives in-depth coverage of the practical rulings of purification and prayer. He teaches young Muslims how to ensure their purification and prayer are valid, sound, and complete.

He offers a thorough and reliable explanation of ablution (wudu), purificatory bath (ghusl), dry ablution (tayammum), the five daily prayers, and the Friday and Eid prayers. This course is essential to attain confidence that you are worshipping in a correct manner.

Learning Outcomes

• You will learn how to perform wudu and ghusl

• You will learn the details of the prayer

• You will learn how to identify mistakes and how to fix it

• Improve on concentration in the prayer

Course Outline

Lesson 1: Virtues and Importance of the prayer

Lesson 2: Tahara or Purification

Lesson 3: Ghusl; Tayammum; and Wiping Over Foot Gear

Lesson 4: Timings of the prayer, Adhan, Conditions of the Prayer

Lesson 5: The Integrals and Mandatory Elements of the Prayer

Lesson 6: The Emphasized Sunnas , The Proper Manners ( adab) of the Prayer, The Supplications of the Prayer

Lesson 7: Invalidators of the prayer, disliked matters, Making up the prayers

Lesson 8: Catching the Prayer, Friday Prayers, Eid Prayers, Disliked Actions of the Prayer

About the Instructor

Imam Yama Niazi has studied with local scholars in the US for a number of years which culminated in him becoming an imam of the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara for 8 years. He served the community by teaching and leading prayers. In 2015 he founded “ the blessed tree “ a nonprofit specifically for bridging gaps between the Muslim community and others. He has spoken in many Muslim platforms and programs throughout the US and Canada. He currently teaches and is an instructor at SeekersGuidance and is leading youth education program as well conducting programs in local communities/ masjids in North America. He is married and has 3 children.

Instructor: Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Level: One

Course Overview

In this course, we will cover the tenets of faith that are obligatory for every Muslim to know. These tenets include the necessary attributes of Allah Most High, attributes that are merely possible for Him, and attributes that are inconceivable for Him to have. Likewise, we will cover the attributes of the Messengers (upon them be peace) and tenets of faith related to the Hereafter.

Such knowledge of Islamic beliefs is important because it is a necessary component for the Believer in their relationship with Allah Most High. Knowledge of Allah is the highest form of knowledge and the stepping stone to knowing Allah more intimately is knowledge of His attributes and why we desperately need a relationship with Him.

Through this course, students will gain clarity on Islamic beliefs, the reasons behind belief in God and the Hereafter, greater reverence for Allah, His Messengers, and Islam as a whole.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Understand the core tenets of faith in Islam.

• Explain the attributes of Allah Most High.

• Discuss the qualities of the Messengers.

• List the Divine Books.

• Describe the belief in angels and jinn.

• Describe the Last Day.

• Summarize the meaning of submitting to the Unseen.

Course Outline

Lesson One: Intro into the Qualities of Allah

Lesson Two: Tahara or Purification

Lesson Three: Qualities of the Messengers

Lesson Four: Brief Description of the 25 Prophets

Lesson Five: Belief in the Angels and Jinn

Lesson Six: The Divine Books

Lesson Seven: Accepting and Submitting to Revelation of the Unseen/ Description of the Last Day

Lesson Eight: More Details of the Messenger, His Lineage, Birth, and Passing, His Children and Wives

Lesson Nine: Isra and M'iraj, Beholding Allah, closing of the Book, Q&A.

About The Instructor

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he then completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied inheritance law, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

Level One - Course Five of Six

This is course Five of Six of the Islamic Studies Youth Curriculum - Level One Certificate. Upon completion of all six, students will receive a certificate. To browse all six courses, please visit the Level One page.

Course Overview

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the most important person in the life of a Muslim. It is narrated that the Prophet said, “None of you will truly believe until I am more beloved to him than his family, wealth and all the people”. Therefore, children should learn about the life and character of the Prophet during their early years.

In this class, Imam Yama Niazi will embark on a journey with your children to glance at the best of mankind. This is an important class for every Muslim youth. It enables them to learn about the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), increase in love for him, and emulate him.

Learning Outcomes

• Increase your love and respect for the Prophet

• Gain a greater appreciation for the Messenger and his companions

• Deepen your understanding and connection to the Prophet

• Be inspired to be like the noble Prophet

• Understand the struggles of the early Muslims

Course Outline

Lesson 1: The Prophet Before Revelation

Lesson 2: Early Years and Marriage

Lesson 3: The First Revelation

Lesson 4: The Struggle of Calling to Allah

Lesson 5: The Isra and the Hijrah

Lesson 6: The Battle of Badr and Uhud

Lesson 7:The Conquest of Mecca

Lesson 8:The End of the Mission

About the Instructor

Imam Yama Niazi has studied with local scholars in the US for a number of years which culminated in him becoming an imam of the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara for 8 years. He served the community by teaching and leading prayers. In 2015 he founded “ the blessed tree “ a nonprofit specifically for bridging gaps between the Muslim community and others. He has spoken in many Muslim platforms and programs throughout the US and Canada. He currently teaches and is an instructor at SeekersGuidance and is leading youth education program as well conducting programs in local communities/ masjids in North America. He is married and has 3 children.

Level One - Course Three of Six

This is course Three of Six of the Islamic Studies Youth Curriculum - Level One Certificate. Upon completion of all six, students will receive a certificate. To browse all six courses, please visit the Level One page.

Course Overview

This is an introductory course to an overview of the Quran. It is tailored for our Muslim youth, as this course will set the foundations for the book of Allah. Join us as we delve into the themes of the Quran, how it was revealed, the manners and etiquettes one should have with the Quran, and much more. This class is necessary for anyone who wants to understand and appreciate the last revelation as well as to have a spiritual connection to the Quran.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Appreciate the greatness of Allah’s speech.

• Understand the core themes of the Quran.

• Increase in love for Allah and His Messenger through the Quran.

• Learn to take the Quran as a guide.

• Grow in their love and connection to the Quran

Course Outline

Lesson 1: The Quran and How It Was Revealed

Lesson 2: Themes Covered in the Quran

Lesson 3: Proofs That it is Miraculously from Allah

Lesson 4: Etiquette and Manners with the Quran

Lesson 5: Breakdown and Classifications of Chapters and Verses

Lesson 6: Common Misunderstandings About the Quran

Lesson 7: The Miracles of the Quran

Lesson 8: How the Quran Applies to Our Lives

About the Instructor

Imam Yama Niazi has studied with local scholars in the US for a number of years which culminated in him becoming an imam of the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara for 8 years. He served the community by teaching and leading prayers. In 2015 he founded “ the blessed tree “ a nonprofit specifically for bridging gaps between the Muslim community and others. He has spoken in many Muslim platforms and programs throughout the US and Canada. He currently teaches and is an instructor at SeekersGuidance and is leading youth education programs as well as conducting programs in local communities/ masjids in North America. He is married and has 3 children.

Instructor: Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Level: One

Course Overview

This course covers guidance and advice related to the 12 most difficult challenges that everyone will encounter. Guidance will be shared from the Qur’an and the Sunna of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) as well as from personal experiences of Yusuf Weltch who himself converted to Islam and has dealt with many of these issues firsthand.

In a world full of increasing amounts of corruption and a tearing of the moral fabric that once formed our world, youth are the ones who get the brunt of these harms. The youth are the target of much of the corruption we see around us and if they are properly equipped and well-informed on the guidance and teachings of Islam they will be able to make the right choices, overcome difficulties, and avert the harms of this world and the next.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Gain clarity regarding these challenges.

• Understand how to prevent falling into trials and tribulations.

• Shed light on the realities of what society glorifies.

• Develop a change of perception on life, priorities, and our purpose in this world.

Course Outline

Lesson 1: Companionship

Lesson 2: Why Obey?

Lesson 3: Surviving an Irreligious Environment

Lesson 4: Dealing with the Cultural Divide

Lesson 5: The Islamic Perception of Women

Lesson 6: Finding True Role Models: What to look for?

Lesson 7: Taking Advantage of Your Youth

Lesson 8: How to have productive entertainment

Lesson 9: Finding a Spouse: What to look for?

Lesson 10: Dealing With Difficult Parents

Lesson 11: The Devil’s Plot Against the Youth

Lesson 12: How to navigate the challenges of life. Who to turn to?

About The Instructor

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he then completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied inheritance law, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

Level One - Course Four of Six

This is course Four of Six of the Islamic Studies Youth Curriculum - Level One Certificate. Upon completion of all six, students will receive a certificate. To browse all six courses, please visit the Level One page.

Course Overview

This class offers an introduction for the Youth on the concept of hadith or Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad ( Allah bless him and grant him peace).

It is essential that every Muslim should know the concept and foundations of this science. The hadith and sunnah explain to us the teachings of the Quran in more detail. The Prophetic statements guide us to the light, it has always been the second of the sources of law and the richest after the Quran.

In its wisdom and guidance, it provides us. One may take for granted and simply not notice the centuries of sacrifice and hard work of scholars to ensure that the teachings of Islam remain pristine and authentic. This class is the first of the journey of a young Muslim in appreciating and understanding this rich and unique aspect of the Islamic faith. Topics covered will be what makes a hadith reliable, how it was transmitted, who were the imams of this science and how we read a hadith and identify its narrator and chain as well as the content.

Learning Outcomes

• Appreciate the tremendous blessing of the hadith collections

• Learn the legal status of the hadith in the sacred law

• Gain an understanding of the major works in this science

• Familiarize yourself with Hadith terminologies

• Learn short prophetic Hadiths on different matters related to guidance

Course Outline

Lesson 1: Introductory Concepts

Lesson 2: Development of Hadith

Lesson 3: History of Hadith Collections

Lesson 4: History of Hadith Collections: II

Lesson 5: History of Hadith Collections III

Lesson 6: Hadith Terminology: I

Lesson 7: Hadith Terminology: II

Lesson 8: Hadith Terminology: III

Lesson 9: Mukhtar Selections part 1

Lesson 10: Mukhtar Selections part 2

Lesson 11: Mukhtar Selections part 3

Lesson 12: Mukhtar Selections Part 4

About the Instructor

Imam Yama Niazi has studied with local scholars in the US for a number of years which culminated in him becoming an imam of the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara for 8 years. He served the community by teaching and leading prayers. In 2015 he founded “ the blessed tree “ a nonprofit specifically for bridging gaps between the Muslim community and others. He has spoken in many Muslim platforms and programs throughout the US and Canada. He currently teaches and is an instructor at SeekersGuidance and is leading youth education program as well conducting programs in local communities/ masjids in North America. He is married and has 3 children.

Instructor: Imam Yama Niazi

Level: One

Course Overview

Many of our youth are confused and perplexed about the relevance of Islam in the modern age.

Some of the challenging arguments directed at Muslim youth revolve around the notions of extremism, belligerency, and primitiveness.

This class is meant to inspire and instill in our youth a sense of confidence in their faith, and increase their connection to Islam.

We will gaze into the vast green field of faith, a field that is filled with beauty that dazzles the eye. This is the faith of Islam.

Learning Outcomes

• Discover the forgotten beauty of God, His mercy and love

• Learn about the Prophet Muhammad’s exalted status and character

• Increase in Love and awe of what Allah has created

• You will change your perception about the world and your role in it

• Your prayer and worship will have more meaning and realization

Course Outline

Lesson One - The Beauty and Mercy of Allah Most High

Lesson Two - The Beauty and Perfection of the Prophet

Lesson Three - The Beauty of the Prayer and It’s Secrets

Lesson Four - The Beauty of Spiritual Practice

Lesson Five - The Beauty and Status of Women in Islam

Lesson Six - The Earth; Our Home and Our Witness

Lesson Seven - Allah Loves Beauty; Manifesting Beauty in Our Life

Lesson Eight - Journey of The Hereafter; A Beauty Undiscovered

About The Instructor

Yama Niazi has studied with local scholars in the US for a number of years which culminated in him becoming an imam of the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara for 8 years. He served the community by teaching and leading prayers. In 2015 he founded “ the blessed tree “ a nonprofit specifically for bridging gaps between the Muslim community and others. He has spoken in many Muslim platforms and programs throughout the US and Canada. He currently teaches and is an instructor at SeekersGuidance and is leading youth education program as well conducting programs in local communities/ masjids in North America. He is married and has 3 children.

Instructor: Imam Yama Niazi

Level: Two

Course Overview

This course covers the main doctrine taught by scholars for over a thousand years covering a rich and vast understanding of the faith of the Muslims.

It is offered for the youth in a way that will allow them to develop an understanding of the religion that extends beyond the basics.

This class is taught with the youth in mind, subject matters are condensed to make it appealing and dynamic, also easy-to-understand manner.

This course is indispensable for our Muslim youth who are yearning to learn their religion and attain an appreciation of this vast faith and yet protect themselves from the pitfalls of doubt, innovation, confusion, and misguidance. This class covers a wide range of necessary key elements of true faith and Iman. The commentary will be supported with key ayahs and Hadiths that show the sources of our youth how we derive our guidance from the Quran and the sunnah.

About the Text

Imam Tahawi's Creed (Aqida), though small in size, has long been the most widely acclaimed, and indeed indispensable, reference work on Muslim beliefs. It lists what a Muslim must know and believe and inwardly comprehend. The doctrines enumerated in this work are entirely derived from the undisputed primary sources of religion, the Quran and the confirmed Hadith. Being a text on Islamic doctrine, this work sums up the arguments set forth in those two sources to define sound belief, and likewise, the arguments advanced in refuting the views of sects that have deviated from the Sunna.

About The Author

Imam Abu Ja'far Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Azdi, popularly known as Imam Tahawi, after his birth-place in Egypt, is among the most outstanding authorities of the Islamic world on Hadith and fiqh (jurisprudence). He was born in 239 AH and passed away in 321 AH. This was an epoch when both the direct and indirect disciples of the four Imams - Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Shafi`i, and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal - were teaching and practicing. This period was the zenith of Hadith and fiqh studies, and Imam Tahawi studied with all the living authorities of the day. His monumental scholarly works, such as Sharh Ma`ani al-Athar and Mushkil al-Athar, are encyclopedic in scope and have long been regarded as indispensable for training students of fiqh.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Explain the pillars of faith (Iman).

• Describe the attributes of Allah Most High

• Describe the attributes of the prophets and Messengers.

• Summarize the beliefs of Muslims regarding angels, Divine books, Divine decree, Day of Judgement, and Afterlife.

• Distinguish between innovation and faith.

Course Outline

Lesson One: Introductory Concepts: Iman (True Faith)

Lesson Two: Allah and His Attributes Part I

Lesson Three: Allah and His Attributes Part II

Lesson Four: Prophets and Messengers

Lesson Five: The Prophet Muhammad

Lesson Six: Angels, Divine Decree, Divine Books

Lesson Seven: The Day of Judgement and Afterlife

Lesson Eight: AfterlIfe and the Eternal Home

Lesson Nine: Praise of the Companions

Lesson Ten: The Role of Major Sins

Lesson Eleven: Innovation and Faith

Lesson Twelve: Deviant Sects

About The Instructor

Yama Niazi has studied with local scholars in the US for a number of years which culminated in him becoming an imam of the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara for 8 years. He served the community by teaching and leading prayers.

In 2015 he founded “ the blessed tree “ a nonprofit specifically for bridging gaps between the Muslim community and others. He has spoken in many Muslim platforms and programs throughout the US and Canada.

He currently teaches and is an instructor at SeekersGuidance and is leading youth education programs as well as conducting programs in local communities/ masjids in North America.

He is married and has 3 children.

Instructor: Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Level: Two

Course Overview

This course discusses common aspects of our daily life in the light of the Sacred law. Guidelines are given shedding light on what is permissible, what is prohibited, as well as the Prophetic guidance that brings meaning to our lives facilitating for us to draw nearer to Allah Most High and attain success in this world and the next.

As Muslims, our purpose in life is to seek the pleasure of Allah Most High. This purpose is oft-understood as being restricted to acts of worship and abstaining from the prohibited. However, the pleasure of Allah Most High can be sought and obtained in every aspect of our lives. That is if we know the limits of Allah Most High in it. Therefore, with clarity of the limits of Allah Most High in each matter, we have a road map to attaining Allah’s pleasure.

Learning outcomes

• A basic understanding of the rulings of each topic discussed

• Practical guidance on how to prevent or deal with testing situations

• Prophetic instruction on how to draw near to Allah Most High in our daily activities.

• Attaining the pleasure of Allah in everything we do.

Course Outline

Lesson 1: Introduction to the Sacred law and the limits of Allah Most High

Lesson 2: Dress & Adornment

Lesson 3: Gender Interaction

Lesson 4: Social Conduct: The Rights of Others

Lesson 5: Money Matters: Work, Money, and Earning a Living

Lesson 6: Food & Drink

Lesson 7: The Importance of Speech

Lesson 8: Commanding the Good and Forbidding the Evil

Lesson 9: The Seven Limbs

Lesson 10: The Worship of the Heart

Lesson 11: Places to Avoid 

Lesson 12: Moving Forward

About The Instructor

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he then completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied inheritance law, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

Instructor: Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Level: Two

Course Overview

This is a Level Two course in the SeekersGuidance Youth Curriculum.

Understanding the Quran opens doors to a deeper knowledge of the Religion and a crucial increase in one’s ability to reflect and focus in the prayer. This course hopes to aid the student in understanding some of the oft-recited chapters of the Book of Allah.

This course is suitable and ideal for an intermediary student who has completed part one of this course. The course aims to open the student's horizons and expose them to not only understand the literary guidance of the Quran but the spirit of the Divine Guidance held within.

This course examines the chapters of the final portion (30th Juz) of the Quran. The final portion contains profound descriptions of the Hereafter and an explanation of the core beliefs of Islam.

About The text

The course is loosely based on the Exegesis of Imam Sabuni, Safwa al-Tafasir (The Cream of Exegesis). Safwa al-Tafasir takes from various different Quranic commentaries and gives the reader a distilled and comprehensive summary. It focuses greatly on the linguistic meanings of Quranic words and terms as well as narrations from the Early Generation commenting on the verses.

Its concise yet profoundly eloquent style distinguishes Safwa al-Tafasir from other summarized commentaries; for this reason, it has an established place in many Islamic seminaries. In the Youth Curriculum, this course serves as a catalyst for the student to broaden their understanding and connection to the Book of Allah Most High and Safwa al-Tafasir is a great place to start.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Gain a greater appreciation of Quranic Arabic.

• Learn the stories behind the revelation.

• Understand the context of the revelation.

• Appreciate how each chapter ties into the next.

• Understand how practical guidance is derived from the Quran.

About The Instructor

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he then completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied inheritance law, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

Instructor: Imam Yama Niazi

Level: Two

Course Overview

The Book of Assistance by the great master Imam Haddad is vital for gaining spiritual and practical guidance, ultimately forming a balanced understanding of life. It connects the outward with the inward; carefully guiding us through pitfalls and mishaps, so that we may be of those who are protected and guided on the straight path.

An individual’s relationship with Allah in the early years of adolescence is one of the most important phases of a person’s journey on the path. At the heart of the human-Divine relationship is Divine love. Divine love and nearness are the pinnacles of all success and happiness. The purpose of all human beings, in reality, is to attain this nearness to the Divine and to gain gnosis [ma`rifa]. At times this requires an action of the heart, and at other times it requires a physical act, like prayer.

Sometimes what is required is more subtle, like reflection. The pleasure that is derived from the materialistic world is limited and also short-lived. However, the spiritual pleasure that one gains through learning and realization, and acting upon one’s knowledge is something that will be eternally savored.

This course is essential for Muslim youth in order to learn and acquire a foundation for their spiritual growth. Attaining a pure heart is the single most important asset that one gains from this abode.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Understand how to transform everyday acts into worship.

• Learn the key terms of the science of Islamic spirituality.

• Explain what it means to have good character with people.

• Learn how to turn away from this world and focus on Allah Most High.

• Appreciate the depth of the Muslim spiritual tradition.

• Cultivate sincerity in their actions.

About The Instructor

Imam Yama Niazi has studied with local scholars in the US for a number of years which culminated in him becoming an imam of the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara for 8 years. He served the community by teaching and leading prayers.

In 2015 he founded “ the blessed tree “ a nonprofit specifically for bridging gaps between the Muslim community and others. He has spoken on many Muslim platforms and programs throughout the US and Canada.

He currently teaches and is an instructor at SeekersGuidance and is leading youth education program as well as conducting programs in local communities/ masjids in North America.

He is married and has 3 children.

Course Summary

This course is an introduction to understanding fasting and zakat, which are the third and fourth pillars of Islam. Young Muslims will be instructed on all the necessary matters pertaining to these incredibly important obligations which are of the greatest means in gaining closeness to Allah (The Exalted). This course will teach young Muslims the virtues, merits, conditions, and integrals of these pillars.

It will cover the essentials to perform the fast and pay zakat. The course will be presented in such a way that it will include the virtues of the actions and penetrate the deep spiritual dimensions of the acts. It will include, the types of fasts and what is a sound fast that is accepted and what is not.

The Zakat sections will cover the minimum amount of wealth before zakat is required (nisab) and who must pay zakat. A clear explanation will be given on how to calculate one’s zakat, whom to pay it to, who is exempt, and who may receive it. As young Muslims may be first-time learners of this subject, careful consideration has been given on how to present the material in an effective manner that engages the younger generation. 

Recommended reading: Ascent to Felicity  by shaykh Faraz Khan

Learning Outcomes

• Understand how to fast - the rules and prophetic practices. 
• Understand and apply the principles of zakat
• Learn the common mistakes in fasting and zakat
• Learn key verses and narrations on the subject which will 
• An introduction to understanding primary texts
• Learn and memorize key terms related to the subjects in jurisprudence (fiqh)

Level: Three

Instructor: Imam Yama Niazi

Course Overview

This class is based primarily on a famous text that teaches young Muslims how to control their tongue from that which is unlawful in speech. Identifying and learning what they are is an individual obligation upon every Muslim. These include, for example, lying, backbiting, talebearing, and many more. Controlling the tongue from the prohibited is one of the crucial characteristics of a person who yearns to enter Paradise.

This course is essential in the spiritual development of an individual. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) has attached the importance of speaking 'that which is good' to belief in God and the last day. Therefore, it is incumbent to learn them so thereby a person can safeguard themselves from the pitfalls of the tongue.

This class helps address an essential element in our lives which is our relationship with others. We often find that most of the fights between friends, families, spouses are all a result of the harm caused by the tongue. If one can improve their speech with kind and gentle words rather than harsh and destructive speech, we will see a significant change in our lives and those around us.

About the Text

Prohibitions of the Tongue is a didactic poem composed by the great Mauritanian sage Muhammad Mawlud. It is considered a reliable and excellent text that is clear and precise.

About the Author

Muhammad Mawlud was a great scholar of West Africa and a master of the sciences of Islam. His books are recognized to be very accessible and full of knowledge and wisdom.

Who is This Course For?

•  A student should have a general understanding of Islamic spirituality.  

• This course is specially designed for youth age 12-17 years. 

• It is a level three course in the youth curriculum and a student should have taken few courses in the level one and two of the youth curriculum before taking this course. 

• This course can be taken by anyone who is interested in knowing the halal and haram of speech.

Learning Outcomes

• Gaining a firm understanding of the pitfalls of the tongue

• Strengthening our good deeds by controlling our speech

• Bettering our relationship with others by learning not to harm others with our tongue.

• Gaining nearness to Allah and His Messenger

Course Outline

Lesson 1: Introduction to the Author and the Topic

Lesson 2: The Virtues of Upright Speech

Lesson 3: Lying and Boasting

Lesson 4: Backbiting and Talebearing

Lesson 5: Profanity and Idle speech

Lesson 6: Speaking about Religion

Lesson 7: Prohibitions related to Sacred Texts

Lesson 8: When to Give Advice

Lesson 9: Insulting Others and Mocking

Lesson 10: Joking and Sarcasm

Lesson 11: Arguing

Lesson 12: Divulging secrets

About the Instructor

Yama Niazi has studied with local scholars in the US for a number of years which culminated in him becoming an imam of the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara for 8 years. He served the community by teaching and leading prayers.

In 2015 he founded “ the blessed tree “ a nonprofit specifically for bridging gaps between the Muslim community and others.

He has spoken on many Muslim platforms and programs throughout the US and Canada.

He currently teaches and is an instructor at SeekersGuidance and is leading youth education programs as well as conducting programs in local communities/ masjids in North America.

He is married and has 3 children.

Level: Three

Instructors: Shaykh Yusuf Weltch and Imam Yama Niazi 

Course Overview:

This course aims to make guidance practical by looking at the sayings of the Righteous and their wisdom. It takes the students through many aspects important to the life of the Muslim, drawing on the insights of the Companions and the righteous.

This course is suitable for all students but of greatest import and impact to those who have had some background study on spirituality.

The importance of this course stems from the importance of applying Islamic teachings. The teachings of Islam are many and can easily become overwhelming for a student. This course glances at the method by which the Companions and the Righteous taught the Religion in a gradual manner: prioritizing that which is most important at every stage.

This course addresses a plethora of Islamic concepts, such as good companionship, obedience to parents, fulfilling the rights of creation, and servitude of the Creator.

About the Text

This course is based on the well-renowned text Risala al-Mustarshidin (Treatise for the Seekers of Guidance) of Imam Muhasibi. It provides narratives, incidents, and stories from the pious predecessors in order to support the instruction, guidance, prohibition, and warning that this book contains.

About the Author 

Imam Abu Abdillah al-Harith ibn Asad al-Muhasibi was born in Busra, settled in Baghdad where he passed away in the year 243 AH. He was a great gnostic and had a very high level of spirituality. When he spoke, he spoke with great wisdom. He was an ardent worshipper, a Sufi, a jurist, a legist, a theologian, an admonisher, and a scholar and narrator of Hadith. He authored close to 200 works.

Who Is This Course For?

• This is a Level Three course in the SeekersGuidance Youth Curriculum. A student should have taken some of Level One and Two courses before taking this course.

Study Effort

• 1 Hour of Lecture Weekly (attending the live classes)

• 1 Hour of Self Study (reading and reviewing the content)

• 1 Hour for doing the quizzes

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand how to practically apply Sacred Guidance.

• Gain an introduction to the righteous early Muslims.

• Explain praiseworthy and blameworthy characteristics.

• Acquire an increased reverence for the Righteous.

About the Instructor

Imam Yama Niazi has studied with local scholars in the US for a number of years which culminated in him becoming an imam of the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara for 8 years. He served the community by teaching and leading prayers.

In 2015 he founded “ the blessed tree “ a nonprofit specifically for bridging gaps between the Muslim community and others. He has spoken in many Muslim platforms and programs throughout the US and Canada.

He currently teaches and is an instructor at SeekersGuidance and is leading youth education program as well as conducting programs in local communities/ masjids in North America.

He is married and has 3 children.

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he then completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied inheritance law, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.

Level: Three

Instructor: Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Course Overview

Understanding the Qur’an opens doors to a deeper knowledge of the Religion and a crucial increase in one’s ability to reflect and focus in the prayer. This course hopes to aid the student in understanding some of the oft-recited chapters of the Book of Allah.

This course is suitable and ideal for an intermediary student who has completed part one of this course.

The course aims to open the students' horizons and expose them to not only understand the literary guidance of the Qur’an but the spirit of the Divine Guidance held within.

This course examines the chapters of the final portion (30th Juz) of the Qur’an. The final portion contains profound descriptions of the Hereafter and an explanation of the core beliefs of Islam.

About the Text

The course is loosely based on the Exegesis of Imam Sabuni, Safwa al-Tafasir (The Cream of Exegesis). Safwa al-Tafasir takes from various different Quranic commentaries and gives the reader a distilled and comprehensive summary. It focuses greatly on the linguistic meanings of Quranic words and terms as well as narrations from the Early Generation commenting on the verses.

Its concise yet profoundly eloquent style distinguishes Safwa al-Tafasir from other summarized commentaries; for this reason, it has an established place in many Islamic seminaries. In the Youth Curriculum, this course serves as a catalyst for the student to broaden their understanding and connection to the Book of Allah Most High and Safwa al-Tafasir is a great place to start.

About the Author

Muhammad ibn Ali al-Sabuni was born in 1930 in Syria and passed away in 2021. Imam Sabuni has a truly unique, simple, and extremely beneficial approach to Quranic exegesis. His method makes learning, comprehension, and understanding easy for the student and gives them a clear understanding of each chapter and verse. He is mainly known for his works in the sciences of the Quran. He also has many works in Islamic poetry, commentary on Prophetic hadith, Prophetic biography, theology, and history. Some of his most famous works are Safwa al-Tafasir, Rawa'i al-Bayan, as well as summaries of the great commentaries of the Quran such as that of Ibn Kathir and Tabari. What makes Imam Sabuni unique is that his studies were not limited to Islamic sciences rather he also studied business, physics, and chemistry.

Who is This Course For?

• The student should’ve completed part one of this course. 

Study Effort

• 1 Hour of Lecture Weekly (attending the live classes).

• 1 Hour of Self Study (reading and reviewing the content).

• 1 Hour for doing the quizzes.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Gain a greater appreciation of Quranic Arabic

• Learn the stories behind the revelation

• Understand the context of the revelation

• Appreciate how each chapter ties into the next

• Understand how practical guidance is derived from the Quran

Course Outline

Lesson One: Sura Al-Naba'

Lesson Two: Sura al-Nazi’at

Lesson Three: Sura al-´´Abasa

Lesson Four: Sura Takwir

Lesson Five: Sura al-Infitar

Lesson Six: Sura al-Mutafiffin

Lesson Seven: Sura al-Inshiqaq

Lesson Eight: Sura al-Buruj

Lesson Nine: Sura al-Tariq & al-A'ala

Lesson Ten: Sura al-Ghashiya

Lesson Eleven: Sura al-Fajr

Lesson Twelve: Sura al-Balad, al-Shams, al-Lail

About the Instructor

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he then completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied inheritance law, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.