Rihla 2009 Summer Program - July 17th - August 7th 2009/1430
The Rihla Program for the summer of 2009 has been scheduled for July 17 - August 7. The Deen Intensive Foundation welcomes prospective students to apply to this special, enhanced educational program.
Location
The program insha'Allah will be held outside of Baltimore, Maryland in the rolling farmlands of Reisterstown (Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center). Deen Intensive Foundation will provide students with full room and board along with ancillary course materials.
Curriculum
This year's curriculum will be centered on the momentous encounter between the Prophet Muhammad (upon him be peace) and the Archangel Gabriel. In this exchange, the Prophet Muhammad (upon him be peace) was asked four questions, the answers to which were no less than a summary of the religion itself. The three dimensions of the religion were laid out - faith, practice, and spiritual excellence. The 2009 Rihla will teach each of these disciplines to the basic extents delineated in the hadith.
The basic tenets of Muslim creed will be examined, based on "The Creed of Imam al-Tahawi," the definitive text of Sunni belief for centuries. Students will explore central beliefs and examine their impact on our worldview and reality as it truly is. Grounded in the basic tenets of faith, God willing, a believer will be kept safe from misunderstandings surrounding God, the prophets, heaven, hell, the Day of Judgment, divine decree, miracles,and much more.
Students will also have a thorough study of two pillars of practice: prayer and fasting. In this course, students will understand the rulings surrounding the preparation for prayer, what invalidates the prayer, specific rulings related to the Friday Congregational Prayer, and the rulings of praying on travel. After studying this material, students will be able to confidently perform their devotions to God correctly, knowing how to deal with exceptions, such as forgetting a component, or adding an extra one. Then, in preparation for Ramadan only a few weeks after the 2009 Rihla, students will study the legal dimension of fasting, what invalidates the fast, who is exempted, and how breaking it can be expiated. A believer can begin the holy month with confidence in the proper performance of this pillar of Islam.
In the path of spiritual excellence students will study "The Purification of the Heart," which examines the negative propensities of the ego that disease the human heart. The definitions, causes, and remedies for these spiritual pathologies will be laid out for all who wish to purify themselves before God. A study of "The Foundations of the Spiritual Path" will provide students with an understanding of how to develop piety and a nearness to God.
In addition to these foundational disciplines, students will also go through supplemental courses to enhance and broaden their understanding of the religion. Courses will include Quranic studies, Islamic etiquettes of social life, the proper expression of filial piety and merciful respect of children, as well as an overview of the prophetic supplications of the Last Messenger, the Chosen One, upon him be peace and blessings.
This combination - the foundational disciplines and supplementary enhancement courses - will provide students the basis upon which to excel in their spiritual development and commitment to God. Students who complete these courses with a minimum competency level will have the requisite knowledge to confidently navigate Muslim life in the West, rooted in sound interpretations of the essentials of our religion.
Confirmed teachers are:
- Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah
- Imam Zaid Shakir
- Shaykh Hamza Yusuf
- Ustadh Yahya Rhodus
- Ustadh Faraz Rabbani
* We anticipate confirming more esteemed teachers in the coming days.
Cost and Travel
The program cost for this year is $1600 USD for
the land package which includes:
- Course material
- Accommodations
- Daily Meals
- All transportation to and from nearby airports and any
excursions during the program
Flight and travel costs are not included and vary from your city
of origin.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The application process will be open to all eligible students until May 1st, 2009, which is the deadline for application submission. Because of the high demand for the program, applications are reviewed on a first-come first-serve basis, so it is recommended to apply as soon as possible.
Applicants must be:
- Muslim
- At least 18 years of age
Once a student receives an official acceptance letter, he/she will be given more information about the program and will have to submit their full course fees within 2 weeks (of acceptance notification). After June 15th, all course fees are non-refundable. Course material and details will be sent only after full program fee payment has been completed.
INQUIRIES
BEFORE YOU SEND AN INQUIRY, PLEASE READ THE FAQs BELOW
For all Rihla inquiries please email di.rihla@gmail.com. Please clearly state all comments and/or questions and you will insha'Allah receive a reply as soon as possible. Due to the volume of interest in the program, please keep your questions brief and succinct to avoid delays in response. Please remember to include your name in the email, as it may not be apparent from your email address.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
When will I be notified of my acceptance?
The Deen Intensive Foundation's Rihla Committee will be working diligently to review and process all applications. We expect hundreds of applicants and will notify everyone of their status no later than May 15th, 2009, which is two weeks after the application deadline of May 1st. Keep in mind that we work on rolling admission, so please apply as early as possible. Accepted applicants will be notified by email.
What are the acceptance criteria?
Eligible applicants include Muslim men and women of at least 18 years of age. Exceptions in the area of age are very rare. The Rihla Committee is looking for mature, dynamic men and women who maintain a commitment and respect to the traditional Islamic sciences. The application is designed for the Rihla Committee members to have a well-rounded understanding of the students who are applying.
Decisions are not based on level of knowledge per se but rather if the applicant exudes a level of maturity and discipline necessary to fully appreciate the intensive educational aspect of the program. The Rihla Committee reserves the right to follow-up the written application with a phone interview. All applications details are kept strictly confidential. All decisions made by the committee are final.
If I applied last year, do I need to apply again this year or can I activate my last year's application?
We are working diligently to allow students who submitted an application last year to simply update their information so they need not apply again. Please email us if you wish to recycle your application from last year.
Are children allowed to come to the program?
No. Because of the intensive nature of the program, the Rihla Committee strongly advises against small children attending the program. We understand this may pose difficulties on young families wishing to participate. However, we feel this is in the best interest of all the students.
Are scholarship funds available?
Scholarship funding is available on a very limited scale. Full scholarships will not be granted. We realize that many prospective students have financial hardship, but hosting such programs is fiscally challenging. We strongly encourage students to appeal to their local communities for sponsorship funds and assistance. For those interested in financial aid, please refer to the application and complete the portion designated under scholarships and financial assistance.
I can pay the tuition, but not all at once. What are the terms for this arrangement?
Students can arrange for a tuition payment plan. Details and terms will be at the discretion of the Rihla Committee. All terms will be stipulated in a formal contract between the student and Deen Intensive Foundation. Students must complete the details of their financial aid requirement in the designated area on the application. Please keep in mind that all forms of the payment plan require that the tuition be paid in full prior to the start of the program.
What if I am a resident of a country other than the US, Canada or the UK?
We appreciate applicants from other countries and encourage their applications. However, travel and visa issues are the main challenges. Each application will be reviewed on an individual basis and will be subject to acceptance and denial based on the discretion of the Rihla Committee. Deen Intensive Foundation will not take the responsibility for visas and flights of those students residing outside of the three designated regions.
If I participated in last year's Rihla to Madinah Program, can I still apply to this year's program?
Applications from students who did not have the opportunity to attend the last three years will have top priority. Those students who participated in the previous programs are still welcome to apply. The Rihla Committee will do its best, insha'Allah, to ensure a fair and judicious selection process without bias and prejudice. Keep in mind the selection process is a collective process from the Rihla Committee members and is not at the sole discretion of any single individual.
Can I come for part of the program or temporarily leave the program to visit family and/or friends?
Partial participation in the Rihla program will not be permitted. Students who wish to visit family or friends in the area must do so before or after the program on their own time. No exceptions will be made, as this can be disruptive to the flow of the program.
I am coming with my spouse and would like our accommodation to be together.
Because the program is being held in a retreat center, it will be very difficult to accommodate couples in private housing. Male and female accommodations will be in separate facilities.