Open to enrolment
Mon 3 August - Sun 9 August
Ebrahim College, London
Daily classes
Each day – 4 sessions of teaching, with each session being 1.5 hours including Q and A. There will be tea, lunch and prayer breaks at allocated times. Jummah will be observed.
At the end of each day, there will be special session with special guests on various topics for 1.5 hour which is also open to members of the public.
There are no pre-reading or preparation tasks required for delegates.
Taught by Dr Yakoob Ahmed and Talha Ahsan, starting from the Ummayads through to the Abbasids, Crusader and Mongol periods to the Rise and Fall of the Gunpower Muslims Empire and other Sultanates across the various Islamicate regions. We will cover the major events and key learning lessons points that have created the Muslim Civilisation over the years.
Break
Delivered by Dr Safruk Chowdhury, will explain the journey of ‘Ilm al-kalam (‘the science of debate’). The discipline, which evolved from the political and religious controversies that engulfed the Muslim community in its formative years, deals with interpretations of religious doctrine and the defence of these interpretations by means of discursive arguments. The formation of various schools and we will look at the issues of ‘Dealing with doubt in Islam’ and the ‘Problem of Evil’.
Break
Considered the apex of the Islamic Sciences, Islamic spirituality encompasses the inner dimensions of the faith, focusing on purifying the heart, cultivating deep God-consciousness (taqwa), and developing a sincere, loving relationship with Allah. Dr Musharraf Hussain will detail out how to develop spiritual moral excellence based his book, ‘Seven Steps to Moral Intelligence: Based on Imam Ghazali’s Teachings’ as well as briefly describing the history of spirituality, practice and thought within the Islamic tradition across the realms.
Break
Dr Hassan will illustrate, from Musa al-Khwarizmi who developed algebra in 9th century Baghdad to al-Jazari, a 13th-century Turkish engineer whose achievements include the crank, the camshaft and the reciprocating piston, we learn not only about the contributions Muslims made towards to development of science and technology[astronomy, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, medicine]. Arzoo Ahmed will also detail how to frame a worldview not based on the conflict between religion and science and how to find balance and order between nature and man which is ethical and morally sound with new challenges from ai, robots, space technology and genetic engineering.
Monday 3rd August, 5.30pm – 7pm
With Professor Abdel Haleem [Professor of Islamic Studies, School of African and Oriental Studies[SOAS, London University]
and Dr Musharraf Hussain [Director of Karima Institute, Nottingham, Scholar and author and translator of ‘The Majestic Quran’]
Hosted and chaired by Dr Ramon Harvey[Cambridge Muslim College]
Join us in a conversation with two leading Quran translators and the challenges they faced, reflections and lessons to impart from not only translating the Quran but also their spiritual connection to the Quran.
Taught by Dr Yakoob Ahmed and Talha Ahsan, starting from the Ummayads through to the Abbasids, Crusader and Mongol periods to the Rise and Fall of the Gunpower Muslims Empire and other Sultanates across the various Islamicate regions. We will cover the major events and key learning lessons points that have created the Muslim Civilisation over the years.
Break
Considered the apex of the Islamic Sciences, Islamic spirituality encompasses the inner dimensions of the faith, focusing on purifying the heart, cultivating deep God-consciousness (taqwa), and developing a sincere, loving relationship with Allah. Dr Musharraf Hussain will detail out how to develop spiritual moral excellence based his book, ‘Seven Steps to Moral Intelligence: Based on Imam Ghazali’s Teachings’ as well as briefly describing the history of spirituality, practice and thought within the Islamic tradition across the realms.
Break
TBC
Break
Prior to the modern capitalist western world we have today, most of the known world traded under the Islamic Economic System. In these two sessions, taught by Nour El Houda Benhatom, we learn more about the core concepts and differences between other systems, gold dinar system, the issue of interest, Zakat, Islamic financial instruments, and the challenges of today of Muslim nations in developing their economies, banks and systems to balances material wealth generation with spiritual and social justice.
THE OTTOMAN ‘OUD’ MAKAMAT with Baha Yetkin
Tuesday August 2026, 5.30pm – 7pm
An Ottoman oud makamat performance is a deeply expressive tradition where the performer navigates the melodic modes (makams) of the Ottoman classical repertoire . It is characterized by nuanced microtonal intonation, precise melodic direction (seyir), and a balance between composed pieces and virtuosic improvisation (taksim). The Osmanli Oud specifically refers to the Oud as it developed and flourished within the Ottoman Empire. It’s a history lesson in itself, reflecting the cultural exchange and artistic evolution that characterized the region for centuries. The Oud’s journey mirrors the rise and fall of empires, the movement of people, and the blending of traditions. The Oud, in various forms, has roots that stretch back thousands of years. Think ancient Egypt, the Fertile Crescent – it’s been around! But the Osmanli Oud has its own special story but
The Ottoman Empire, known for its patronage of the arts, played a huge role in shaping the Oud. Sultans and their courts, they loved their Sufi music and played from Sultan’s gatherings to
Ottoman’s elite Janissary troops on the march and into battle as Ghazi’s of Islam, weddings, Sufi ceremonies, and at social gatherings, weaving itself into the fabric of daily life. It was a symbol of identity, a connection to heritage. Its sound, the way it resonates, held within itself the stories of generations. The evolution of the Osmanli Oud is a story of creativity, cultural exchange, and the enduring power of musical tradition within the Muslim civilisation. It’s a testament to the fact that art can transcend borders and time, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire us today.
It will be taught and performed by Baha Yetkin, born and raised in Istanbul, an internationally acclaimed oud virtuoso, composer, and educator, celebrated for his masterful technique and expressions. With a career spanning 25 years, he seamlessly blends the rich Anatolia heritage with contemporary times. Yetkin honed his craft under the guidance of Turkey’s most esteemed masters. His deep understanding of Turkish makams, combined with his innovative approach, has made him a sought-after educator, conducting masterclasses and workshops at Cambridge University, and SOAS University, Royal Shakespeare Company, and performing at prestigious venues and collaborating with world-renowned performers.
Taught by Dr Yakoob Ahmed and Talha Ahsan, starting from the Ummayads through to the Abbasids, Crusader and Mongol periods to the Rise and Fall of the Gunpower Muslims Empire and other Sultanates across the various Islamicate regions. We will cover the major events and key learning lessons points that have created the Muslim Civilisation over the years.
Break
Prior to the modern capitalist western world we have today, most of the known world traded under the Islamic Economic System. In these two sessions, taught by Nour El Houda Benhatom, we learn more about the core concepts and differences between other systems, gold dinar system, the issue of interest, Zakat, Islamic financial instruments, and the challenges of today of Muslim nations in developing their economies, banks and systems to balances material wealth generation with spiritual and social justice.
Break
Paul Williams will narrate how the story of how the around the 16th century where Western European powers accumulated global dominance, laying the foundation for our modern, interconnected world. This era was driven by a combination of technological innovation, institutional growth, and global exploration. Eventually, the tools of modernity—such as the scientific method, nationalism, and industrial capitalism—were adopted by the rest of the world, creating the highly globalized society of today.
Break
DISCUSSION: INTERFAITH AND THE CHALLENGE OF DAWAH IN THE WEST
Wednesday 5th August 2026, 5.30pm – 7pm
with
Dr Abdul Haqq Baker[Dr Abdul Haqq Baker, Former Chair of Brixton Mosque]
Brother Dowie[Street Interfaith duaat]
Paul Williams[Blogging Theology]
Hosted and chaired by Dr Alyaa Ebbiary[Lancaster University]
In light of the Far Right and nation first movements, how do we engage with hard to reach communities such as the White working class or ignored Black communities or even “Middle England shires” communities and others in the battle for hearts and minds?
Taught by Dr Yakoob Ahmed and Talha Ahsan, starting from the Ummayads through to the Abbasids, Crusader and Mongol periods to the Rise and Fall of the Gunpower Muslims Empire and other Sultanates across the various Islamicate regions. We will cover the major events and key learning lessons points that have created the Muslim Civilisation over the years.
Break
Education has played a central role in Islam since the beginning but what is the purpose of Islamic Education? Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas described the Islamic purpose of education as a balanced growth of the total personality through training the spirit, intellect, rational self, feelings and bodily senses such that faith is infused into the whole personality. Dr Alyaa Ebbiary will elaborate more on core concepts but also the history of the institutions and the challenge of modern education in Islam.
Break
Dr Inji Moussa charts the history of how Muslims viewed faith, politics and governance across the periods and power structures that held them and to modern times ranging from electoral democratic reform to pan-Islamic caliphate movements and traditional political quietism.
Break
Muslim societies produced art of tremendous vitality and diversity for around 1500 years in the Middle East and in other centres from Spain and West Africa to South-East Asia and China. Their artistic production includes architectural monuments such as mosques, palaces, and civic centres, as well as textiles, manuscripts, and portable objects in ceramic, gold, silver, metal alloys, ivory, and rock crystal. This lecture by ‘cultural historian’ Diana Darke, and author of ‘Islamesque’ and ‘Stealing from the Saracens’, will set out to show Islamic art’s influence on Europe’s Romanesque monasteries, churches and castles.
Thursday 6th August 2026, 5.30pm – 7pm
Main speaker: Peter Oborne [Journalist, Author, broadcaster and former chief political commentator]
with guest speakers including
Hosted and chaired by Dr Sadek Hamid[Leeds University]
We will discuss his recent two books titled ‘Complicit: Britain’s Role in the Destruction of Gaza’ and ‘The Fate of Abraham: Why the West is Wrong about Islam’ and bring into a wider discussion on the role of media, Islamophobia and politics in Britain and the West. Copies of the books will be available for sale and signed.
Taught by Dr Yakoob Ahmed and Talha Ahsan, starting from the Ummayads through to the Abbasids, Crusader and Mongol periods to the Rise and Fall of the Gunpower Muslims Empire and other Sultanates across the various Islamicate regions. We will cover the major events and key learning lessons points that have created the Muslim Civilisation over the years.
Break
TBC
Break
Break
Break
Dr Inji Moussa charts the history of how Muslims viewed faith, politics and governance across the periods and power structures that held them and to modern times ranging from electoral democratic reform to pan-Islamic caliphate movements and traditional political quietism.
Friday 7th August 2026, 5.30pm – 8pm
with Shaykh Akram Nadwi[Principle, As-Salam Institute Oxford]
The musalsalat are a unique category of hadith that preserve not only the text of a narration but also a particular action, statement, or circumstance associated with its transmission.
During this session, Shaykh Akram Nadwi will read a selection of musalsalat from his newly published collection, Nazm al-La’ali fi al-Musalsal al-‘Ali (ASI Press), accompanied by brief commentary. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear these narrations directly from one of the world’s leading muhaddithun and participate in a living chain of transmission stretching back through centuries of Islamic scholarship.
This book is a hadith collection that brings together a carefully selected group of musalsal narrations. These were received by the author through direct audition and face-to-face transmission from his teachers and are preserved with their specific characteristics and modes of transmission in accordance with the technical conventions of the hadith scholars. Thus, the work combines the honour of connected chains, precision in transmission, and the preservation of the manner in which the knowledge was received. Where needed, he draws attention to the judgements of scholars on the veracity of the hadiths included, presenting all of this in a concise and clear style that makes the discipline more accessible for students and researchers.
Printed copies of the book[Nazm al-La’ali fi al-Musalsal al-‘Ali] will be available for purchase.
Dates and water will provided and signed ijazah.
All attendees will receive a complimentary e-book of . Participants who fulfil the attendance requirements will also receive a signed ijazah. A limited number of at the venue.
Taught by Dr Yakoob Ahmed and Talha Ahsan, starting from the Ummayads through to the Abbasids, Crusader and Mongol periods to the Rise and Fall of the Gunpower Muslims Empire and other Sultanates across the various Islamicate regions. We will cover the major events and key learning lessons points that have created the Muslim Civilisation over the years.
Break
Delivered by Dr Safruk Chowdhury, will explain the journey of ‘Ilm al-kalam (‘the science of debate’). The discipline, which evolved from the political and religious controversies that engulfed the Muslim community in its formative years, deals with interpretations of religious doctrine and the defence of these interpretations by means of discursive arguments. The formation of various schools and we will look at the issues of ‘Dealing with doubt in Islam’ and the ‘Problem of Evil’.
Break
Between Red Pill to Feminism: Gender is now one of the hottest topics in modern societies – With dividing political lines to declining populations, and ever expanding definitions of what constitutes, what does Islam have to say about this?
Break
Are Muslims failing in the modern world? What is modernity? Are traditional Islamic values inherently resistant to secular Western modernity of rationalism, scientific progress, and contemporary governance? Join Dr Sinan Siyech, as we explore more and the challenges of Islam and the modern world and beyond.
Saturday 8th August 2026, 5.30pm – 8pm
With Imam Dr. Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi[Director-General and Chief Imam, Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society]
Hosted and chaired by Dr Sarah Muwahidah[Edinburgh University]
Taught by Dr Yakoob Ahmed and Talha Ahsan, starting from the Ummayads through to the Abbasids, Crusader and Mongol periods to the Rise and Fall of the Gunpower Muslims Empire and other Sultanates across the various Islamicate regions. We will cover the major events and key learning lessons points that have created the Muslim Civilisation over the years.
Break
Delivered by Dr Safruk Chowdhury, will explain the journey of ‘Ilm al-kalam (‘the science of debate’). The discipline, which evolved from the political and religious controversies that engulfed the Muslim community in its formative years, deals with interpretations of religious doctrine and the defence of these interpretations by means of discursive arguments. The formation of various schools and we will look at the issues of ‘Dealing with doubt in Islam’ and the ‘Problem of Evil’.
Break
Between Red Pill to Feminism: Gender is now one of the hottest topics in modern societies – With dividing political lines to declining populations, and ever expanding definitions of what constitutes, what does Islam have to say about this?
Break
With Luqman Ali, Founding Director of the award-winning Khayaal Theatre Company, rooted in the spiritual tradition and historical roots and renowned for dramatic explorations of global Muslim literature, Sufi folklore, and the modern Muslim experience. In this session we look at the Islamic creative and theatre traditions weave deeply moving storytelling , moral wisdom, and rich heritage with vibrant performing arts, using diverse expressions of music, drama, and mimicry to celebrate faith, history, and the lived experiences of Muslim communities
Sunday 9th August 2026, 5.30pm – 8pm
An exhibition of reproductions of Islamic manuscripts representing the spread of Sufi thought across the Sahara desert.
More details to follow.