Kufah Institute — Diploma of Islamic Studies 2026–2027
Kufah Institute  ·  Academic Programs
Diploma of Islamic Studies — 2026–2027
DIS  ·  2026–2027
Weekdays (Track A) — Tue–Thu daytime only
Evening & Weekend (Track B) — Tue & Thu evenings + Sat
Open to Men & Women

The Diploma of Islamic Studies (DIS) is a structured one-year program immersing students in Qur’an, Hadith, Fiqh, Aqeedah, Arabic, and Tazkiyah under traditionally trained scholars. Open to both brothers and sisters, the program is held in-person at the Kufah Campus at the Islamic Society of New Tampa (ISONET). Students may attend the Weekdays (Track A) track (Tue–Thu daytime only), the Evening & Weekend (Track B) track (Tue & Thu evenings + Saturday), or both tracks to complete the full diploma in one year. All timings are Eastern Time, Tampa FL.

Register Now
Duration
1 Year Full-Time | 2 Years Half-Time
Start
Fall 2026
■ Full-Time — All Classes
Attend both Weekdays (Track A) and Evening & Weekend (Track B) sessions. Complete the full DIS in one academic year.
■ Weekdays (Track A)
Tue–Thu daytime sessions only. Complete the DIS over two academic years (AY1 + AY2).
■ Evening & Weekend (Track B)
Tue & Thu evenings plus Saturday sessions. Designed for working professionals and students. Complete the DIS over two academic years (AY1 + AY2).
■ Individual Courses
Enroll in individual courses from either or both tracks (maximum of 2 per semester) as a part-time student (for credit) or auditor (noncredit). Complete the DIS at your own pace.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have completed high school (or equivalent). No prior Islamic studies background is required — the DIS is designed to welcome beginners as well as those continuing their studies.

The DIS program may be completed in a single year (both tracks), over two years (one track per year), or at your own pace through individual course enrollment.

To earn credit, all DIS students must meet a minimum 70% attendance requirement. Three pathways are available:

■ Onsite (highly preferred)
Minimum 70% in-person attendance.
■ Hybrid
Minimum 40% in-person and 30% live online attendance.
■ Live Online
Minimum 70% live online attendance, plus a commitment to visit Kufah’s Tampa campus 2-4 times per year to attend classes and/or events.
Part-Time Students — For Credit

Students not yet ready to commit to the full DIS program may enroll to study individual courses for credit, attending onsite or hybrid. Live online enrollment is available for selected DIS courses only. All course requirements apply. Credit earned as a part-time student may later be transferred to the DIS program.

Auditors — Noncredit

Auditors may attend courses onsite or hybrid, and selected DIS courses live online, without being held to attendance requirements or completing graded assessments. Live online auditors will additionally have access to class recordings for three weeks. Auditors do not receive credit, do not have access to the LMS or other student support services, and are not eligible for financial aid.

Part-time students and auditors may register for a maximum of two courses per semester. Those wishing to exceed this limit should contact support@kufah.org for academic advising.
Highlight by enrollment path — click to filter
Full-Time (All Classes)
Weekdays / Track A (Tue–Thu daytime only)
Evening & Weekend / Track B (Tue & Thu evenings + Sat)
All sessions shown. Click a path to highlight it, or enroll in individual courses.
Courses listing both a Men’s and a Women’s instructor are taught in separate, gender-segregated sections at the same time.
Note: Arabic 100 (shown Saturday, 9:30–10:20 am, alongside Sirah & Nubuwwah) is offered only to DIS Entry Batch ’25 Evening & Saturday students. All other DIS students should enroll in Arabic 101.
Click any course tile below to view its full description, objectives, and goals.
Academic Year:
MonTueWedThu Sat (Track B)
8:00 AM
Track A
Tajweed (Men)
Shaykh Abdullah Aljabban
8:00 – 8:50 am
9:00 AM
Track A
Arabic 101
MenShaykh Ahyan Yoonas
WomenʿĀlimah Ambareen Khan
9:00 – 9:50 am
Track A
Arabic 101
MenShaykh Ahyan Yoonas
WomenʿĀlimah Ambareen Khan
9:00 – 9:50 am
Track A
Arabic 101
MenShaykh Ahyan Yoonas
WomenʿĀlimah Ambareen Khan
9:00 – 9:50 am
Track B
Journey Through the Ihya
Shaykh Ali Ismail
8:30 – 9:20 am
Track B
Sirah & Nubuwwah
MenShaykh Omar Hussaini
WomenʿĀlimah Farheen Parvez
9:30 – 10:20 am
Track B
Arabic 100
MenShaykh Ahyan Yoonas
WomenʿĀlimah Amera Khanum
9:30 – 10:20 am
Track B
Schematic Overview of the Quran
Shaykh Ahyan Yoonas
10:50 – 11:40 am
Track B
Aqidah
Shaykh Ahyan Yoonas
11:50 am – 12:40 pm
10:00 AM
Track A
Tafsir of Selected Surahs
MenShaykh Raiyaan Atif
WomenʿĀlimah Amera Khanum
10:00 – 10:50 am
Track A
Foundations of the Islamic Tradition: Navigating Classical Islam and Modernity
Shaykh Kamaluddin Ahmed
10:10 – 11:20 am
Track A
Tafsir of Selected Surahs
MenShaykh Raiyaan Atif
WomenʿĀlimah Amera Khanum
10:00 – 10:50 am
11:00 AM
Track A
Fiqh of Worship
MenShaykh Ahyan Yoonas
Women – HanafiʿĀlimah Syeda Zeba
Women – ShafiʿiUstadha Shazia Ahmad
11:00 – 11:50 am
Track A
Tajweed (Women)
ʿĀlimah Amera Khanum
11:30 am – 12:20 pm
Track A
Fiqh of Worship
MenShaykh Ahyan Yoonas
W – HanafiʿĀlimah Syeda Zeba
W – ShafiʿiUstadha Shazia Ahmad
11:00 – 11:50 am
Evening (Track B)
6:00 PM
Track B
Schematic Overview of the Quran
Shaykh Ahyan Yoonas
6:00 – 6:50 pm
Track B
Aqidah
Shaykh Ahyan Yoonas
6:00 – 6:50 pm
7:05 PM
Track B
Mukhtasar Riyadh us Saliheen
MenShaykh Raiyaan Atif
WomenʿĀlimah Lubna Zaffer
7:05 – 7:55 pm
Track B
Mukhtasar Riyadh us Saliheen
MenShaykh Raiyaan Atif
WomenʿĀlimah Lubna Zaffer
7:05 – 7:55 pm
8:10 PM
Track B
Journey Through the Ihya
Shaykh Ali Ismail
8:10 – 9:00 pm
MonTueWedThu Sat (Track B)
9:00 AM
Track A
Journey Through the Ihya
9:00 – 9:50 am
Track A
Hadith Studies
9:00 – 9:50 am
Track A
Journey Through the Ihya
9:00 – 9:50 am
Track B
Arabic 101
8:30 – 9:20 am
Track B
Foundations of the Islamic Tradition: Navigating Classical Islam and Modernity
9:30 – 10:40 am
Track B
Tafsir of Selected Surahs
10:50 – 11:40 am
Track B
Tajweed
11:50 am – 12:40 pm
10:00 AM
Track A
Hadith Studies
10:00 – 10:50 am
Track A
Aqidah
10:00 – 10:50 am
Track A
Aqidah
10:00 – 10:50 am
11:00 AM
Track A
Schematic Overview of the Quran
11:00 – 11:50 am
Track A
Schematic Overview of the Quran
11:00 am – 12:10 pm
Track A
Sirah & Nubuwwah
11:00 – 11:50 am
Evening (Track B)
6:00 PM
Track B
Arabic 101
6:00 – 6:50 pm
Track B
Arabic 101
6:00 – 6:50 pm
7:05 PM
Track B
Fiqh of Worship
7:05 – 7:55 pm
Track B
Fiqh of Worship
7:05 – 7:55 pm
8:10 PM
Track B
Tafsir of Selected Surahs
8:10 – 9:00 pm
Sirah & Nubuwwah

Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Omar Hussaini

Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Omar Hussaini memorized the Quran at Ma’had Ta’lim ul-Islam. He holds a BA in Psychology (2000) and MD degree. In 2006, he received degrees in both Shari’ah studies from Darul Uloom Zakariyyah, South Africa and Medicine from the University of Illinois. From 2007 to 2013, Shaykh Omar completed his medical residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and fellowships in Hematopathology and Molecular Genetic Pathology at Washington University in St. Louis. During this time, he also received formal authorization in the Islamic science of spiritual purification. Shaykh Omar is currently Director of Molecular Hematopathology at the Moffitt Cancer Center and Associate Professor of Oncological Sciences at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Foundations of the Islamic Tradition: Navigating Classical Islam and Modernity

Shaykh Kamaluddin Ahmed

Shaykh Kamaluddin Ahmed was born and raised in Manhattan. While at college at the University of Chicago, he turned to religion, and in 1999, he left America to spend twenty years abroad. He pursued the classical disciplines of Islamic learning, becoming a traditionally trained Islamic scholar, receiving the ʿĀlimiyyah and Takhassus fi’l-Fiqh degrees. He then served as an instructor and guide to university students and professionals in Pakistan, England, and South Africa. From 2005–2013, he was a professor of Islamic Thought and Intellectual History at leading universities in Pakistan, including LUMS and AKU. In 2017, he returned to academia to pursue a PhD in Islamic Intellectual History at the University of Oxford. From 2020–2023, he held research fellowships in Islamic philosophy at Princeton University and Yale University. His talks are available at: Islamic Spirituality YouTube Channel.

Arabic, Fiqh, Aqidah & Quran

Shaykh Ahyan Yoonas

Shaykh Mohammad Ahyan Yoonas is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, where he began his Islamic education by completing Ḥifẓ at Masjid Omar bin Abdul Aziz. He pursued his ʿĀlimiyyah studies at Tibyan Seminary and later at DarusSalam Seminary, from which he graduated in 2023. He subsequently earned a Master’s degree in Islamic Texts with a concentration in Islamic Law from Zaytuna College, where he authored his thesis titled “Critically Speaking: Early Matn Criticism in the Ḥanafī Madhhab from Shaybānī to Ṭaḥāwī.” His intellectual interests center on Uṣūl al-Fiqh, Kalām, Philosophy, and the broader landscape of Islamic Intellectual History.

Tafsir & Hadith

Shaykh Raiyaan Atif

Shaykh Raiyaan Atif was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He completed the memorization of the Holy Qur’an at a young age. Thereafter, he began his ʿĀlimiyyah studies locally at Georgia Islamic Institute, continuing at Tibyaan Seminary, and finally completing the 7 year curriculum at DarusSalam Seminary. He subsequently pursued a Master’s Degree in Islamic Education at the University of Warwick while continuing classes in Hadith and Tafsir at his alma mater. Finally, he travelled to Istanbul, Türkiye where he spent two years pursuing specialized training in the field of Hadith and tahqiq (manuscript research and editing).

Journey Through the Ihya

Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Ali Ismail

Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Ali Ismail was raised in Florida and studied at USF, where he served as MSA president. He began Islamic studies while pursuing medical school and radiology residency at Ohio State University. He studied the Dars-e-Nizami curriculum through multiple institutes and graduated from Jamia Falah Darayn in Dayton, OH in 2024. He is now an Assistant Professor at OSU and an Abdominal Radiologist.

Tajweed

Shaykh Abdullah Aljabban

Born and raised in Syria, Shaykh Abdullah Aljabban comes from the esteemed Aljabban family, whose lineage traces back to the descendants of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). With a lifelong commitment to faith, education and service he has become a respected Islamic scholar, counselor and community leader. Shaykh Abdullah started his early life and education in Syria under some of Syria’s most renowned scholars, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Islamic and Arabic Studies from the University of Damascus. Seeking to expand his expertise, he moved to Kuwait, where he successfully earned both his Master’s and Ph.D. in Islamic and Arabic Studies. Shaykh Abdullah later relocated to Orlando, Florida, where his educational journey led him to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Psychology, followed by a Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy. His academic journey reflects his commitment to integrating Islamic wisdom with modern therapeutic and psychological approaches to support the emotional and spiritual well being of his community.

Women’s Hanafi Fiqh

ʿĀlimah Syeda Zeba

ʿĀlimah Syeda Zeba was raised in the UAE and the U.S. A mother of five, she studied Tajwīd in St. Louis and began Tazkiyah training in Chicago. She completed her Alimah/Shariah degree in Lusaka, Zambia at Jamia Zainab in 2015. She is co-founder of Makkiyyah Institute and teaches advanced hadīth and other sciences. She also has experience in community counseling and regularly teaches women and youth globally.

Arabic

ʿĀlimah Dr. Ambareen Khan

Raised in Philadelphia, ʿĀlimah Dr. Ambareen Khan studied at Villanova University and completed medical school and anesthesiology residency at Drexel University. While balancing motherhood and medicine, she pursued tajwīd in 2015 and completed her Alimah degree from Zaynab Institute in 2024. She resides in Tampa, FL.

Tafsir & Tajweed

ʿĀlimah Amera Khanum

ʿĀlimah Amera Khanum was raised in India and moved to the U.S. 28 years ago. She holds a degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering and has studied Islamic sciences with institutions including Zaynab Institute, Makkiyyah Institute, Rabata, and Seekers Guidance. She recently completed a six-year Alimah program at Zaynab Institute and actively organizes Islamic programs and events.

Hadith

ʿĀlimah Lubna Zaffer

ʿĀlimah Lubna Zaffer has lived in Louisiana and now resides in Tampa, Florida. She is a proud mother of three. Having graduated from Zaynab Institute, she now teaches Purification of the Heart and Spiritual Parenting at the same institute. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of New Orleans. ʿĀlimah Lubna is an Islamic Studies teacher at Bayaan Academy.

Sirah & Nubuwwah

ʿĀlimah Dr. Farheen Parvez

ʿĀlimah Dr. Farheen Parvez was raised in Orlando, Florida, and has called Tampa home for over a decade. She is a mother of three boys and enjoys staying active.

She earned her medical degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale and completed her Family Medicine residency in Cleveland, Ohio. She currently practices as a telemedicine physician, specializing in Obesity Medicine and Addiction Medicine.

Her formal journey of Islamic learning began in medical school, after realizing that professional and personal success alone did not bring true fulfillment. She completed the ʿĀlimiyyah program through Zaynab Institute in 2024 and continues her studies in dīn, with a focus on tafsīr, sīrah, tajwīd, and tazkiyah.

ʿĀlimah Farheen is one of the founders of the ISONET Dār us Salām Masjid Sunday School (Grades 1–12), where she serves as principal. She also mentors local outreach programs, teaches with Deen and Caffeine, and serves as a Kufah instructor.

Having journeyed through medical school, residency, family life, and a demanding medical career while continuing her pursuit of Islamic knowledge, ʿĀlimah Farheen hopes to serve as an example that seeking sacred knowledge is possible at any stage of life. She encourages young and old alike to make sincere intention, strive with dedication, and trust in Allah ﷽ — then watch Him open doors in ways they never imagined.

Women’s Shafiʿi Fiqh

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, and tafsir with private teachers and Arabic at Damascus University. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences with local and travelling scholars. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

Part-Time
Single Track — Weekdays (Track A) or Evening & Weekend (Track B)
One-Time Payment
$2,750
per academic year
or
Monthly Plan
$300
× 10 months
Part-Time
Individual Course Enrollment
One-Time Payment
$750
per course
or
Monthly Plan
$80
× 10 months · per course
Financial Aid — Based on Amānah

We are committed to ensuring that financial hardship does not prevent anyone from studying at Kufah. Students are encouraged to contribute whatever they can, but payment is not required if unable. This financial aid process is based on trust (amānah) and does not involve any financial checks or assessments.

What enrollment options are available?
  • Join as a Full-Time student taking both tracks (complete the DIS in one academic year)
  • Enroll in a Half-Time track: Weekdays (Track A, daytime) or Evening & Weekend (Track B) in order to complete the DIS in two academic years.
  • Select individual courses from either or both tracks (maximum of 2 per semester), as a part-time student (for credit) or an auditor (noncredit). If you would like to sign up for more than 2 standalone classes and not enroll in a specific track, please email support@kufah.org to schedule an academic advising appointment
What is the AY1 / AY2 rotation?
Those who enroll in DIS half-time are able to complete the full curriculum in two academic years. Those joining in Fall 2026 can view the two-year course rotation in the tabs marked AY 1 and AY 2 above the timetable.
How long is the program?
The program can be completed in one year if students enroll Full-Time in both the Weekdays (Track A) and Evening & Weekend (Track B) tracks simultaneously, or over two years by taking one track per year. Alternatively, students may set their own pace by taking individual classes for credit.
What certification will I receive upon completing the program?
Students who successfully complete both tracks will be awarded a Diploma in Islamic Studies (DIS). Completion of the entire DIS program is a prerequisite for Kufah’s Advanced Islamic Studies (AIS) program.
What if I am a beginner in Islamic studies?
The DIS courses are specifically designed for individuals at the early stages of their Islamic studies journey. Courses begin with foundational concepts and gradually advance to more complex topics.
What are the attendance requirements?
All DIS students must meet a minimum 70% attendance requirement through one of three pathways:
  • Onsite (highly preferred): minimum 70% in-person attendance
  • Hybrid: minimum 40% in-person and 30% live online attendance
  • Live Online: minimum 70% live online attendance, plus a commitment to visit Kufah’s Tampa campus 2-4 times per year to attend classes and/or events
Can I enroll as a part-time student or auditor?
Part-time students (for credit):
  • May enroll in individual courses for credit, attending onsite, hybrid, or live online for selected DIS courses
  • All course requirements, including graded assessments, will apply for part time students
  • Credit earned may later be transferred to the full DIS program
Auditors (noncredit):
  • May attend onsite, hybrid, or live online for selected DIS courses without being held to attendance requirements or graded assessments
  • Live online auditors additionally have access to class recordings for three weeks
  • Do not receive credit, LMS access, or financial aid
Part-time students and auditors may register for a maximum of two courses per semester — contact support@kufah.org for academic advising if you wish to exceed this limit.
I have studied elsewhere for one or more years. Are there options for advanced students?
If you feel you have already completed portions of the DIS curriculum elsewhere, please reach out to support@kufah.org to see if you may be eligible to take AIS course offerings.
What if I am unable to pay the tuition?
We are dedicated to ensuring that financial hardship does not prevent anyone from enrolling. See the Tuition & Fees section for pricing and payment plans, or contact us at support@kufah.org. Financial aid is available on the basis of trust (amānah) — no financial checks or assessments required.

Questions? Please contact us at support@kufah.org