Listening and Conversation
A lively classroom environment that develops the full variety of communication skills. Students hone a natural, intuitive command of the language through daily speaking and listening practice.
Second Year Program
For students who have completed the One Year Program: deepen your sacred knowledge through advanced Arabic and in-depth study of classical texts.
Year two
Deepen your sacred knowledge
The Second Year Program is the natural continuation of Tayseer Seminary’s One Year Program, offering students the opportunity to deepen their study of the Islamic sciences through sustained engagement with the Arabic language and classical texts.
The Second Year Program is intended for students who have completed Tayseer's One Year Program or have received prior approval from Tayseer faculty. New applicants should begin with the One Year Seminary Program unless admissions has directed them otherwise.
By the end of the program, students will have strengthened their Arabic proficiency, gained meaningful experience studying classical texts in Arabic, and developed a deeper connection to the intellectual and spiritual heritage of Islam.
At a Glance
- Duration
- 9 months (Sept - May), scholarly program
- Location
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Prerequisite
- One Year Program
Arabic Instruction
Building advanced proficiency in Arabic so students can access the Qur'an, Sunnah, and classical texts in the core Islamic sciences. Our approach is rooted in both classical methods and the latest research on second-language acquisition.
Readings in Classical Texts
Sustained reading of classical Arabic texts builds genuine fluency. Students develop the skill to engage with the foundational works of the Islamic tradition in their original language.
Grammar & Morphology
Formal instruction in the rules of Arabic grammar (nahw) and morphology (sarf). A solid grasp of these rules is indispensable to building real fluency.
Study of Classical Texts
Second-year students engage in in-depth study of classical texts in the core disciplines of Islamic scholarship. Emphasis is placed on detailed understanding of texts in their original language as a basis for wide-ranging conversation about how each discipline has been shaped by its historical context and how it speaks to contemporary issues.
Hadith
Advanced study of hadith terminology, classical compendia, and the sciences of transmission. Students engage with hadith texts in Arabic and learn to navigate the scholarly apparatus.
Fiqh
In-depth study of Islamic jurisprudence with emphasis on detailed textual analysis. Students examine how the schools of law developed in their historical contexts.
Uṣūl al-Fiqh
The principles and methodology of Islamic jurisprudence. Students learn the analytical framework that enables scholars to derive rulings from the Qur'an, Sunnah, and other sources.
Theology
Advanced engagement with classical works of Islamic theology, building on the foundation established in the first year.
Spirituality
Continued formation in tasawwuf and the spiritual disciplines that have shaped the lives of Muslim scholars for centuries.
A community of seekers
Second-year students continue to be part of Tayseer's tight-knit Knoxville campus community, with deeper relationships with faculty and the cohort developed over the first year. Daily prayers, study circles, and shared meals make the second year a year of intellectual deepening as much as social.
Beyond the campus, students remain integrated into the broader Knoxville Muslim community, with opportunities to teach, serve, and lead at local masajid as part of their formation.
Upon graduation
Equipped to serve and lead
You'll Receive
- Second Year Seminary DiplomaRecognition of a complete two-year course of study in the classical Islamic sciences with advanced Arabic.
- Advanced Arabic ProficiencyThe reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills to access the Qur'an, Sunnah, and classical texts in their original language.
- Letters of RecommendationPersonal recommendations from Tayseer faculty for academic, professional, or chaplaincy pursuits.
- Access to Alumni NetworkJoin a growing community of Tayseer graduates serving in over 20 states.
You'll Be Prepared To
- Service & LeadershipTake on roles of service and leadership in masjids, schools, chaplaincies, and community institutions.
- Further StudyPursue advanced study in the Islamic sciences locally, in the Muslim world, or in academic programs in religion.
- Continued GrowthBuild on the foundation of Arabic and classical text study for a lifetime of learning.
Take the next step
Interested in Second Year Program? Reach out to learn more, or register today.