Excellent 45 page report by Mufti Yusuf Mullan Sahib

[Sunni_Student786]

The technology employed should also be taken into account when considering the price. Over the past 3 years the infrastructure at SP has grown enormously from what was basically a ‘one pious man show’ to a fully fledged online college (in my view).

But I wonder if this has been a good thing in light of the fact that the program has really changed in many respects, i.e. becoming significantly less accessible to many because of cost as well as the marketing which really has a rather commercial vibe to it.

If you serious about studying, you should contact the admin department at SP and I am 100% sure that they will work something out for you and if you can afford it please pay the full amount as you will NOT regret it

Actually you're 100% wrong. I contacted the Mufti Saab once informing him how much I could afford and he said he couldn't accommodate me retorting I should 'cut back my spendings' and 'get a part time job' without knowing anything about me. But I guess thats how you make half a million dollars. Maybe things have changed since then but I wouldnt be interested after what I felt to be a very patronising response. Just looking at the website now it just looks like one big marketing tool, Allahualim.

That is quite sad to hear as I remember around 2002 or 2003 when the program first took off (or at least when I first became aware of it) the website explicitly said (somewhere) that "No one will be turned away because of inability to pay."

Guess things change.

[Sunni_Student786]

You make a really good point. I agree the course is pricey. Many willing students cannot just afford it.

Mufti Sahab alone cannot cater to all income levels. He may have his reasons.

The solution : Shariah Program students should take up advancing Mufti Yusuf's methodology. They should start teaching on the same lines. Of course at a decent fee. This way we can have a Shariah Program in every country.

In the beginning there was only one Darul Uloom at Deoband. They developed a unique methodology and taught along this line. But it were the graduates that went all over the world and advanced the methodology of their Alma Mater.

The responsibility now rests on the Shariah Program students.

This is probably one of the better posts on this thread. May Allah make it that your suggestions and vision come to life insha'allah.

Wa'salaam.

[At Tayyib]

Actually you're 100% wrong. I contacted the Mufti Saab once informing him how much I could afford and he said he couldn't accommodate me retorting I should 'cut back my spendings' and 'get a part time job' without knowing anything about me. But I guess thats how you make half a million dollars. Maybe things have changed since then but I wouldnt be interested after what I felt to be a very patronising response. Just looking at the website now it just looks like one big marketing tool, Allahualim.

I've since benefitted very much from lqtoronto and other free resources. They might be salafi, they might not teach live but at least there's a real sincerity about them. Dr Abdur Rahim (author of Madinah books in his late 70s now) all other arabic instructors are but ants compared to him yet if you go on his website until this day he is teaching with a strong endevour to keep everything free or keeping costs to an absolute minimum. May Allah reward Shuyukh like him.

This Rawi Zacheriya is majhool. A resident member of IA Forums?

[akabirofdeoband]

I have personally found this course to be very good.

I don't think you should attack it.
People spend money on all sorts of things nowadays-if you don't like it-adopt another course.

[Zacheriya]

This Rawi Zacheriya is majhool. A resident member of IA Forums?

Rawi who? I dont know who you suspect I am (or why you're resorting to these random accusations) but I have never posted on IA forum. I've been on this forum for 6 years unlike some people who have very conveniently signed up just a couple of weeks ago.

@brother sunni_student786 I couldn't agree with you more.

[At Tayyib]

Rawi who? I dont know who you suspect I am (or why you're resorting to these random accusations) but I have never posted on IA forum. I've been on this forum for 6 years unlike some people who have very conveniently signed up just a couple of weeks ago.

@brother sunni_student786 I couldn't agree with you more.

What you have said is a claim which you have to prove? Selective quoting a part of your alleged communication is giving the wrong impression.

[Sunni_Student786]

I have personally found this course to be very good.

I don't think you should attack it.
People spend money on all sorts of things nowadays-if you don't like it-adopt another course.

With an answer like that, I am lead to believe that you have completely misunderstood the point that many are making on this thread. There is a difference between unwillingness and inability.

However, towards your second point, then another course that I think is the best option available that is free would have to be the one at www.lqtoronto.com where they cover all three of the Madinah books in just 96 sessions.

I like the course so much in fact that I recommend even those who want to sign up for the Shariah program that they at least do the first 18 videos of the www.lqtoronto.com website (which would result in the completion of Book 1 of the Madinah series) along with the book (available for free online) "Fundamentals of Classical Arabic Volume 1." I signed up for the Shariah Program twice and the first time I was completely lost after about Week 6 but then I did all of book 1 and half of book 2 of the Madinah series with the aid of the videos at www.lqtoronto.com as well as the book "Fundamentals of Classical Arabic" and then signed up for the Shariah Program again and the second time around, alhamdullilah, I benefited much more from the Shariah Program because of how solidly the absolute basics of the Nahw and Sarf had been drilled into my head as a result of completing Madinah Book 1.

So in sum, for those looking for a free option, do the course at www.lqtoronto.com [then followed by the book "Arabic Tutor" to both revise what you've learned thus far and take your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary to another level].

[akabirofdeoband]

Sorry, brother sunni_student_786.

I didn't mean to be rude.
I took the thread as an attack on my ustadh and i got rather upset.

[Nooria]

I used to be a part of the shariah program too around 2009 but had to stop because I couldn't afford it after about four months into the program...back then, it was only $50 a month and a I still couldn't afford it! forget about now.

[maaz]

I understand the sentiments. I think you need to look at his target audience. Its essentially western, working professionals who have had a few attempts at learning the language and failed. What he does offer is unique, and he does want to turn away students that aren't as committed. I'm not sure the cost of admission totally does that, but I think it does weed out some folks that wouldn't take it as seriously if they weren't paying that amount. Also he is able to convey the instruction in a manner that befits his audience, quick, speed, timely etc.

I think a university degree in Canada can costs from $25,000-$30,000 and that is the cost of a western education. I think for his target audience, his fees seems to be acceptable, and is considerably less then a university degree, and a fraction of what one year's tuition would be, and his instruction is considerably better.

Also, there are so many ulema in canada that are being paid next to nothing for what they bring to the table. We all know that. I think if there is a scholar that has created a market niche that he can excel in, and dispensing that knowledge then more power to him. I mean there was a time when ulema had so much wealth that they had to hire financial planners to assist them in managing it. these days most western ulema serving as imams barely get by. To have one well to do scholar for every 100 that are struggling, then to question the well to do's sincerity. I don't know. something is awry with that picture. like should a scholar be inherently poor? if its a question of morally responsible, we should also ask if under paying ulema is morally responsible?

Plus I've studied with him before SP really took off, and studying again now. I can tell the passion to teach, the quality of instruction etc. hasn't changed, if anything its gotten better. But I also see new trends like Seekers Guidance teaching online without fees. So I think its possible that times are changing, I'm sure they will eventually offer Arabic learning. and perhaps competition can bring down the costs.

Like there are people who decide to go to Zaytuna College, and others who go to cheaper alternative like a simpler dar-ul-uloom. One isn't better than the other, its just suits different people, and I agree with the comment that its catered to certain people. SP isn't all things to all people. There are alternative options.

I just wanted to add about accessibility. Most masters in their science are pretty inaccessible to the average muslim living in the west. Like all of the SP students, they can't access the best teachers unless they leave their hometown, and travel. and they would need to travel far, into the east, into India, Pakistan, Yemen, Jordan, Mauritania to access those masters. If Mufti Yusuf is a master in the science of arabic, the fact that accessibility is even a possibility is under appreciated. Like I can't just go and sit with a master in any science and ask to be taught, like its not 'on-demand'. I think the costs of traveling need to be weighed out, cuz that is the alternative in most cases. and the fact that access to an arabic grammarian is available.