The Open School for Arabic and Islamic Studies (OSAIS) was established in 1414 H (1994). It was founded by Professor Sheikh Awadalla Youssef, with the assistance of prominent UK based scholars.
Background to the School
The School recognised that a new generation of Muslims had particular educational and spiritual needs, while all the more being active in UK life, including pursuing Higher Education. The concern amongst prominent UK based scholars was how to best disseminate Islamic knowledge to this generation, for many whom English was a second language.
In keeping with the methods of our virtuous predecessors, the School adopts an analogous scheme in both its teaching material and ethos, whilst utilising the current burgeoning telecommunications, and recognising the time challenges faced by many wishing to seek knowledge.
The School wishes to see the students adopt the noble Sunnat of Rasool Allaah (S), and take from the methodology of the Companions (Tarteeb Al-Sahabat) and the first three, and best generations (Sabeel Kahyr Al-Quroon).
On fulfilling course requirements, students are encouraged to not only convey what they had been taught from classical texts, but also safeguard and adopt the same manner of teaching. Hence, students initially ‘learn to teach’ and then ‘teach to learn’.
The School syllabus includes the text and methods based on that of Al-Azhar Institute, Egypt (Thanawi Al-‘Amma). 'Ilm Al-Tajweed is the first course that students are encouraged to enrol onto, and is the precondition for access to other subjects. Students registered with a Student Teacher in the Foundation Tajweed Level, will be able to further study of Islamic subjects including Tajweed, Aqeedat, Fiqh (all four prevalent Mathabs), Seerat, Hadeeth and Tafseer Al-Qur'aan.
The School is open to all adult seekers of knowledge, regardless of gender; indeed half its student intake is female and rest assured that rules of hijaab are observed.
Teaching was initially conducted through distance learning by way of part-time correspondence course for seekers of knowledge. It attracted students from not only across Europe and America, but also Syria, Egypt and parts of Asia.
Utilising telecommunications now permits students to learn over the internet, in addition to being classroom based. There are also ‘Day’ and ‘Week’ study programmes, as well as Student-Teacher led courses.
Professor Sheikh Awadalla Youssef, who was born in Egypt, and studied most of his life there, upon receiving ijaazat has been teaching Tilaawat al-Qur’aan since the age of sixteen years. He later obtained a licence from al-Qira’at Institute, al-Azhar. Sheikh has also studied under many illustrious scholars around the world and received ijaazat in various Islamic sciences. Although taking the understanding of the Shafiy mathab, Sheikh also teaches fiqh of other mathaahib. He has taught in a number of capacities in Egypt, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and most recently the UK.
As well as a PhD in Islamic Studies, Sheikh has also gained other postgraduate qualifications including in the field of Education.
Sheikh is involved in presenting the khutbah for salat al-Jumu’ah in universities, in ongoing consultation with UK based scholars, MP’s, Local Councillor’s and as well as being active in Multi-Faith dialogues.
… وَ قُلْ رَبَّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا5;
… And say: ‘My Lord!
Increase me in Knowledge’
(Qur’aan 20:114)