Anjum SaadThe Civilisations History course delivered by Dr Rizwaan is a revealing and informative journey through a hidden history; taught in a manner that subtly draws you to understand why a connection to the past is of profound importance. The course skilfully maps events and key proponents to unravel the fortunes and devastations of the major civilisations over the centuries: based on academic sources presented in an accessible manner. The foundations are laid for the Geo-political course which further assists in understanding the shifting landscape of power.
Kawther Hashmi, WokingA very much needed course; the reason I attended this course is because I wanted a more complete picture of history in general and what was happening in the Muslim world at the same time. I found this course to be very detailed, informative and I would say transformative. I think it should be taught in all Islamic schools /madrassahs and selected parts should be taught in mainstream schools.
Ibrahim, High Wycombe History of Islam & the West courseAn excellent course which gave me an eye opening introduction into not just Islamic civilisation, but sparked an Interest in the entire subject. It was very well presented and by a knowledgeable scholar who taught us the course material from various different angles and perspectives giving us excellent knowledge of the period as whole. The atmosphere was incredibly friendly and the laid back style in which the classes were presented all culminated in not only a fantastic experience but my own knowledge on civilisations increasing vastly.
Roshan Mohammad ChaudhryThe Civilizations course is an extremely beneficial one. It facilitates the decolonization process by critiquing the inherited world view that many of us may have today. Since attending the course I have increasingly found myself constructing my own timelines to develop a more comprehensive understanding about my own heritage and subsequently my own narrative – that is in harmony with my faith.
Faizan Ali Khan, High Wycombe History of Islam & the West courseIn regards to the History Course I found that the resources we were give was excellent as it had all the key information within it. This would allow us to understand the basics of this course. When presenting the lessons you would expand upon these notes developing our understanding of these basic notes. As of this, I managed to gain a grasp of the content and was able to have deeper understanding of the topics that we covered.
Ibrahim Malik, Isleworth History of Islam & the West courseA hugely beneficial course that is really one of a kind in it’s nature. It gives a completely different perspective on history that just cannot be found through traditional means of study
Kamran Ahmad, Heston History of Islam & the West courseEye opening and thought provoking perspective on history as we know it.
Sheikh Ridwan is a fountain of knowledge who has made us question the history books and allowed us to see past events in a different light.
Would highly recommend and encourage all to attend!
Amir Butt, Hounslow History of Islam & the West courseFor me, it was the juxtapositioning of the Islamic millennium against what was going on in Europe, the social, economic, intellectual and political thoughts and trends, that were most revealing. I had read a fair amount of material on Islamic history especially the discourse on the ‘fall of Islamic empires’ but did not have a clear understanding of chronological events. Also to analyse the causes and effects of changes in ideas that lead to the rise of West are fascinating. There are many things I learnt but one significant is the quote , We cannot judge Islam by the lense of Christianity as the experience of two civilisations is completely different’.
This gives me hope. The despair one may feel at the current state of affairs is somewhat alleviated.
We covered a lot of ground in limited time, so it was not possible to make the lessons more interactive. That would have really helped to solidify my understanding to some key concepts. Having said that, the knowledge gained has certainly made me look at the world in a different light, for which I am grateful to Sheikh Rizwan. May Allah bless him and give us the taufeeq to benefit from his knowledge in the future.
Ismat Shahzad, High Wycombe History of Islam & the West courseAttending the classes has opened my eyes to the interconnected nature of history and that events didn’t happen in isolation. I have come to appreciate that even now we are affected by events that happened many years ago. As a result of the classes I feel I have a more holistic understanding of world history and am acutely aware of my gaps in learning.
Mobeen Akhtar, Southall History of Islam & the West courseThis course has helped me understand why Muslims have ended up in U.K., made me proud of Islamic Civilization and more confident to defend Islam in front of westerners. Sheikh Rizwan has encouraged us to read extensively and I am grateful to him for this
Tahira Hadi, Cranford History of Islam & the West courseAn informative and invaluable course for any anyone interested in history. The syllabus uniquely covers both Islamic and Western history so you can see what was happening in both civilizations simultaneously. It is rare to see such a course delivered by a Muslim academic. I would recommend this course to any serious student of knowledge as knowing who we are today means knowing what happened in the past.
Awais Zaka, Whitton History of Islam & the West courseA beautifully structured array of topics in Islamic and contemporary history viewed through the insightful lens of Dr Ridhwan Saleem and backed by scholarly references. The material covered is essential to know where we come from and to understand our rich and understated heritage.