Arshan’s Testimonial

TRANSCRIPT

"In my time studying in the Middle East, one of the things I desired most was to be able to connect to some of the traditions that existed of old, which resonated of the fragrance of Syria, Mauritania and other lands where traditional knowledge was taught. In my time in Jordan and then in Egypt, I was blessed to be able to learn under Shaykh Hamza Karamali for almost two years, the subjects of Shafi’i Fiqh, Arabic Grammar and Morphology, and Usool Al Fiqh. Truly this time of mine in the Middle East was enhanced for me by the time I was able to spend with Shaykh Hamza Karamali, I saw Sidi Hamza Karamali not only teach us, his students, but also become our friend and companion.

 Navigating Fiqh and traditions with our connections to the West and modern questions can be tough for many of us. For me, having Shaykh balance the two and yet teach in such a traditional manner made me deeply enthralled and fascinated with studying Fiqh and made me feel happy in it’s balance. By being taught in such an engaging manner, Fiqh and Arabic Grammar also became alive for me and truly helped me understand the phrase of ‘living knowledge’. I think, knowing that Sidi Hamza had taken this knowledge from the lands that we don’t have access to any more and his meeting us where we were as students individually is something I will cherish and preserve for the rest of my life. What a blessing to be a part of this program and what a blessing to study with a teacher who cared so much for each of his individual students. Through it being able to smell some of the fragrance of Damascus and other special places of past. Thank you sidi Hamza, may Allah bless you sayidi."