Al-Andalus Academy aims to offer a holistic synthesis in knowledge that is oriented towards realizing the worship and knowledge of Allah. Al-Andalus (الأندلس) was the Arabic word used to describe the region and cultural domain governed by Muslims between 711 and 1492 (today’s Portugal and Spain). Al-Andalus became an educational center for growth and advancement in philosophy, art and architecture as well as medicine, trigonometry, astronomy, pharmacology, agronomy and other fields. Taking its name from this legacy, Al-Andalus Academy offers structured programs that provides students with the tools of knowledge needed to navigate the Islamic Tradition, as well as the technical tools to make the online learning experience seamless. Muslims, aware of their Islamic foundations and duties, can situate all knowledge within the Islamic paradigm and manifest excellence in any field pursued.

The Columns course aims to offer students a solid grounding in the Islamic tradition by first ensuring the fulfillment of the fard al-ayn (فرض العين), the duties obligatory on every Muslim individual, which include aqidah (theology), fiqh (Islamic Law), tasawwuf (spiritual purification) and contemporary issues. These four components, known collectively as ‘The Columns’ must be coherent with each other for they are the outward and inward aspects to becoming a holistic human. 

Alongside The Columns, students examine contemporary works through the Al-Andalus Book Club, which is is designed to encourage students to read and discuss a variety of works whilst also giving them the opportunity to synthesize the knowledge they have gained in The Columns to contemporary issues. The Academy also offers free content that covers the fard al-ayn through the Zamzam stream to ensure that believers have, at a minimum, an understanding of the basics to fulfil their personal obligatory duties and worship. 

Al-Andalus Academy aims to contribute to the digital renaissance of learning to ensure accessibility for all whilst keeping the traditional model of education through the study of texts with a tutor. It is with the greatest number of individuals working together that we will contribute to the flourishing of the human spirit.

At the foundation of our logo is a book. The first command revealed to the Beloved ﷺ was “Iqra”, a word which carries two meanings within it: “Recite” and “Read”. This command was then followed up with a directive: “In the Name of your Lord”. This is the orientation of the believer – everything that is of any importance is to be done with bismillah, wa billah, wa lillah (in the Name of Allah, by the Will of Allah, and for the sake of Allah ﷻ). The colour yellow of the book represents light and illumination. In Surah An-Nūr [24:35], Allah ﷻ tells us:

اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضِ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp”.

We seek this light of illumination, which can only be bestowed by Allah ﷻ based on our sincerity and intentions. This verse was initially included as part of the logo as an arch above the dervish. I ultimately decided against this, however, because the bareness above the dervish is more representative of the reality of the Unseen, the greater part of existence that we must believe in despite our not being able to perceive it with our material senses.

A dervish serves God ﷻ. He seeks to reach the wisdom and love of God ﷻ by sublimating the illusions of the ego. The pose of the dervish is of particular note. The right hand raised above represents his readiness to receive from the Divine and the left hand facing toward earth represents his willingness to be a conduit that conveys the Divine beneficence.

As for the symbolism associated with the dervish, the hat (known as a sikke) represents a tombstone of the ego and the skirt (known as a tenure) represents a shroud of the ego. In Islam, the embodiment of knowledge will first shine through one’s character. Imam al-Shafi’i رحمه الله informed us about an advice he received from his teacher:

شَكَوتُ إِلى وَكيعٍ سوءَ حِفظي
فَأَرشَدَني إِلى تَركِ المَعـاصـي

وَأَخبَرَني بِأَنَّ العِـلـمَ نــورٌ
وَنورُ اللَهِ لا يُهدى لِعاصي

I complained to Wakee’ about my poor memory,
So he advised me to leave off sins,
And informed me that knowledge is a light,
And that the light of Allah is not bestowed upon a sinner.

The wind marks represent the dervish’s constant physical exertions to serve God ﷻ and seek His pleasure. Seeking knowledge and perfecting one’s character through that knowledge is a lifelong commitment. This logo illustrates that our foundation is in the Book of Allah and works of traditional scholars that, based on our sincere efforts and striving to Him, will propel us to Divine understanding and wisdom.

‎وبالله بالتوفيق
And in Allah ﷻ we seek all our success.