The Columns at Al-Andalus Academy is a program divided into four terms each year correlating with the four dimensions of Islam. The Columns 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.
The Columns are derived from the Hadīth of Jibreel (عليه السلام) which outlined a complete description of the outward and inward acts of worship and is known as Umm as-Sunnah (Foundation of the Sunnah). It is related in the collections of authentic Hadiths by Imam Muslim and Imam al-Bukhārī that the archangel Jibreel (عليه السلام) questioned the Beloved ﷺ as follows:
Inform me about Islām
Inform me about Īmān
Inform me about Iḥsān
Inform me about the Hour
The Columns are based on how the Beloved ﷺ answered each question and pertains to an area of knowledge the believer is required to have some proficiency of in order to practice. The Columns’ courses studied at Al-Andalus Academy across four terms each year are:
1. ‘Aqīdah (Theology)
The first column is derived from the question on Īmān. It deals with the articles of faith as revealed in The Beloved’s ﷺ answer: “It is that you believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and in the Last Day, and in fate (qadar), both in its good and in its evil aspects.”
2. Mālikī Fiqh (Islamic Law)
The second column is derived from the question on Islām. It deals with actions of the limbs after one declares their belief as displayed in The Beloved’s ﷺ answer: “Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger (ﷺ), that you should perform salah (ritual prayer), pay the zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House (i.e. the Ka`bah at Makkah), if you can find a way to it (or find the means for making the journey to it).”
3. Taṣawwuf (Spiritual Refinement)
The third column is derived from the question on Iḥsān. It deals with one’s internal state as they practice. Ihsān is the dimension of taṣawwuf as shown by the Beloved ﷺ’s reply: “It is to worship God as if (or because) you see Him, but if you cannot see Him [know that] He sees you.”
4. Contemporary Issues
The fourth column is the fiqh of transitions and social change. Knowledge of the Hour as it was explained in the Hadith pertains to knowledge of its Signs as evidenced by the Beloved ﷺ’s answer: “They are that the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and that you will see the barefooted ones, the naked, the destitute, the herdsmen of the sheep (competing with each other) in raising lofty buildings.”
These four components, known as ‘The Columns’ must be coherent with each other in practice for they are the outward and inward aspects to becoming a holistic human. Muslims, aware of their Islamic foundations and duties, can situate all knowledge within the Islamic paradigm and manifest excellence in any field pursued.
Traditional Islamic learning began in mosques where teachers and scholars would sit by a column as shown in the picture above and students would surround them to establish circles of knowledge. Al-Andalus Academy follows this traditional model of education through the study of texts with a tutor whilst also contributing to the digital renaissance of learning to ensure accessibility for all.
In 2020, The Columns’ programs will commence on January 15th. The first term of study will be theology; the second term will focus on Islamic law according to the Maliki school; the third term will be a study on spiritual purification; the final term concentrates on contemporary topics. The students’ first year at Al-Andalus Academy will be foundational and its successful completion will be a prerequisite to enrol in the second year and so on.