In Islam, the tradition of learning has primarily been passed down through oral teaching. All knowledge comes from Allah, the All-Knowing, who taught the first human and his successor, just as He taught the Prophet (ṣ) the Qur’an. The Prophet (ṣ) then passed on this knowledge to his companions and his chosen successor in particular. They, in turn, taught their own students, creating a continuous chain of teachers and learners. Through this chain, the knowledge given by Allah and His prophets and immaculate guides has been preserved and passed down to us as a priceless heritage. 

Today, even though we have many ways to learn about Islamic sciences through self-study, nothing can replace the experience of learning directly from a teacher and interacting with others who have this aforementioned connection. This relationship between teacher and student is vital, not just for gaining knowledge but for developing proper Islamic upbringing, or “tarbiyah,” which can only be nurtured through direct, personal interaction. It has been narrated from the Prophet (ṣ), “Take knowledge from the mouths of the learned.” Bihar al-Anwar, vol 2, pg 105

Asfar Institute is for brothers and sisters seeking Islamic knowledge directly from authentic sources with teachers who are either graduates or are currently studying at the Hawzah Ilmiya (Islamic seminary). Asfar Institute focuses on two key aspects: teaching (ta’leem) and upbringing (tarbiyah), which are best achieved through personal interaction between teachers and students.