مؤسسه المهدی در شهر بیرمنگام در سال ۱۹۹۳ تأسیس شده و به ارائه دروس سنتی حوزوی میپردازد.[۱]
Al-Mahdi Institute (AMI) is committed to providing an open platform for critical Muslim scholarship through its education, research and outreach initiatives. Our unique approach to training future generations of thinkers assimilates traditional Twelver seminary scholarship with modern approaches to the study of Islam, leaving students well-equipped to contribute meaningfully in both academic circles and grass-roots communities. Through our long-term commitment to dialogue with Muslims and non-Muslims alike, AMI’s activities provide a platform for diverse religious voices to learn from one another.[۲]
The Hawza Programme taught at Al-Mahdi Institute continues the Shia heritage of teaching core Islamic sciences including Jurisprudence, Legal Theory, Arabic, Theology, Philosophy, Logic and more. Students enrolling on the Hawza Programme can opt to undertake the 4-year full-time study route, or alternatively study on a part-time basis by enrolling on a selection of modules each semester. The Institute’s online learning platform allows students to join classes live via virtual classrooms or by gaining on-demand access to lectures, seminars, and a wide range of learning materials at anytime and anywhere. On completion of the first three years of the programme, students are awarded a BA in Islamic Theological Studies by Mofid University with an additional MA in Islamic Studies awarded by the University of Birmingham in the fourth and final year of the programme.[۳]
Students enrolling on the Hawza Programme on a full or part-time basis can opt to study live via our virtual classrooms or by accessing class lectures on-demand at anytime and place. The Hawza Programme consists of two 17-week semesters each year from September to February and March to July with classes typically taught on Mondays to Thursdays between 9:00am – ۴:۳۰pm. At the end of each semester, students are assessed by a range of assessment methods including assignments, written exams, oral exams and class presentations.
The Course structure below outlines the modules taught in each semester over the course of four years. Full-time students would be required to undertake all modules, whereas, part-time students may enrol on a maximum of five modules per semester.[۴]
Al-Mahdi Institute has partnered with the University of Birmingham (UoB) to offer a master’s degree in Islamic Studies as part of the Hawza Programme. Students who successfully complete the first three years of the Hawza Programme by achieving 450 credits have the opportunity to obtain a postgraduate degree, awarded by UoB, in the final year of the Hawza Programme.
The course offers a range of modules covering both historical and contemporary areas of Islamic Studies giving students the flexibility to pursue their own areas of interest. Taught primarily in small group-seminars, across both UoB and AMI campuses, students can get to grips with material that is at the forefront of academic research in Islamic Studies mainly with a historical, sociological, contextual, legal, or philosophical emphasis. This allows students to develop the knowledge and skills needed for independent research, creating an ideal foundation for further study.[۵]
Fellowships
To encourage the development and dissemination of ideas, AMI invites applications for visiting research fellowships. Scholars, working on high impact research in line with the aims of Al-Mahdi Institute can apply for either a 3-month or 6-month fellowship. The non-stipendiary fellowship offers single room accommodation for the duration of the stay and full access to AMI research facilities and library collection.
Visiting scholars are expected to actively participate in the institute’s research activities and are encouraged to make themselves available to teach AMI students during their stay.[۶]
Al-Mahdi Institute publishes research within the following categories:
Monographs exploring aspects of the primary sources and scholarly heritage of Muslim religious thought, with particular emphasis on works whose engagement with tradition is a means to addressing, informing and contributing to the diverse challenges of societies today. Proceedings of workshops, conferences and seminars facilitated by the Institute, including papers emerging from the AMI Contemporary Fiqhi Issue Series. Occasional papers or essays addressing broad themes on the relationship between religion and society, with particular reference to Muslim thought. European language translations of texts that engage with the teachings, doctrines, rituals and scholarly heritage of the School of the Ahl al-Bayt, as well as works which can inform the development of responses to contemporary challenges facing Islam and Muslim thought in the modern world. Translations of scholarly works, engaging with questions of contemporary concern in Muslim thought, into Arabic/Farsi/Urdu.
Publications
The Institute publishes works by its own scholars as well as from the academic community. In facilitating these publications, the Institute’s purpose is to encourage original research and analysis of relevant issues that can inform religious thought in modern societies. Original research published by the Institute is subject to a peer review process to ensure quality, whilst recognising the value in allowing the expression of a diverse range of views, ideas and interpretations, and as such the opinions expressed in these publications must be understood as belonging to their authors alone.[۷]
Community
Al-Mahdi Institute is committed to the enhancement of the Shi’i community, focusing on meeting the educational, spiritual, and practical needs of the people. By hosting scholarly discussions as part of the Shia Scholars Forum (SSF) and yearly Arbaeen lectures, AMI hopes to encourage Shi’i communities to actively contribute towards faith-based academic research for the intellectual and spiritual development of communities worldwide.
The Shia Scholars Forum (SSF):
Realising that scholars need to be well equipped to answer challenging questions arising from the grass roots, the Shia Scholars Forum (SSF) provides an opportunity for those addressing the community to critically explore key beliefs in an open and safe environment. By gaining a deeper understanding of the various viewpoints within the Shi’i tradition, scholars in a position of authority are better prepared to offer guidance. Find out more about SSF and its activities here.
Arbaeen Lectures:
Each year, a lecture series to commemorate the Arbaeen of the grandson of the blessed Prophet, Imam Husayn, is held by AMI. The lectures, delivered by Shaykh Arif Abdulhussain aim to provide the audience with a deeper understanding of life, the purpose of human existence, the relationship between God and humankind and more. Every talk is followed by a question and answer session where people are given the chance to raise their queries, either in person or through the online platform.[۸]
AMI Library
The AMI library houses one of the largest collections of its kind in Europe. Its holdings showcase specialist works and texts of the Islamic Studies’ disciplines, with particular emphasis of texts that are relevant and unique to the Shia heritage of learning and knowledge.
The library is located in the heart of the AMI building, and forms an integral part of its teaching and learning activities. It is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens that boast serenity.
The AMI library houses approximately 20,000 books in Arabic, English, Persian and Urdu. The majority of these are specialist collections pertaining to the Islamic studies and related disciplines. The collections cover a vast majority of the fields of Islamic disciplines, including: – Islamic Jurisprudence, Philosophy, Theology, Irfan, History, Hadith, Quranic studies, and Tafsir.
The books are housed on open shelves on the ground floor of the library which are available to all staff, students and visitors alike to peruse and consult.
The AMI library’s expansion project of the current library holdings is on-going. We are also working on developing its e-resources’ collections.[۹]
[۱]. shia-news.com/000U7f
[۲]. https://www.almahdi.edu/
[۳]. https://www.almahdi.edu/hawza_programme
[۴]. https://www.almahdi.edu/hawza_programme#full-course-structure
[۵]. https://www.almahdi.edu/hawza_programme#ma-islamic-studies
[۶]. https://www.almahdi.edu/fellowships/
[۷]. https://www.almahdi.edu/publications/
[۸]. https://www.almahdi.edu/community
[۹]. https://ami.koha-ptfs.co.uk/