The Hikmah Project

A: Not at all. We will introduce any necessary terms gradually. Terms like nafs (self), qalb (heart), rūḥ (spirit), maḥabba (love), etc., will be explained in plain language. The idea is to open a window to the Sufi perspective, not to require any background in it. The mystical commentary is used to enrich your understanding and spur reflection, regardless of your prior knowledge. We keep the discussions inclusive and rooted in the Qur’anic text. Students of all backgrounds (so long as you respect the material) have enjoyed this approach in the past.

A: Don’t worry – you are not expected to understand the commentary excerpts on your own. In each session, we will translate and unpack the Arabic snippet together. These texts are indeed more advanced than the Qur’anic verses, often using poetic or technical language. They are there to challenge you just a bit and expose you to classical Arabic in a fascinating context. The instructor will guide you through the translation word-by-word, so it becomes a group exercise in comprehension. Over the course, your ability to tackle such texts will improve. The focus is on enjoying the meaning, not on perfect grammar or translation skills from the get-go. By hearing it explained and discussing it, you’ll gradually pick up new vocabulary and stylistic features.

A: By the end, you might find yourself inspired to read more Qur’an or delve into tafsir literature. A great next step is to continue with Level 2 of our program, which might cover another Surah or more advanced Arabic texts (depending on our curriculum). You will also receive a list of resources – bilingual Qur’an translations, online tafsir portals, and recommended readings on Sufi commentary – to explore on your own. Most importantly, we hope you continue reflective Quran reading as a personal practice. Surah Yusuf teaches that wisdom comes to the patient seeker – so keep seeking! And of course, The Hikmah Project community is here to support your journey. Feel free to reach out to us anytime for guidance or suggestions.

A: It’s a blend of both. Our primary aim is to improve your Arabic reading and comprehension using Qur’anic verses and their explanations. At the same time, we introduce you to the rich spiritual interpretation tradition in Islam. So you will get a taste of Sufi tafsir – learning terms like ẓāhir (outer meaning), bāṭin (inner meaning), ishāra (allusion) – but in an accessible way that reinforces your language learning. This isn’t a doctrine-heavy course; it’s more about personal reflection and exploring deeper layers of meaning, while practicing Arabic. In short: you will learn language through scripture, and learn spirituality through language.

A: Not necessarily. However, you should be able to read the Arabic alphabet and recognize basic Qur’anic vocabulary. Level 1a (or equivalent experience) is recommended because it introduces foundational Arabic reading skills. In Level 1b, we build on that by reading longer passages (verses of the Qur’an) and diving into commentary. If you can sound out Arabic words and have a beginner’s grasp of meanings, you’ll be ready to benefit from this course. We will review important vocabulary from Surah Yusuf as we go along. The key is that you’re comfortable reading Arabic script – even if you don’t know all the words, we will learn many of them in context.

A: We will read every verse of the Surah (in Arabic) in sequence over the 10 weeks, so you get a full textual reading. For the commentary, we selectively focus on key mystical insights rather than line-by-line exegesis of each verse. The goal is to illuminate major themes (love, patience, trust, etc.) via examples from the commentators, not to overwhelm with excessive detail. You’ll come away with a good grasp of the Surah’s story and an appreciation for how traditional scholars found spiritual lessons in it. If you’re interested in a particular verse we gloss over, you are welcome to ask in class – we can certainly dive deeper based on student curiosity!