A Degree in Installments

Introduction: A Thought to Awaken the Mind

Has anyone ever completed a degree in instalments?

No student has ever graduated by watching random videos, attending half a lecture, or reading bits of a syllabus. True learning requires structure, guidance, and continuity. Yet, when it comes to learning our Deen, this is exactly what many of us try to do. A short Jumuah Khutbah here, a motivational video there, a few WhatsApp forwards — and we start feeling confident that we are Deendar Muslims. But if faith is a lifelong education, can fragmented learning ever lead to complete understanding?

The Fallacy of Fragmented Learning

In today’s digital age, we have mistaken information for education. Scrolling through YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, we encounter endless clips — each one emotional, inspiring, and brief. But Islam was never meant to be learned in fragments. The Qur’an itself was revealed gradually — in context, under guidance, and through mentorship. Just as no one becomes a doctor by watching medical reels, no one becomes a true student of Islam by consuming random reminders. Knowledge without structure leads to confusion. Emotion without education leads to imbalance.

Islamic Knowledge: A Curriculum, Not Content

Our Prophet ﷺ did not build followers who consumed; he built students who understood.
The early generations (Salaf as-Saliheen) sat in circles of learning — halaqat — with teachers who shaped their hearts and minds.
They didn’t rush through videos; they spent years memorizing, reflecting, and practicing.
Today, we’ve turned Islamic knowledge into content — something to consume rather than commit to.
True Islamic education is not about what you have heard, but how you have changed.

Faith Cannot Grow in Fragments

Imagine watering a plant once a month. Would it flourish? Never.
Similarly, our Iman cannot thrive on occasional exposure.
A Friday sermon, a Ramadan lecture, or a viral reminder — these are beneficial, but incomplete. Our hearts need consistent nourishment, not emotional snacks.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently, even if small.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
It is not about doing more occasionally, but doing less regularly. Faith is like a muscle — it strengthens through repetition, not inspiration alone.

The Modern Illusion of Knowing

When we consume information without understanding, we fall into a dangerous illusion — we think we know.
We quote verses, share hadiths, forward Islamic posts — yet when asked about their context, we struggle to explain.
This is the illusion of the digital age: familiarity without depth.
We are spiritually stimulated, but not intellectually grounded.
We are emotionally moved, but not morally transformed.
Real knowledge (‘Ilm) is not memorized; it is internalized.
It’s not in the head — it’s in the heart and reflected in action.

The Social Consequence: A Community of Opinions

An Ummah that learns its religion from social media becomes a community of opinions, not principles.
Everyone speaks, but few study.
Everyone debates, but few verify.
This is why we see rising divisions and arguments online. When knowledge loses its foundation, faith loses its direction.

Our elders once learned in madrasas and study circles where knowledge came with:

Adab (respect)
Sanad (authentic chain)
Tazkiyah (purification of the heart)
Now, we have replaced teachers with trends, and sincerity with showmanship.

Being ‘Deendar’ — Beyond the Label

Many proudly call themselves Deendar Muslims — religious, observant, guided. But being Deendar is not about appearance or association; it’s about discipline. To be Deendar means living in obedience to Divine Law — guided by Qur’an, Sunnah, and scholarly wisdom.

How can one live by Islam without understanding its principles through structured learning?

We are wearing Islam as identity, not as instruction.
We pray, but rarely ponder.
We attend sermons, but not study circles.
We listen, but seldom learn.
The result? A generation informed but not reformed, connected but not committed.

Deen: A Lifelong Education

Islam is not a weekend subject; it’s a lifelong syllabus.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “When Allah wishes good for someone, He gives him understanding of the Deen.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

Understanding is not given by chance — it is earned through effort.
Just as a degree requires time, revision, and guidance, so does learning Islam.
If we treat Deen with the seriousness of a degree — with enrollment, discipline, and mentorship — our lives will reflect clarity and purpose.
But if we keep learning in installments, we will forever live in spiritual confusion.
The Path Back to Structured Learning

So, what does structured Islamic learning look like in our time?

Enroll in Certified Islamic Courses:
Institutions today offer online and in-person programs — in Qur’an, Hadith, Arabic, and Fiqh. These bring sequence, mentorship, and accountability.
Find a Reliable Teacher:
A scholar with proper training can save you from misinterpretation. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Scholars are the heirs of the Prophets.”
Learning without teachers is like sailing without a compass.
Set a Weekly Study Routine:
Even one hour a week of focused learning can transform your understanding over time. Remember — consistency is the key.
Apply What You Learn:
Learning is incomplete until it transforms action. Every verse studied should lead to reflection, every hadith memorized should lead to change.
Create Circles of Knowledge in Your Family:
Discuss a short surah, a hadith, or a moral lesson together. Make knowledge part of your home environment.
Use Comprehensive Guides for Youth:
A Deendar Muslim in Three Volumes is a perfect resource to impart the basics of Islam from birth until 25 years of age.
It enables children and young adults to read, understand, and implement Deen in their daily lives while completing their academic education.
By following a structured curriculum like this, parents and educators can ensure the next generation grows up with both worldly knowledge and Islamic guidance.

From Consuming to Committing

Islamic education is not passive consumption — it’s an active commitment. Our hearts were not made to be scrollers; they were made to be seekers.

Each believer is called to the path of knowledge — not just to hear, but to understand; not just to believe, but to become.

Allah says: “Say: Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” (Surah Az-Zumar 39:9)

Knowledge elevates the believer — not the knowledge of trivia and trends, but knowledge that humbles the heart and enlightens the mind.
The True Graduate
A true graduate of Islamic learning is not someone with certificates on the wall, but someone whose character reflects the Qur’an.
When Aisha (RA) was asked about the Prophet ﷺ, she said:
“His character was the Qur’an.” (Muslim)
That is the ultimate degree — when knowledge transforms personality.
When patience replaces anger, honesty replaces deceit, and humility replaces pride.

Conclusion: Reclaiming the Journey of Learning

Learning Islam is not a one-time event — it’s a lifelong journey.

To learn in installments is to live in fragments.
To learn with structure is to live with direction.
Let us not be the generation that confuses exposure with education.
Let us revive the tradition of learning that shaped the greatest generations — those who combined knowledge with action, discipline with devotion, and study with sincerity.

So the next time you watch an Islamic video or listen to a Khutbah, ask yourself:

“Am I consuming knowledge or committing to it?”
Because no one ever earned a degree in installments —
and no one will ever attain Jannah without a syllabus of sincerity, study, and struggle.