Elevating Heritage, Embracing Reform.

The Classical Institute adopts a classical ethos in education, seeking to edify students through intellectual and spiritual growth, and to enrich them with timeless universal virtues.

New Publication by Our Founding Dean

Dr Badreldeen Ismail's latest work, Al-Qushayri’s Teleological Theology, is now available through De Gruyter–Brill.

We are pleased to announce that our Founding Dean, Dr Badreldeen Ismail, has published a new monograph with De Gruyter–Brill, one of the world’s foremost academic publishers.

Dr Ismail’s research offers a compelling new framework that challenges reductive interpretations and contributes to a renewed vision of classical Islamic theology.

Introducing Advanced Islamic Philosophical Theology  

Taught by Professor Shaykh Hasan al-Shafi‘i, delivered in Classical Arabic

The Classical Institute is honoured to introduce a new advanced programme in Islamic Philosophical Theology, delivered in Classical Arabic and taught by one of the most authentic and distinguished scholars of our time, Professor Shaykh Hasan al-Shafi‘i, Senior Scholar of Al-Azhar and recipient of the King Faisal Prize. This monthly masterclass is centred on Tahdhīb al-Kalām by al-Taftāzānī and explores core theological and philosophical themes, offering advanced students a rare opportunity to engage deeply with classical scholarship. Explore full programme information on our Programme Details page.

  • Classical Curriculum

    The Classical Institute facilitates intellectual and spiritual progress through a classical curriculum, including the study of Languages and Literature; Philosophy and Theology; and Islamic Intellectual Thought and Traditions. 

  • Lifelong Learning Community

    The Classical Institute delivers inclusive and collaborative enrichment activities, designed to engender and deepen students’ respect for intellectual heritage, and to help develop a community of critical thinkers who support one another in the pursuit of a lifelong learning journey.

  • Traditional Meets Modern

    Programmes at The Classical Institute combine a nuanced understanding of traditional pedagogical approaches with current, research-informed methods of delivery.

A Historic Milestone In Palestinian Higher Education.

A story of Triumph and Resilience.

Meet Our Founding Dean

  • Dr Badreldeen Ismail, a distinguished scholar whose passion and expertise have shaped TCI’s unique approach to education.

Biography

Intellectual Progress

The Classical Institute facilitates intellectual growth through several classical pedagogical approaches.

Spiritual Progress

In addition to promoting intellectual development, The Classical Institute also nurtures spiritual growth.

Moral Progress

The ultimate aim of intellectual and spiritual growth is to engender moral development.

Meet the Academics

Distinguished Features of a TCI Education

  • Teacher-Student Bonds

    TCI cultivates enduring teacher-student bonds, with teachers becoming trusted mentors who guide students through their lifelong learning journeys, helping them to become autonomous learners beyond the classroom, and inspiring them to strive for excellence.

    TCI teachers provide individualised attention and tailor learning journeys to specific student requirements.

  • Learning Community

    TCI respects and incorporates diverse lived experiences into its educational approach, which helps to foster more nuanced and informed understandings.

    Student collaboration and interdisciplinary learning are key components of TCI’s approach, encouraging students to form a strong peer support network and to draw connections between different areas of study.

  • Holistic Outcomes

    Student success at TCI transcends mere academic assessment scores. A successful student is one who develops an ability to think critically and embodies a lifelong passion for learning.

    TCI teachers are invested in the holistic development of their students, seeking enduring edification through intellectual and spiritual progress, and the development of ethically sound participants in the community.

Enriching Minds.

The Classical Institute’s Educational Journey.

Classical Texts Series

The Classical Texts Series offers a contemplative programme through foundational works in Islamic and Western intellectual traditions. Each series provides an opportunity to engage rigorously with theology, philosophy, and spirituality through close readings and scholarly discussions led by distinguished scholars. This initiative fosters profound and reflective engagement with classical texts, nurturing a sustained commitment to lifelong scholarly inquiry and intellectual refinement amongst participants.

Student Thoughts & Reflections

  • "I would recommend unreservedly, for anyone to undertake the courses or a tailored training program at The Classical Institute under the tuition of Dr Ismail to broaden all your horizons and help you to transcend the mundanity of everyday modernity."

    Dr Imran Khan, Birmingham UK

  • "TCI has privileged me with a rare environment whereby edification is privileged above all other objectives. The diverse curriculum, spanning across several languages, canons, and ideologies, has enabled me to expand my intellectual horizons significantly."

    Abdelhamid Arbab, New Jersey US

  • "Studying at TCI has been a profoundly transformative experience; both intellectually, and spiritually. It has given me an appreciation of classical Eastern and Western learning, ignited a sincere desire to seek knowledge and helped engender critical thinking."

    Dr A Ghuari, Birmingham UK

  • "TCI’s holistic approach to education emphasises personal development beyond just the subject matter, and creates an environment conducive to both academic and spiritual growth."

    Dr Sarah Mehanna, Solihull UK

  • “Dr Ismail's teachings have allowed me to develop my critical thinking skills, encouraging me not to take everything at face value but to study it in depth, and that every word and letter has meaning in it.”

    Mohammad Umar, Solihull UK

Next Up

Spring 2025

Unpacking the Complexity of Systematic Thinkers: Hujjat al-Islam Abu Hamid al-Ghazzali on the Status of Kalam


Time: Tbc | On-Campus & Online Access | Limited Seating

Enrolment is now open - Registration required!

The Classical Institute is pleased to invite you to an in-depth seminar examining al-Ghazzali’s contributions to systematic theology with Dr. Yasser Qureshy, Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge. Engage with al-Ghazzali’s rigorous approach to theological inquiry and its continuing significance within intellectual traditions.