Throughout his noble life, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized the youth's significance. He empowered young men and women of his time and it is evident that a large number of his followers were in fact young people. Looking at the Seerah, we know that majority of the sahaba were in fact very young and if we just take one surah, Surat al Kahf, the actions of the young men were so beloved to God, that He recorded their tale in the eternal guidance to humanity, the Qur'an.
ISCJ LiT (which stands for 'Learning Islam Together') is a committee which aims to serve youth and young adults (age 13-30) with the right tools, skills, and knowledge to bring about positive change in the community. Under the guidance of our Resident Scholar, Shaykh Ismail Bowers, our committee hopes to inspire them to understand, apply, and advocate divinely ordained values in the service of the common good. Our core values are service, equality, and justice. Programs which encompass 7 key categories: Educational, Counseling, Mentorship, Social, Athletic, and Spiritual are designed and run by the youth, with the guidance of mentors who share their experiences and provide valuable feedback. Make dua for our success!
Shaykh Ismail Bowers
Shaykh Ismail Bowers was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. His father is an American convert to Islam, and his mother is from Fes, Morocco. He completed an 'Alimiyyah (License in Islamic Scholarship) degree at the University of Al-Qarawiyyin in Fes, graduating from its renowned 12-year program. His studies spanned a traditional curriculum, including Qur'anic Exegesis (Tafsīr), Hadith Sciences (Al-Ḥadīth wa-'Ulūmuh), Comparative Islamic Law (Al-Fiqh Al-Muqāran), Principles of Jurisprudence (Uṣul al-Fiqh), Legal Maxims (Al-Qawā'id al-Fiqhiyyah), Objectives of Islamic Law (Maqāsid al-Sharī'ah), Prophetic Biography (Sīrah), and Arabic Philology (Fiqh al-Lughah).
He also studied under some of Morocco's most prominent scholars, receiving Ijāzah (license to teach) in multiple disciplines. After nearly a decade in Morocco, he earned a Master's degree in Theology with a focus on global religions from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, graduating at the top of his class. Currently, he is a Ph.D. student at the University of Oxford's Faculty of Theology and Religion, where he is researching Hadith and Islamic theology.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Shaykh Ismail has extensive experience in teaching and community engagement. He is the co-founder of Pillars Seminary (Ohio), where he has instructed hundreds of students in the Islamic sciences and Arabic. His academic background, combined with practical teaching experience, uniquely positions him to guide and inspire the community as Resident Scholar.
Contact Sh. Bowers via email: [email protected]