Week 01
Pre-Islamic Arabia – A World in Decline
Understanding the setting before revelation — a world ready for change.
EnrollingLive · 12 weeks · Beginner-friendly
The Age of the Crescent
A 12-week journey through Islamic history — from pre-Islamic Arabia to the Ottoman Empire.
with Ustadh Maheer Hasan
The Age of the Crescent is Ajnadayn Institute's flagship course, running throughout the year. From the tribal sands of pre-Islamic Arabia to the twilight of the Ottoman Empire, this beginner-friendly 12-week journey offers a comprehensive introduction to Islamic history. Built around Firas Alkhateeb's Lost Islamic History, the course explores the events, empires, scholars and turning points that shaped the Muslim world — helping students read the past with pride, objectivity and reflection.
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Schedule
- Thursdays · 7:30–8:30 PM
- Investment
- £60
Attendees explore the chronological development of Islamic civilisation while learning how to think critically, approach history with objectivity, and draw lessons deeply relevant to the modern Muslim experience.
Whether you're a student of knowledge or a curious mind seeking to understand Islam's historical journey, this course will inform, inspire, and provoke thoughtful reflection.
What you'll learn
- A broad yet meaningful understanding of Islamic history
- Critical analysis skills and historical objectivity
- The rise and fall of Islamic empires — and the lessons they offer
- The roots of the modern Muslim world's political and social realities
- How to connect the past with the present through reflection and discussion
Who should attend
This is a beginner-friendly cohort — open to all, whatever your starting point.
- Anyone interested in Islamic history or the modern Muslim world
- Students, professionals, educators, or lifelong learners
- No prior background in history required — just curiosity and an open mind
Course outline
12 weeks · Weekly live sessions · Recommended reading: Lost Islamic History by Firas AlKhateeb
Week 02
The Era of Prophethood
The life, message, and legacy of the final Prophet ﷺ.
Week 03
The Rightly Guided Caliphs
Leadership rooted in revelation and justice.
Week 04
The Islamic State – Umayyads and Abbasids
From tribe to empire — Islam's first great dynasties.
Week 05
The Intellectual Golden Ages
When the Muslim world led in thought, science, and philosophy.
Week 06
The Islamic Sciences
The birth of disciplines that shaped the ummah and the world.
Week 07
Upheaval – Crusades and Mongols
Foreign invasions, internal strength — the test of survival.
Week 08
Al-Andalus
A lost paradise of culture, tolerance, and brilliance.
Week 09
The Edge – Islam in Africa and China
Exploring the lesser-known frontiers of Islamic influence.
Week 10
Rebirth – Ottomans, Safavids, Mughals
The rise of new powers and cultural revivals across three empires.
Week 11
Decline – Fall of the Ottomans
The slow unravelling of the last Islamic empire.
Week 12
Old and New Ideas – WWI and After
The collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the birth of Muslim nation states.
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Your instructor
Ustadh Maheer Hasan
History Teacher & Lecturer at Ajnadayn Institute
With years of experience teaching Islamic history and a passion for bringing the past to life, Ustadh Maheer Hasan delivers a balanced and engaging approach. His classes are insightful, relevant, and designed to provoke thought while deepening appreciation for the Muslim world's legacy.
Academic pipeline
Live cohorts across Islamic history — enrol in the current term or join the waitlist for what comes next.
£60
Enrol in The Age of the Crescent
A 12 weeks live cohort. Open to all — no prior background required.