Cambridge Islamic College

Cambridge Islamic College is an independent higher education institution in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The founder of the college was the Indian scholar and author, Mohammad Akram Nadwi. The college’s mission is to produce a generation of independent Islamic thinkers and scholars who are also working professionals. One of its objectives is to bridge the disconnect between mainstream secular education and specialised Islamic studies.
History
In 2015, the college purchased the Sturton Street Methodist Church in Cambridge. The purchase caused controversy in the local community, where there was a 12-month-long campaign by local residents who wanted the building to remain open for a variety of local uses, such as capoeira classes, tango classes, toddler groups, and a baby music group. The campaign to prevent the purchase argued that the intention to use the site as a mosque would cause additional traffic to the area. An online petition to prevent the purchase gained 500 signatures, while a total of 425 local people and businesses pledged over £600,000 to buy the site and keep it open as a community centre. The college described the purchase as a “significant milestone in achieving the College’s vision that fills the vacuum of Islamic scholarship and research in the city of Cambridge”.
Curriculum
Cambridge Islamic College offers a two-year part-time diploma in Arabic and Islamic Studies. This consists of a foundational/intermediate-level course designed to prepare participants for admission to the College’s ‘Alimiyyah Degree programme. The four components of the course are: Arabic language, hadith studies, fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), and general Islamic studies. The latter component includes study of the Prophet Muhammad’s biography and elementary aspects of Islamic history and society. In addition, the college provides a number of short courses.

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