It was a day of excitement for the summer interns, who started their program yesterday June 30, 2008 at the International Institute of Islamic Thought. Ten interns from different fields of study met with their instructors and IIIT directors for an orientation about IIIT, the program, and a briefing about the course.

Some of the visiting instructors present were Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, President of the Minaret of Freedom Institute, Dr. ElTigani Hamid, Associate Professor at Sheikh Zaid University, UAE, Dr. Asaad Busool, President of the Islamic College in Chicago, Dr. Mohammad Nimer, and Mohammad Mekki. These instructors and others will be teaching Arabic, Islamic History and Civilization, Islamic Movements, Comparative Religion, Organization Leadership, Faith-Based Entrepreneurship, Fiqh, Quran, and Hadith. Some courses will be taught by resident instructors such as Dr. Iqbal Unus and Dr. M. Yaqub Mirza.

After the briefing each student was given an Arabic placement test to check his/her level. Following the delicious lunch with IIIT directors and staff and some of the instructors, the interns headed to their first lecture of the day, Quranic studies.