Al-Hirz Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 2015 by Shaykh Okasha Kameny and his closest associates with a singular purpose: inspire sound students of knowledge to memorize the final revelation of Allāh and preserve the Sunnah of His Final Messenger ﷺ in modern times through classical methods. AHI focuses on preserving our rich Islamic Academia traditions with a relevant and applicable understanding that makes students socially, politically, and spiritually empowered to make the Deen accessible and applicable in all facets of life. Through our goal of "Keeping Islam Relevant," our institution's courses and programs, as well as mentorship and tarbiyah, positively counter the radicalized ideologies the youth and students of knowledge alike are exposed to at all levels of society within every community.
Our mission is emanated from the Qur'an, to worship Allah and serve His Creation sincerely, and our Lord did not make this an unachievable or unattainable reality for us to live. Therefore, our organization and its staff and offerings are actualized in a singular, central theme: Preserving the Legacy and Serving the Nation.
The inspiration behind the name "Al-Hirz" comes from several sources in our Deen and beyond.
عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، قَالَ لَقِيتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ صِفَةِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي التَّوْرَاةِ. قَالَ أَجَلْ، وَاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمَوْصُوفٌ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ بِبَعْضِ صِفَتِهِ فِي الْقُرْآنِ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا، وَحِرْزًا لِلأُمِّيِّينَ، أَنْتَ عَبْدِي وَرَسُولِي سَمَّيْتُكَ الْمُتَوَكِّلَ، لَيْسَ بِفَظٍّ وَلاَ غَلِيظٍ وَلاَ سَخَّابٍ فِي الأَسْوَاقِ، وَلاَ يَدْفَعُ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ وَلَكِنْ يَعْفُو وَيَغْفِرُ، وَلَنْ يَقْبِضَهُ اللَّهُ حَتَّى يُقِيمَ بِهِ الْمِلَّةَ الْعَوْجَاءَ بِأَنْ يَقُولُوا لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ. وَيَفْتَحُ بِهَا أَعْيُنًا عُمْيًا، وَآذَانًا صُمًّا، وَقُلُوبًا غُلْفًا.
ʿAṭā' ibn Yasār narrated: I met ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ and asked him, "Tell me about the description of Allāh's Messenger ﷺ which is mentioned in Torāh (i.e. Old Testament.") He replied, "Yes. By Allāh, he is described in Torāh with some of the qualities attributed to him in the Qur'ān as follows: "O Prophet! We have sent you as a witness (for Allāh's True religion) and a giver of glad tidings (to the faithful believers), and a warner (to the unbelievers), and guardian of the illiterates [حِرْزًا لِلأُمِّيِّينَ]. You are My slave and My messenger. Therefore, I have named you "Al-Mutawakkil" (who relies upon Allāh). You are neither discourteous, harsh, nor a noisemaker in the markets, and you do not do evil to those who do evil to you. Still, you deal with them with forgiveness and kindness. Allāh will not let him (the Prophet) die till he makes straight the crooked people by making them say: "None has the right to be worshiped but Allāh," With which will be opened blind eyes and deaf ears and enveloped hearts." (Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2125)
In following His Sunnah, we too serve as a Hirz (Guardians) of our people, for Muslims and Non-Muslims, to call them to Allāh and be leaders in good character and manners.
As an Al-Hirz Student, you will learn to:
1. Help uplift your family, community, and country with Sublime Character.
2. Help preserve the Legacy of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
3. Connect people to one another to preserve the Legacy of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
