Carolina Q&A

Scholar Bio

Shaykh Omar Mohsin grew up in New York City. In 2009, he traveled to Tarῑm, Yemen, where he spent seven years studying under the foremost scholars of Yemen, specializing in Shāfiʿī Fiqh. He is the first American to complete the rigorous six-year curriculum at the prestigious Ribāt of Tarῑm. In late 2016, he moved to North Carolina.

Scholar Qualifications:

I studied full-time for seven years at a seminary called "The Ribāt" in the Ḥaḍramawt valley of Yemen. Established in 1886, this seminary is renowned for its rigorous and traditional curriculum, focusing on Shāfiʿī Fiqh, and maintaining a teaching methodology unchanged since its inception. Unlike the Western approach prevalent in many Islamic colleges today, The Ribāt methodically guides students through every book in the curriculum, covering each one comprehensively and explaining every single word.

This traditional teaching style, reminiscent of older seminaries across the Muslim world, remains steadfast. Under the guidance of current muftis and senior scholars in the region, I became the first Western student to graduate from the school. The culmination of the curriculum, the final book designed to prepare students for issuing Fatwas, required three years to complete and spans almost 600 pages. Like every other book, it was taught cover to cover, with detailed explanations. Additionally, we were mandated to study a ten-volume commentary alongside it, showcasing the uncommon level of rigor in our studies.

In addition to Fiqh, every other subject is taught at The Ribāt, including ʿArabic sciences, ʿAqῑdāh, Usūl al-Fiqh, Ḥadith, Tafsῑr, and more.

Since graduating, I have continued to pursue further studies and engage in teaching for an additional seven years.