Zaytuna
About Zaytuna
Zaytuna Institute is a non-profit, educational institute and school founded and run by people committed to reviving time-tested methods of educating and transforming human beings. It is our belief that Islam offers a cohesive understanding of the world and a praxis for it that is able to cut through the illusion of contemporary nihilism and materialism.
We recognize ignorance as the greatest weapon of the dark forces working in the world and believe that the light of true knowledge is the only weapon to dispel that darkness. This is our struggle, and our efforts are directed at spreading the light and wisdom of prophetic truths everywhere and to all peoples. Our aim is to teach the tools individuals need in order to live lives of guidance and adherence to sacred order and to restore broad-based pluralistic and true scholarship to its proper place as a first priority of Muslims.
We believe the problems facing this generation are those very problems mentioned in our Prophet's final sermon, upon him be prayers and peace: economic injustice, racism, the oppression of women, and the manipulation of natural order. We believe these human illnesses can only be treated through healing the hearts of humanity with spiritual truths of the impermanence of the world and the need to understand our purpose while we are here and act accordingly. This can only be done with sound and true knowledge. It is our goal to acquire and disseminate that knowledge.
The Institute was founded in 1996 by Hamza Yusuf and Dr. Hesham Alalusi and incorporated in California as a non-profit, educational institute. In 1998, a site for an academy was purchased in Hayward, California. During the last four years, the site has been fully renovated and now serves as Zaytuna Academy. Zaytuna Institute has held several conferences bringing several leading scholars from various parts of the globe to participate. Several intensive programs have been completed as well as ongoing courses in the Bay Area.
[taken from: http://www.zaytuna.org/about.asp]