Pictures: Zaytuna College First Day of Classes & Inaugural Convocation

Dr. Hatem Bazian and Imam Zaid Shakir lead the Zaytuna College faculty to the stage

Zaytuna College held its convocation for its inaugural class of fifteen students Monday, August 23, at the International House in Berkeley. Classes for the students began the following day. The ceremony included remarks by the College’s three founders, Dr. Hatem Bazian, Imam Zaid Shakir, and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, as well as guest remarks from Dr. James A. Donahue, the president of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. Virginia Gray Henry, director of the academic publisher Fons Vitae, read “The Meeting Place,” a poem by Martin Lings, while incoming student Rasheeda Plenty recited her own poem, “Book.”

We will look back on this day, Zaytuna’s first day of classes, as a historic moment in the history of Islam in America. Beautiful pictures of the first accredited Muslim college in America. Please sign up as a monthly donor towards this historic institution. Not only is it a consistent good deed but an ongoing sadaqa that will benefit you until the Day of Judgment.

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf expresses hope for the inaugural class of Zaytuna College

Ustadh Abdullah bin Hamid Ali addresses a question during class

Visit Zaytuna College to view more photos of this momentous day.