On Saturday, November 1st, Darul Qasim College welcomed the community to its Open House at the Hoffman Estates campus. Beginning at 11 AM, the event saw a steady stream of visitors, from high school students and their parents to curious community members eager to learn more about Darul Qasim’s mission and programs.
Many attendees showed particular interest in the Shaykh al-Hind Program, engaging in meaningful conversations with faculty and staff. After their discussions, guests joined student volunteers for guided campus tours that showcased classrooms, lounges, and study areas.
Following the tours, visitors gathered in the student lounges to enjoy light refreshments, chat with current students, and explore DQC merchandise available at the campus store. The relaxed setting offered a glimpse into the welcoming environment that defines student life at Darul Qasim.
We were honored to welcome Abdelnasser Rashid, Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 21st district, who attended the Open House. His presence highlighted the event’s significance in fostering connections between the College and the wider community.
Some attendees discovered the work being done at the Al-Amin Ethics Institute (AEI) for the first time. They left inspired by the initiative’s growing impact, which bridges Islamic ethics and contemporary discourse, producing literature now featured in mainstream academic journals.
As the tours concluded, senior board member Dr. Ahsan Arozullah addressed tour groups in the auditorium, reminding everyone of Darul Qasim’s roots and founding philosophy as articulated by Shaykh Amin. He talked about Darul Qasim College being on the “same academic lawn” as other major Illinois schools of higher learning, whereby its academic programs are vetted by the same governing body, namely the Illinois Board of Higher Education. He also emphasized that, in addition to being a bonafide college, Darul Qasim was on its way to earning degree-granting authority in two Master’s programs in Islamic Law and Theology.
In closing, Dr Arozullah shared a heart-warming anecdote in which he and Shaykh Amin were once walking the grounds of the Morton arboretum. After he went on and on about the scientific rationale behind the colors of the foliage, Shaykh Amin quietly drew his attention to the underlying reality of the spectacle of death, that we must also appreciate through observing the colors of the autumn of our lives by leaving behind a legacy that enriches our akhirah (Hereafter).
As the afternoon drew to a close, many guests joined in Dhuhr prayer, concluding a day filled with learning, reflection, and community. While visitors departed, Darul Qasim’s staff quietly prepared the campus for Monday classes, continuing the rhythm of scholarship that never pauses.
