By COREY HABBAS
Corey Habbas, B.S. in Information Systems from the University of Redlands. She worked as a Web Applications Developer in the Telecommunications Industry for 6 years. She is a Member of the Islamic Writers Alliance (IWA).

The Masjid, Islamic Center and Community are no longer rooted to the physical world. Now they all have a place in the digital realm. In 1995, Internet access hit the mainstream with ISPs (Internet Service Providers) offering customers dial-up access to the World Wide Web.

Today we find ourselves in a new era of digital speed and possibility, with more people than ever before having access to the Internet and other communication technologies.

Lots of fields are to be explored: theoretical frameworks, obstacles and lots of possibilities in using technology to benefit our world with Islam.

The digital frontier is wide open and ready for new developments. The Muslim Community Worldwide has an exciting opportunity to harness information technology so that Islamic Culture and Teachings can continue to grow. Further technological innovations can help Muslims find new ways to Organize Islamic Activities, Know and Distribute the message of Islam.

Muslims must continue to embrace the spirit of scientific experimentation and learning inherent in Islamic Teachings. Through Messages in the Qur'an that place a high value on knowledge, Allah inspired the Pursuit of Learning within Islamic culture. This inspiration gave rise to a Period of Scientific Enlightenment far surpassing any
progress at the time.

During the Medieval Age, Muslims actively synthesized knowledge from Other Cultures, producing innovations and developments whose impact would ripple
through to the Modern Age.

Architectural Developments like the dome, medical developments like The Canon of Medicine written by Abu Ali Al-Husayn ibn Abdullah Ibn Sina (Avecinna), mathematical developments like the Arabic numbering system, algebra developed by Al-Khwarizmi, can all be credited to the Islamic Value that embraces the pursuit of knowledge, learning, and scientific discovery.

(Ta-Ha 20:114)

In seeking knowledge of all things that Allah has created, we learn more about Allah and about His Truth. By understanding and utilizing the latest in digital technology, we make use of the knowledge that Allah has given us, and what better way to use it than to spread the hope of Islam and to benefit Muslim endeavors for the sake of Allah Most High.

Within the past five years, Muslim Communities with a vision have slowly established the Digital Madrasah as a pillar of support in the electronic age, but overall the Digital Madrasah is still a very underutilized concept in technology. However, there are excellent examples of technology for the purpose of Islamic Education.

~ Ad-Duha Institute ad-duha.org). This digital madrasah promotes and supports homeschooling families for children from Pre-K through 12th grade. Their services are directed at English-speaking students who require Arabic language instruction, Islamic Studies curriculum, and full secular instruction as well. They provide services online such as enrollment, tuition payment, report cards, educational counseling, newsletter, and more.

~ ArabAcademy arabacademy.com). Arab Academy provides distance learning classes for Arabic language studies. The courses are tailored toward all ages. Arab Academy allows Students to view and interact with lessons online, take online tests, and ask questions directly to Instructors.

~ Zaytuna Institute zaytuna.org). Zaytuna Institute's distance learning program caters to adults who are interested in Islamic studies, but the principles of the digital madrasah by this organization can be used for any age. Zaytuna has streaming audio-video class instruction with online Teacher-Student sessions.

You can reach Corey Habbas at [email protected]