text:
As a customer, what makes a good shopping experience? The shop has to be nice and the products need to be to your taste. The prices need to be right. But it’s more than a pretty shop and nice products, don’t you think? You want good service too.
I’m guessing that you’ve been into a mall on a Saturday and become frustrated by the shop assistant that isn’t interested in helping you or engaging? You definitely don’t expect this to happen at a market where the sellers all know their products. Where their own livelihood depends on good sales. Well, sometimes it does.
We often overhear stallholder market gossip during the event, and so often it centres around how big the crowd is, whether it’s a ‘good’ market this time, how sales are up or down. We often have stallholders themselves come to us, worried that they haven’t done as well as they expected. They might not like their spot, they might think the crowds are smaller, they might think they’re too close to competitors or not like their neighbours.
Our usual response is to analyse the set up. Even if the product is beautiful, there’s lots of it and it’s displayed right, the customers might still be walking straight past. And there’s usually a reason for that. So next we look at the seller. And so often we find that it’s not the cause of these these worries, but their effects that are impacting on sales.
While you’re at the market, have a proper look at the crowds. Lots of shoppers is great. But fewer people means more space and more relaxed shoppers who can spend more time browsing and chatting. We often find that the periods in which there are smaller crowds are the most lucrative for sales. Analyse who is shopping and adapt, rather than letting your worries show.
We are very careful at Handmade to curate stalls by category. We try not to put too many jewellery sellers in at a time for example, even though it’s a popular category. This helps everyone, but in the real world, one candle seller is in competition with every other online candle seller in the world. So your own unique product, stall or selling style is something to focus on to help you stand out from the competition, whether online or at a market. Don’t worry about what they’re doing. Make your own offering as good as it can be, engage your customers and know that you are the best at what you do.
We all love our phones – they help us connect. And yes, it’s an addiction. But it’s also a crutch. It’s the thing we look at when we’re waiting for a bus or sitting on our own in a cafe. Because it make us look busy. Hopefully you’re not on your phone when you’re out with friends or family – many groups are now leaving their phones in their bags so they can engage properly. And of course, the same applies to selling at a market. Unfortunately, as creative introverts, the makers of the world don’t necessarily relish putting themselves out there. It makes you vulnerable, but if you’re going to make your living out of what you make, you have to engage with the people buying it.
Life is busy and difficult. Stressful things happen, especially when you’re trying to prepare for a big sales event. Unfortunately though, wearing your heart on your sleeve and failing to put a smile on your face is a definite no-no at a market. You might have had car trouble and arrived late to set up. You might have had a family issue, or you might just be overtired. It’s easy to blame external factors, but your own state of mind, if negative, can lead to a lack of connection with your customers. And especially at Handmade, where connection is everything, it will lead to underwhelming sales. So, here’s what you need to make your mantra at every sales opportunity. Focus on these, not the difficulties, and you might just find your market turns around.
Here are some wonderful Handmade stallholders smiling at their customers.
We wish you the best of luck, and happy selling!

lowercased:
as a customer, what makes a good shopping experience? the shop has to be nice and the products need to be to your taste. the prices need to be right. but it’s more than a pretty shop and nice products, don’t you think? you want good service too.
i’m guessing that you’ve been into a mall on a saturday and become frustrated by the shop assistant that isn’t interested in helping you or engaging? you definitely don’t expect this to happen at a market where the sellers all know their products. where their own livelihood depends on good sales. well, sometimes it does.
we often overhear stallholder market gossip during the event, and so often it centres around how big the crowd is, whether it’s a ‘good’ market this time, how sales are up or down. we often have stallholders themselves come to us, worried that they haven’t done as well as they expected. they might not like their spot, they might think the crowds are smaller, they might think they’re too close to competitors or not like their neighbours.
our usual response is to analyse the set up. even if the product is beautiful, there’s lots of it and it’s displayed right, the customers might still be walking straight past. and there’s usually a reason for that. so next we look at the seller. and so often we find that it’s not the cause of these these worries, but their effects that are impacting on sales.
while you’re at the market, have a proper look at the crowds. lots of shoppers is great. but fewer people means more space and more relaxed shoppers who can spend more time browsing and chatting. we often find that the periods in which there are smaller crowds are the most lucrative for sales. analyse who is shopping and adapt, rather than letting your worries show.
we are very careful at handmade to curate stalls by category. we try not to put too many jewellery sellers in at a time for example, even though it’s a popular category. this helps everyone, but in the real world, one candle seller is in competition with every other online candle seller in the world. so your own unique product, stall or selling style is something to focus on to help you stand out from the competition, whether online or at a market. don’t worry about what they’re doing. make your own offering as good as it can be, engage your customers and know that you are the best at what you do.
we all love our phones – they help us connect. and yes, it’s an addiction. but it’s also a crutch. it’s the thing we look at when we’re waiting for a bus or sitting on our own in a cafe. because it make us look busy. hopefully you’re not on your phone when you’re out with friends or family – many groups are now leaving their phones in their bags so they can engage properly. and of course, the same applies to selling at a market. unfortunately, as creative introverts, the makers of the world don’t necessarily relish putting themselves out there. it makes you vulnerable, but if you’re going to make your living out of what you make, you have to engage with the people buying it.
life is busy and difficult. stressful things happen, especially when you’re trying to prepare for a big sales event. unfortunately though, wearing your heart on your sleeve and failing to put a smile on your face is a definite no-no at a market. you might have had car trouble and arrived late to set up. you might have had a family issue, or you might just be overtired. it’s easy to blame external factors, but your own state of mind, if negative, can lead to a lack of connection with your customers. and especially at handmade, where connection is everything, it will lead to underwhelming sales. so, here’s what you need to make your mantra at every sales opportunity. focus on these, not the difficulties, and you might just find your market turns around.
here are some wonderful handmade stallholders smiling at their customers.
we wish you the best of luck, and happy selling!


text:
After five years of studying, reviewing, memorizing, and stressing out, I am proud to say that I finally graduated from Islamic Online University’s Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies (BAIS) program. It was quite a journey and I’ve learned so much. In this post, I want to give a review of my experience with the university for those who may be thinking of joining an online based Islamic university but haven’t really made up their minds yet.
I have divided my review into three sections.
The program is not designed to produce scholars but just very well informed Muslims and beginner to intermediate level students of knowledge. The program gives you tools to be able to research religious concepts and figure things out for yourself but not at an advanced level.
I was very impressed by their consistency with sticking to the schedule and having full staff of teachers as well as teacher’s assistants (TAs). The assistants themselves are also highly qualified. Many of them are either graduates of an Islamic university or currently enrolled in a Masters program.
Everything is online based so it does require lots of discipline. I have heard of students dropping out because they do not have the discipline to do self-paced courses in a timely manner. One student who dropped out told me that he needs to be in the same classroom as the teacher and be able to interact, otherwise, he cannot remain attentive. Studying online successfully also means not being busy by opening other screens while the lecture is playing. You have to be focused.
In aqeeda, the university follows Athari (أثري) creed and in fiqh it is mainly Hanbali. Dr. Bilal Phillips only teaches the aqeedah courses, first semester of Arabic, and the evolution of fiqh course, which discusses how the four schools of thought in jurisprudence came to be.
If you are looking to have a deeper connection with your faith and want an affordable program that will solidify fundamentals of the religion for you and give you the tools to be able to figure things out at a basic to intermediate level, then this is the course for you.
Complete Syllabus – I was very impressed the way they had already planned out the curriculum for each class and as to what to expect throughout the course on a weekly basis. It felt much like a professional university and made it easy for me to mentally prepare and know what to expect. They’ve already marked out which pages to read in the assigned text and which lectures to listen to each week. They give you the syllabus immediately after you are enrolled. I have taken classes in some online universities where every week is a surprise as to what you will learn.
Video Lectures Pre-Recorded – All of the lectures are pre-recorded and you have the option to either watch it in video format or download as mp3. For some of the easier classes, I would often download the assigned lecture as mp3 and take it with me to listen to it in the car, gym, or even at work at times as background noise.
Live Sessions w/ TAs – This is a very helpful feature. Ever week you have a chance to attend a live session with a Teacher’s Assistant (TA) who can answer any of your questions or clarify lessons. He/she usually starts off by going over the weekly lesson and then afterwards takes questions. They used to require live attendance with the TA and it used to be about 5% of your final grade but I’m not sure if that is still the case. Additionally, they record all live sessions every week so you can view them later on if you miss it.
The TAs are not just fellow students but also qualified. Some of them are in masters programs at universities like Medina.
Books in PDFs – For me this was very helpful because I could download them on to my digital devices and read the weekly assignment while on the metro or on the go.
Courses are Thorough – The courses are very informative and detailed and you get a lot out of it on a fundamental level. It’s very well planned and starts off with basics and delves into more and more advanced topics.
Assignments (Reading and Essays) – Every week you are assigned a pre-recorded lecture and reading assignment from the text. You are also required to write one essay per class on a given topic. This essay requirement especially is very helpful because you learn writing and research skills. It also helps you delve deeper into the topic and be creative by sharing your own input and is a good indication whether you’ve understood the topic or not. The essays are graded by TAs and are about 10% of your final grade.
You are also required to take a research assignment course during your senior semester. The requirement is to write a 30 page paper on a given topic. So you get to further your research skills and delve deeper into the topic and learn how to formulate your arguments using evidences.
Quizzes – The lessons are called modules. Each course can have anywhere from 20-32 modules or lessons. After every module, there is a five question multiple choice quiz for which you are not allowed to use your notes or books. The questions are drawn out of the lecture as well as reading assignments. This helps you measure your comprehension and make sure that you pay attention and not skip anything. The quizzes are graded and about 10-15% of your final grade. So if a course has 30 modules, this means you will have 30 quizzes.
In addition, there is also a 50-question multiple choice midterm and final exam. The midterm is about 30% of the final grade and the final is about 40%.
Price – One of the visions of IOU is to provide free Islamic education but obviously they have to cover their administrative costs. When I first began studying, it used to be $50/semester for U.S. students. Yes, you read that right. $50 per semester not per credit or class. They would allow you to take up to 9 courses with $50. That’s a great deal. But because they have grown a lot over the years, their administrative costs have gone up. During my last semester, I was paying close to $300 per semester. That’s still a great deal.
Another great thing they do is that they charge people based on which country they reside in. So if they live in a first world rich country, they charge more but if they live in a poor third world country, they charge less.
Access to Jstor – Jstor is a digital library of academic journals, primary sources, books and articles. Access to it is provided by universities and libraries around the world. It is used by students and researchers all over the world! They have some free material available to read as well, however, a far greater amount of reading material which is necessary for serious research into topics is only available via a university or a library. So being a student at IOU gives you access to Jstor for free (technically it’s covered under your semester fees)! I have used Jstor to do research for some of the essays at IOU because not sufficient resources were available online or my local library. In addition, you get to have access to tons of research in other topics not related to religion.
Nothing is perfect. Everything has some flaws that need to be worked on or improved. Following are what I consider some of the weak points in the IOU program.
Arabic Program – I did not take the reading course which was very basic since I could already read Arabic script so I cannot comment on that. If you are in the same situation, you can have it waived from your requirement and skip over it. As for the rest of the program, then I really enjoyed the first two semesters. They were phenomenal. I learned a lot on basic sentence structure and grammar! The second semester was amazing because the teacher only spoke Arabic and covered the entire text of the Al-Arabiya Bayna Yadayk volume 1. My basic comprehension was skyrocketing. I loved it.
After that semester, the program kind of falls apart at least for me. For some reason, they don’t continue with the Bayna Yadayk books and delve right into Medina books 2 & 3 and the teacher is different too. I did not enjoy it very much. Also, I am not a fan of the Medina books. They’re not engaging as the Bayna Yadayk books and are mainly grammar focused. The whole lessons are structured around the teacher and student relationship, so it is very restrictive and can get boring after a while. Sure, I learned a few things but I had to do a lot of self-study because the teacher wasn’t very engaging and just kind of gave monotone lectures. I was just very disappointed by it. It would have been a lot better to continue with the Bayna Yadayk books in Arabic or even in English with a gradual dominance of Arabic only.
The last 2-3 semester of Arabic focus on Balagha (Arabic rhetoric) and is done mainly in English with reading of Arabic texts focusing on the Balagha of the Qur’an. This was fine as it gives you a different way of looking at the linguistic beauty of the Qur’an and helps you practice reading Arabic texts. However, if done properly, this would only be done in Arabic. You cannot learn or appreciate Balagha properly in English.
Cannot Interact Directly w/ the Professor – Unfortunately, you cannot interact with the lecturer at all. In many cases, the lectures were recorded maybe over a year or two ago so the professor probably has moved on to some other project. Your only way of removing some confusion over the lesson is to e-mail the TA or attend the weekly live session.
Customer Service – It’s kind of difficult to get in touch with the staff if you need something done related to cancellations, profile update, or other administrative functions. The main way to get in touch is via e-mail (I’ve never looked into or tried calling) and sometimes they can take up to a week or two to get back to you. Other times, you have to follow up to get a response. This can get frustrating especially if you urgently need something done. After I finished my courses, it took me many months to get my degree certificate. I kept getting passed around (and with me constantly requesting an update) until finally someone in Gambia responded and sent me the certificate.
Some Professors Just Read Things – I had at least one or two professors that just read directly from the text and didn’t add any value to the lesson. They literally read word for word. After a few modules, I just stopped listening to them and went directly to the text and just read it myself. I’m not going to waste time listening to something I can just do myself in less time.
Final Exam Locations – The university requires that you take your final exam at a registered exam location. They send them the password to the final exam. You cannot take the final exam except at a registered institution. This might be a mosque, Muslim community center, etc. If you don’t have one in your area, you can contact the university and make some other arrangement. You can also reach out to your local mosque or Muslim community center and ask them to register with IOU as a registered exam location.
I find this to be a con because though I understand they want to be professional about it, it just doesn’t make sense why this is required for an online university. It’s kind of frustrating because sometimes you contact a place that is listed on the IOU student portal as a registered location, but they don’t get back to you. You’re kind of left hanging. It can get stressful if the final exam is close and the places you have contacted still haven’t returned your messages or worse, they don’t show up on the day of the scheduled exam. Remember, these pre-registered exam locations are not paid by IOU, the process is entirely voluntary. So they are under no obligation to keep their word or get back to you. Some of them may charge the student some small fees to take the exam at their location so I assume they would be a bit more punctual and professional about it.
I don’t regret studying at IOU and overall really enjoyed it. As I stated earlier, it fulfilled what I was looking for and wanted out of it. I would do it again because it did give me insight into my faith that I didn’t have before. I have more confidence in my faith because of it and I certainly enjoy my faith more. Having the ability to understand Qur’an and basic Arabic texts alone is a remarkable achievement for an online Islamic university program. So before enrolling in any type of online university program, you need to ask yourself, what are your goals? What do you want to achieve out of the university? What are your expectations?
I’d love to hear your thoughts as well. Is there an online Islamic studies program that you really liked or hated? If so, why or why not? Let us know in the comments below!
26 Comments on "Review of Islamic Online University’s (IOU) BAIS Program"
I found this review very helpful, thank you. I would love to read more reviews of online islamic courses/degrees. Seekersguidence come to mind and there are other ones. At a time when the internet is saturated with islamic knowledge it’s nice to read clear, objective and informative reviews such as yours. Thank you again.
I am glad you found it helpful! Yes, there is an overflow of Islamic courses online and it can be quite daunting to get through it and figure out which best suits you. I’ve had my share of enrolling and dropping out of various courses because there was no clear guide as to how the program actually runs. You have to do trial and error which wastes a lot of time and money. I’m hoping more students will write thorough reviews of other Islamic institutions.
MashaAllah thank you for the review. I am always skeptical about “online” university. Initially, I planned to enrol myself in IOU to get myself certified with a BA Arabic. Simply because I would want to leave my secular 9-5 job as a software developer and contribute to the Muslim community in my own country. Though I wasn’t sure if IOU accreditation is legit?
But after reading your post, then I renewed my goal to simply want to understand the Quran and not care about the certifications at all.
That is great to hear! May Allah accept it from you.
Salam! Thank you for your review! I just wanted to ask, how did you feel towards the quizzes? I’m having some struggles with some of them, yet I understand the lecture I read all the prescribed pages. Like some quizzes I do so good and others it is like I do so bad. I’m only 2 weeks in the school now. And I’m very stressed but happy about the knowledge that I’m reviving. Also at times, did you feel that the amount of different courses was over whelming? Since the topics were so different?
Firstly, are you taking notes? You must take notes for both reading assignment and lecture. That’s the only way it’s going to stick!
Thirdly, make sure that you are not taking too many classes. I was at one point taking 6 classes per semester. It was a bit too much and it was impacting my grade. Everyone has a different threshold for pressure but mine is 4 classes max per semester so make sure you stay under your threshold.
Lastly, it is normal to feel overwhelmed in the beginning especially if the info is new to you but your brain should start picking it up after a while. If you still feel overwhelmed after half way through the semester, then it probably means you are taking too many classes that are beyond your threshold so reduce the amount of classes the following semester. I believe IOU also has a period of time where you can drop a class and not be penalized for it.
Hope the above helps! May Allah grant you success and sincerity in the quest for this sacred knowledge!
can you tell me the job opportunities that come along with this university. I am actually planning to pursue for Islamic Economic Banking and finance in this university but i am bit nervous of the fact that whether my degree would be recognized by well reputed countries or not .
I am glad you liked the review!
Therefore, you will need to research different countries to see if they recognize such accreditation. It’s going to vary and not all places are going to accept it.
I hope it all goes well for you insha’Allah. Whatever you decide, just make sure you do istikhara before moving forward.
Your post is very good. Can you please tell me what does Athari creed mean? And is it wrong to follow it?
Athari creed is one of the theological schools of thought in Sunni Islam. Sometimes it is referred to as “Hanbali Creed” due to Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal being one of its leaders and many who followed him in it afterwards.
No, there is nothing wrong with following it.
Assalamua’leikum. Thanks for the comprehensive review. My question is about the Athari creed. Why are there, and how many, different types of theological schools on creed? I suppose we should unite on Aqidah too as was the case during the Prophet’s (SAW) period and the early generation of Muslims? I’m curious as I want to enroll in the school but want no characteristic affiliation. Just hoping to receive Islamic knowledge in its purest form, and from the best scholars. JazakAllah khairan.
There are three main creedal schools of thought in Sunni Islam: Athari, Ashari, and Maturidi. The differences are there because the scholars from those schools differ on how to approach some of the finer details of certain theological questions in the faith, particularly Allah’s Names and Attributes. Obviously, each school considers itself the most pure and authentic form of the religion. When it comes to general fundamentals, however, the creed for all is the same (Allah is One, Muhammad (pbuh) is His Last prophet, belief in angels, day of judgement, etc.).
The differences are inevitable because the answers to the finer details of some of the theological questions cannot be answered except by taking a particular position on it. The sahabah and the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) didn’t answer these finer detail questions because these questions came later when Islam spread and Muslims started debating with theologians of other faiths and philosophers and they started asking questions which were not asked before. The scholars of Sunni Islam recognize these three schools as a valid method of answering such questions. No other way of looking at it is permitted. There used to be some other ones but they died out. These three have survived.
Naturally, the schools are critical of the others’ principles, methodology and conclusions. Generally, there is more difference between Athari school and the other two. The Ashari and Maturidi are quite similar to each other with slight differences, thus, less critical of each other. My advice would be to avoid the extreme polemics over this issue and not treat the others as sects but just different ways of looking at things. This way we can still view each other as part of the same ummah while respectfully disagreeing. Just know that you are there to learn the fundamentals of your faith and focus on that.
That’s my advice so I hope that helps!
Any thoughts on the BA in Arabic program? Do you happen to know if they leave the Bayna Yadayk series? I concur, it would be good if they were to stick with them. They seem to be very thorough and less grammar heavy.
Also, overall, would you say it was more worth it than going another route to pursue Islamic knowledge?
I didn’t do the BA in Arabic so I’m not sure what’s that like. You can ask them via e-mail. They do respond though they may take a while sometimes so just keep following up with them if you don’t hear anything. They also have representatives in various countries so if you have one in your country, you can contact that person directly via e-mail or phone and ask questions. Again, you can e-mail them to find out who the representative is in your country.
Given my circumstances (limited amount of money, can’t travel overseas, family obligations, working full time, etc.), yes it was definitely worth it for me. I’m strongly considering their Masters program as well.
I’d like to thank you for your reply! The blog post was very helpful in terms of helping me make my own decision. I’ve decided to give it a try!
I agree with you about the importance of vocabulary in Arabic (and all languages, for that matter). I’m not really much of a grammar enthusiast, so that is going to be very hard for me to swallow, but I am going to do my best.
If you happen to have the chance, check out Glossika. They offer about 5k worth of words in the language. It isn’t the best resource in the world, but it has helped me out tons.
I was wondering, do you think the knowledge you have acquired from the BAIS program gave you the ability to apply it in your day-to-day life?
That’s great! Hope you like it! I would say it is designed for day to day because it’s focused around fundamentals.
Asalamu Alaikum. I’m 19 years old and have graduated from school last year. I would really like to study at IOU but I’m not sure if it’s the right thing for my age. And I have seen a lot of bad reviews about this university saying that it’s not accredited properly and I’m really worried and don’t know whether I should apply or not. Please I need your help and advice.
WS. It depends on your goals. Is your main objective a secular education or a religious education? Are you trying to seek a job after you graduate from this University or doing it for self-fulfillment? The answer depends based on your answers to these questions.
Firstly, such a wonderful write-up and very inspiring!
I am actually looking for a course which would help me reading and understanding the Quran. Frankly, I am not looking for any accreditation or certificate, because I want to keep my learning flexible and stress free (single mom, working full time, limited budget). So could you suggest any such online course at IOU or maybe outside IOU?
Thank you for the objective write up.
Just to give perspective to those who may be considering the IOU Islamic Economics Banking and Finance course, I finished with the first lot in February last year and graduated in January this year.
I’m currently in my third semester studying for my Masters in Islamic Finance Practice (online) at INCEIF – the global university for Islamic finance, which is an AACSB-accredited post graduate university based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They accepted my BScIBE degree because its accredited by ICIFE, which is based in Malaysia.
So if your goal is to proceed with your education, then I highly recommend the programme. However, I really can’t comment on job prospects because this mostly depends on your prospective employer.
Wow that’s amazing bro! Keep it up!
Can I know the details of the certificate accreditation please?
I am planning to enroll in IAP course to learn Arabic and to able to read and understand Quran. Can you advise me if this course will help me to fulfill my goal.

lowercased:
after five years of studying, reviewing, memorizing, and stressing out, i am proud to say that i finally graduated from islamic online university’s bachelor of arts in islamic studies (bais) program. it was quite a journey and i’ve learned so much. in this post, i want to give a review of my experience with the university for those who may be thinking of joining an online based islamic university but haven’t really made up their minds yet.
i have divided my review into three sections.
the program is not designed to produce scholars but just very well informed muslims and beginner to intermediate level students of knowledge. the program gives you tools to be able to research religious concepts and figure things out for yourself but not at an advanced level.
i was very impressed by their consistency with sticking to the schedule and having full staff of teachers as well as teacher’s assistants (tas). the assistants themselves are also highly qualified. many of them are either graduates of an islamic university or currently enrolled in a masters program.
everything is online based so it does require lots of discipline. i have heard of students dropping out because they do not have the discipline to do self-paced courses in a timely manner. one student who dropped out told me that he needs to be in the same classroom as the teacher and be able to interact, otherwise, he cannot remain attentive. studying online successfully also means not being busy by opening other screens while the lecture is playing. you have to be focused.
in aqeeda, the university follows athari (أثري) creed and in fiqh it is mainly hanbali. dr. bilal phillips only teaches the aqeedah courses, first semester of arabic, and the evolution of fiqh course, which discusses how the four schools of thought in jurisprudence came to be.
if you are looking to have a deeper connection with your faith and want an affordable program that will solidify fundamentals of the religion for you and give you the tools to be able to figure things out at a basic to intermediate level, then this is the course for you.
complete syllabus – i was very impressed the way they had already planned out the curriculum for each class and as to what to expect throughout the course on a weekly basis. it felt much like a professional university and made it easy for me to mentally prepare and know what to expect. they’ve already marked out which pages to read in the assigned text and which lectures to listen to each week. they give you the syllabus immediately after you are enrolled. i have taken classes in some online universities where every week is a surprise as to what you will learn.
video lectures pre-recorded – all of the lectures are pre-recorded and you have the option to either watch it in video format or download as mp3. for some of the easier classes, i would often download the assigned lecture as mp3 and take it with me to listen to it in the car, gym, or even at work at times as background noise.
live sessions w/ tas – this is a very helpful feature. ever week you have a chance to attend a live session with a teacher’s assistant (ta) who can answer any of your questions or clarify lessons. he/she usually starts off by going over the weekly lesson and then afterwards takes questions. they used to require live attendance with the ta and it used to be about 5% of your final grade but i’m not sure if that is still the case. additionally, they record all live sessions every week so you can view them later on if you miss it.
the tas are not just fellow students but also qualified. some of them are in masters programs at universities like medina.
books in pdfs – for me this was very helpful because i could download them on to my digital devices and read the weekly assignment while on the metro or on the go.
courses are thorough – the courses are very informative and detailed and you get a lot out of it on a fundamental level. it’s very well planned and starts off with basics and delves into more and more advanced topics.
assignments (reading and essays) – every week you are assigned a pre-recorded lecture and reading assignment from the text. you are also required to write one essay per class on a given topic. this essay requirement especially is very helpful because you learn writing and research skills. it also helps you delve deeper into the topic and be creative by sharing your own input and is a good indication whether you’ve understood the topic or not. the essays are graded by tas and are about 10% of your final grade.
you are also required to take a research assignment course during your senior semester. the requirement is to write a 30 page paper on a given topic. so you get to further your research skills and delve deeper into the topic and learn how to formulate your arguments using evidences.
quizzes – the lessons are called modules. each course can have anywhere from 20-32 modules or lessons. after every module, there is a five question multiple choice quiz for which you are not allowed to use your notes or books. the questions are drawn out of the lecture as well as reading assignments. this helps you measure your comprehension and make sure that you pay attention and not skip anything. the quizzes are graded and about 10-15% of your final grade. so if a course has 30 modules, this means you will have 30 quizzes.
in addition, there is also a 50-question multiple choice midterm and final exam. the midterm is about 30% of the final grade and the final is about 40%.
price – one of the visions of iou is to provide free islamic education but obviously they have to cover their administrative costs. when i first began studying, it used to be $50/semester for u.s. students. yes, you read that right. $50 per semester not per credit or class. they would allow you to take up to 9 courses with $50. that’s a great deal. but because they have grown a lot over the years, their administrative costs have gone up. during my last semester, i was paying close to $300 per semester. that’s still a great deal.
another great thing they do is that they charge people based on which country they reside in. so if they live in a first world rich country, they charge more but if they live in a poor third world country, they charge less.
access to jstor – jstor is a digital library of academic journals, primary sources, books and articles. access to it is provided by universities and libraries around the world. it is used by students and researchers all over the world! they have some free material available to read as well, however, a far greater amount of reading material which is necessary for serious research into topics is only available via a university or a library. so being a student at iou gives you access to jstor for free (technically it’s covered under your semester fees)! i have used jstor to do research for some of the essays at iou because not sufficient resources were available online or my local library. in addition, you get to have access to tons of research in other topics not related to religion.
nothing is perfect. everything has some flaws that need to be worked on or improved. following are what i consider some of the weak points in the iou program.
arabic program – i did not take the reading course which was very basic since i could already read arabic script so i cannot comment on that. if you are in the same situation, you can have it waived from your requirement and skip over it. as for the rest of the program, then i really enjoyed the first two semesters. they were phenomenal. i learned a lot on basic sentence structure and grammar! the second semester was amazing because the teacher only spoke arabic and covered the entire text of the al-arabiya bayna yadayk volume 1. my basic comprehension was skyrocketing. i loved it.
after that semester, the program kind of falls apart at least for me. for some reason, they don’t continue with the bayna yadayk books and delve right into medina books 2 & 3 and the teacher is different too. i did not enjoy it very much. also, i am not a fan of the medina books. they’re not engaging as the bayna yadayk books and are mainly grammar focused. the whole lessons are structured around the teacher and student relationship, so it is very restrictive and can get boring after a while. sure, i learned a few things but i had to do a lot of self-study because the teacher wasn’t very engaging and just kind of gave monotone lectures. i was just very disappointed by it. it would have been a lot better to continue with the bayna yadayk books in arabic or even in english with a gradual dominance of arabic only.
the last 2-3 semester of arabic focus on balagha (arabic rhetoric) and is done mainly in english with reading of arabic texts focusing on the balagha of the qur’an. this was fine as it gives you a different way of looking at the linguistic beauty of the qur’an and helps you practice reading arabic texts. however, if done properly, this would only be done in arabic. you cannot learn or appreciate balagha properly in english.
cannot interact directly w/ the professor – unfortunately, you cannot interact with the lecturer at all. in many cases, the lectures were recorded maybe over a year or two ago so the professor probably has moved on to some other project. your only way of removing some confusion over the lesson is to e-mail the ta or attend the weekly live session.
customer service – it’s kind of difficult to get in touch with the staff if you need something done related to cancellations, profile update, or other administrative functions. the main way to get in touch is via e-mail (i’ve never looked into or tried calling) and sometimes they can take up to a week or two to get back to you. other times, you have to follow up to get a response. this can get frustrating especially if you urgently need something done. after i finished my courses, it took me many months to get my degree certificate. i kept getting passed around (and with me constantly requesting an update) until finally someone in gambia responded and sent me the certificate.
some professors just read things – i had at least one or two professors that just read directly from the text and didn’t add any value to the lesson. they literally read word for word. after a few modules, i just stopped listening to them and went directly to the text and just read it myself. i’m not going to waste time listening to something i can just do myself in less time.
final exam locations – the university requires that you take your final exam at a registered exam location. they send them the password to the final exam. you cannot take the final exam except at a registered institution. this might be a mosque, muslim community center, etc. if you don’t have one in your area, you can contact the university and make some other arrangement. you can also reach out to your local mosque or muslim community center and ask them to register with iou as a registered exam location.
i find this to be a con because though i understand they want to be professional about it, it just doesn’t make sense why this is required for an online university. it’s kind of frustrating because sometimes you contact a place that is listed on the iou student portal as a registered location, but they don’t get back to you. you’re kind of left hanging. it can get stressful if the final exam is close and the places you have contacted still haven’t returned your messages or worse, they don’t show up on the day of the scheduled exam. remember, these pre-registered exam locations are not paid by iou, the process is entirely voluntary. so they are under no obligation to keep their word or get back to you. some of them may charge the student some small fees to take the exam at their location so i assume they would be a bit more punctual and professional about it.
i don’t regret studying at iou and overall really enjoyed it. as i stated earlier, it fulfilled what i was looking for and wanted out of it. i would do it again because it did give me insight into my faith that i didn’t have before. i have more confidence in my faith because of it and i certainly enjoy my faith more. having the ability to understand qur’an and basic arabic texts alone is a remarkable achievement for an online islamic university program. so before enrolling in any type of online university program, you need to ask yourself, what are your goals? what do you want to achieve out of the university? what are your expectations?
i’d love to hear your thoughts as well. is there an online islamic studies program that you really liked or hated? if so, why or why not? let us know in the comments below!
26 comments on "review of islamic online university’s (iou) bais program"
i found this review very helpful, thank you. i would love to read more reviews of online islamic courses/degrees. seekersguidence come to mind and there are other ones. at a time when the internet is saturated with islamic knowledge it’s nice to read clear, objective and informative reviews such as yours. thank you again.
i am glad you found it helpful! yes, there is an overflow of islamic courses online and it can be quite daunting to get through it and figure out which best suits you. i’ve had my share of enrolling and dropping out of various courses because there was no clear guide as to how the program actually runs. you have to do trial and error which wastes a lot of time and money. i’m hoping more students will write thorough reviews of other islamic institutions.
mashaallah thank you for the review. i am always skeptical about “online” university. initially, i planned to enrol myself in iou to get myself certified with a ba arabic. simply because i would want to leave my secular 9-5 job as a software developer and contribute to the muslim community in my own country. though i wasn’t sure if iou accreditation is legit?
but after reading your post, then i renewed my goal to simply want to understand the quran and not care about the certifications at all.
that is great to hear! may allah accept it from you.
salam! thank you for your review! i just wanted to ask, how did you feel towards the quizzes? i’m having some struggles with some of them, yet i understand the lecture i read all the prescribed pages. like some quizzes i do so good and others it is like i do so bad. i’m only 2 weeks in the school now. and i’m very stressed but happy about the knowledge that i’m reviving. also at times, did you feel that the amount of different courses was over whelming? since the topics were so different?
firstly, are you taking notes? you must take notes for both reading assignment and lecture. that’s the only way it’s going to stick!
thirdly, make sure that you are not taking too many classes. i was at one point taking 6 classes per semester. it was a bit too much and it was impacting my grade. everyone has a different threshold for pressure but mine is 4 classes max per semester so make sure you stay under your threshold.
lastly, it is normal to feel overwhelmed in the beginning especially if the info is new to you but your brain should start picking it up after a while. if you still feel overwhelmed after half way through the semester, then it probably means you are taking too many classes that are beyond your threshold so reduce the amount of classes the following semester. i believe iou also has a period of time where you can drop a class and not be penalized for it.
hope the above helps! may allah grant you success and sincerity in the quest for this sacred knowledge!
can you tell me the job opportunities that come along with this university. i am actually planning to pursue for islamic economic banking and finance in this university but i am bit nervous of the fact that whether my degree would be recognized by well reputed countries or not .
i am glad you liked the review!
therefore, you will need to research different countries to see if they recognize such accreditation. it’s going to vary and not all places are going to accept it.
i hope it all goes well for you insha’allah. whatever you decide, just make sure you do istikhara before moving forward.
your post is very good. can you please tell me what does athari creed mean? and is it wrong to follow it?
athari creed is one of the theological schools of thought in sunni islam. sometimes it is referred to as “hanbali creed” due to imam ahmad bin hanbal being one of its leaders and many who followed him in it afterwards.
no, there is nothing wrong with following it.
assalamua’leikum. thanks for the comprehensive review. my question is about the athari creed. why are there, and how many, different types of theological schools on creed? i suppose we should unite on aqidah too as was the case during the prophet’s (saw) period and the early generation of muslims? i’m curious as i want to enroll in the school but want no characteristic affiliation. just hoping to receive islamic knowledge in its purest form, and from the best scholars. jazakallah khairan.
there are three main creedal schools of thought in sunni islam: athari, ashari, and maturidi. the differences are there because the scholars from those schools differ on how to approach some of the finer details of certain theological questions in the faith, particularly allah’s names and attributes. obviously, each school considers itself the most pure and authentic form of the religion. when it comes to general fundamentals, however, the creed for all is the same (allah is one, muhammad (pbuh) is his last prophet, belief in angels, day of judgement, etc.).
the differences are inevitable because the answers to the finer details of some of the theological questions cannot be answered except by taking a particular position on it. the sahabah and the prophet muhammad (pbuh) didn’t answer these finer detail questions because these questions came later when islam spread and muslims started debating with theologians of other faiths and philosophers and they started asking questions which were not asked before. the scholars of sunni islam recognize these three schools as a valid method of answering such questions. no other way of looking at it is permitted. there used to be some other ones but they died out. these three have survived.
naturally, the schools are critical of the others’ principles, methodology and conclusions. generally, there is more difference between athari school and the other two. the ashari and maturidi are quite similar to each other with slight differences, thus, less critical of each other. my advice would be to avoid the extreme polemics over this issue and not treat the others as sects but just different ways of looking at things. this way we can still view each other as part of the same ummah while respectfully disagreeing. just know that you are there to learn the fundamentals of your faith and focus on that.
that’s my advice so i hope that helps!
any thoughts on the ba in arabic program? do you happen to know if they leave the bayna yadayk series? i concur, it would be good if they were to stick with them. they seem to be very thorough and less grammar heavy.
also, overall, would you say it was more worth it than going another route to pursue islamic knowledge?
i didn’t do the ba in arabic so i’m not sure what’s that like. you can ask them via e-mail. they do respond though they may take a while sometimes so just keep following up with them if you don’t hear anything. they also have representatives in various countries so if you have one in your country, you can contact that person directly via e-mail or phone and ask questions. again, you can e-mail them to find out who the representative is in your country.
given my circumstances (limited amount of money, can’t travel overseas, family obligations, working full time, etc.), yes it was definitely worth it for me. i’m strongly considering their masters program as well.
i’d like to thank you for your reply! the blog post was very helpful in terms of helping me make my own decision. i’ve decided to give it a try!
i agree with you about the importance of vocabulary in arabic (and all languages, for that matter). i’m not really much of a grammar enthusiast, so that is going to be very hard for me to swallow, but i am going to do my best.
if you happen to have the chance, check out glossika. they offer about 5k worth of words in the language. it isn’t the best resource in the world, but it has helped me out tons.
i was wondering, do you think the knowledge you have acquired from the bais program gave you the ability to apply it in your day-to-day life?
that’s great! hope you like it! i would say it is designed for day to day because it’s focused around fundamentals.
asalamu alaikum. i’m 19 years old and have graduated from school last year. i would really like to study at iou but i’m not sure if it’s the right thing for my age. and i have seen a lot of bad reviews about this university saying that it’s not accredited properly and i’m really worried and don’t know whether i should apply or not. please i need your help and advice.
ws. it depends on your goals. is your main objective a secular education or a religious education? are you trying to seek a job after you graduate from this university or doing it for self-fulfillment? the answer depends based on your answers to these questions.
firstly, such a wonderful write-up and very inspiring!
i am actually looking for a course which would help me reading and understanding the quran. frankly, i am not looking for any accreditation or certificate, because i want to keep my learning flexible and stress free (single mom, working full time, limited budget). so could you suggest any such online course at iou or maybe outside iou?
thank you for the objective write up.
just to give perspective to those who may be considering the iou islamic economics banking and finance course, i finished with the first lot in february last year and graduated in january this year.
i’m currently in my third semester studying for my masters in islamic finance practice (online) at inceif – the global university for islamic finance, which is an aacsb-accredited post graduate university based in kuala lumpur, malaysia. they accepted my bscibe degree because its accredited by icife, which is based in malaysia.
so if your goal is to proceed with your education, then i highly recommend the programme. however, i really can’t comment on job prospects because this mostly depends on your prospective employer.
wow that’s amazing bro! keep it up!
can i know the details of the certificate accreditation please?
i am planning to enroll in iap course to learn arabic and to able to read and understand quran. can you advise me if this course will help me to fulfill my goal.


text:
In this animated short, Sleeping Betty is stuck in bed, victim to a strange bout of narcolepsy. The King calls on his subjects to rescue her and they all respond to the call: Uncle Henry VIII, Aunt Victoria, an oddly emotional alien, a funky witch and a handsome prince. But will a kiss really be enough to wake the sleeping princess? The film, drawn in ink, is a classic example of the anachronistic and playful world of Claude Cloutier.
Beautiful style and absurd humour.
amazing how detailed and thoughtful. This humorous and touching fairy tale reveals reality. Thank you for such delight!
Brilliant. So absurd and funny. I love that horse.

lowercased:
in this animated short, sleeping betty is stuck in bed, victim to a strange bout of narcolepsy. the king calls on his subjects to rescue her and they all respond to the call: uncle henry viii, aunt victoria, an oddly emotional alien, a funky witch and a handsome prince. but will a kiss really be enough to wake the sleeping princess? the film, drawn in ink, is a classic example of the anachronistic and playful world of claude cloutier.
beautiful style and absurd humour.
amazing how detailed and thoughtful. this humorous and touching fairy tale reveals reality. thank you for such delight!
brilliant. so absurd and funny. i love that horse.


text: Welcome to this beautiful 4 bedroom 2.5 bath home . You will feel a warm and inviting feeling the minute you walk through the front door .This home has room for everyone with over 3, 000 sq feet . Everything is located in the desirable Hampton Woods neighborhood and is just minutes to all of the shops and restaurants of Hixson. This home features beautiful hardwood flooring in the dining room , entry way and kitchen. The spacious kitchen has a breakfast area with a bay window to enjoy those sunny mornings with your coffee. There is a den/family room with cozy beautiful brick fireplace. You will love the large rec room / man cave in the finished basement . The screen deck has the feel of having your very own grown-up tree house looking out at the beautiful wooded back yard .

lowercased: welcome to this beautiful 4 bedroom 2.5 bath home . you will feel a warm and inviting feeling the minute you walk through the front door .this home has room for everyone with over 3, 000 sq feet . everything is located in the desirable hampton woods neighborhood and is just minutes to all of the shops and restaurants of hixson. this home features beautiful hardwood flooring in the dining room , entry way and kitchen. the spacious kitchen has a breakfast area with a bay window to enjoy those sunny mornings with your coffee. there is a den/family room with cozy beautiful brick fireplace. you will love the large rec room / man cave in the finished basement . the screen deck has the feel of having your very own grown-up tree house looking out at the beautiful wooded back yard .


text:
Last week I told you about a show I went to. I liked the artist’s music, but found it difficult to focus on his performance. I went home and began to ask myself why I wasn’t engaged with this artist’s show.
I realized one of the main reasons I was having trouble paying attention was because his whole show looked exactly the same.
Most live shows have three key elements. The music, the script— the order you play the music in, and what you say between the music— and the visuals.
People come to see a show, not hear it.
Let me clarify: If your music is bad, it doesn’t matter how great your visuals are. Well rehearsed, well written music is absolutely essential. But your audience isn’t paying to hear an exact copy of your album. They bought a ticket because they want an experience. And the visual aspect of your show is crucial in keeping people engaged with what’s happening onstage, and giving a night they’ll remember.
Having a road map of changing visuals for each of your songs is a great idea. When you have a general idea of what everyone is doing for each song, you can make sure that you have lots of visual interest and diversity in your show. This will help keep your audience focused on you throughout your entire show.
Try to figure out where you can interact with other members of your band. If you’re the singer, turn around and jam with your drummer. Or if your guitarist should walk over to the bassist. If your guitarist has a solo, or is being featured for a section, have the lead singer look at him, or even walk over to him. This action helps the audience know where to look, and signals them that something new and exciting is happening.
Visually highlight dynamic changes. Are you going from an upbeat and exciting part of your set to a quieter, more intimate section? Bring out a stool, have your drummer take a break, and show your audience visually that you’re about to take them to someplace completely new.
Make eye contact. In any kind of ensemble, a little eye contact goes a long way. When your band is a tight knit unit, and looks like one, the audience can feel that camaraderie, and you can invite them to participate in it. When they feel connected to— like they are a part of something— that’s when you’ve gained a fan.
Now, not all of these suggestions are going to work for everyone. What if you play by yourself, or with one other person?
If you are in a smaller ensemble, and chained to an instrument and your mic stand, don’t despair! There are things that you can do to add visual interest to your show.
The first thing to do is look at your facial expressions. You might want to try rehearsing into a mirror, or a webcam. If you make the same face the whole time, work on matching your facial expressions to your lyrics. Maybe all you need to do is practice smiling. Looking like you’re enjoying yourself onstage goes a long way in getting the audience to enjoy your performance.
If you play an instrument, learn to move with that instrument. Bend over your guitar a little. Nod your head in time with your keys.Engage with it! After all, it’s part of your band too.

lowercased:
last week i told you about a show i went to. i liked the artist’s music, but found it difficult to focus on his performance. i went home and began to ask myself why i wasn’t engaged with this artist’s show.
i realized one of the main reasons i was having trouble paying attention was because his whole show looked exactly the same.
most live shows have three key elements. the music, the script— the order you play the music in, and what you say between the music— and the visuals.
people come to see a show, not hear it.
let me clarify: if your music is bad, it doesn’t matter how great your visuals are. well rehearsed, well written music is absolutely essential. but your audience isn’t paying to hear an exact copy of your album. they bought a ticket because they want an experience. and the visual aspect of your show is crucial in keeping people engaged with what’s happening onstage, and giving a night they’ll remember.
having a road map of changing visuals for each of your songs is a great idea. when you have a general idea of what everyone is doing for each song, you can make sure that you have lots of visual interest and diversity in your show. this will help keep your audience focused on you throughout your entire show.
try to figure out where you can interact with other members of your band. if you’re the singer, turn around and jam with your drummer. or if your guitarist should walk over to the bassist. if your guitarist has a solo, or is being featured for a section, have the lead singer look at him, or even walk over to him. this action helps the audience know where to look, and signals them that something new and exciting is happening.
visually highlight dynamic changes. are you going from an upbeat and exciting part of your set to a quieter, more intimate section? bring out a stool, have your drummer take a break, and show your audience visually that you’re about to take them to someplace completely new.
make eye contact. in any kind of ensemble, a little eye contact goes a long way. when your band is a tight knit unit, and looks like one, the audience can feel that camaraderie, and you can invite them to participate in it. when they feel connected to— like they are a part of something— that’s when you’ve gained a fan.
now, not all of these suggestions are going to work for everyone. what if you play by yourself, or with one other person?
if you are in a smaller ensemble, and chained to an instrument and your mic stand, don’t despair! there are things that you can do to add visual interest to your show.
the first thing to do is look at your facial expressions. you might want to try rehearsing into a mirror, or a webcam. if you make the same face the whole time, work on matching your facial expressions to your lyrics. maybe all you need to do is practice smiling. looking like you’re enjoying yourself onstage goes a long way in getting the audience to enjoy your performance.
if you play an instrument, learn to move with that instrument. bend over your guitar a little. nod your head in time with your keys.engage with it! after all, it’s part of your band too.


text:
In this lecture, exhibition co-curator Oriole Cullen will discuss her experiences researching historic hats and working with Stephen Jones and other contemporary milliners. Special guests will then model hats by New York milliners represented in the exhibition.
Oriole Cullen is the curator of modern textiles and fashion at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and is co-curator of the Hats exhibition.
Registration for this event is full. Please contact programs@bgc.bard.edu to be placed on the waiting list.

lowercased:
in this lecture, exhibition co-curator oriole cullen will discuss her experiences researching historic hats and working with stephen jones and other contemporary milliners. special guests will then model hats by new york milliners represented in the exhibition.
oriole cullen is the curator of modern textiles and fashion at the victoria & albert museum in london and is co-curator of the hats exhibition.
registration for this event is full. please contact programs@bgc.bard.edu to be placed on the waiting list.


text: Have you misplaced or broken the original adapter for one of your electronic devices, or maybe it is old or just no longer works? If your device requires 18-Volt DC unregulated power rated at 1.1 Amp, you can replace it with this all-purpose adapter that fits most common electronic devices. The 2.1mm positive center barrel plug is a common size for typical electronics. The 18V DC 1.1A Unregulated Mini Power Supply offers high efficiency and are very small for the amount of output current. It also features short circuit/over voltage protection. For use with 110V/120V recepacles only.

lowercased: have you misplaced or broken the original adapter for one of your electronic devices, or maybe it is old or just no longer works? if your device requires 18-volt dc unregulated power rated at 1.1 amp, you can replace it with this all-purpose adapter that fits most common electronic devices. the 2.1mm positive center barrel plug is a common size for typical electronics. the 18v dc 1.1a unregulated mini power supply offers high efficiency and are very small for the amount of output current. it also features short circuit/over voltage protection. for use with 110v/120v recepacles only.


text:
Not drinking is really hard (you’re going to hear me say a lot of things are hard because, well, they are). It’s not like I’m an alcoholic that needs to drink all the time but I love the taste of alcohol, in particular, wine. Along with that, and this probably has something to do with being a bartender through college and grad school, one of my favorite activities is to sit at a bar, get a drink (or 2), and chat with the bartenders while people watching. It’s fun to sit at a bar by myself (or with a friend); I always meet great people and it’s a good opportunity to get to know the people working.
I’ve given up drinking for 18 months before and I don’t remember the exact event that led me to start drinking again but I did; and now I need to stop… again. As I mention in my about me, I get stir crazy sitting at home so I often walk down the street to my favorite local bar and hang out for a few hours. In fact, that’s something I wish I were doing right now which is what prompted me to write this post.
Aside from hanging at a bar being my favorite way to pass time, there’s a social element to drinking when I’m out with friends or at music events that I’m missing out on. This past weekend I was at Splash House in Palm Springs, CA and someone asked me (after I told them I don’t drink) what a guy is supposed to offer me if they can’t offer to buy me a drink. No one had asked me that before, and I didn’t really know what to answer. Even as I’m writing this, I don’t know.
Has anyone else thought about this? What’s something you’ve said when a guy/girl you’re interested in has offered to buy you a drink while out?

lowercased:
not drinking is really hard (you’re going to hear me say a lot of things are hard because, well, they are). it’s not like i’m an alcoholic that needs to drink all the time but i love the taste of alcohol, in particular, wine. along with that, and this probably has something to do with being a bartender through college and grad school, one of my favorite activities is to sit at a bar, get a drink (or 2), and chat with the bartenders while people watching. it’s fun to sit at a bar by myself (or with a friend); i always meet great people and it’s a good opportunity to get to know the people working.
i’ve given up drinking for 18 months before and i don’t remember the exact event that led me to start drinking again but i did; and now i need to stop… again. as i mention in my about me, i get stir crazy sitting at home so i often walk down the street to my favorite local bar and hang out for a few hours. in fact, that’s something i wish i were doing right now which is what prompted me to write this post.
aside from hanging at a bar being my favorite way to pass time, there’s a social element to drinking when i’m out with friends or at music events that i’m missing out on. this past weekend i was at splash house in palm springs, ca and someone asked me (after i told them i don’t drink) what a guy is supposed to offer me if they can’t offer to buy me a drink. no one had asked me that before, and i didn’t really know what to answer. even as i’m writing this, i don’t know.
has anyone else thought about this? what’s something you’ve said when a guy/girl you’re interested in has offered to buy you a drink while out?


text: What You Need to Know When it Comes to Motorcycle Helmets The main purpose motorcycle helmets is to protect the head from injuries or trauma that it can obtain in case an accident happens. In earlier times, a lot of people do not like to use helmets due to the fact that they were not really that good looking and stylish. Nonetheless, the advancements made with technology, as well as the latest sleek designs caused more people to wear helmets these days. Moreover, motorcycles are also not complete if not coupled with helmets. There are different shapes and styles when it pertains to motorcycle helmets and they are full lace, bell, scorpion and flip-up. A flip-up type helmet was made so that riders can properly communicate with others without the need to raise his or her entire helmet. By pushing a certain button, the thin plastic shield that it contains will raise and the face will be shown as a result. There are a lot of riders who consider this particular kind of helmet as very useful, especially when they are greeting each other as a sort of tradition that they follow. Another type of helmet is the full-lace which is commonly made of aluminum even though there are other materials that are also used to construct it. Since the design of this type of helmet comes with modern bells and whistles, it also more expensive than the others. The design of this particular helmet is an oval shape which can make the face fir perfectly. You can even wear this kind of helmet for a long period of time without being annoyed or feeling uncomfortable because it has a brow and face ventilation. Moreover, the face shield it has can also protect the rider from UV rays and can help in having a better vision for driving. It cannot be denied that most riders are having fogging problems that occurs when they breath while they are driving. Thus, if you want to prevent fogging in your helmet, you must use the full-face type because it contains removable breath guards.

lowercased: what you need to know when it comes to motorcycle helmets the main purpose motorcycle helmets is to protect the head from injuries or trauma that it can obtain in case an accident happens. in earlier times, a lot of people do not like to use helmets due to the fact that they were not really that good looking and stylish. nonetheless, the advancements made with technology, as well as the latest sleek designs caused more people to wear helmets these days. moreover, motorcycles are also not complete if not coupled with helmets. there are different shapes and styles when it pertains to motorcycle helmets and they are full lace, bell, scorpion and flip-up. a flip-up type helmet was made so that riders can properly communicate with others without the need to raise his or her entire helmet. by pushing a certain button, the thin plastic shield that it contains will raise and the face will be shown as a result. there are a lot of riders who consider this particular kind of helmet as very useful, especially when they are greeting each other as a sort of tradition that they follow. another type of helmet is the full-lace which is commonly made of aluminum even though there are other materials that are also used to construct it. since the design of this type of helmet comes with modern bells and whistles, it also more expensive than the others. the design of this particular helmet is an oval shape which can make the face fir perfectly. you can even wear this kind of helmet for a long period of time without being annoyed or feeling uncomfortable because it has a brow and face ventilation. moreover, the face shield it has can also protect the rider from uv rays and can help in having a better vision for driving. it cannot be denied that most riders are having fogging problems that occurs when they breath while they are driving. thus, if you want to prevent fogging in your helmet, you must use the full-face type because it contains removable breath guards.


text:
This event will be a chance to network and exchange views in an informal setting over drinks with other LIFE members. Please feel free to invite any of your LIFE-eligible friends.
To confirm your attendance, please book online by logging in using your LIFE credentials.

lowercased:
this event will be a chance to network and exchange views in an informal setting over drinks with other life members. please feel free to invite any of your life-eligible friends.
to confirm your attendance, please book online by logging in using your life credentials.


text:
Live Music :: The Big Float | July 13 2019 | Portland Oregon | Get Into Your Willamette River!
The music at The Big Float 8 will rock, jam, and swing like never before. Music critics and reviewers agree, this is the most stellar music lineup ever to appear at The Big Float.
Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons is a ripping rock jam band that kicks world awareness up a level with explosive original music.
B-Side Players from San Diego is a 9-piece band that lays down a Curtis Mayfield and funk vibe with grooves of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Zephyr is a French band with a chanteuse singer and many chanson francaise styles, including gypsy lounge, Edit Piaf, and Brigitte Bardo. Oui, oui!
On the River Barge stage this local outfit will create cool musical waves floaters can sway to as they voyage by.
The Big Float Main Barge Stage is presented by Portland Mercury, KINK-FM 101.9, LIVE 95.5 and Wonder Ballroom.
All floaters who participate in TBF 8 will receive a wristband for free entry into the after-float party. Non-floaters can get in for the price of 15 bucks. A deal fo shur.

lowercased:
live music :: the big float | july 13 2019 | portland oregon | get into your willamette river!
the music at the big float 8 will rock, jam, and swing like never before. music critics and reviewers agree, this is the most stellar music lineup ever to appear at the big float.
jerry joseph and the jackmormons is a ripping rock jam band that kicks world awareness up a level with explosive original music.
b-side players from san diego is a 9-piece band that lays down a curtis mayfield and funk vibe with grooves of latin america and the caribbean.
zephyr is a french band with a chanteuse singer and many chanson francaise styles, including gypsy lounge, edit piaf, and brigitte bardo. oui, oui!
on the river barge stage this local outfit will create cool musical waves floaters can sway to as they voyage by.
the big float main barge stage is presented by portland mercury, kink-fm 101.9, live 95.5 and wonder ballroom.
all floaters who participate in tbf 8 will receive a wristband for free entry into the after-float party. non-floaters can get in for the price of 15 bucks. a deal fo shur.


text:
Following Sunday’s World Humanitarian Day, we at Bruce Gillingham Pollard are immensely proud to announce that this October our own Nick Garston will be joining a team of Chef’s, Restauranteurs and food industry experts to embark on a gruelling four day trek through Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains, in the name of Action Against Hunger.
For almost 40 years, across nearly 50 countries, Action Against Hunger have led the global fight against malnutrition through the implementation of innovative, lifesaving programmes in nutrition, food security, water sanitation and hygiene. Their efforts enable entire communities to be free from hunger, and save hundreds of thousands of lives each year. However, millions of undernourished children remain in need of lifesaving treatment, and it is for these children that the team will challenge themselves to raise £100,000, by trekking through the vast Simien Mountain range.
The dramatic skyline of the wild and remote Simien Mountains; an UNESCO World Heritage Site, stretches across northern Ethiopia. Spectacular to behold, but not for the faint of heart, the team will be sleeping in basic camping facilities whilst enduring long days trekking at extreme altitudes of up to 4,300m, as they cross jagged peaks and deep, rugged gorges.
Trekking with Nick will be; Sabor’s Nieves Barragan; The Dairy’s Dan Joines and Robin Gill; Bone Daddies’ Fran Astbury; Hammerson’s Sarah Fox; Kitchen Table’s James Knappett; Quality Chop House’s Shaun Searley; Hawksmoor’s Rosie Mira; Action Against Hunger’s Francine Heggie; and Breddos Tacos’ Chris Whitney.

lowercased:
following sunday’s world humanitarian day, we at bruce gillingham pollard are immensely proud to announce that this october our own nick garston will be joining a team of chef’s, restauranteurs and food industry experts to embark on a gruelling four day trek through ethiopia’s simien mountains, in the name of action against hunger.
for almost 40 years, across nearly 50 countries, action against hunger have led the global fight against malnutrition through the implementation of innovative, lifesaving programmes in nutrition, food security, water sanitation and hygiene. their efforts enable entire communities to be free from hunger, and save hundreds of thousands of lives each year. however, millions of undernourished children remain in need of lifesaving treatment, and it is for these children that the team will challenge themselves to raise £100,000, by trekking through the vast simien mountain range.
the dramatic skyline of the wild and remote simien mountains; an unesco world heritage site, stretches across northern ethiopia. spectacular to behold, but not for the faint of heart, the team will be sleeping in basic camping facilities whilst enduring long days trekking at extreme altitudes of up to 4,300m, as they cross jagged peaks and deep, rugged gorges.
trekking with nick will be; sabor’s nieves barragan; the dairy’s dan joines and robin gill; bone daddies’ fran astbury; hammerson’s sarah fox; kitchen table’s james knappett; quality chop house’s shaun searley; hawksmoor’s rosie mira; action against hunger’s francine heggie; and breddos tacos’ chris whitney.


text:
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lowercased:
amazoncom unity u7785 3way rocker switch for spotflood.
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text:
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lowercased:
, we selects the top collections having ideal resolution only for you all, and now this images is usually among photos selections within our ideal images gallery concerning corporate holiday party invitation text. i really hope you can want it.
posted simply by godong at 2018-06-27 06:36:17. to view just about all images in corporate holiday party invitation text images gallery please comply with that url.


text:
A very spare game. Most of the scenes are one or two rooms, and you can only do one thing -- possibly with a few fatal alternatives. The goal-guiding is rather too immediate and heavy-handed for me. Yes, I'm involved, but I'm not making a whole lot of policy decisions.
If you don't figure out the thing-to-do in a scene, of course, the game grinds to a halt very quickly. That's what happened to me. I got to a particular room, which seems to have only two objects, no exits, and one meaningful action. That gets you killed. Lacking any toe-holds to get a grasp on the game, I gave up.
And that was after two tight squeaks. The opening scene seems to be buggy; most of the actions that seem reasonable give an inappropriate response -- they seem to be parsed as something else entirely. That blanks out all the clues about what you should be doing. The second scene is better -- at least, I didn't see any bugs -- but it still took me a few minutes to think of the solution.
The story was pretty interesting up to that point, which is frustrating. I'm curious whether the dark hints about your ship and captain turn out relevant to the plot. I won't know until after the competition, unfortunately.
17th place on the 1999 Annual Interactive Fiction Competition (5th Edition).

lowercased:
a very spare game. most of the scenes are one or two rooms, and you can only do one thing -- possibly with a few fatal alternatives. the goal-guiding is rather too immediate and heavy-handed for me. yes, i'm involved, but i'm not making a whole lot of policy decisions.
if you don't figure out the thing-to-do in a scene, of course, the game grinds to a halt very quickly. that's what happened to me. i got to a particular room, which seems to have only two objects, no exits, and one meaningful action. that gets you killed. lacking any toe-holds to get a grasp on the game, i gave up.
and that was after two tight squeaks. the opening scene seems to be buggy; most of the actions that seem reasonable give an inappropriate response -- they seem to be parsed as something else entirely. that blanks out all the clues about what you should be doing. the second scene is better -- at least, i didn't see any bugs -- but it still took me a few minutes to think of the solution.
the story was pretty interesting up to that point, which is frustrating. i'm curious whether the dark hints about your ship and captain turn out relevant to the plot. i won't know until after the competition, unfortunately.
17th place on the 1999 annual interactive fiction competition (5th edition).