
Course Date: April 11-19, 2026
Marriage isn’t just a milestone — it’s a journey that begins with intention. Premarital Preparation Course is a faith-based educational program designed for singles, engaged couples, and newlyweds to explore love, marriage, and lifelong partnership through the lens of Islamic guidance, spiritual reflection, and practical relationship tools.
This course created a safe and soul-nourishing space. The openness and real-life examples gave me clarity, confidence, and trust in my journey toward marriage. Appreciated the honest take on the common topics like sexual intimacy & finances too.
Alhamdulillah, the program was insightful and engaging. I looked forward to class every week, and the chaplains made learning warm and interactive.
I came in hesitant but left encouraged and positive. The course gave me tools, questions, and strategies to truly prepare for marriage and address obstacles with confidence.
The teaching style was warm, engaging, and deeply personal. I didn’t feel lectured at - I felt spoken to. The lessons stayed with me all week, building on each other, helping me reflect and grow.
I especially valued the conflict resolution tips and the ‘cultural backpack’ exercise. It gave me practical ways to understand myself and others in the marriage process.
Premarital Preparation Course is an interactive and spiritually reflective 4-week (16 hrs) journey designed for singles, engaged couples, and newlyweds to explore the path of marriage through the lens of Islamic guidance and lived wisdom. Our team of dynamic and experienced instructors (Chaplains, Therapists, Imams, Educators) will lead engaging live sessions grounded in Qur’anic principles, Prophetic teachings, and evidence-based relationship tools. Together, we’ll build the foundation for resilient, loving, and purpose-centered relationships in a way that’s meaningful and relevant to today’s contemporary landscape. Let’s explore how to cultivate a resilient marriage that is God-centered, and deeply anchored in peace (sakeenah), love (mawaddah), and compassion (rahmah).
Articulate the spiritual and practical purposes of marriage in Islam and apply that understanding to personal decision-making and relationship readiness.
Practice reflective self-assessment to identify personal values, life goals, and relationship expectations for better compatibility with a potential partner, or with your current partner in a new/ongoing marriage.
Improve communication skills, understand cultural influences (with special attention to multi-cultural and multi-religious families), and be exposed to approaches to navigating crucial conflict.
Engage in meaningful conversations around finances, roles, and responsibilities in the marriage, relationships with parents/in-laws and extended families, that reflect mutual respect and shared purpose.
Balance elements of holistic wellbeing (physical, sexual, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual), and increase awareness of their influence on each other.
Understand the basic legal, religious, and procedural aspects of Islamic marriage contracts and related paperwork.
Participate in a learning community that fosters mutual support, accountability, and spiritual growth through experiential learning opportunities.
Develop spiritual resilience and a mindset of intentional growth to navigate the evolving nature of marriage with faith, flexibility, and mutual care.

Are you ready to build a relationship grounded in purpose and emotional strength? This dynamic course supports singles, engaged couples, and newlyweds in preparing for a God-conscious marriage that flourishes across all aspects of life—spiritual, emotional, and relational. Through timeless Islamic wisdom and relevant, practical guidance, you'll gain greater clarity and confidence as you navigate love and commitment with intentionality. With a focus on both inner growth and shared connection, the course offers a holistic, values-based approach to building strong, enduring partnerships.
Join us on a journey toward a marriage rooted in faith, and enriched by peace (sakeenah), love (mawaddah), and compassion (rahmah).
Premarital Preparation Course holds its lessons on Zoom over two weekends from April 11 - April 19, 2026, between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm New York time (EST). The course consists of 8 modules delivered over 2 weeks by 4 instructors, and concludes with a final session of personal group discussion and mentoring. You can click here to check the time difference between your local time zone and New York, and even add your city to the list.
Module 1 - Introduction & Orientation, with Course Director - Chaplain Sakinah Alhabshi (10 am - 11 am EST)
- checking in, intention/expectation-setting, resources for the course, Google Classroom orientation, etc.
Module 2 - Faith as Foundation: Values & Vision, with Chaplain Usama Tuna (11 am - 2 pm EST)
- understanding your life purpose, approaching marriage as worship & service, Qur'anic & Prophetic teachings for today's application, role of consultation with people & Allah (istishaara & istikhaarah)
Module 3 - Knowing Yourself & Partner: Basics of Physical & Spiritual Love Languages, by Chaplain Sakinah Alhabshi (10 am - 11 am EST)
- connecting with your partner, yourself, and Allah, through understanding personal tendencies in communicating love/appreciation, conflict/distress, worship/ibadaat
Module 4 - Navigating Identities, Multi-cultural & Multi-faith Families, with Dr. Lyndsey Eksili (11 am - 2 pm EST)
- navigating socio-cultural-religious identities/dynamics of self, families of origin, in-laws, friends, and the new marriage, with special attention to multi-cultural/multi-religious families
Module 5 - Compatibility + Methodology of a Good Match, with Chaplain Kaiser Aslam (10 am - 12 pm EST)
- “Am I a good catch? What am I bringing to the table?", "I have a candidate, what’s next?”, “I don’t have a candidate, how do I start?”, "When/how do I involve our families?", crucial questions
Module 6 - Rules of the Household, with Chaplain Kaiser Aslam (12 pm - 2 pm EST)
- balancing roles & responsibilities, finances & agreements, gender & cultural norms, marriage-related admin prep - aqad, wali, contract/prenup, dowry (mahr)
Module 7 - Holistic Wellbeing, Sexual Health & Intimacy, with Ch. Sakinah Alhabshi, with Chaplain Sakinah Alhabshi (10 am - 1 pm EST)
- understanding the interconnectedness in holistic wellbeing, fiqh (rulings) & Prophetic guidance on sexual interactions, navigating intimacy and common sexual concerns in new marriages
Module 8 - Q&A/Discussion Session segregated by genders, all Sisters with Chaplain Sakinah & Dr. Lindsey, all Brothers with Chaplains Kaiser & Usama (1 pm - 2 pm EST)
- final session of free-flow Q&A with your instructors, segregated by gender for more intimate discussions/reflections
Ready to join? Clicking the 'Enroll Now' button will take you to our secure enrollment form on a trusted external platform. Please complete the form to finalize your enrollment in the course.
Tuition Fees:
- Individual registration: $250
- Couple registration: $350 (total for both participants)
You can choose to pay in 2 monthly installments by credit card. PayPal and debit/local bank cards are also accepted, depending on your location.
Course fee for individuals:
Total fee for couples:
Do you have a question? Contact us: [email protected]
Ch. Sakinah is the Head of English Programs at Respect Family School and the lead instructor of the Premarital Preparation Course. She also serves as a hospital chaplain at St. Luke’s Health Network and Respect Masjid, and is endorsed as a Muslim chaplain in both healthcare and community settings. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Professional Education and Religious Leadership at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Michigan.
Ch. Sakinah holds a Master’s in Islamic Studies and Inter-religious Chaplaincy from the Graduate Theological Union (California), an Advanced Diploma in Islamic Studies from Arees University, and traditional certifications in Qur’an and Hadith. She completed two years of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) residency and fellowship at Stanford Hospital.
With over 20 years of experience in community leadership, she specializes in premarital coaching, spiritual development, crisis communication, and chaplaincy training. She regularly delivers lectures, workshops, and retreats for diverse audiences in faith-based and interfaith settings.
Before her chaplaincy career, Ch. Sakinah earned a degree in civil-environmental engineering from Northwestern University and an MBA from GE Leadership University, Italy. She worked for nearly a decade in the energy sector before transitioning into spiritual care and education.




If you need advice on our program or registration, please feel welcome to contact us.