It covers the Aphorisms of Imam Haddad, a great 12th-century AH scholar who had the unique ability to synthesize and simplify the writings of earlier scholars into works easily accessible for the ordinary Muslims who followed him.
This text is an excellent work that covers various topics related to the subtleties of the heart, providing students with valuable knowledge about conducting themselves with wisdom. The entire text contains 36 aphorisms that follow the chronological order of the final few suras of the Qur'an.
This course serves as an uncomplicated, easy to follow, and beneficial series of lessons for youth to expand their knowledge. Each class leaves students with an understanding of the aphorisms and a practical element applicable to their day-to-day lives.
The incorporation of the Qur'an into each lesson provides students with a general understanding of its meanings. Thus, completing this course will equip students to reflect on the Qur'an's meanings when reciting the verses covered in class.
- Teacher: Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
The Aphorisms of Imam Haddad provide general counsel for the ordinary Muslim about a variety of topics related to the subtleties of the heart.
This text, although not used as a core text of an Islamic studies track, is significant because of the wisdom that Imam Haddad imparts in it. This text is useful for seekers of knowledge because it outlines a method of self-rectification, gearing students to prepare their hearts to take further knowledge.
- This course is primarily for youth, however, it is excellent for adults as well.
- It is particularly beneficial for High School and University students.
- This course can also be taken by anyone who is interested in learning parts of the Qur’an through a lens of self-rectification and purification of the heart.
- Students do not need any prerequisite courses to successfully complete this course.
- Understand each aphorism of Imam Haddad.
- Extend the understanding of the aphorisms to their related Qur’anic verses.
- Practically apply the meanings of the aphorisms to their life.
- Appreciate the simplistic spiritual pedagogy of Imam Haddad.
At a time of turbulence, prevalent complaints of spiritual hyperboles and a widespread struggle with maintaining a steady spirituality, this course addresses the intellectual, emotional and psychological aspects related to sincere worship and balanced spiritual life. It summarizes the path to true freedom and balance and the way to develop a spiritual mindset that can overcome contemporary challenges. Based on Imam al-Muttaqi al-Hindi’s thematic categorization of Imam Ibn `Ata’illah’s Hikam, this course covers the entirety of this upliftingly beautiful text through a lucid unwrapping and exposition of selected aphorisms that encompass all of its thirty themes. These themes are related to every aspect of the spiritual path.
- Teacher: Shaykh Ahmed El Azhary
The Hikam is a collection of 264 aphorisms written by Imam Ibn `Ata’illah al-Sakandari, who lived in Egypt during the period of the Mamluks. For the past seven hundred years, the Hikam of Imam Ibn `Ata’illah, which is commonly known as al-Hikam al-`Ata’iyya, never failed to guide and spiritually uplift the seekers of the Path in their journey of self-purification, at the level of their thoughts, feelings, actions and intentions. The Hikam has been described by the great sage and spiritual guide of Ibn `Ata’illah, Imam Abu al–`Abbas al-Mursi as a summary of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya with additions to it.
- There are no specific requirements for enrolling in this course.
- This course is suitable for anyone who is interested in Islamic spirituality.
- understand the sages’ way of living a life of true freedom and balance.
- understand the spiritual implications of contraction and expansion.
- understand the middle ground between hope and fear.
- understand the power of now and the importance of living in the present time.
- understand how submission to the Divine Decree alleviates the stresses of our modern lives.
- understand the true meanings of worship and du`aa’, sins and rewards, patience and thankfulness.