This course will cover the basics of what all Muslims must know in order to live their lives believing correctly. This includes the attributes of Allah Most High, the attributes of the prophets (peace and blessings be upon them all), transmitted beliefs and issues related to the Hereafter.
These tenets of belief are important for every Muslim to know because they relate to the very foundation of faith. Furthermore, in these times, with so much talk of different beliefs or the absence thereof, people may have influenced beliefs without realizing it. It is thus imperative to have a basic understanding of the Islamic creed.
This class will provide a good understanding of what the line is between truth and falsehood. It will allow one to understand the parameters of conceptualizing Allah and understand what to believe about the Creator and Maker of everything.
- Teacher: Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
- Know and understand the basic beliefs of Islam
- Substantiate the reasons for the Islamic beliefs
- Understand the foundations of scholarly methodology
- Appreciate the nuance and precision of the Islamic creed
- Cultivate faith and certitude
Take this course to understand the basic methods of Islamic logic and how to use them to gain evidence-based conviction in Allah Most High, His attributes, His messengers, and the afterlife. This knowledge that you will learn in this course is the context that will give your life its purpose.
- Teacher: Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
An introduction to the formal study of Islamic beliefs through a traditional manual of Islamic theology. Take this course to understand the basic methods of Islamic logic and how to use them to gain evidence-based conviction in Allah Most High, His attributes, His messengers, and the afterlife. This knowledge that you will learn in this course is the context that will give your life its purpose.
The course is an explanation of al-Kharida al-Bahiyya (“The Lustrous Pearl”), an introduction to the science of Islamic theology by the great theologian, spiritual master, and foremost Maliki jurist of al-Azhar, Shaykh Ahmad al-Dardir (d. 1201 A.H. / 1786 C.E.). The Kharida is a 71-line didactic poem that, in its own words, is “slight and small in size, but great in knowledge.”
For hundreds of years, it has been studied and memorized by beginners of Islamic theology, and is frequently quoted by students and teachers alike because of its pithy expressions. A downloadable copy of the course text in both English and Arabic is provided as part of the course materials.
- This is a second-level course in Level One.
- Before taking this course, take The Absolute Essentials of Islam (Hanafi) or The Absolute Essentials of Islam (Shafi‘i)
- Take this course before all courses in Level Two.
- Learn and use the basic logical methods of traditional Islamic theology
- Memorize the attributes of Allah Most High, His messengers, His angels, and other unseen beings
- Memorize the key events that will take place after death
- Develop evidence-based conviction in all of the above
- Understand how to turn mental conviction into spiritual certainty
- Appreciate the logical rigor of Islamic theology
Having godfearingness (taqwa) is a prerequisite for being able to benefit from the great guidance of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Take this course to learn how to have godfearingness in most of the everyday situations that you are likely to encounter in your life, such as eating halal food, proper dress, interacting with the opposite gender, guarding your gaze, and guarding your tongue.
- Teacher: Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
- Appreciate the importance of the quality of godfearingness
- Memorize how to have godfearingness in dozens of everyday situations
- Improve your religious practice by keeping good company and making frequent repentance
Allah Most High says, “I have not created jinn-kind nor mankind for any purpose other than to worship Me.” (Qur’an, 51:56) Take this course to get comprehensive and knowledge-based answers to all of the questions that you are likely to face in your worship
Allah Most High, all in light of a formal textbook of in Hanafi law that students like you have used for centuries. This course covers the detailed rules of Purification, Prayer, Fasting, Zakat, and Hajj. This course is taught according to the Hanafi school. If you would like to learn it according to the Shafi’i school, take this course instead.
- Teacher: Ustadh Tabraze Azam
- Teacher: Ustadh Sufyan Qufi
This course is an explanation of Ascent to Felicity (Maraqi al-Sa‘adat) a concise primer on the rules of worship, slaughtering, sacrifice, and hunting according to by a leading authority of the Hanafi school, Abul Ikhlas Hasan al-Shurunbulali (d. 1069 ).
The author is best known for his more detailed introduction to the rules of worship, Nur al-Idah, and its detailed commentary, Maraqi al-Falah, which are both an essential part of every traditional syllabus in Hanafi jurisprudence. Ustadh Tabaraze Azam comments on the back cover of the book’s translation that it is “an excellent primer in Islamic beliefs and worship. . . more useful as a first complete text for those seeking understanding of the fiqh of worship than the more commonly-studied Nur al-Idah.”
- The Absolute Essentials of Islam (Hanafi) course is a pre-requisite for this course
- Those who have taken The Absolute Essentials of Islam (Hanafi) course
- Any student who wants to take level two courses in Islamic Studies Curriculum
- Understand slavehood to Allah Most High and why it is important
- Learn the rules of purification and prayer that you are likely to encounter in your daily life
- Memorize the most important rules of wudu, ghusl, prayer, fasting, zakat, and Hajj
- Appreciate the rigour of the science of Sacred Law (fiqh)
Take this course to understand how the scholars of mainstream Islam have preserved the Qur’an, the Sunna, and its understanding, from the time of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) all the way down to our times.
- Teacher: Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
- Start here to complete Level One
- This course has no prerequisites
- Understand how the Qur’an and Sunna were preserved
- Identify the scholarly tradition of mainstream Islam
- Learn how this scholarly tradition preserved the understanding of the Qur’an and Sunna
- Understand how to apply the Qur’an and Sunna in our times
This is a Level One Course in the SeekersGuidance Islamic Studies Curriculum. It is based on an introductory primer to Islamic beliefs and theology, titled: Taqrib al-`Aqa’id al-Saniyya, written by the late-Maliki jurist and theologian Imam Muhammad `Ilish of the 19th century.
This text is considered to be one of the best introductory primers of Islamic beliefs and theology as it includes all the necessary matters of beliefs and the very basics of theology in one compact form with accessible language. Also, Taqrib al-`Aqaa’id is a very useful introduction as it connects the rational proofs of theology with their Quranic origins.
By studying Taqrib al-`Aqai’d, students will learn the foundations of Islamic beliefs, their textual evidence from the Quran, and the basics of the rational proofs that are derived from the noble verses. This course is suitable for students of knowledge beginning their journey in acquiring the sacred sciences as well as any Muslim who seeks a clear explanation of the fundamentals of belief complemented by their textual and rational proofs.
- Teacher: Shaykh Ahmed El Azhary
Taqrib al-`Aqa’id al-Saniyya bil-Adilla al-Quraniyya (also known as Taqrib al-`Aqa’id) is one of the best introductory primers of Theology. It includes all the necessary matters of beliefs and the very basics of theology in one compact form with accessible language.
One of the key benefits of this primer is that it traces the tenets of creed and the theology of Ahl al-Sunnah, particularly the Ash`ari school, to their Quranic foundations. It also includes hints to the rational proofs for the tenets of belief and how they are derived from the textual evidence - that is the verses of the Quran.
Taqrib al-`Aqa’id is authored by the late-Maliki jurist and theologian Imam Muhammad `Ilish of the 19th century. His works are amongst the last of a line of widely read and respected sources of traditional texts. Besides his long expertise and crucial contributions in Maliki fiqh, Shaykh `Ilish made valuable contributions in the realm of the rational sciences, namely Theology and Logic. Taqrib al-`Aqa’id is one of them.
- This course is for adults.
- It is particularly beneficial for students of knowledge beginning their journey in acquiring the sacred sciences as well as any Muslim who seeks a clear explanation of the fundamentals of belief complemented by their textual and rational proofs.
- It is a Level One course. There are no prerequisites for this course, but it is preferable to take it after “The Absolute Essentials of Islam” and/or “How Islam Works.”
- This course can also be taken by anyone who is interested in studying Islamic Beliefs and Kalam (Theology).
- Explain what Muslims believe about Allah Most High and His messengers.
- Learn about the essential textual evidence and rational proofs of matters of `Aqidah.
- Trace the fundamental positions of Islamic theology to their Quranic origins.
- Appreciate the work of Muslim theologians.
- Recognize the importance of rational proofs for Islamic beliefs.
- Identify the main branches of Islamic beliefs and theology.
The Prophet said that, “Whoever travels a path to seek knowledge, Allah facilitates for them a path to Paradise.” (Muslim) This course is the first step in your pursuit of religious knowledge. It explains what your religion is; what you must know about it; and how you should learn it.
This course covers what every Muslim must know about the basic guidance of Islam in its three dimensions: (1) beliefs (iman)—and how to have sound belief in Allah, His Prophets, and the Hereafter; (2) submission (Islam)—how to make your purification and prayer valid, sound, and proper; and (3) spiritual excellence (ihsan)—by looking at key sins and vices to avoid, and key virtuous actions and traits to uphold, in seeking closeness to Allah.
This course is taught according to the Hanafi school. If you would like to learn it according to the Shafi‘i school, take this course instead.
- Teacher: Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
This course is based on The Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and The Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School, by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani (White Thread Press).
This book covers what every Muslim must know about the basic guidance of Islam in its three dimensions: (1) beliefs (iman)—and how to have sound belief in Allah, His Prophets, and in transmitted beliefs; (2) submission (Islam)—by looking at the daily devotional obligation of ritual prayer; and (3) spiritual excellence (Ihsan)—by looking at key sins and vices to avoid, and key virtuous actions and traits to uphold in seeking closeness to Allah.
“I know of no other manual of Islam that presents the essentials of the Hanafi school and basic Islamic belief so reliably, concisely, and elegantly as The Absolute Essentials of Islam. Faraz Rabbani is to be commended for producing a work from which the new Muslim can learn, the practicing Muslim check his fiqh, or the student merely curious about the practice of Islam see how it all fits together. It is likely to serve the Ummah, Allah willing, as long as there are English-speaking Muslims in it who want to know their din. This book works.” – Shaykh Nuh Keller, Jordan
- This is the first course in Level One.
- This course has no prerequisites.
- Any student who wants to learn about the basics of belief and worship and wants to start their journey of gaining sacred knowledge should start with this course.
- Understand how to seek religious knowledge
- Learn the basics of Islamic beliefs: so you know what we believe about Allah, His Messengers, and the Hereafter—and why
- Learn how to make your daily worship—purification and prayer—valid, sound, and proper
- Learn how to worship Allah Most High with sincerity
- Learn essential guidelines for living a faithful, upright life