This course offers a detailed explanation of the first 24 chapters of Imam Nawawi’s Gardens of the Righteous (Riyad al-Salihin). In this well-known classical work, Imam Nawawi gathers key Qur’anic verses and hadiths that define how to approach, adopt, and uphold the Prophetic example in everyday life. The students will learn how to make following the Prophetic sunnah a realistic goal, allowing the Sunnah to manifest in a meaningful, beautiful, and transformative way in their lives.

Please note:  The recorded lessons are by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani. The active instructor, for forum answers and live sessions, is Ustadh Abdul Latif Al-Amin

This course is intended for all who are seeking a means to draw closer to Allah Most High.

The course offers a detailed explanation of the first 24 chapters of Imam Nawawi’s Gardens of the Righteous (Riyad al-Salihin min Kalam Sayyid al-Mursalin). Each lesson covers one aspect of the Prophetic sunnah, and illustrates -- with practical contemporary examples -- how one can bring the light of Prophetic guidance into one's own life.

Oftentimes, it is difficult for one to know where to begin when following the Sunnah. Gardens of the Righteous is one of the most important classical manuals on the Prophetic example (Sunnah) and the way of righteousness because Imam Nawawi organizes the chapters in a way that allows one to systematically study and take on Prophetic practices and character traits one at a time. It is perhaps the most important Hadith work after the six Sunan, containing 1869 individual hadiths divided in 372 chapters.

The author of the book, Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf al-Nawawi (1234-1278 CE), was one of the greatest scholars of this Ummah, and one of the two Imams of verification in the Shafi`i school of law (the other being Imam al-Rafi`i).

Note: Lessons will be spread out over a period of 12 weeks, not 24 weeks.

Lesson 1: Sincerity
Lesson 2: Repentance
Lesson 3: Steadfastness
Lesson 4: Truthfulness
Lesson 5: Watchfulness
Lesson 6: Fearful Awareness of Allah
Lesson 7: Certainty and Trust in Allah
Lesson 8: On Going Straight
Lesson 9: Reflection
Lesson 10: Hastening to perform good actions
Lesson 11: Striving
Lesson 12: On the encouragement to increase good actions
Lesson 13: The many paths of good
Lesson 14: Moderation in Worship
Lesson 15: Perserverance in actions
Lesson 16: The command to follow the Sunnah
Lesson 17: The Obligation to obey the judgement of Allah
Lesson 18: The prohibition against innovations
Lesson 19: The one who makes a good or bad sunna
Lesson 20: On showing the way to good
Lesson 21: Helping one another to goodness and fear of Allah
Lesson 22: Good Counsel
Lesson 23: Commanding the right and forbidding the wrong
Lesson 24: The harsh punishment of someone who commands right or forbids wrong while his own actions contradict what he says

None.

The work is a fascinating work, and Shaykh Faraz certainly knows his stuff and communicates it well.
(David Kearns, Fall 2010)