This course covers the fundamentals of the religion that all believers are obligated to know and practice: sound beliefs, valid purification and prayer, zakat, fasting, and the key principles related to one's life and dealings. The course is based on Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s The Absolute Essentials of Islam. The course covers the basics of the religion in an approachable and practical format, making it an ideal course for new Muslims and all those wishing to learn how to perfect their faith and religious practice.

Please note:  The recorded lessons are by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani. The active instructor, for forum answers and live sessions, is Ustadh Abdullah Misra.

This course is intended for all those who are seeking clarity in their faith and worship.

Allah has commanded us to worship and obey Him with sincerity, with reverence, love, and thankfulness towards Him. As important a command as this is, we cannot worship Him without the proper knowledge. The Beloved Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him said, “Seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim, male and female.” This course outlines the absolute essentials of the knowledge needed to properly worship and obey Allah the Exalted. It covers what every Muslim must know: (i) sound beliefs, (ii) how to make one’s prayer, zakat, and fasting valid and proper, and (iii) how to be able to steadfastly tread throughout one’s life on the straight path to salvation.

The course is a detailed explanation of Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s The Absolute Essentials of Islam: A Basic Hanafi Manual of Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation, a concise manual based on the methodology of traditional Sunni Islam according to the Hanafi school of Islamic law. Following are some reviews of this book by prominent contemporary scholars:

“... a great service to English speaking Muslims ... I recommend this book both as a starting point for beginners and as quick reference for the more advanced.” - Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam, Darul Ifta, UK

“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 Ha Mim Keller, Jordan

Lesson 1: Introduction
Lesson 2: Belief (Part 1)
Lesson 3: Belief (Part 2)
Lesson 4: Rulings of the Shariah
Lesson 5: Purification (Part 1)
Lesson 6: Purification (Part 2)
Lesson 7: The Prayer (Part 1)
Lesson 8: The Prayer (Part 2)
Lesson 9: The Prayer (Part 3)
Lesson 10: The Prayer (Part 4)
Lesson 11: Zakat & Fasting
Lesson 12: The Path to Salvation

None.

"I feel that having review questions was very helpful as it allowed you to see which areas you may need to study or require further clarification on. The questions forum is very important so that students can ask and raise important issues with the teacher. I also like the way Sheikh Faraz uses examples of different types of situations to explain the point."
(Fall 2009 Student)