This is the first course in the Islamic Law (Hanafi) for Seekers series. The students will gain a necessary and detailed understanding of Islamic Jurisprudence (fiqh) related to the acts of worship (i.e. prayer, zakat, fasting, and the pilgrimage). The course is based on Imam al-Mawsuli’s great primer on Hanafi fiqh, al-Mukhtar, and its commentary, al-Ikhtiyar li-Ta’lil Masa’il al-Mukhtar. This expansive course will cover all the chapters on worship in al-Mukhtar.

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

This two-semester course serves to provide a proper understanding of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) of worship within the Hanafī school based on Imam Mawsuli’s al-Mukhtar. Imam Mawsuli’s influential book is one of the four relied upon primers of the Hanafi school of law, which summarize the original positions of the founder of the school (Imam Abu Hanifa, may Allah have mercy on him) and the transmitted position of the madhhab.

This course is intended for seekers of knowledge and is an excellent preparation for the study of more advanced texts in jurisprudence such as Imam al-Marghiyani’s al-Hidayah.

An English translation of al-Mukhtar will be provided, along with the full Arabic text of Imam Mawsuli’s own commentary on al-Mukhtar, called al-Ikhtiyar li-Ta’lil Masa’il al-Mukhtar.  Imam Mawsuli’s commentary focuses on the differences of opinion within the Hanafi School and the legal discussion between Imam Abu Hanifa and his two students. The English lessons are based on al-Ikhtiyar and other leading Hanafi works.

Imam Abdullah bin Mahmud bin Mawdud al-Mawsuli al-Hanafi (599-683 AH) was born in Mousul in Northern Iraq and studied Hanafi fiqh -- among others -- with Imam al-Hasidi in Damascus. He was known as the most distinguished Hanafi scholar of his age. He was a judge (qadi) in Kufa and later taught at the mosque of Imam Abu Hanifa in Baghdad, where he is also buried.

Lesson 1: Introduction to the Course
Lesson 2: A Look at Water, Wells & Dry Ablution
Lesson 3: The Ruling on Khuffs and an Introduction to Menstruation
Lesson 4: Continuation on Irregular Bleeding, Postnatal Bleeding, and the Definition of Filth
Lesson 5: Review Session
Lesson 6: Introduction to Prayer
Lesson 7: The Conditions & Integrals of Prayer
Lesson 8: The Description of the Prayer
Lesson 9: Congregating for Prayer
Lesson 10: Actions to Avoid in Prayer & Supererogatory Prayers
Lesson 11: Forgetfulness in Prayer and the Taraweeh Prayer
Lesson 12: Prayer of the Sick, the Traveler
Lesson 13: The Friday Prayer & the Eid Prayer
Lesson 14: The Fear Prayer and Prayer at the Kaaba
Lesson 15: Regarding the Funeral Prayer and Burial Practices
Lesson 16: Introduction to Zakat
Lesson 17: The Rulings on Mining
Lesson 18: On Giving Zakat
Lesson 19: Introduction to Fasting
Lesson 20: Invalidating One's Fast & Excuses for not Fasting; A Brief Look at I`tikaf
Lesson 21: Journey of a Lifetime: Hajj (Part 1)
Lesson 22: Journey of a Lifetime: Hajj (Part 2)
Lesson 23: Journey of a Lifetime: Hajj (Part 3)
Lesson 24: Journey of a Lifetime: Hajj (Part 4)

None.

"I would recommend the courses to others. Chances to learn Hanafi fiqh in English are rare in the US and the presentation and structure of the class was fantastic."
(Fall 2009 Student)