This curriculum provides a clear, systematic five-level program for students of Islamic Knowledge. It is taught by qualified scholars, and presents traditional Islamic knowledge in a deep, practical, inspiring manner--with an emphasis on living knowledge as guidance.
Level One gives a clear, strong foundation for religious practice and Islamic studies. Level Two gives students grounding in all the key Islamic sciences. Level Three deepens understanding of these sciences--with appreciation of reasoning and application. Levels Four and Five work towards mastery --so that students can become true inheritors of Prophetic teachings, and agents of benefit and guidance for humanity.
Live Every Monday and Wednesday at 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Eastern Time SeekersGuidance.org/live Executive Summary This course covers a comprehensive commentary on the five acts of worship written by one of the authorities of the Hanafi school of law. Introduction 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 increase your k...
Executive Summary In this course, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani covers the legal rulings related to trade and transactions according to the Hanafi school. This course serves to provide a proper understanding of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) of commercial law. Introduction In this course, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani covers the chapters on financial transactions, relying on the great classical commentaries—including Maydani’s Lubab—and ...
Live Every Sunday at 4:00 pm-5:30 pm Eastern Time SeekersGuidance.org/live Executive Summary In this course, you will cover an abridgement of one of the main works of Islam, Sahih al-Bukhari. This course sheds light on key meanings of Prophetic guidance. Course Summary This course covers Ibn Abi Jamra’s Mukhtasar Sahih al-Bukhari. This summary distills one of the most famed works of Islam into a highly practical manua...
Executive Summary In this course, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani covers the legal rulings related to marriage and divorce according to the Hanafi school. This course serves to provide a proper understanding of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) of personal law. Course Summary In this course, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani covers the chapters on Marriage and Divorce, relying on the great classical commentaries—including Maydani’s Lubab—and majo...
Introduction This is the first of an eight-part traditional word-by-word explanation of a sharh (interlineal commentary) on the post popular primer in Shafi‘i law, Matn Abi Shuja‘. Hamza Karamali carefully works through the chapter of purification, the prayer, Rules of Zakat, Fasting and Hajj. relating the rulings to contemporary situations and explaining the hadith evidence and wisdom behind them. This is a course for e...
| SESSION 1 | Introduction Ibn Qasim al-Ghazzi’s Introduction Commentary on the Basmala and Hamdala Commentary on Abu Shuja’s Introduction |
| SESSION 2 | Purification and Water The Meanings of “Kitab” and “Tahara” Purifying Water Pure and Impure Water |
| SESSION 3 | Animal Hides, Gold and Silver Containers, and the Toothstick Tanning Animal Hides Permissible and Impermissible Containers Using the Toothstick |
| SESSION 4 | Integrals of Wudu Integrals of Wudu: Intention and Washing the Face Integrals of Wudu: Remaining Integrals Using the Toothstick |
| SESSION 5 | Sunnas of Wudu Sunnas of Wudu Part 1 Sunnas of Wudu Part 2 |
| SESSION 6 | Cleaning Oneself After Using the Bathroom Cleaning Oneself After Using the Bathroom (istinja) Adab of Using the Bathroom |
| SESSION 7 | Invalidators of Wudu and Ghusl Invalidators of Wudu Invalidators of Ghusl |
| SESSION 8 | Ghusl and Wiping Over Khuffs Integrals of Ghusl Sunnas of Ghusl Sunna Ghusls Wiping Over Khuffs: Ruling and Conditions |
| SESSION 9 | Wiping over Khuffs and Tayammum Wiping Over Khuffs: Period of Wiping Wiping Over Khuffs: How to Wipe and Invalidators of Wiping Wiping Over Khuffs: How to Wipe and Invalidators of Wiping |
| SESSION 10 | Tayammum and Najasa Integrals and Sunnas of Tayammum Invalidators of Tayammum Casts and Bandages Definition of Najasa SESSION10.4 Resource: Shaykh Nuh Ali Salman’s Fatwa on Narcotics: https://www.aliftaa.jo/Article.aspx?ArticleId=161#.W3RtM-gzbIV |
| SESSION 11 | Najasa Kinds of Najasa: Digested Material Najasa `Ayniyya and Najasa Hukmiyya Minor, Regular, and Major Najasa Najasa that is Excused Overview of Kinds of Najasa Water that Runs Off While Washing Najasa (ghusala) Wine Turning Into Vinegar |
| SESSION 12 | Menstruation Menstruation Things Unlawful in Ritual Impurity |
| SESSION 13 | Prayer Times |
| SESSION 14 | Conditions for the Obligation of Prayer Sunna Prayers |
| SESSION 15 | Conditions for the Validity of Prayer |
| SESSION 16 | Integrals -- Intention, Standing, Takbir Integrals -- Fatiha Integrals -- Ruku and Sujud Integrals -- Sitting, Salam, Order |
| SESSION 17 | Major Sunnas Before and During the Prayer Regular Sunnas Difference Between Men’s and Women’s Prayer |
| SESSION 18 | Invalidators of the Prayer Number of Rak‘as, Integrals, and Sunnas in the Obligatory Prayers Prostration of Forgetfulness |
| SESSION 19 | Forbidden Times to Pray Congregational Prayer |
| SESSION 20 | Joining and Shortening Prayers |
| SESSION 21 | Friday Prayer |
| SESSION 22 | Eclipse Prayer Drought Prayer |
| SESSION 23 | Prayer of Peril Dress |
| SESSION 24 | Washing and Shrouding the Deceased Funeral Prayer Burial and Condolences |
| SESSION 25 | Kinds of Zakatable Wealth Conditions of Zakat On Livestock |
| SESSION 26 | Conditions of Other Kinds of Zakat Camels Cattle and Sheep |
| SESSION 27 | Paying Zakat Jointly Zakat on Money Zakat on Crops |
| SESSION 28 | Zakat on Trade Goods, Mines, and Treasure Zakat al-Fitr |
| SESSION 29 | Zakat Recipients |
| SESSION 30 | Integrals of Fasting Matters That Invalidate the Fast Sunna Matters While Fasting |
| SESSION 31 | Unlawful Days to Fast Major Expiation Fidya |
| SESSION 32 | Itikaf |
| SESSION 33 | Conditions For Obligation of Hajj Integrals of Hajj and Umra |
| SESSION 34 | Wajibat of Hajj and Umra Sunnas of Hajj and Umra |
| SESSION 35 | Matters Unlawful in Pilgrim Sanctity |
| SESSION 36 | Kinds of Hajj Expiations |
Introduction The goal of all sacred knowledge is to aid you on your journey of self-improvement as you make your way through this life into the afterlife. This series of three courses succinctly summarizes the stages of this spiritual journey and its most important milestones, such as certainty in the afterlife, the stages of spiritual development, presence of heart in acts of worship, good character with other people, and si...
| Lesson 1 | Abridged Biography of Imam al-Haddad |
| Lesson 2 | Introduction (Part 1) |
| Lesson 3 | Introduction (Part 2) |
| Lesson 4 | On Certainty – Chapter 1 |
| Lesson 5 | On Intention – Chapter 2 |
| Lesson 6 | On Vigilance – Chapter 3 |
| Lesson 7 | On the Inner and Outer Self – Chapter 4 |
| Lesson 8 | On Regular Devotions (Part 1) – Chapter 5 |
| Lesson 9 | On Regular Devotions (Part 2) – Chapter 5 |
| Lesson 10 | On Reciting the Qur’an – Chapter 6 |
| Lesson 11 | On Acquiring Knowledge – Chapter 7 |
| Lesson 12 | On Remembrance – Chapter 8 |
| Lesson 13 | On Reflection (Part 1) – Chapter 9 |
| Lesson 14 | On Reflection (Part 2) – Chapter 9 |
| Lesson 15 | On Following the Book and the Sunna – Chapter 10 |
| Lesson 16 | On Doctrine – Chapter 11 |
| Lesson 17 | On Religious Obligations – Chapter 12 |
| Lesson 18 | On Cleanliness – Chapter 13 |
| Lesson 19 | On Following the Sunna (Part 1) – Chapter 14 |
| Lesson 20 | On Following the Sunna (Part 2) – Chapter 14 |
| Lesson 21 | On Conduct in Mosques and the Ritual Prayer – Chapters 15 & 16 |
| Lesson 22 | On Prayer in Congregation – Chapter 17 |
| Lesson 23 | On Zakat – Chapter 18 |
| Lesson 24 | On Fasting – Chapter 19 |
| Lesson 25 | On Pilgrimage (Chapter 20) |
| Lesson 26 | On Scrupulousness (Chapter 21) |
| Lesson 27 | On Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil (Chapter 22) |
| Lesson 28 | On Social Duties (Chapter 23) |
| Lesson 29 | On Kindness and Charity (Chapter 24) |
| Lesson 30 | On Counsel (Chapter 25) |
| Lesson 31 | On Salutations and a Salutary Opinion (Chapter 26) |
| Lesson 32 | On Repentance, Hope and Fear (Chapter 27) |
| Lesson 33 | On Patience and Gratitude (Chapters 28 & 29) |
| Lesson 34 | On Renunciation (Chapter 30) |
| Lesson 35 | On Reliance on God (Chapter 31) |
| Lesson 36 | On Divine Love and Contentment (Chapter 32) |
Introduction This course will cover the details of financial transactions, inheritance, marriage, divorce, child custody, injurious crimes, fixed Sharia punishments, hunting and halal slaughtering of animals, oaths and vows, and court proceedings according to the Shafi’i School of Islamic jurisprudence. It will cover the who can undertake a financial contract, what can be sold, and various details of a wide number of cont...
This course will cover the details of financial transactions, inheritance, marriage, divorce, child custody, injurious crimes, fixed Sharia punishments, hunting and halal slaughtering of animals, oaths and vows, and court proceedings according to the Shafi’i School of Islamic jurisprudence. It will cover the who can undertake a financial contract, what can be sold, and various details of a wide number of contracts like hiring, agency, companies, and investments. The course also goes over the various shares in inheritance, its conditions and execution, and other related matters. There will also be some detail on polygamy, the Islamic juristic and political structure, and jus ad bellum and jus in bello.
Before taking this course, take the Essentials of Worship (Shafi'i): Ba Fadl's The Short Abridgement Explained
Take this course before all courses in Level Three.
| Session 1 | Al Bai’ – Sales Transactions Al Riba – Interest Sales Cancellations |
| Session 2 | Al Salam – Paying in Advance Al Rahn – Putting up Collateral Al Hajr – Suspension |
| Session 3 | Al Sulh – Reconciliation Al Hawala – Transferring a Debt Al Dhaman – Guaranteeing Payment Al Kafalah - Guaranteeing a Person’s Appearance |
| Session 4 | Al Sharika – Cooperative Partnerships Al Wakala – Authorisation Al Iqrar – Admissions |
| Session 5 | Al ‘Ariyyah – Lending Items Al Ghasb – Wrongfully Taken Property Al Shufa’ – Preemption |
| Session 6 | Al Qirad – Profit Sharing Venture Al Musaqah – Watering Crops for a Stipulated Portion Al Ijarah – Renting Goods and Hiring Services |
| Session 7 | Al Ja’alah – Job Wages Al Mukhabara – Sharecropping Ihya al Mawat – Regenerating Uninhibited Lands Water Rights and Access |
| Session 8 | Al Waqf – Endowments Al Hiba – Gifts Al Luqata – Lost and Found |
| Session 9 | Al Laqit – The Foundling Al Wadi’ – Deposits for Safekeeping Al Wasiyah – Bequests |
| Session 10 | Al Fara’id (Inheritance) – Introduction Male Inheritors Female Inheritors Those Who Always Inherit Those Who Never Inherit Al ‘Asabat – Universal Inheritors Al Furud – Fixed Shares Al Hajb – Elimination Shares of Brothers and Sisters |
| Session 11 | Al Nikah (Marriage) – Introduction Looking at the Opposite Sex The Integrals of the Marriage Contract Al Khitba – Marriage Proposals Al Ijbar – Compelling Women to Marry Unmarriageable Women |
| Session 12 | Spousal Defects Permitting Annulment Al Sadaq – The Wife’s Marriage Payment Al Walimah – The Wedding Feast |
| Session 13 | Conjugal rights; divorce and related issues; |
| Session 14 | Child custody and financial support. |
| Session 15 | Blood money |
| Session 16 | Fixed Sharia punishments |
| Session 17 | Jihad: Jus ad bellum and jus in bello |
| Session 18 | Jihad: Jus post bellum |
| Session 19 | Hunting and halal slaughter |
| Session 20 | Competitions and Entertainment |
| Session 21 | Oaths and Vows |
| Session 22 | Caliphate |
| Session 23 | Court proceedings |
| Session 24 | Manumission |
How an Islamic marriage is terminated, and what the financial obligations are towards one’s family members.
How Islam joins between the spirit and the letter of the Sacred Law
How Islam promotes law and order
How flexible Sharia law can be
What valid oaths and vows are
How Islamic law fits into the current political climate
Introduction Every human action has a divine command associated with it, making it obligatory, recommended, permissible, offensive, or unlawful. We cannot infer these commands with our minds–the only way to learn about them is by learning them from the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). The goal of the science of sacred law (fiqh) is to summarize what the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) taught us abo...
| Session 1 | Biography of Author; Author’s Introduction; The Five Rulings; Personal vs.Communal Obligatory Knowledge |
| Session 2 | Purification; Integrals & Nullifiers of Ablution; Etiquettes of the Washroom |
| Session 3 | Major Ritual Impurity |
| Session 4 | Wiping Over Socks; Dry Ablution; Types of Filth |
| Session 5 | Rulings Related to the Different Types of Bleeding for Women |
| Session 6 | The Prayer – Times; Sunnah Prayer; Conditions & Integrals |
| Session 7 | Sunnahs & Nullifiers of the Prayer |
| Session 8 | Prostration of Forgetfulness; Forbidden Times to Pray; The Congregational Prayer |
| Session 9 | Joining Prayers & the Friday Prayer |
| Session 10 | Special Prayers for Particular Circumstances |
| Session 11 | Clothing |
| Session 12 | Rites of the Deceased & the Funeral Prayer |
| Session 13 | Zakat on Wealth Zakatable wealth Conditions for obligation of Zakat |
| Session 14 | Zakat on livestock |
| Session 15 | Zakat on gold and silver Zakat on agriculture |
| Session 16 | Zakat on trade Zakat on mines Zakat on buried treasure |
| Session 17 | Zakat al Fitr Deserving Recipients Distributing Zakat |
| Session 18 | Fasting Obligation Integrals Nullifiers |
| Session 19 | Sunnan of fasting Disliked acts during Fasting Sunna Fasts |
| Session 20 | Unlawful Days of Fasting Expiations Excuses for not Fasting |
| Session 21 | Itikaf (spiritual retreat) Integrals Nullifiers |
| Session 22 | Hajj Conditions for obligation Integrals Necessary acts |
| Session 23 | Sunnas of Hajj and Umrah Prohibitions in Ihram |
| Session 24 | Omission of Pilgrim rites Expiations |
Introduction The science of legal theory (usul al-fiqh) studies how to infer the rulings of Sacred Law directly from the Qur’an and sunna. This course will clear your confusions over (1) the role of scholarly consensus (ijma’) in preserving Islam; (2) how the Sunna of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was preserved; (3) and the role of human reason in interpreting the Qur’an and Sunna. Since the Qur’a...
This is a second-level course
Complete Step One before taking this course
| Session 1 | Lesson 1 -Imam al-Juwayni and the Waraqat Lesson 2 - Usul, Fiqh, and Usul al-Fiqh Lesson 3 - What is Fiqh? |
| Session 2 | Lesson 4 - The Rulings of Sacred Law Lesson 5 - Probabilistic Inference Lesson 6 - What is Usul al-Fiqh? |
| Session 3 | Lesson 7 - What is Speech and Why is it Important? Lesson 8 - Kinds of Speech in Legal Inference Lesson 9 - Literal and Figurative Speech |
| Session 4 | Lesson 10 - How to Discern Figurative Speech Lesson 11 - Four Examples of Figurative Speech |
| Session 5 | Lesson 12 - Commands, Prohibitions, and Moral Responsibility Lesson 13 - How to Fulfill One’s Moral Responsibility |
| Session 6 | Lesson 14 - Who is Morally Responsible? Lesson 15- Is a Prohibited Action Also Invalid? |
| Session 7 | Lesson 16 - What are Inclusive Expressions? Lesson 17 - Excluding from Inclusive Expressions |
| Session 8 | Lesson 18 - Excluding by the Sunna Lesson 19 - Excluding by Analogy Lesson 20 - Excluding by Revelatory Context |
| Session 9 | Lesson 21 - The Different Strengths of Linguistic Signification |
| Session 10 | Lesson 22 - The Figurative Interpretation of Probabilistic Expressions Lesson 23 - Why Anthropomorphists are Mistaken |
| Session 11 | Lesson 24 - Prophets are Divinely Protected from Sin Lesson 25 - What can be inferred from the fact that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) did something? |
| Session 12 | Lesson 26 - Prophetic Approval Lesson 27 - What can be inferred from the fact that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) did not do something? |
| Session 13 | Lesson 27 – What can be inferred from the fact that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) did not do something? |
| Session 14 | Lesson 28 – Abrogation is Possible and it Actually Happened Lesson 29 – Abrogation of Qur’anic Commands and Prohibitions |
| Session 15 | Lesson 30 – Kinds of New Rulings After Abrogation Lesson 31 – Abrogation by the Qur’an and Abrogation by the Sunna |
| Session 16 | Lesson 32 – Evidentiary Conflict and Reconciliation |
| Session 17 | Lesson 33 – Scholarly Consensus of the Muslim Umma is Never Wrong Lesson 34 – Scholarly Consensus is the Impenetrable Fortress of Islam |
| Session 18 | Lesson 35 – Explicit and Implicit Scholarly Consensus Lesson 36 – Ijtihad of a Companion |
| Session 19 | Lesson 37 – Isnad is the Distinction of the Muslim Umma Lesson 38 – Kinds of Transmitted Reports |
| Session 20 | Lesson 39 – Mursal Hadiths Lesson 40 – How Hadiths Were Transmitted |
| Session 21 | Lesson 41 – Human Reason and the Sacred Law Lesson 42 – Kinds of Legal Analogy |
| Session 22 | Lesson 43 – The Initially Presumed Ruling of Sacred Law Lesson 44 – The Presumption of Continuity |
| Session 23 | Lesson 45 – The Precedence-Order of Legal Evidence |
| Session 24 | Lesson 46 – The Conditions of Ijtihad Lesson 47 – Following Qualified Scholarship Lesson 48 – Is Every Mujtahid Correct? |
Introduction Learn to live the essence of the Prophet’s wisdom, blessings and peace be upon him. Curricular Context Complete Level One before taking this course What You Will Learn: Precious definitions and explanations of core Islamic concepts Central principles of faith, law, worship, life, and spirituality Contextualize this Prophetic guidance to our contemporary lives The spiritual dimensions of t...
Introduction The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, greatly emphasized the recital of sura al Kahf and sura al Waqi’a, due to their significance. The former is a guide to staying safe from the various tribulations we are faced with in this life. It looks at the matters which shake people’s faith, and how they should be dealt with. Sura al Kahf also discusses the matters which delude people and turn t...
The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, greatly emphasized the recital of sura al Kahf and sura al Waqi’a, due to their significance. The former is a guide to staying safe from the various tribulations we are faced with in this life. It looks at the matters which shake people’s faith, and how they should be dealt with.
Sura al Kahf also discusses the matters which delude people and turn them away from God - guiding us to the way of safety. Blessings, wealth, knowledge, and power are all temptations which can turn people away from the Afterlife.
Consequently, Sura al Waqi’a provides a powerful message to every one of humanity about the Afterlife. The Elite learn of their great rewards, as do the rank and file of the believers. The sura also discusses those to succumbed to the temptations and chose not to believe.
Surat Yasin and Surat al Mulk: A Linguistic and Thematic Analysis of the chapters which focus on proving Allah's oneness, the prophethood of Muhammad, the Resurrection, Allah's omnipotence, and all-encompassing generosity.
Before taking this course, take Ulum al-Qur’an: On Revelation, How It Was Preserved and Understood, and Why It Is True
Take this course before all courses in Level Three
Introduction This is a series of courses that unpack the questions (masa’il) of Taftazani’s pithy Sharh al-’Aqa’id al-Nasafiyya, arguably the most important textbook ever written in the science of Islamic theology. These courses explain the intellectual context in which the book’s questions are set, and then apply those questions to contemporary theological problems, with a special focus on modern science and occa...
This is a Level Four Course
Before taking this course, take all courses in Level Three, especially Beliefs: Bajuri’s Commentary on the Sanusiyya Explained - Deeper Understanding of the Proofs and Key Issues of Theology
Take this course before all courses in Step Five.
| Session 1 | Introduction to ‘Ilm al-Kalam, al-Nasafi, and al-Taftazani — pp. 3-8 Kinds of Hukm + Why the Sahaba Didn’t Need Kalam — pp. 9-11 Why the Sahaba Didn’t Need Fiqh + Why Kalam and Fiqh Were Documented — pp. 11-12 |
| Session 2 | Fiqh, Usul, and Kalam — p. 12 Names of Kalam and the Mu’tazili Mihna — pp. 12-14 LESSON RESOURCE: Mas’ala khalq al-qur’an by Shaykh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghodda |
| Session 3 | History of Early Kalam (audio only) LESSON RESOURCE: al-Madhahib al-tawhidiyya by Shaykh Muhammad Said Ramadan al |
| Session 4 | Early Kalam — pp. 16-17 Late Kalam — p. 17 LESSON RESOURCE: al-Mawaqif fi ‘ilm al-kalam by ‘Adud al-Din al-Iji (pdf present in the same folder as the recordings) |
| Session 5 | The Dangers of Kalam — pp. 23-25 (1) |
| Session 6 | We Have Objective Knowledge of Real Things (haqa’iq al-ashya’ thabita) — pp. 25-29 |
| Session 7 | Philosophical Skepticism (safsata) — pp. 29-30 |
| Session 8 | Knowledge (‘ilm) — pp. 30-32 |
| Session 10 | The Conventional Causes (asbab) of Human Knowledge — pp. 32-35 Knowledge — pp. 32-35 Sensation (al-hawass) — pp. 35-39 |
| Session 11 | Mass-Transmission (tawatur) — pp. 39-40 |
| Session 12 | The Mind (‘aql)— pp. 43-45 Experiential Knowledge (ilham) — pp. 45-46 |
| Session 13 | Natural Philosophy and Modern Science |
| Session 14 | The Natural Philosophy of Falsafa The Universe According to Falsafa, Kalam, and Science |
| Session 15 | Arguments For And Against Medieval Atomism |
| Session 16 | Properties in Falsafa, Kalam, and Science |
| Session 17 | The Kalam Perspective on Arguments For the Existence of God in Modern Philosophy |
| Session 18 | The Kalam Argument (1): Properties Began to Exist The Kalam Argument (2): Physical Objects Began to Exist |
| Session 19 | Responses to the Falasifa’s Objections to the Kalam Argument |
| Session 20 | Scientific Evidence for the Beginning of the Universe The Kalam Cosmological Argument in Modern Philosophy |
| Session 21 | Contemporary Objections to the Kalam Cosmological Argument |
| Session 22 | The Impossibility of Infinite Regress and its Relation to the Kalam Argument |
| Session 23 | Allah Most High’s Oneness (1) |
| Session 24 | Allah Most High’s Oneness (2) Allah Most High’s Beginninglessness |
Use the epistemology from Part 1 of this course to prove the existence of God
Respond to medieval and modern objections against the existence of God
Describe the cosmology and metaphysics of the falasifa and their role in the development of kalam
Learn when to update theological issues in light of modern science and when to use theological issues to correct modern science
Navigate contemporary debates over the existence of God using traditional Islamic theology
For centuries, Taftazani’s Sharh al-’Aqa’id has been a standard and indispensable part of curricula in traditional institutions of learning all over the Muslim world. No other textbook in any of the Islamic sciences has as many scholarly glosses (hawashi) as it does. The importance of a textbook can be judged by the number of glosses that have been written on it. The innumerable glosses on Sharh al-’Aqa’id by scholars in the Ottoman Empire, in al-Azhar, in the Indian Subcontinent, and elsewhere make it the most important textbook of Islamic theology ever written.
The author, Sa‘d al-Din al-Taftazani (d. 792/1390), is famous for his sharp mind, pithy expressions, and his unwavering commitment to an evidence-based approach to knowledge, never hesitating to discuss questions that were never discussed before, nor to correct mistakes that were made by authors who came before him. A couple of decades after his death, Ibn Hajar al-’Asqalani (d. 852/1449) reported that Taftazani’s books were sought everywhere and scholars all over the world competed to write commentaries on them. He was a prolific scholar--his Sharh al-’Aqa’id is a mainstay of every curriculum in Islamic theology, his Mukhtasar al-Ma‘ani a mainstay of every curriculum in Arabic eloquence, his Tahdhib al-Mantiq a mainstay of every curriculum in Islamic logic, and his Hashiya on al-Iji’s commentary on Ibn al-Hajib’s Mukhtasar a mainstay of curricula in Islamic legal theory.
"Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a similar reward"-- The Prophet (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him)Introduction Gain a deeper understanding of worship according to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. Course Outline Lesson 1 (Introduction to the Course and Purification) Lesson 1a - Introduction to Book and Author Lesson 1b - Author's Introduction Lesson 1c - Introduction to Purification & Wudu Lesson 1d - Sunnas of Wudu Lesson 1e - Nullifiers of Wudu Lesson 2 (A Look at Water, Wells & Tayammum)...
Introduction Study Imam Ghazali’s Qawa‘id al-Aqa’id (Foundations of Islamic Belief). What You Will Learn: The key principles and statements of Islamic Belief The relation between scholarly study and spiritual realization The importance of theology and its limitations The role of theology in the religious life Islamic beliefs and the core proofs The strongest arguments for mainstream Islamic theo...
Introduction 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 increase your knowledge of the questions that worshippers face in their purity, prayer, and fasting, all in light of a comprehensive textbook of Hanafi law that students have used for centuries. This is the first of three parts. This part focuses on the detailed rule...
Introduction Widely considered to be Imam al-Ghazali's last book, Minhaj al-Abidin summarizes his teachings in an accessible manner, charting the pitfalls and obstacles to be overcome in order to draw closer to Allah Most High. Course Outline LESSON 1: Introduction to the Course (pp. 5-9) LESSON 2: Continuation on the Author’s Introduction (pp. 9-17) LESSON 3: The First Hurdle: The Hurdle of Knowledge (pp. 18...
Introduction This is a traditional word-by-word explanation of a hashiya (gloss) on Shaykh al-Sanusi’s popular matn in Islamic theology, Umm al-Barahin. Hamza Karamali carefully works through the first half of the Hashiya in 68 recorded lessons, unpacking its meanings, and relating them to contemporary theological problems related to modern science, Western philosophy, and Wahhabi theology. These include the distincti...
| SESSION 1 | Author’s Introduction and the Basmala (6 lessons) |
| SESSION 2 | The Hamdala (3 lessons) |
| SESSION 3 | The Blessings on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) (6 lessons) |
| SESSION 4 | An Introduction to the Science of Tawhid (3 lessons) |
| SESSION 5 | The Three Kinds of Hukm (6 lessons) |
| SESSION 6 | The Hukm ‘Aqli (9 lessons) |
| SESSION 7 | The First Obligation of Morally Responsible Agents (6 lessons) |
| SESSION 8 | Divine Existence, Divine Beginninglessness, Divine Endlessness, and Divine Dissimilarity to Created Things (6 lessons) |
| SESSION 9 | Divine Independence, Divine Oneness, Entity-Attributes, and Privative Attributes (8 lessons) |
| SESSION 10 | Existent Attributes, Divine Power, and Divine Will (8 lessons) |
| SESSION 11 | Divine Knowledge, Divine Life, Divine Hearing, and Divine Sight (5 lessons) |
| SESSION 12 | Divine Speech and Implied Attributes (3 lessons) |
| SESSION 13 | Matters that are Impossible for Allah Most High (1) – Nonexistence, Beginning to Exist, Ceasing to Exist, and Resembling Created Things (8 lessons) |
| SESSION 14 | Matters that are Impossible for Allah Most High (2) – Neediness, Not Being One, and Not Being Powerful (7 lessons) |
| SESSION 15 | Matters that are Impossible for Allah Most High (3) – Not Having Will, Ignorance, Death, Deafness, Blindness, and Muteness (7 lessons) |
| SESSION 16 | Matters that are Possible for Allah Most High and the Proof of Allah Most High’s Existence (9 lessons) |
| SESSION 17 | The Proof of Allah Most High’s Existence (5 lessons) |
| SESSION 18 | The Proofs of Allah Most High’s Beginninglessness, Endlessness, Transcendence, Independence, and Oneness (5 lessons) |
| SESSION 19 | Proofs of Allah Most High’s Agency, Hearing, Sight, and Speech + Matters that are Necessary, Impossible, and Possible for His Messengers (7 lessons) |
| SESSION 20 | Proofs of Messengers’ Attributes (6 lessons) |
| SESSION 21 | The Meaning of La Ilaha Illa Allah (1) (5 lessons) |
| SESSION 22 | The Meaning of La Ilaha Illa Allah (2) (7 lessons) |
| SESSION 23 | The Meaning of Muhammad Rasul Allah (1) |
| SESSION 24 | The Meaning of Muhammad Rasul Allah (2) + Author’s Conclusion |
Introduction Gain an in-depth understanding of commercial transactions and Personal Law according to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. The students will gain a necessary and detailed understanding of Islamic Jurisprudence (fiqh) related to the personal law (i.e. marriage, divorce, and related matters) and commercial transactions, including sales, leasing, or hire. The course is based on Imam al-Mawsuli’s great prim...
Introduction The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) warned that those who learn sacred knowledge to gain the admiration of other people would be among the first to be thrown into the Hellfire. (Muslim) Take this course to learn how to be sincere in your quest for sacred knowledge by (1) avoiding the sins of the outward limbs, (2) avoiding the sins of the heart, and (3) having a good character with other peo...
Introduction 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 r...
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.
| Session 1 | 1A: Introduction to Sacred Law (fiqh) and Imam Abu Hanifa 1B: Introduction to the Author & Text 1C: Water (miya) 1D: The Ritual Ablution (wudu) 1E: The Ritual Bath (ghusl) 1F: The Dry Ablution (tayammum) |
| Session 2 | 2A: Wiping over Footgear (khuffayn) 2B: Wiping over Bandages (jaba’ir) 2C: Menstruation (hayd), Post-Natal Bleeding (nifas) & Irregular Bleeding (istihada) |
| Session 3 | 3A: Filth (najasa) 3B: Wells (abar) 3C: Leftover Water (as’ar) 3D: Cleaning after Relieving Oneself (istinja’) |
| Session 4 | 4A: Prayer Times (awqat al-salat) 4B: The Call to Prayer (adhan) |
| Session 5 | 5A: The Conditions (shara’it) of the Prayer 5B: The Integrals (arkan) of the Prayer 5C: The Necessary Actions (wajibat) of the Prayer 5D: The Sunna Actions of the Prayer 5E: The Proper Manners (adab) of the Prayer 5F: The Supplications (ad‘iya) of the Prayer |
| Session 6 | 6A: The Invalidators (mufsidat) of the Prayer 6B: The Disliked (makruhat) Actions of the Prayer 6C: The Permitted (mubah) Actions of the Prayer 6D: Breaking (qat‘) & Abandoning (tark) the Prayer |
| Session 7 | 7A: Praying on a Riding Mount (dabba) 7B: The Traveller’s Prayer (salat al-musafir) 7C: The Sick Person’s Prayer (salat al-marid) 7D: Being Absolved of the Obligation of Prayer & Lifting One’s Dues (isqat) |
| Session 8 | 8A: The Witr Prayer 8B: The Sunna Prayers 8C: The Night Prayers of Ramadan (salat al-tarawih) 8D: Prayer inside the Ka‘ba |
| Session 9 | 9A: The Makeup Prayer (qada’ al-fawa’it) 9B: The Congregational Prayer (salat al-jama‘a) 9C: The Prostration of Forgetfulness (sujud al-sahw) |
| Session 10 | 10A: The Prostration of Recitation (sajda al-tilawa) 10B: The Prostration of Gratitude (sajda al-shukr) 10C: The Friday Prayer (salat al-jumu‘a) |
| Session 11 | 11A: The ‘Eid Prayer 11B: The Eclipse Prayer (salat al-kusuf/al-khusuf) 11C: The Rain Prayer (salat al-istisqa’) 11D: The Prayer of Fear (salat al-khawf) |
| Session 12 | 12A: The Funeral Prayer (salat al-janaza) 12B: The Burial (al-dafan) 12C: The Rulings of Martyrs (shuhada’) |
| Session 13 | 13A: Fasting: Definition, Types & Intentions 13B: Sighting the Crescent (ru’yat al-hilal) 13C: Things that Invalidate the Fast (mufsidat al-sawm) |
| Session 14 | 14A: The Permitted & The Disliked (mubahat/makruhat) 14B: Exemptions (‘awarid) from Fasting 14C: The Spiritual Retreat (i‘tikaf) |
| Session 15 | 15: Zakat: Definition, Nisab & Calculation |
| Session 16 | 16A: Eligible Recipients of Zakat (masarif al-zakat) 16B: Charity at the End of Ramadan (sadaqat al-fitr) |
| Session 17 | 17A: Hajj: Definition, Integrals & Necessary Acts 17B: The Conditions (shurut) which Obligate Hajj |
| Session 18 | 18: The State of Pilgrim Sanctity (ihram) |
| Session 19 | 19A: The Hajj Described: Arrival in Makka 19B: The Hajj Described: Days 8, 9 & 10 of Dhu’l Hijja 19C: The Hajj Described: Days 11, 12 & 13 of Dhu’l Hijja |
| Session 20 | 20: The Lesser Pilgrimage (‘umra) |
| Session 21 | 21A: Expiations for Ihram & Rite Violations (jinayat) 21B: Expiations for Hunting Violations (jinayat) |
| Session 22 | 22: The Ritual Sacrifice of ‘Eid al-Adha (udhiya/qurbani) |
| Session 23 | 23A: Ritually Slaughtered Animals (dhaba’ih) 23B: Animals unlawful for Consumption |
| Session 24 | 24: Hunting (sayd) |
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 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.”
Introduction 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 Shafi‘i law that students like you have used for centuries. This course focuses on the detaile...
Introduction This course teaches the student how “unpack” the words of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him) as narrated in the most authentic source of his teachings, Sahih al-Bukhari, and from one of the refined abridgements of the work, that of al-Zabidi. The practical application and employment of legal theory, theology and Arabic language are applied to the first chapter of the book to open the door of the Sunn...
Introduction “This,” Allah Most High says about the Qur’an, “is the Scripture whereof there is no doubt.” (Qur’an, 2:2). There is no doubt that the Qur’an is from Allah Most High. This is an introduction to the science of ‘Ulum al-Qur’an (“The Qur’anic Sciences”), whose goal is to defend the Qurʾan and to perfectly understand the tools needed for Qurʾanic commentary Take this course to understand wha...
Introduction Traditional Islamic logic studies the rules of correct mental inference. Muslim scholars received Aristotelian logic as early as the second Islamic century, improved it, and tailored it to the needs of the Islamic sciences, turning it into a thoroughly Islamic discipline. An introductory study of logic is now indispensable for any serious study of the Islamic sciences. Take this course to understand what the scie...
Introduction Allah Most High sent His messengers with “clear signs” (Qur’an, 57:25). They called people to abandon the blind imitation of the false religions and customs of their ancestors and to use their minds to discern what was true and then follow it wholeheartedly. The science of Islamic theology (kalam) formalized the arguments of Allah’s messengers and then used them to respond to the questions posed by Greek ...
Introduction 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. Curricular Conte...
Introduction “Whoever travels a path to seek knowledge, Allah thereby facilitates for him 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 is taught according to the Hanafi school. If you would like to learn it according to the Shafi‘i school, take this course instea...
Introduction “Whoever travels a path to seek knowledge, Allah thereby facilitates for him 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 is taught according to the Shafi‘i school. If you would like to learn it according to the Hanafi school, take this course instea...
Introduction 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. Cu...
Introduction 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, investing and saving your mon...
Introduction The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said that there will always be a group of his followers who will preserve and uphold his religion, teaching it just as he himself taught it, “unharmed by anyone who opposes them, all the way until the Day of Judgment.” (Bukhari and Muslim) Take this course to understand how the scholars of mainstream Islam have preserved the Qur’an, the Sunna, and it...
It is being developed in consultation with leading scholars. Some parts of it are being deployed at SeekersGuidance's Dar al-Fuqaha' Seminary in Istanbul.
We are in the process of developing specializations in (1) Islamic law and method (fiqh and usul); (2) theology and spirituality (kalam and tasawwuf); (3) Qur’anic sciences (ulum al-Qur’an); and (4) the hadith sciences (ulum al-hadith).
Each of these specializations will be fully available at seminary programs in Istanbul and elsewhere. Students will be able to participate through blended learning, by combining online study with in-person immersive study with senior traditionally-trained scholars with authorization (ijaza) and experience
Share this portal with your friends and family & beloved ones.
On the weekly compass newsletter
