This is a Level Two course in the Islamic Studies Curriculum.
This course is based on Nur al-Idah wa Najat al-Arwah (The Light of Clarification and the Salvation of Souls), an intermediate work on the fiqh of worship. Written by the erudite scholar, Imam Shurunbulali, it combines rulings from the great works of the Hanafi school on the issues of purification, prayer, and fasting. These issues are present in other books but are spread out and difficult to read, or they simply require clarification. In this course, these issues are presented in a manner that is organized and easy to understand that leaves no ambiguity.
Another matter that sets this course apart from others is that Imam Shurunbulali was from “ahl al-tarjih,” those scholars at the rank of choosing positions in the school. This eliminates confusion and provides the reader with a good grounding in the subject.
Nur al-Idah aims to be exhaustive and comprehensive in the issues that it brings forward; anyone who understands this work properly can live their life comfortably without having doubts about their worship. No student or teacher can make do without deep study and consistent review of this great work
For centuries, this has been one of the most widely taught texts in traditional Islamic institutes and seminaries. This course will leave the students well-prepared to deal with the majority of issues that they encounter in their daily worship.
- المعلم: Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Nur al-Idah wa Naja al-Arwah (The Light of Clarification and the Salvation of Souls) aims to cover the issues of purification, prayer and fasting at an intermediate and exhaustive level. It is also written in a very deliberate and scholarly method, and gradually ramps up its level of nuance.
The text is not a beginner's work. It adds detail and nuance to the basics that would have been studied prior to it. Nur al-Idah - despite its brilliance - was not Imam Shurunbulali’s most celebrated work. He was most famously known for his work, the Shurunbulaliyya, a hashiya (marginal notes) on the Durar of Mulla Khusraw which covers all the topics of jurisprudence.
Imam Shurunbulali began his work on the Shurunbulaliyya in the year 1030 AH and finished it in 1035 AH. Nur al-Idah was written while he was writing al-Shurunbulaliyya, in the year 1032 AH. His first commentary on Nur al-Idah, Imdad al-Fattah, was completed in 1046 AH and his second commentary, Maraqi al-Falah, in 1054 AH.
Imam Shurunbulali also later summarized Nur al-Idah into a smaller work named Maraqi al-Sa`adaat - also translated as Ascent to Felicity and he completed this work near the end of his life.
- This course is for teenagers and adults.
- It is particularly beneficial for intermediate students
- It is a Level Two course. In order to successfully complete this course, students should minimally take the Ascent to Felicity course.
- This course should be taken by anyone who wants to have confidence in their worship
- Understand deeply the rules of purification, prayer, and fasting.
- Have confidence in their worship.
- Appreciate how Islamic law works.
- Understand what caused differences of opinion between the scholars.
- Appreciate the rigor of the science of Islamic law (fiqh).
- Understand how to deal with difficult or rare situations in worship.
This is a Level Two course in the Islamic Studies Curriculum. It serves to provide a proper understanding of the Islamic rulings of trade and transactions.
Sound financial transactions are a key to cultivating concern and God-consciousness (taqwa) in our lives. Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hasan was once asked, “Why haven’t you written anything on asceticism (zuhd)?” He replied, “I have written on transactions.” Knowing the rulings of transactions allows one to be more God-conscious through mindful financial dealings that are valid, sound, proper, and beneficial.
In this course, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani covers the chapters on financial transactions (fiqh al-mu`amalat) from Imam Qudur’s Mukhtasar. He relies on the great classical commentaries—including Maydani’s Lubab—and major reference works of the Hanafi School.
Students will learn the legal rulings related to contracts; the sales contract; permissible and impermissible conditions in contracts, the elements of sound and unsound transactions, and other issues related to commercial transactions. These include the prohibitions of riba (usury) and deceptive uncertainty (gharar), how to secure contracts through collateral and guarantors, types of partnerships and companies, contracts of hire and leasing, types of financing, and more.
This course is fundamental to students of knowledge completing the Islamic Studies Curriculum. A previous study of Islamic law (fiqh) is recommended, but not a requirement.
- المعلم: Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Imam Quduri’s full primer (matn) in Islamic law is so famous that it is simply referred to as “The Book” (al-Kitab).
Quduri’s Mukhtasar is one of the four core primers (mutun) of the Hanafi school. For over a thousand years, it has been the starting point of a full study of Hanafi fiqh. This is because of the text’s reliability in transmitting the Hanafi school, its clarity, its comprehensiveness in dealing with the core issues of each chapter, and its proven blessedness (baraka).
- This course is for teenagers and adults.
- It is particularly beneficial for students of Islamic law.
- It is a Level Two course. Students are encouraged to have completed Level One of the Islamic Studies Curriculum first—or at least the Level One fiqh courses.
- This course can also be taken by anyone interested in learning more about the rulings of commercial law.
- Understand the core rulings related to trade and transactions in the Hanafi school.
- Appreciate the wisdom and purpose of these legal rulings.
- Develop a basic understanding of legal reasoning.
- Understand the practical implementation of Divine Guidance concerning transactions
Allah sends occasions to remind us of the ultimate reality of our existence. Whether natural events such as a solar eclipse, a dire need that drives us to seek guidance from the All-Knowing, or a mistake which impels us to seek Allah’s forgiveness—these all are opportunities to turn to the Divine through prayer and to form an intimate connection with Him.
This course will survey all of such ritual prayers (salah). Whilst compiled from major works of the Hanafi madhhab, these are not ’Hanafi prayers’; they are indispensable to any Muslim, as these prayers can be found in the works of other madhhabs or in the books of hadith. Students will gain a greater appreciation of the various occasions in which we are to turn to Allah in ritual prayer, and will learn the particular rites that are to be performed for each.
- المعلم: Shaykh Talal Al-Azem
The course is based on the teacher’s own publication: "Prayers of Occasions: A Handbook of Muslim Salah (2010)".
This is a handbook of Muslim ritual prayers, compiled by the course instructor, with an illuminating preface by Sheikh Nuh Ha Mim Keller. It is organized into seven sections and comprises twenty-nine prayers.
lt provides a quick manual to making these prayers part of our daily practice throughout our lives.
The course will be delivered using slides, so access to the book is not necessary.
- This course is suitable for all ages.
- This course is particularly beneficial for anyone who wishes to learn how to use the occasions of their lives as a means of drawing closer to Allah.
- It is a General Level course. There are no prerequisites required to successfully complete this course.
- Identify the occasions for ritual prayer
- Perform each prayer in accordance with the rites applicable to it
- Become more mindful of Allah in every situation in which we find ourselves
Introduction
Gain an in-depth understanding of commercial transactions according to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence.
What You Will Learn:
- Sales, recession, contracts, and rulings
- Interdicted, trust, and forward sales
- Interest rulings and monetary exchange
- The corrupt hire, collateral, division, and judgeship
- Coercion, claims and acknowledgements
- Witnessing, agency, and guarantees
Course Requirements:
- This intensive course requires that students complete a minimum of two lessons a week. For students who wish to take this course at a slower (regular) pace, students have the option to complete half the course this term and study the remaining course material in the subsequent semester (when they register again for the course).
About the Course Text
This is the second course of the Islamic Law for Seekers (Hanafi) series and covers the fiqh of commercial transactions. Entering into the realm of transactions (mu‛amalat), this course furthers one’s knowledge into the most important topics required for a Muslim to know after the fiqh of worship. Students will learn details of the required knowledge for commercial transactions, including sales, leasing, or hire. [Below fold] This course serves to provide a proper understanding of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) of commercial transactions. This course is based upon 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-Hidaya. An English translation of al-Mukhtar will be provided, along with the full Arabic text of Imam Mawsuli’s own commentary: al-Ikhtiyar li-Ta’lil Masa’il al-Mukhtar. This commentary explains the legal reasoning underlying the issues and rulings in 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. Imam Abdullah bin Mahmud bin Mawdud al-Mawsuli al-Hanafi (599-683AH) 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.
- المعلم: Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
- المعلم: Shaykh Salman Younas
This is a Level Two elective course in the Islamic Studies Curriculum. It is based on Imam Mawsili'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. 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.
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 Marghinani’s al-Hidaya. It will help students gain a deeper understanding of worship according to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence.
- المعلم: Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
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 Imam Abu Hanifa - the school’s founder - may Allah have mercy on him, and the transmitted positions of the school after him. 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. An English translation of al-Mukhtar will be provided, along with the full Arabic text of Imam Mawsuli’s own commentary: al-Ikhtiyar li-Ta`lil Masa’il al-Mukhtar.
- This course is for teenagers and adults
- It is particularly beneficial for students of Islamic law
- It is a Level Two course. In order to successfully complete this course, students should
- first take On Worship (Purification, Prayer, Fasting, Zakat, and Hajj): Shurunbulali’s Ascent to Felicity or equivalent.
- This course can also be taken by anyone who is interested in learning more about the rulings of purification, prayer, fasting, zakat, and Hajj.
Understand and summarize the Hanafi school’s positions on:
- Water, wells, and dry ablution.
- Menstruation, bleeding, their types, and rulings.
- Prayer, its integrals and conditions.
- Prayer in congregation and supererogatory prayer.
- Actions to avoid in prayer, forgetfulness, tarawih.
- The prayer of the sick and the traveler.
- The Friday and Eid prayers, the prayer of fear, and prayer at the Ka’ba.
- The funeral prayer and burial practices.
- Zakat and its rulings.
- Fasting and its rulings.
- The Hajj and its rulings.
