Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali is accepted as one of the greatest scholars of Islam, and one of the most brilliant intellects in human history. He
is best known for his Ihya Ulum al-Deen (The Revival of the Religious Sciences), which earned him the title of the "Proof of Islam." This classic
masterpiece includes a section that is considered by many scholars to be one of
the best and most eloquent summaries of Islamic belief. Entitled "Belief in God
and His Messenger," this short primer concisely covers the basic tenets of a Muslim's faith.
This course will cover Imam al-Ghazali's text in seven lessons. Lessons will be supplemente with some excerpts from Imam al-Laqqani's Jawharat al-Tawhid. The second part of this course will include three lessons from
Habib Ahmad al-Haddad's Key to the Garden. This book is an illustration
of how the entire spectrum of Islamic thought and worship unfolds from the
Muslim testimony of faith, which the Prophet called "the key to the garden."
Using sections of this book, you will learn the meanings of La ilaha illa Allah, Surat al-Ikhlas, and Ayat al-Kursi. The chapter on the creed of Imam al-Haddad will also be discussed and made clear. In addition, the relationship between the
common modes of remembrance of God and the Muslim's beliefs will also be
explained. Finally, key Prophetic hadiths on faith from Sahih al-Bukhari, such as the famous Hadith Gibreel, will be presented and discussed.
This course on the absolute essentials of Islamic belief will
inspire you with a firm and clear understanding of what a Muslim must believe
in. You will also develop an understanding of the spiritual and practical
implications of ones belief. Lastly, you will see how the Quran and Sunna
express our fundamental beliefs and call us to Divine guidance. The emphasis of
this course is both defining a Muslim's beliefs and then describing the fruits
of that belief.
Lessons with Shaykh Faraz are pre-recorded, and Ustadha Zaynab Ansari will manage the weekly live sessions. There are no required
prerequisites.