Essentials of Islam (Shafii)

• A key first-step in your religious learning according to the Shafi’i school of law
• Bring clarity to your faith, worship, and practice
• Learn both the key beliefs a Muslim must have and the implications of that belief on your life
• Understand the absolute essentials of making your worship valid, sound, and proper in accordance with the Prophetic Sunna
• Reflect on the purpose, goal, and inward dimensions of worship
• Gain an understanding of the path of salvation as it relates to your life and conduct

• There are no required prerequisites.
• Understanding Islam is a highly recommended prerequisite for new and returning Muslims.
• Estimated Commitment Per Week: 3-4 hours for core requirements
• Learn how to make sure your computer is ready.

• LESSON 1
  Introduction to the Course
  • Author's Preface
  • Pillars of Islam (1.1)
  • Belief in God (1.2)
• LESSON 2
  Belief & an Introduction to Purification
  • Belief in Prophets and Other Beliefs (1.3 to 1.5)
  • Ablution (2.1 and 2.3)
  • The Purificatory Bath (2.2)
• LESSON 3
  Purification Explained
  • Supplementary Lesson: Rulings on Menstruation
  • Inner Dimensions of Purification
  • Conditions of Prayer (2.4)
• LESSON 4
  The Prayer (Part One)
  • Essentials of Prayer (2.5 to 2.7)
  • Sunnas of Prayer (2.8)
  • Supplementary Lesson: Praying According to the Sunna
  • Actions which Invalidate the Prayer (2.9)
• LESSON 5
  The Prayer (Part Two)
  • The Friday Prayer (2.10 to 2.13)
  • Other Prayers (2.14)
  • Inner Dimensions of Prayer
• LESSON 6
  Fasting
  • Integrals of Fasting (3.1)
  • Sunnas of Fasting and Recommended Fasts (3.2 and 3.3)
  • Inner Dimensions of Fasting
• LESSON 7
  Zakat
  • Zakat of Wealth (4.1 to 4.5)
  • Zakat of Eid al-Fitr (4.6 to 4.7)
  • Paying Zakat (4.8 to 4.10)
  • Inner Dimensions of Zakat
• LESSON 8
  Hajj (Part 1)
  • supplementary lesson: overview of Hajj & Umra
  • conditions of obligation (5.1)
  • integrals of Hajj & Umra (5.2 to 5.6)
  • obligation of Hajj (5.7)
• LESSON 9
  Hajj (Part 2)
  • sunnas of Hajj (5.8)
  • omitting parts of Hajj (5.9 to 5.11)
  • things forbidden in Ihram (5.12)
  • inner dimensions of Hajj
• LESSON 10
  Virtues and Vices (Part 1)
  • vices of the heart (6.1 and 6.2)
  • virtues of the heart (6.3)
• LESSON 11
  Virtues and Vices (Part 2)
  • vices of the stomach (6.4)
  • vices of the tongue (6.5)
  • vices of the eye (6.6)
• LESSON 12
  Virtues and Vices (Part 3)
  • vices of the ear, hand, and foot (6.7 to 6.9)
  • vices of the genitals (6.10)
  • vices of the whole body (6.11)
  • conclusion (6.12)

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and give him peace, said "Whoever Allah wishes well for, He gives understanding of religion" [Bukhari and Muslim]. The most beneficial knowledge a person can obtain is knowledge related to how one should properly worship one’s Lord, for worship is not possible without knowledge. Learn the absolute essentials of worship in this short but vital course on the basics of faith, purification, prayer, fasting, Zakat, and central points related to your everyday life.

Al-Habib Ahmed bin Zayn al-Habshi Ba `Alawi’s al-Risalah al-Jami`a is a brief text that covers the essentials that every Muslim must know about faith and practice according to the shafi’i school. A descendant of the Prophet, the author was a spiritual guide of the Ba `Alawi path and a great scholar of the sacred sciences who studied with the greatest teachers of his time in Hadramawt, Yemen. His book has spread far and wide since it was written and is now studied around the world including in Yemen, Egypt, Kenya, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Hijaz. The scholars of Hadramawt place special emphasis on this text, making it the first text studied by students of knowledge. An abridgement of Imam Ghazali’s famous primer Bidayat al-Hidaya, the text begins with the blessed prayer, "These are issues summarized mainly from some of the books of the Proof of Islam, Ghazali. Whoever knows them and acts upon them, we hope from Allah that he be of the people of knowledge, outwardly and inwardly." As al-Habib Ahmed is known for his prayers being answered, this opening supplication itself is an important reason for this text being so widely studied.

This course on the absolute essentials of Islam will use this book to cover what is personally obligatory for a Muslim to know immediately regarding matters of faith, purification, prayer, and some central points related to your everyday life according to the Shafi’i school. As this course is meant as an introduction or a review of the basics, it will not delve into a great deal of detail except in cases where detail will further understanding.

Imam Ghazali’s moving Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship, translated by Muhtar Holland, will also be used to discuss the sections related to the inner dimensions of the various acts of worship.

• Recorded lessons will be conducted by Sh. Hamza.
• Weekly live sessions will be conducted by Sh. Abdul Kareem.
• Printable course slides will add structure to lessons.
• Diagrams will be used extensively to illustrate fiqh rules, especially for Hajj and Zakat.
• Self-study drills help you retain key lesson points.
• A final course-level assessment tests your overall understanding of the material.
• All live lessons will be recorded, so that you can hear lessons you miss or review key concepts.
• The Comprehensive Booklet, an English translation of Al-Habib Ahmad bin Zayn al-Habshi Ba `Alawi’s al-Risalah al-Jami`ah by Mostafa Azzam, will be available in PDF format.
• The original Arabic of al-Risalah al-Jami`ah will also be available in PDF format.
• Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship by Imam Ghazali and Translated by Muhtar Holland [The Islamic Foundation, 1983] is a recommended companion text.
• Related recommended readings will also be provided.
• You can post questions and engage in discussion in the course forum.
• Sh. Abdul Kareem will hold weekly office hours.

• "I have been Muslim for 8 years, I learned some of the essential things that it is needed to be Muslim, which I was unaware before the class."
  Apryl McDowell
  Homemaker, Hampton, US
• "I would recommend this particular course to others because it is so important to have a sound understanding of Islamic Law. Otherwise a person will likely find themselves falling into sin without even realizing it. Having a qualified teacher who himself learned from a qualified teacher is the assured way of attaining knowledge that will protect us from the fire."
  Dawood Abdal Wadood Bathurst
  Landscaper, Surrey, Canada
• "I would because it is easy to understand. Not too much information in one go. The teachers are excellent mashaAllah. The course itself helps one understand and apply the fiqh with confidence. It leaves you hungry for more!"
  Uzma Jung
  Ilford, UK
• "I would recommend the LAS101 course to anyone interested in learning Shafi fiqh that will help them in their day-to-day practice. Be prepared to learn more than you might expect though. Even though the course is described as an introduction I was surprised at the detail it covered which I thought was a bonus."
  Idris Stone
  School Teacher, London, UK
• "I would defiantly recommend this particular course to others because I thought I had a good graspe of the Shari iat but on taking this course which is of very basic level found myself to be very deficient in the basics of Islam."
  Sabir Hameed
  Civil Servant, Manchester, UK
• “It's simple enough for someone at the basic level of learning Islam; also satisfying someone wanting to reach the advance level of our deen. My instructor was able to satisfy my questions and able to explain to me in detail and clarity the material.”
  Umar Abdul-Mutakabbir
  Government Worker, Highland Falls, USA
• “I would recommend this particular course to others because it deals with common questions that aren't dealt with by other basic texts of fiqh - key issues surrounding day to day life.”
  Mohyudin Dingle
  Student, Nuneaton, uk
• “I would recommend this particular course to others because I believe that it makes fiqh easy, accessible and understandable to those who may be intimidated by fiqh (such as myself). Also, the systematic structure of the course is very well planned. I liked how it emphasized both the outer and inner dimensions of Islam. The teacher also made the course very engaging. Shaykh Hamza's style helped make the fiqh more interesting. He comes across as someone who practices and lives the fiqh himself; and I think this passes to the student some kind of way, and it makes you love the fiqh and the deen even more... Things were broken down and taken step by step and put together as one whole. I love Shaykh Hamza's teaching style. It's very engaging, and he doesn't put himself above the students or out of reach. He's accessible and non intimidating. I initially thought that fiqh would be a dry, boring subject, but now I find it very stimulating and would like to take more fiqh courses, especially with Shaykh Hamza.”
  Fatemah Salahuddin
  Housewife, Beaverton, USA
• “I would recommend this particular course to others because it is concise, clear and gives us much of the basic knowledge we need to start off with. The work load is workable and the staff are friendly and helpful, and understand our needs.”
  Mushfiq Ahmed
  Student, Montreal, Canada
• “It teaches you practical steps to improve your deen and follow one madhab correctly. Shaykh Hamza was easy to understand and explained things well.”
  Cara Johnson
  Crisis Line Coordinator, Seattle, USA
• “It is a valuable experience in learning. Shaykh Hamza walks you through the basics of everything you need to know in faith, worship and spirituality. Masha Allah, may Allah keep him and draw him nearer to Him.”
  Ramy Issa
  Teacher, Scarborough, Canada
• “The Essentials of Islam course was interesting in that it incorporated the spiritual aspect of the practices of being a Muslim. It brings one's deen [religion] alive and helps to raise one's awareness of how the practice of Islam is meant to transform you and help you become a better person.”
  Karen Haider
  Technical Writer, North Carolina, USA
• "I would recommend this course because it provides basics in an informative, interesting way...Sh. Hamza gave memorable and sincere explanations. I felt there was taqwa in every breath."
  Frances Almefleh, 58
  Nurse, Akron, USA
• "I would recommend this particular course to others...Hamza Karamali is the best teacher ever!"
  Najeedah Robinson, 26
  Mother, Knoxville, USA
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