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.
• 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 and live lessons will be conducted by Sh. Hamza.
• 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. Hamza will hold weekly office hours.

• Taken this course? Submit a review.
• "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
• "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, 59
  Technical Writer, North Carolina, USA