Introduction to Islamic Worship (Shafi'i) - Part 1

• Benefit from Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller’s critically praised translation of Imam Nawawi’s most accessible work, al-Maqasid
• Gain a solid grounding in the basics of Islamic belief and a thorough understanding of purification and prayer
• Develop an appreciation for the intricacy of the science of Islamic law (fiqh) as recorded by the imams of the Shafi’i school

• There are no required prerequisites, but Essentials of Islam (Shafi'i) or similar introductory is good preparation.
• Estimated Commitment Per Week: 3-4 hours for core requirements
• Learn how to make sure your computer is ready.

• LESSON 1
  The Fundamentals of Faith & Sacred Law (Part 1)
  • introduction to the text
  • beliefs about God and His Prophets
  • on transmitted beliefs

  LESSON 2
  The Fundamentals of Faith & Sacred Law (Part 2)

  • the fundamentals of Islam
  • the terminology of the Sacred Law
  • the remembrance of Allah & judging by the outward

  LESSON 3
  Purification: On Water & Purifying Articles from Filth

  • the definition of purification
  • on the types of filth, how they are transformed, & purification of articles and vessels (from filth)

  LESSON 4
  On Minor Ritual Impurity & the Fiqh Related to the Lavatory

  • on making ablution & related matters
  • the fiqh related to wiping footgear and using the lavatory

  LESSON 5
  On Major Ritual Impurity & Lifting this State

  • the causes of major ritual impurity
  • the purificatory bath & dry ablution
  • menstruation & postnatal bleeding

  LESSON 6
  The Time of Prayer

  • start of the chapter on prayer
  • making up missed prayers

  LESSON 7
  The Sunnas Related to the Prayer

  • the sunna prayers and the sunnas of the prayer
  • the conditions & integrals of the prayer

  LESSON 8
  The Forgetfulness Prostration, Group Prayer, & Shortening or Joining Prayers

  • when the forgetfulness prostration is required and how to perform it
  • the group prayer
  • issues related to shortening or joining prayers

  LESSON 9
  The Prayer of Peril, the Friday Prayer, & the Eid Prayer

  • issues regarding these prayers
  • when and how they are performed

  LESSON 10
  Other Sunna Prayers

  • regarding the eclipse, drought and funeral prayers
  • when and how they are performed

The great scholar, hadith master, biographer, lexicologist, and saintly mystic Imam Nawawi is perhaps best known for his hadith books Riyadh al-Saliheen (The Gardens of the Righteous), Kitab al-Adhkar (Book of Remembrance), and his eighteen-volume Sharh Sahih Muslim (Commentary on the Sahih Muslim). But Imam Nawawi was also one of the foremost students and intellectual heirs of Imam al-Shafi'i, and his texts are referenced more often than the early works of Imam al-Shafi'i himself.

One of Imam Nawawi’s most accessible texts is Al-Maqasid: ma yajibu ma’rifatuhu min al-din (The Objectives, what is necessary to know of the religion). Filled with hundreds of rulings on some of the most commonly asked questions, this book has stood the test of time because of its utter usefulness. And the lucid translation into English by Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller has been critically praised for its clarity, brevity, practicality, and precision and has been acclaimed as an extremely valuable textbook for courses on Islam.

This course on intermediate Shafi'i fiqh will use Al-Maqasid to give you a solid grounding in the basics of Islamic belief and a thorough understanding of the rulings of purification and prayer. In accordance with traditional modes of teaching, Shaykh Hamza Karamali will unpack the words of Imam Nawawi, explaining his intent and adding important details from classical works such as Bushra al-Karim and the Hashiya of Imam Bajuri. Weekly live sessions will be conducted by Shaykh Abdul-Kareem Yahyaa. By the end of the course, you will develop an appreciation for the intricacy of the science of Islamic law (fiqh) as recorded by the imams of the Shafi'i school.

• Recorded lessons will be conducted by Shaykh Hamza.
• Live sessions will be conducted by Shaykh Abdul-Kareem.
• All live sessions will be recorded, so that you can hear lessons you miss or review key concepts.
• Printable course slides will add structure to lessons.
• Photographs and diagrams are used extensively to clearly illustrate fiqh details.
• Self-study drills help you retain key lesson points.
• A final course-level assessment tests your overall understanding of the material.
• Students are recommended to have Imam Nawawi's Al-Maqasid (tr. Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller) as an accompanying text.
• You can post questions and engage in discussion in the course forum.
• Shaykh Abdul-Kareem will hold weekly office hours.

• "I would recommend this particular course to others because first of all, it is essential to know this knowledge, but apart from that the courses are very well organised, the teachers and staff friendly and helpful and on the whole the course is very easy to manage. The knowledge I learnt here is also very relevant to my everyday life and I found it (mostly) quite easy to apply it straight away to my life."
  Mushfiq Ahmed
  Student, Montreal, Canada
• "People need to learn such basics immediately! It's a fantastic course because the book of a powerhouse scholar (Imam an-Nawawi) is taught. And because it is structured wonderfully and taught to us by highly trained scholars. It's theory that leaves you going away practicing it, which is terrific."
  Mostafa El-Gashingi
  Student, Sydney, Australia
• "The course covered a lot of ground and I was able to review what I learnt easily and Shaykh Abdul Kareem was excellent...Shaykh Hamza Karamali's recorded lessons were very thorough and Shaykh Abdul Kareem was very knowledgeable."
  Mohamed Ramli
  Singapore
• "I would most definitely recommend Introduction to Worship (Shafi'i) Part 1 to others because the topics discussed deal with our everyday routines, and I was enlightened to many Fiqhs and how to perfect my Islam insha'Allah. This course is definitely for anyone regardless of age/level of knowledge. I was one of five in a study group, all born into Islam Alhamdullilah, and we all learned many things with each week's course. It may say introduction in the title, but it gets quite in depth if you ask me!"
  Nisreen El-Saadoun
  Patient Care Coordinator, Seattle, USA
• “I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is following the Shafi'i school, the blessed text has been brilliantly translated by Shaykh Nuh and Shaykh Hamza Karamali does an excellent job of explaining the material. Shaykh Abdul Kareem adds immense depth to the material and really engages and inspires the students to want to learn the material. This course will by the grace and mercy of Allah give you the confidence you need in your purification and prayer. Please be prepared to do some extra reading to benefit from the course.”
  Faisal Khan
  IT Project Manager, Crawley, UK
• “I would most definitely recommend this course for anyone wanting to learn the obligatory and supererogatory rulings of Purification and Prayer in the Shafii School. The Maqasid is probably the best short work written in English on this School and the Teachers utilise the knowledge in this book and expand on it greatly such that there is no ambiguity or questions left unanswered. My worship has improved greatly due to the sound knowledge offered therein and this is irreplaceable. Shaykh Abdalkarim Yahya is an amazing asset to the Ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), his wittiness and ability to teach makes sitting in his class all the more enjoyable and beneficial. His tongue is constantly moist with the dhikr of Allah and His Messenger, I did not notice a moment of silence in the live session except that he was making dhikr or Allah and His Messenger. May Allah reward him and his family and benefit the Ummah through him and through Sunnipath. Ameen.”
  Omar Helal
  Software Developer, Sydney, Australia
• “I would recommend this particular course to others because it is extremely well structured and gives a good understanding of fiqh in the Shafe'i madhhab.”
  Sam De Francesco
  Consultant, Sydney, Australia
• “Excellent lessons, excellent teachers and very supportive staff.”
  Mohammad Abdullah Kandil
  Customer Service, Sydney, Australia
• “I would recommend this particular course (Introduction to Islamic Worship) because it gives a very good understanding of purification and prayer, and because the teachers and assistants are very motivating and skilled...Shaykh Abdul Karim Yahya was very motivating, and particularly his using scenarios to test our understanding of the subject was very beneficial.”
  David Vingen
  Warehousing, Lillesand, Norway
• “I was given a comprehensive overview of the essentials of Islamic prayer, which has given me more certainty and confidence in my worship. The text the course was based on, "Al Maqasid", was an excellent guide...Hamza Karamali is a wonderful and selfless teacher. I really enjoy learning from him. He is an incredibly busy person, yet he still found time to e-mail me personally when I needed advice.”
  Paula Marie Miller
  Science Teacher, Iowa City, USA
• “I would recommend this course to others because it covers concisely the info needed to get the basics of both aqeedah and fiqh.”
  Imaan Joshi
  Doctor, Sydney, Australia
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