The Reliance Explained (Shafi'i) – Part 1

• Read the first Islamic legal work in a European language to receive the certification of al-Azhar from cover-to-cover
• The first in a series of courses that will cover all chapters of Islamic law, not just worship
• Builds on your previous study of Islamic Law
• Become enabled to understand complex scenarios related to purification and prayer according to the Shafi'i school
• Focus on high level principles that subsume a large number of low level details underneath them
• Solve a large number of case studies to ensure that you can apply what you have learned to real-world scenarios
• Learn what kinds of questions you need to ask before undertaking a particular action

• Introduction to Islamic Worship – Part 1 and Part 2 (LAS111/112) are required prerequisites. If you have done the equivalent outside of SunniPath, you are still strongly encouraged to repeat the courses here. If you feel otherwise and would like to enroll in LAS211 directly, then register and complete the application you will receive upon registering. If this application is approved, a combination of LAS111 and LAS112 finals will be sent to you to complete in order to be admitted into LAS211.
• You are recommended to have successfully completed Living Islam (Shaf’i).
• The Objectives of Islamic Law is a recommended complementary course.
• You are required to have a copy of the Reliance of the Traveler and al-Maqasid, both translated by Shaykh Nuh Keller.
• Estimated Commitment Per Week: 6 hours for core requirements
• Learn how to make sure your computer is ready.

The sections in italics are expanded treatments of material covered in al-Maqasid. Students are expected to thoroughly review the specified sections of al-Maqasid before coming to class. This is a fast-paced class. Students are thus expected to also study the specified sections of the Reliance on their own before coming to class.

Lesson 1

• Author’s Introduction (d1.1—d.13)
• Supplementary Topic: A Brief History of the Shafi`i School
• Water (e.1.1—e1.17)
• Review al-Maqasid Sections 2.1, 2.2

Lesson 2

• Containers and Utensils (e2.1—e2.2)
• Using a Toothstick (e3.1—e3.4)
• The Body (e4.1—e4.4)
• Review al-Maqasid Section 2.6, 2.7

Lesson 3

• Ablution (e5.1—e5.29)
• Review al-Maqasid Section 2.10, 2.11

Lesson 4

• Wiping Footgear (e6.1—e6.7)
• Review al-Maqasid Section 2.12, 2.14

Lesson 5

• The Four Causes of Minor Ritual Impurity (e7.1—e7.6)
• Actions Unlawful During Minor Ritual Impurity (e8.1—e8.4)
• Review al-Maqasid Section 2.8, 2.30

Lesson 6

• Going to the Lavatory (e9.1—e9.6)
• Review al-Maqasid Section 2.15, 2.16

Lesson 7

• Major Ritual Impurity (e10.1—e10.7)
• How to Perform the Purificatory Bath (e11.1—11.5)
• Review al-Maqasid Section 2.17, 2.18, 2.19, 2.20, 2.30

Lesson 8

• Dry Ablution (e12.1—e12.20)
• Review al-Maqasid Section 2.21, 2.22, 2.23, 2.24, 2.25, 2.26

Lesson 9

• The Menstrual Period (e13.1—e13.7)
• Supplementary Topic: Advanced Topics on Menstruation and AUB
• Review al-Maqasid Section 2.27, 2.30

Lesson 10

• Filth (e14.1—e14.15)
• Review al-Maqasid Sections 2.3, 2.4, 2.5

Lesson 11

• Who Must Pray (f1.1—f1.5)
• Prayer Times and Making Up Missed Prayers (f2.1—f2.12)
• Review al-Maqasid Sections 3.1, 3.2

Lesson 12

• The Call to Prayer and Call to Commence (f3.1—f3.12)
• Purity of Body, Clothes, and Place of Prayer (f4.1—f4.15)
• Review al-Maqasid Sections 3.14, 3.15

Lesson 13

• Clothing One’s Nakedness (f5.1—f5.8)
• Facing the Direction of Prayer (f6.1—f6.7)
• Placing a Barrier in Front of One’s Prayer Place (f7.1—f7.4)
• Review al-Maqasid Sections 3.14, 3.15

Lesson 14

• What Invalidates, is Offensive, or Obligatory in Prayer (f9.1—f9.16)
• Description of the Prayer (f8.1—f8.25)
• Review al-Maqasid Sections 3.11, 3.12, 3.13

Lesson 15

• Description of the Prayer (f8.27—f8.53)
• Review al-Maqasid Sections 3.11, 3.12, 3.13

Lesson 16

• Supererogatory Prayer (f10.1—f10.15)
• Review al-Maqasid Section 3.4, 3.5

Lesson 17

• Prostrations of Forgetfulness, Koran Recital, or Thanks (f11.1—f11.21)
• Review al-Maqasid Section 3.16

Lesson 18

• Group Prayer and the Imam (f12.1—f12.37)
• Review al-Maqasid Section 3.17

Lesson 19

• Times When Prayer is Forbidden (f13.1—f13.4)
• The Prayer of a Sick Person (f14.1—f14.6)
• Shortening of Joining Prayers for Travel or Rain (f15.1—f15.13)
• Review al-Maqasid Sections 3.3, 3.19, 3.20

Lesson 20

• Shortening of Joining Prayers for Travel or Rain (f15.14—f15.19)
• The Prayer of Peril (f16.1—f16.5)
• Unlawful Clothing and Jewelry (f17.1—f17.11)
• Review al-Maqasid Section 3.19, 3.20, 3.23

Lesson 21

• The Friday Prayer (f18.1—f18.19)
• Review al-Maqasid Sections 3.24, 3.25

Lesson 22

• The Prayer on the Two Eids (f19.1—f19.9)
• The Eclipse Prayer (f20.1—f20.7)
• The Drought Prayer (f21.1—f21.7)
• Review al-Maqasid Sections 3.26, 3.27, 3.28

Lesson 23

• Visiting the Sick and Dying (g1.1—g1.9)
• Washing the Body (g2.1—g2.10)
• Shrouding the Body (g3.1—g3.5)
• Review al-Maqasid Sections 3.29, 3.30, 3.31, 3.32, 3.33

Lesson 24

• The Prayer Over the Dead (g4.1—g4.4)
• Burial (g5.1—g5.9)
• Consoling Next of Kin (g6.1—g6.6)
• Review al-Maqasid Sections 3.29, 3.30, 3.31, 3.32, 3.33

The "crowning achievement" of Muslim scholarship, Islamic law is arguably one of the most difficult disciplines to master. Yet it is extremely practical because it deals with real-world issues that Muslims face in their day-to-day lives, making the learning of every single scholar incomplete until they have studied a classical manual of Islamic Law from cover-to-cover. Mastering other disciplines, such as theology, legal methodology, Arabic grammar, hadith, and tafsir, only enable one to answer a very small set of questions that the common person has because the vast, vast majority of questions that they have revolve around Islamic Law. This is why anyone who is planning on being in a position where they will answer people’s religious questions must have a solid grounding in this area.

Few students of knowledge ever get the opportunity to read a classical manual of Islamic Law that covers all of the chapters of Islamic Law (not just worship or 'ibadat) from cover-to-cover under a teacher, and thereby they miss out on the comprehensive understanding of exactly what it means for our religion to be a "way of life". The Reliance Explained seeks to fill this void in a series of four courses that cover a complete classical manual of Islamic Law. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of Islamic Law, you will be able to attain godfearingness (taqwa) in your lives because you will know how Allah's command relates to everything you do. In addition, you will become familiarized with more and more fiqh terminology in Arabic.

By the end of these four courses, you will have read the Reliance of the Traveler word-for-word with the instructor, which is the classical way of acquiring knowledge. You will learn how to understand the terse expressions of classical manuals, and appreciate the value of writing manuals in such a manner. You will be able to sense before you do something in your life how it is religiously significant and what kinds of questions you need to ask before undertaking a particular action, because until someone has studied a manual of Islamic Law, they often do things not realizing that they may be falling into something unlawful.

The text of this series, the Reliance of the Traveler, is an in-depth manual of Islamic law based on 'Umdat al-Salik by the great scholar Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri. Shaykh Nuh Keller’s translation is the first Islamic legal work in a European language to receive the certification of al-Azhar.

Part 1 will build on your previous study of Islamic Law, particularly Introduction to Islamic Worship Part 1 and 2 based on al-Maqasid. The course will enable you to understand complex scenarios related to purification and prayer according to the Shafi`i school. Particular emphasis will be placed on high-level principles that subsume a large number of low-level details underneath them. You will also solve a large number of case studies based on what you learn in order to ensure that you can apply what you have learned to real-world scenarios. In areas of controversy, the course will also digress to discuss some of the proofs from the Quran and Sunna for legal rulings, and you will also be exposed (in some issues) to opinions held by scholars of other schools (may Allah be pleased with all of them).

• Weekly live lessons will be taught by Shaykh Hamza.
• Course is text-focused, meaning that you should have the book open in front of you and be following along as it is being explained.
• Case studies will ensure that you can apply what you have learned to real-world scenarios.
• Exams and assignments will test your knowledge.
• All live sessions will be recorded, so that you can hear lessons that you may miss or review key concepts.
• You can post questions and engage in discussion in the course forum.
• Shaykh Hamza will hold weekly office hours.

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