'Aqida (Belief)

​The creedal foundations of Islam: An understanding of the essential Islamic beliefs (‘aqida) which ground a believer; knowing [1] the attributes of Allah and [2] His Prophets, as well as [3] matters of the unseen, and how they transform a believer’s character and shape his or her worldview, giving them direction and purpose in their life.

Authority and Transmission of Islam

What grounds our practice? Who has the right to legislate? What are the categories of Islamic legal rulings? From where do we derive our morals and understanding of what is right and wrong?

​How Islam has been transmitted to us today? Who is a scholar and what defines Islamic orthodoxy? How does one determine qualified scholarship? What are the various ranks of qualified scholarship and how do we seek sound answers to our questions that arise concerning Islamic practice?

Ihsan (Internal Virtue)

  • The sins of the heart (definitions, causes and cures)
  • Actions that illuminate the heart 
  • Understanding the ego and how to take account of one's self
  • Importance of repentance (tawba) and issues concerning it

Fiqh (Law)

  • Ritual Worship ('Ibadat)
    • ​Purification
    • Prayer
    • Fasting
    • Zakat
    • Hajj
  • Transactions (Mu'amalat)
    • ​Buying and Selling
    • Common errors in business transactions
    • Lawful and unlawful forms of trade
    • Marriage (conditions, rights and responsibilities)
    • Divorce
    • Child rearing
    • Parents and Relatives
    • Rights toward other human beings​
  • ​Halal and Haram
    • Food
    • Clothing
    • Major Sins
    • Minor Sins
    • Prohibitions of the tongue, eyes, ears and hands

Contemporary Issues

  • Time and place specific obligations (based on the principle: "Whatever is required to fulfill an obligation is an obligation itself"
  • LGBT+ Issues
  • Gender Issues
  • Responding to doubts
  • Navigating modernity
  • Securing one's faith in times of Fitna

Class Recordings, Notes and Study Material

Course Introduction
     Nov 19, 2021
Slides
Video
Audio​​
Module I - 'Aqida 101
1. 'Aqida 101 - Introduction
     Nov 26, 2021
5. 'Aqida 101 - Non-Negating Attributes of Allah
     Dec 24, 2021
9. 'Aqida 101 - Prophetology - I
     Jan 21, 2022
2. 'Aqida 101 - Epistemology - I
     Dec 3, 2021
6. 'Aqida 101 - Necessary Attributes of Allah and their opposites
     Dec 31, 2021
10. 'Aqida 101 - Prophetology - II
     Jan 28, 2022
3. 'Aqida 101 - Epistemology - II
     Dec 10, 2021
7. 'Aqida 101 - Rational Proofs of God's Existence
     Jan 7, 2022
11. 'Aqida 101 - Transmitted Beliefs
     Feb 11, 2022
4. 'Aqida 101 - Negating Attributes of Allah
     Dec 17, 2021
8. 'Aqida 101 - Rational Proofs of God's Negating Attributes
     Jan 14, 2022
End of Module Test
Module II - The Transmission of Islam
1. Transmission of Islam - Introduction
     Feb 18, 2022
2. Transmission of Islam - Scholarly Authority In Islam
     Feb 25, 2022
3. Transmission of Islam - Role of Non-Mujtahid (Common Muslim)
     Mar 4, 2022
4. Transmission of Islam - Practical Tips for Learning Fiqh
     Mar 11, 2022
Module III - Fiqh (Jurisprudence) of Fasting
1. Fiqh of Fasting Part 1/2
     Mar 18, 2022
2. Fiqh of Fasting Part 2/2
     Mar 25, 2022
Module IV - Fiqh (Jurisprudence) of Purification
1. Purification - Objectives & Types of Water
     May 20, 2022
5. Purification - Bathroom Etiquettes & Purification specific to Women
     June 17, 2022
2. Purification - Obligations & Sunna Actions of Wudu'
     May 27, 2022
6. Purification - Review and Q/A
     June 124 2022
3. Purification - Rulings of Ghusl and Tayammum
     June 3, 2022
4. Purification - Rulings of Wiping over footwear & Impurities
     June 10, 2022
Module V - Fiqh (Jurisprudence) of Salat (Prayer)
1. Prayer - Importance, Unique Effects, Warnings on Neglecting/Abandoning it 
     July 15, 2022
5. Prayer - Obligations of Prayer - Takbir to Salams
     August 12, 2022
9. Prayer - Qada (makeup), Friday, Eid & Funeral Prayer
     September 9, 2022
2. Prayer - Causes and Conditions of Obligation, Prayer time determination
     July 22, 2022
6. Prayer - Sunna Actions in Prayers
     August 19, 2022
10. Prayer - Friday, Eid & Funeral Prayer, Prayer Behind Imam, Misc Issues
     September 16, 2022
3. Prayer - Azan, Iqama, Proper Covering of one's body
     July 29, 2022
7. Prayer - Etiquettes, Permissible, Disliked Actions in Prayers
     August 26, 2022
Complete
Module
Notes
4. Prayer - Conditions of Prayer, Locating and Facing the Qibla, Pillars of Salat
     August 5, 2022
8. Prayer - Witr, Traveler's Prayers, Prostration of Forgetfulness
     September 2, 2022
End of Module Test
Module VI - Fiqh (Jurisprudence) of Zakat
1. Zakat - Meanings & Importance, Wisdoms, Warnings against withholders 
     September 30, 2022
2. Zakat - Calculation for gold, silver & modern currencies
     October 7, 2022
3. Zakat - Stocks, 401K, IRAs, Crypto, Business and more
     October 14, 2022
4. Zakat - Mock-up Calculation, Zakat al-Fitr and Recipients
     October 21, 2022
Module VII - Fiqh (Jurisprudence) ​of Family
Module 7.1 - Marriage
1. Marriage - Meaning, Wisdoms, Legal Rulings
     November 4, 2022
2. Marriage - Proposal, Suitability b/w Spouses
     November 11, 2022
3. Marriage - Pre-requisites, Pillars of Sound Marriage, Contractual details
     November 18, 2022
4. Marriage - Rights & Responsibilities of a husband and wife
     November 25, 2022
Module 7.2 - Marital Conflicts, Divorce, Idda
1. Marital Conflict Resolution, Divorce, Waiting Period ('Idda) for Women
     December 2, 2022
Module 7.3 - Rights of Parents
2. Rights of Parents (Filial Piety)
     December 9, 2022
Module 7.3 - Rights of Children, relatives & Maintaining Family Ties
3. Rights of Children & Relatives
     December 16, 2022
Module VIII - Fiqh (Jurisprudence) of Financial Transactions
1. Financial Transactions - Intro
     January 20, 2023
2. Conditions of Validity, Permissible & Impermissible Transactions
     January 27, 2023
3. Forms of Prohibited Transactions & Riba
     February 3, 2023
4. Gharar (Unknown/Hidden Risk) as a Prohibited Transaction
     February 10, 2023
5. Unlawful transactions and cooperation in sin
     February 17, 2023
Module IX - Halal And Haram
1. Principles of Halal & Haram In islam
     March 3, 2023
4. Prohibitions of the Tongue
     May 5, 2023
7. Prohibitions of Consumption - Eatables
     June 2, 2023
2. Haram Actions of the Ears, Listening to Music
     March 10, 2023
5. Prohibition of Backbiting & Gossip
     May 12, 2023
3. Prohibitions of the Eyes & Rulings related to gaze
     March 17, 2023
6. Lying and its various forms
     May 19, 2023