Introduction

Marriage is one of the great institutions in Islam and the basis of Muslim family life, as well as Muslim communities. Just how important marriage is can be derived from the statement of the Prophet; “Nikkah is from my sunnah and whoever leaves my Sunnah is not of me.”

Yet, a lack of knowledge of the basic sacred law rulings and the rights and responsibilities of a spouse is a cause for the breakdown of many marriages. A similar lack of awareness regarding the elements that break a marriage and about the various stages of divorce should it become necessary leads to unfortunate conflicts and disputes.

This course will cover all you need to know about what the sacred law says about this vital topic. In addition much attention will be given to marital roles of both the spouses, rights and responsibilities and the ingredients require for a successful marriage.

This course is a must for those who are married or intending to marry and recommended for everyone else.

Unit Aims:

• Understanding the Islamic objectives behind marriage and its importance.
• Understanding the legal rulings pertaining marriage, family life and divorce.
• Understanding the rights and responsibilities of each spouse.
• Understanding the rights and responsibilities of parents and children.
• Understand key characteristics of the marriage relationship and hwo to be a good spouse.
• Clarifying common misconceptions regarding marriage and divorce laws in Islam.

What will I learn?
You will learn about:

• The legal rulings pertaining to the marriage contract, its conditions and invalidators.
• Compatibility in choosing a spouse.
• The rules of wet-nursing and its implications.
• Divorce; types and effects.
• The post-marital waiting period.
• The rulings of financial support.
• Rights and responsibilities of each spouse.
• Upholding values and morals that Islam has enjoined upon spouses.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

• Understand how valid a marriage contract is conducted
• Explain the rights and responsibilities of a husband and a wife.
• Explain the different types of divorces in Islam and understand the effects they procure.
• Explain the rulings related to the post marital waiting period, custody of children and financial maintenance.
• Have a better understanding of how to conduct marital life.

Introduction

The Prophet said, “Learn inheritance and teach it, for it is half of knowledge and it will be forgotten. It will be the first knowledge to be taken away from my Ummah.”

While the Essentials of Islamic Finance unit explores the foundations of financial transactions and their essential components and conditions, as well as looking at some specific contracts, this unit furthersyour understanding of important commercial contracts and transactions such as partnerships, delegating authority, acting as a guarantor, trusts and lending.

It also looks in-depth at Inheritance Law and the distribution of an individual’s estate according toIslamic regulations.

The unit also covers the Sacred Law rulings of hunting, slaughtering and sacrificing animals in order to make them permissible to eat, as well as the rulings and implications of swearing oaths and vows.

All this and more is covered in this exclusive 10-week unit.

Unit Aims:

• Understanding how Partnership, Delegating authority and Guarantee contracts work.
• Understanding the rulings of gifts, trusts and lending.
• Understanding the correct methods of hunting, slaughtering and sacrificing animals according to the Sacred Law.
• Understanding the rules of inheritance according to Islamic Law.
• Understanding the severity of taking oaths in Islam.
• Understanding vows and how they become binding.

What will I learn?
You will learn about:

• Partnerships(Sharika), Delegated Authority (Wakala) and Guarantee(Kafala) and all their respective terms and rulings.
• The Sacred Law rulings of gifts, trusts and lending.
• The permissible and impermissible as they relate to hunting, slaughtering and sacrificingof animals.
• Islamic Inheritance Law and writing a will.
• The reasons for inheritance and causes for the prevention of inheritance.
• The different heirs to an estate and their shares.
• How heirs affect the shares of other heirs.
• The different types of oaths and their effects.
• The different ways of expiating a broken oath.
• The difference between oaths and vows.
• The types of vows.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

• Correctly undertake Partnership, Delegating authority and Guarantee contracts.
• Explain the differences between gifting, entrusting and lending, and the rulings related to each transaction.
• Explain the correct methods of hunting, slaughtering and sacrificing animals in order to make them permissible to consume.
• Calculate the inheritance shares of an heir in different scenarios.
• Prepare your own will and understand who will inherit from you.
• Appreciate the fairness and wisdom in the Islamic method of distributing an individual’s estate.
• Define the different types of oaths and explain the effects they procure.
• Describe the methods by which an oath can be expiated.
• Explain how a vow becomes binding and how to fulfil it.

Introduction

The Prophet, peace and blessings upon him said: “I have only been sent to perfect noble characteristics.” And in another hadith: “A parent has not given his child anything better than adab.”

Islam is a way of life that incorporates all aspects of life: worship, spirituality, social interaction and personal conduct. In all of these spheres, there are correct etiquettes and manners we can observe that will bring us closer to Allah and make even the most mundane of actions a source of rewards and a means of goodness. In a beautiful hadith the prophet pointed to this by highlighting the importance of the simplest of actions, when he said: "Do not deride a good deed, even if it is your meeting with your brother with a cheerful face."

This delightful course will cover the manners and etiquettes that every Muslim, male or female, should be aware of and endeavour to implement in their daily lives, in order to beautify their life and the lives of those around them.

Unit Aims:

• Understanding the importance and merits of good manners in Islam.
• Learning the appropriate etiquettes during daily actions such as waking, eating and sleeping.
• Understanding the importance of personal conduct, hygiene and clothing.
• Understanding the correct etiquettes with Allah during times of affliction and mourning.

What will I learn?
You will learn about:

• The virtues and merits of good manners.
• The correct etiquettes when waking from sleep.
• Personal hygiene and the etiquettes of clothing.
• The etiquettes to be observed whilst in the masjid.
• Table manners and the etiquettes of eating.
• Etiquettes with Allah during times of fear and calamity.
• The correct etiquettes during times of mourning, grief and whilst visiting the graveyard.
• The etiquettes when going to sleep.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

• Analyse your daily actions and take steps to implement good etiquettes throughout your day.
• Recite a number of prophetic supplications from memory.
• Understand the appropriate behaviours and responses during difficult times.
• Embody prophetic guidance in your actions, conduct and dealings.

Introduction

Whether it's Islamic or from other cultures, poetry is one of the most effective ways to tell the world how you feel. Since the beginning of Islam, Muslims have been casting poetry about Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), the Quran, divine love, and beliefs. In this unit, you will explore the rich poetic tradition of the Companions, Sufi masters, and Muslim writers, from across the last 1400 years. So join this unit if you want to for in love with Allah and the Beloved Prophet (peace be upon him).

Unit Aims:

• Understanding the importance of poetry according to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
• Exploring the Arabic and Persian poetry of the Sufi poets such as Rumi, Shirazi, and Sadi.
• Understanding the intimate relationshio between humans and Allah, through the lense of poetry.

What will I learn?
You will about:

• The poetry of the Companions such Hassan b. Thabit.
• The early Muslim female poetesses in Iraq, Arabia, and India.
• The epic Mathnavi of Rumi and it's history.
• The poetry of the Sufi Shaykh Sadi.
• How to express yourself in poetic form.
• and so much more.

Introduction

This core unit covers all the key questions you have ever had about Islamic beliefs in the extra rational:

Why will I be questioned about my actions if everything is already pre destined?
What is free will and does it exist?
What are Jinns and how do they behave?
What happens after you die?
What will take place on the Day of Judgement?
What are miracles and who can perform them?

We will study one of the classical texts of Islamic Theology;The Resplendent Pearls (Al-Fara'id Al-Hisan) to explore core Islamic beliefs about matters of the unseen.

In an age of information, Muslims face many challenges about their faith and beliefs. Although the basis of Islam is revelation, there is a growing need to rationalise our beliefs to effectively present them to the wider world as the ultimate truth. Therefore, along with analysing the scriptural basis for these doctrines in the Quran and Sunnah, we will also evaluate an array of rational responses to answer skeptics.

This unit is suitable for all levels, from absolute beginners and new Muslims to advanced students.

Unit Aims:

• To introduce key Islamic doctrines pertaining to the Unseen.
• To provide a scriptural basis for learned doctrines.
• To understand rational justifications for these beliefs.

What will I learn?
You will learn about:

• Pre Destiny, Divine Power and Free will
• Resurrection and Judgement Day
• The levels of Paradise and Hell
• The Beatific Vision
• The World of Angels and Jinn
• The World of the intermediary realm
• Different types of Miracles
• Sainthood

What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

• Explain central tenets of faith in Islam
• Confidently answer skeptics using a range of rational proofs for key beliefs
• Describe the sequence of events on the Day of Judgement
• Differentiate between different types of miracles
• Describe the Islamic view of the unseen in relation to angels, spirits, and the extra rational worlds.

Introduction

The Prophet said “The honest merchant will be risen with the martyrs on the Day of Judgement”.

Financial dealings are an essential aspect of human life.We are all involved in financial transactions on a daily basis; buying and selling, taking up employment, hiring and leasing, etc.

However, do we know the Islamicregulations and ethicsrelating to thesetypes of dealings? Are we following the commands of Allahin this aspect of our lives? We all know that unlawful income, which is earned by flouting Islamic regulations, is a sin and has severe spiritual implications from supplications not being accepted to the Anger of Allah Almighty.

This imperative unitcomprehensively break down these regulation and rulings for you in an engaging manner. It covers everything you need to know in order to fulfillyour responsibilities in financial matters and provides you with a firm basis in the foundational principles, rulings and etiquettes of Islamic Finance.

Unit Aims:

• Understanding the underlying principles that govern Islamic financial transactions.
• Understanding how to ensure financial transactions are valid and lawful.
• Learning about different types of contracts and transactions and their rulings.
• Differentiating between the principles of Islamic Commercial Law and those of modernfinancial systems.

What will I learn?
You will learn about:

• The goals of Islamic Jurisprudence and Commercial Law.
• The foundational principles of financial transactions.
• The core elements of a valid contract.
• The 3 types of financial contracts and their implications.
• The different types of options in a contract.
• Specific contracts such as currency exchange, advance payment and manufacturing contracts and trust sales.
• The rulings of employment, hiring and leasing.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

• Explain the principles that ensure that Islamic financial transactions are fair, ethical and protect the wealth of the contracting parties.
• State the elements that are required in a financial contract in order for it to be valid.
• Describe the factors that render a contract irregular or void.
• Explain the different types of options that may exist in a contract and their effects.
• Ensure any contracts you undertake in buying and selling are lawful according to the Sacred Law.
• Understand how to conduct a number of different specific contracts.
• Apply the rulings of employment, hiring and leasing.

Introduction

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that he was only sent to humanity to edify and rectify peoples’ character. Have you ever thought about your character, your manners, and your ethics?

Allah Almighty said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): {Verily, you have an exalted character.} (Al-Quran, 68:4). It is this exalted character which forms the basis for this unit along with the practices of the earlier scholars.

You will learn about correct behaviour, the Prophetic and scholarly ways of engaging with people in a range of situations so that your behaviour reflects the true spirit of Islam.

You will have the opportunity to answer questions like:

What is the Islamic way of hosting a marriage?
How should I behave with guests?
What are the Prophet’s guidelines for a married couple?
What is the correct way to raise my children?
Is there an Islamic manner of dressing and dining?

Unit Aims:

• Understanding the nature of good character based on Islamic principles.
• Understanding the Islamic approach to good etiquette.
• Understanding the effects of character and ethics on one’s spiritual connection to Allah Almighty.
• Understanding Islamic values and guidelines pertaining to a range of social situations.

What will I learn?
You will learn about:

• The correct way to host guests as a Muslim.
• The role of cultural norms in Islam.
• Islamic practices and guidelines pertaining to marriage ceremonies.
• The correct etiquette with the Quran and other Islamic literature.
• Practical strategies for improving character in accordance with Prophetic teachings.
• The Islamic method of giving condolences and the correct practices associated with funerals.
• The Prophetic way of giving and receiving gifts.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

• Demonstrate Islamic mannerisms and etiquettes in a range of situations.
• Explain the wisdom behind an array of Islamic norms and values pertaining to social etiquette.
• Evaluate the role of culture, social custom, and societal norms in improving character.

Introduction

Islam is a complete way of life, thus it comes with a Sacred Law enabling Muslims to be equipped in every aspect of life. As Muslims, we are required to learn about and address issues relating to politics and modern day challenges. One of the biggest challenges is being aware of the Divine limits relating to the lawful (halal) and the unlawful (haram).

This unit has been carefully crafted to provide the Islamic basis and answers to a range of political views and modern challenges faced by Muslims worldwide.

Unit Aims:

• To have a theoretical and practical understanding of the Sacred Law relating to personal and modern challenges.
• To understand the matters of the lawful and unlawful in relation to the Sacred Law.
• To distinguish between the Islamic legal categories, with regards to their legal theory and application.
• To discern the underlying principles of addressing modern day challenges.

What will I learn?
You will learn about:

• The Sacred Law and Divine Limits: the different levels of lawfulness.
• The principles of legal rulings.
• The purpose of creation.
• Creation theories, including evolution.
• The underlying purpose of hijab (covering) and the different levels of hijab in a range of situations.
• The role of Islam in relation to moral philosophy.
• Authentic Islamic answers to misconstrued views on controversial topics, such as jihad.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

• Describe and explain the wisdom and rulings of some modern day challenges.
• Take practical steps to analyse daily habits in order to ensure the Divine Limits are not being transgressed.
• Recognise and describe the spiritual implications of adhering to the lawful and avoiding the unlawful.
• Explain the ruling on several contemporary issues.