
This introductory year of beginners Islamic studies covers the essentials every Muslim must learn. Subjects include: Aqidah (Beliefs), Fiqh (Legal Rulings), Sirah (Prophetic Biography), Spirituality & Ethics, Tafsir (Qur’anic Exegesis) and Islamic History.
Course Curriculum.
“Thus do We explain in detail the signs for a people who give thought…” (Al-Qur'ān, 10:24)
Allāh Almighty encourages us to contemplate and explore His Book – we must question ourselves, in reality, how connected are we to His Divine Words? How well do we know the Book of Allāh?
This special unit has been carefully designed for anyone who wishes to strengthen their connection with the Qur'ān by exploring its deeper meanings and guidance. Although it is not possible to explore the entire Qur'ān in sufficient depth in a short period of time, this course will provide you with a unique insight into the most commonly recited chapters, including: Al-Fatihah, Al-Ikhlâs, Al-Falaq and Al-Naas; thus, becoming a strong foundation for any future Qur'ān studies.
Your journey through the Qur'ān will consist of a distinctive blend of traditional explanations, modern linguistic analyses, spiritual insights, and stylistic frameworks, so that you can appreciate and understand the miraculous nature of this Divine Book and practically apply it to your life.
Unit Aims:
What will I learn?
You will learn about:
What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
Explain the spiritual benefits of these chapters.
Introduction
Allah is with you, but you choose to distance yourself from Him through the veils of sin. The more you sin, the further away you become from Allah. This course will teach you everything you need to know to answer questions like:
Why do people commit sins?
How do I stop myself from disobeying Allah?
How do I become a better Muslim?
Are my problems a direct result of my sins?
What can I do to spiritually grow stronger and increase my Iman?
Unit Aims:
What will I learn?
You will learn about:
What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
Introduction
By accepting core Islamic doctrines, a person becomes a believer. These doctrines includebeliefs about Allah, angels, divine books, prophets, the day of resurrection, and destiny. It is through studying these fundamental beliefs thatwe can strengthenourfaith in Islam, especially in these testing times. This course will equip you with foundational knowledge needed to answer questions such as:
What did the Prophet (peace be upon him) teach us about Allah?
What is meant by the Speech of Allah?
What is the Islamic belief about scriptures such as the Bible and the Torah?
Why did Allah send prophets?
How many prophets and messengers were sent to mankind?
If everything is pre-destined, then why are people punished for sinning?
What will happen in the grave?
Unit Aims:
What will I learn?
You will learn about:
What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
Introduction
We often hear the famous hadith that purification is half of faith. Correct purification and ablutions are the keys to prayer, because without purification, our prayers would be invalid.
Can you imagine someone who has been praying for years without learning the correct method of ablutions, (wudu), or bathing, (ghusl); there is a strong possibility that their prayers are invalid.
This 10-week unit is a comprehensive way to learn everything you need to know about purification; from wudu, wiping on bandages, and ghusl to personal cleanliness.
Unit Aims:
What will I learn?
You will learn about:
What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
Introduction
Prayer, or Salah as it is called in Arabic, is the means for human beings to communicate with Allah Almighty. It is, in the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him), what distinguishes a believer from a non-believer. In fact, the importance of the 5 daily prayers can be understood from the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: “The prayer is the coolness of my eye.”
The question you should ask yourself is, am I praying correctly? The Prophet, (peace be upon him) instructed us to pray just as he did. So how did he pray exactly? What if I’m running late for something; can I delay the prayer? How do I make up years of missed prayers?
This intensive and detailed unit will answer these very questions and much more. This unit has been designed to enlighten you and teach you about the outer rulings of prayers and its inner spiritual meanings so that you can pray to Allah with both body and heart.
Unit Aims:
What will I learn?
You will learn about:
What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
Introduction
Fasting is one of the pillars of Islam and an effective means for fostering our relationship with Allah Almighty and for enhancing our empathy of less fortunate people in the world.
Along with detailing core legal rulings pertaining to fasting, this unit also focuses on a range of contemporary questions facing Muslims around the world in relation to fasting, such as:
Does smoking invalidate my fast?
Can I use injections while fasting?
Is it true that fasts are invalidated by using inhalers?
Do I have to fast when I’m pregnant?
Unit Aims:
What will I learn?
You will learn about:
What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
Introduction
Zakah is a humanitarian device given to us by Allah Almighty by which we can help the poor and needy.Classical textbooks explained Zakah for their respective eras. However, the financial and zakah related issued facing Muslims in the 21st century are very different to those of the past. This unit will teach you rules which will allow you to answer questions like:
Do I need to pay Zakah on my car and my house?
Can I give zakah to my parents?
I have a mortgage; do I still need to pay zakah?
Do I pay zakah on my student finance?
I haven’t paid zakah in years; what do I do?
What are the spiritual implications of giving charity?
How do I calculate zakah by myself?
Unit Aims:
What will I learn?
You will learn about:
What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
Introduction
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and one of the duties of every Muslim. Every person dreams to not only perform Hajj but for Allah to accept it too because the reward of an accepted Hajj is that the person’s sins are forgiven and they are restored to a state of purity;just like the day they were born. While outer rules teach you essential rites of this pilgrimage, inner rules guide you about the subtle meanings of every rite of Hajj and how to attain a state of spiritual purity through Hajj.
This course will equip you with foundational knowledge needed to answer questions such as:
Why do we circambulate the Ka’aba?
What is the meaning and purpose of wearing Ihram?
I have debt, am I still able to perform Hajj?
What is the main purpose of performing Hajj?
If I have performed Hajj previously, can I perform it on behalf on another person?
Is there an age limit for when one must perform Hajj?
What are the different types of sacrifices that can be made, does a specific animal need to be slaughtered?
I am performing Hajj with my family; will one sacrifice be sufficient for the entire family?
If I am unable to perform the stoning, is my Hajj legally valid?
Unit Aims:
What will I learn?
You will learn about:
What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
Introduction
There was a person whose humility was like the Earth and whose generosity like the Sun. A man whose speech was gentler, subtler, and clearer, than the dew which adorns meadows in the early mornings of summer. Although he walked the Earth over a millennium ago, his personality, his message, and his very essence, continue to inspire and attract over 1 billion people today.
We all know we have to love him, follow him, and imitate him if we want to pursue happiness in this world and the next. Think about it: Is any of this possible if we do not know about him? Can love for the Prophet (peace be upon him) blossom in our hearts while we remain ignorant about him, his sacrifices and life? This unit is about the early life of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Mecca. Unit FPHM2 focuses on the latter part of his life called the Medinan Period.
Unit Aims:
What will I learn?
You will learn about:
What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
Introduction
This unit is a continuation of unit FPHM1, Chosen Prophet: Meccan Life, although it can be taken as a stand-alone unit.
After the migration from Mecca to Medina, the Prophet (peace be upon him) initiated the first Islamic government, the basis of which was mercy, tolerance, and mutual understanding.
The historical achievements of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are significant today; from his humanitarian treaties with non-Muslims to his unparalleled approach to governance, all provide a model for modern life.
In this unit, you will actively journey through key landmarks in this period of the Prophet’s life, year by year, to gradually deepen your relationship with and to draw on his life to better yours in today’s world.
Unit Aims:
What will I learn?
You will learn about:
What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
Introduction
The rich heritage and matchless of history of the Islamic World has intrigued Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Beginning with the Golden Age of the Prophet (peace be upon him) until our times, the Islamic World has seen the rise and fall of some of history’s most epic rulers and civilisations.
We have structured this unit so that it provides you with a holistic overview of Islam’s history, beginning with the first caliph Sayyiduna Abu Bakr right up to the Ottoman Period and into the modern age.
You will be introduced to key figures and dynasties along with their contributions to the world. It’s an intriguing tale of piety, politics, deceit, heroes, and villains which will take you across Arabia, India, North Africa, and Europe.
What will I learn?
You will learn about the:
What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
Introduction
We often hear that the first word to be revealed in the Qur'ān is ‘read’. Sacred Knowledge of the religion is special. It is different to other types of knowledge as it takes you on the path to Allāh Almighty.
Due to being unaware of the correct etiquettes concerning knowledge, many students attempt to tread this sacred path but are unable to reach their goals. Consequently, they become deprived of the fruits and benefits of knowledge. This brief but comprehensive unit will equip you with the provisions required to set out on this sanctified journey.
Unit Aims:
What will I learn?
You will learn about:
What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
For me, ISNAD was a breath of fresh air. The pre-foundation course was transformational for me as I needed to learn the basics. The highlight for me was being able to learn from local scholars who can relate to the challenges we face.