Essentials of Islamic Knowledge
| Name of Course | LIGHTSTUDY – Year One – Essentials of Islamic Knowledge |
| Days of the Week | Every Saturday except 1st Saturday of each month. Breaks during school holidays & Ramadan. Start date Saturday 12 October 2024 FACE TO FACE ONLY – details below |
| Start Time Finish Time | 9.45am Registration and coffee 10am- 11.10am- Aqeedah 11.20-12.30pm- Fiqh Tea & refreshments 12.50pm – 2pm- Adaab & Tazkiya |
| Name of Teacher & Qualifications | Shaykh Dr Ridhwan (bio.) & qualified teachers |
| Course Synopsis | Are you fed up with getting your knowledge of Islam from TikTok, Youtube and online ‘scholars’? Are you tired of not knowing what you can trust and what may be fake news? Can you afford to learn Islam from unreliable or unverifiable sources? This religion is precious, so beware from whom you take it! The sources that we can rely upon for sure are the classical texts written by the Great Masters of our tradition, such as the great masters of Fiqh, Hadith, Tafsir and Tazkiya. Those texts have been extensively studied over many centuries in Islamic madrasas from the East to the West, and have been critiqued and commented upon by multiple later scholars. This course is for brothers and sisters who have a desire and intention to study the deen of Islam – but perhaps do not know where to begin. In the first year, we will begin with a study of some of the classics of the traditional madrassa curriculum, written by some of the greatest Masters of the Islamic sciences. We begin with the sciences that every Muslim must have a working knowledge of: Fiqh (Islamic law/Shariah), Aqeedah (doctrine/theology) and Tazkiya (spiritual purification). In further years, our intention is to expand the scope of study to include other traditional subjects, including Tajweed, Usul al Fiqh, Hadith and related sciences, Quran and related sciences, Seerah and Islamic history, etc. |
| Course Texts | 1. Aqeeda – Aqeeda Tahawiya and Jawhara al Tawheed of Imam Laqqani. 2. Fiqh – Muhktasar of Imam al Qaduri 3. Adaab & Tazkiya – Ayyohal walad of Imam Ghazali and Imam Nawawi’s 40 hadith |
| Number of Lessons | Every Saturday excluding the 1st Saturday of the month [Breaks during school holidays and Ramadan] |
| Prerequisites | This course is suitable both for: – Those who wish to embark on the path of sacred knowledge with the intention to study further in future and train as Imams or scholars, and – Those who simply wish to learn the fundamentals of Islam, which is necessary for every Muslim to know, from reliable sources (the classical madrassa texts) – Those who have attended various classes, lectures and conferences in the past, but would now like to embark on a more systematic and structured pursuit of Islamic knowledge. We will be going through each classical text in the original Arabic, with a translation and commentary in English by Shaykh Ridhwan. Some Arabic is desirable, but it is not compulsory, and all students, even those with no knowledge of Arabic, are welcome to attend. PDF of course texts will be provided, wherever available, and students can print these for themselves, or purchase from online booksellers. |
| Course Venue | London College of Islamic Studies (Ha Meem Foundation), Inglenook, Sipson Lane, West Drayton MAP HERE |
| Level of Course (ie, beginner, intermediate, advanced) | Beginner/Intermediate |
| Course fees | PAY WHAT YOU WANT. We do not want to charge a fee for Islamic knowledge. To cover our expenses, we invite you to contribute whatever you like to support our college and the work of Ha Meem Foundation. |
| Mode of study | This course is Face to Face only. We believe that serious study of Islam should be undertaken in the traditional manner of sitting at the feet of one’s teachers. Our teachers have explained that the breaths of the scholar are linked in an unbroken chain to the breaths of the Messenger of Allah himself ﷺ. This spiritual connection passes from one generation to the next through the company of one’s teachers. In the past, students of knowledge would travel long distances to gain sacred knowledge and, in many ways, the physical travel itself was an integral part of the spiritual journey. We invite you to join this long tradition of travel and sacrifice in the path of knowledge, and attendance in person at the circles of knowledge. Come – leave your home – and walk upon the wings of angels. |
| Course outcomes | Upon completing these texts, the successful student will have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the entry level madrasa texts in Hanafi Fiqh, Sunni Aqeeda, and the principles of Tazkiya according to the earliest sources. Students who successfully complete the first year will have a detailed knowledge of: – What every Muslim is required to believe and the evidence and proofs behind Islamic beliefs – Refutation of deviant sects within Islam – – – Refutation of atheists/non-believers, including contemporary challenges from scientists/atheists. – The rules regarding Tahara, Prayer, Fasting and Hajj and Umra – The rules regarding buying and selling and marriage and divorce, according to the classical books of fiqh, with application to contemporary issues where relevant. – – The meaning and importance of tazkiya (purification of the soul); the diseases of the heart and their cures; the vices of the tongue; and the method of purifying the soul and obtaining the proximity of God (becoming one of the muqarrabeen). Upon successfully completing the first year, students will be well on the path of sacred knowledge and in a position to take their studies to the next level. Insha Allah, successful students will be eligible to embark on LIGHTSTUDY Year 2 (TBC) in which we dive into the study of the intermediate-level classical texts of the madrasa curriculum. |
*Students wishing to attend individual lessons rather than the whole course can drop us an email on admin@LCI.org.uk
Click on button below to be taken to the course registration page. You will be directed to purchase the course, but don’t worry, you don’t have to pay anything if you prefer not to. Simply enter zero when asked how much you would like to pay.
