Learn the absolute essentials of worship that are obligatory for every Muslim to know in this vital course on the basics of faith, purification, prayer, fasting, Zakat, and central points related to your everyday life according to the Hanafi school.

At-A-Glance:

• A key first-step in your religious learning according to the Hanafi school of law
• Brings clarity to your faith, worship, and practice
• Identify the basic concepts of belief
• Understand the basic functioning of law
• Realize the need for spirituality or ihsan
• Become familiar with the basic terminology used in the sciences of belief, law and spirituality
• Learn the basics of purification, how to perform a valid prayer and a valid fast, and the basic functioning of zakat

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and give him peace, said "Whoever Allah wishes well for, He gives understanding of religion" [Bukhari and Muslim]. The most beneficial knowledge a person can obtain is knowledge related to how one should properly worship one's Lord, for worship is not possible without knowledge. Learn the absolute essentials of worship in this short but vital course on the basics of faith, purification, prayer, fasting, Zakat, and central points related to your everyday life.

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani's The Absolute Essentials of Islam: A Basic Hanafi Primer on Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation is a short work that outlines the fundamentals of Islam based on the methodology of traditional Sunni Islam and according to the largest school of Islamic law. Its 64 pages are divided into five main sections: belief; the rulings of the sacred law; purification; prayer; and the path to salvation. It also includes three short appendices: the sunna prayers; dealing with doubts and misgivings; and selected prayers and chapters from the Quran.

This course on the absolute essentials of Islam will use Shaykh Faraz's book to cover what is personally obligatory for a Muslim to know immediately regarding matters of faith, purification, prayer, and some central points related to everyday life according to the Hanafi school. As this course is meant as an introduction or a review of the basics, it will not delve into a great deal of detail except in cases where detail will further understanding.

Imam Ghazali's moving Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship, translated by Muhtar Holland, will also be used to discuss the sections related to the inner dimensions of the various acts of worship.

Lessons with Shaykh Sohail are pre-recorded, and Shaykh Sulayman Van Ael will manage the weekly live sessions. There are no required prerequisites: but new and returning Muslims are highly recommended to take Understanding Islam or equivalent first. Together, these courses are the perfect introduction to the faith and practices of Islam.

• Lesson 1: Introduction to the Course
  • How we understand and live the Qur`an and Sunna
  • Religion in three dimensions: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan in the Hadith Jibril
  • Author's Introduction
• Lesson 2: Belief
  • Belief in Allah, the Prophet, and the Afterlife
• Lesson 3: Rulings of the Shariah
  • What is the Shariah?
  • Understanding the rulings
  • Living the law with love
• Lesson 4: Purification - Part I
  • Importance of purity
  • Ritual ablution
  • Invalidation of ablution
• Lesson 5: Purification - Part II
  • The ritual bath
  • Wiping over footgear, dry ablution, and menstruation
  • Removing filth and using the lavatory
• Lesson 6: The Prayer - Part I
  • Obligatory elements
  • Integrals
  • Necessary elements
• Lesson 7: The Prayer - Part II
  • Importance of sunnas in prayer
  • A complete prayer
• Lesson 8: The Prayer - Part III
  • Disliked and invalidating matters
  • Other supererogatory prayers, witr, group prayer, Friday, and ‘Id
  • Mistakes in the prayer
• Lesson 9: Fasting
  • Definition, invalidation, and exceptional cases
  • Sunnas of fasting, and the month of Ramadan
• Lesson 10: Zakat
  • Zakat in Islam
  • Effects of Zakat
  • Paying Zakat
  • Manners of giving and taking
• Lesson 11: The Path to Salvation
  • Disciplining the soul
  • Keys to success

• New Downloadable Format: All recorded lessons are downloadable to your mobile device (such as iPod, mp3 player, or cell phone) in mp4 and mp3 formats.
• New Easy-to-Use Media Page: New interface makes it easy to download all media and material for the course using one simple interface.
• Recorded lessons will be conducted by Shaykh Sohail.
• Weekly live sessions will be conducted by Ustadh Qays.
• Printable course slides will add structure to lessons.
• Self-study drills help you retain key lesson points.
• Assignments solidify your understanding of the material.
• All live lessons will be recorded, so that you can hear lessons you miss or review key concepts.
• You can post questions and engage in discussion in the course forum.
• Imam al-Ghazali's the Foundations of Islamic Belief will be provided in electronic format.
• You are recommended to have a copy of Abdul Wadod Shalabi's Islam: Religion of Life and Imam al-Ghazali's Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship translated by Muhtar Holland.
• Ustadh Qays will hold weekly office hours.