Lesson 1a
Al Maqasid
Lesson 1a: Introduction and Author's Preface
Teacher: Sidi Hamza Karamali
Opening Supplication
Introduction
- benefit of reading Shaykh Nuh's introduction
- following the sunna
- what it causes
- what it is caused by
- why we study Sacred Law
- difference between the Companions' method of following the sunna and our method
- how Sacred knowledge is acquired
- how to guarantee the preservation of the understanding of the sunna
- the essential mark of authentic scholarship
- on the value of sacred knowledge
- how the Qur'an was preserved
- how the sunna was preserved
- difficulty of deriving rulings from the large number of transmitted hadiths
- consequence of having to derive rulings by oneself
- how to practically fulfill the divine command
- a false dichotomy
- why this is a false dichotomy
- what we have today
- the proper question to ask
- why we turn to the Imams of Sacred Law
- Imams (foremost authorities) of various subjects
- why the majority of rulings are identical across the schools of fiqh
- why some rulings differ across the schools of fiqh
- why this difference is a mercy
- on authentic and aberrant opinions
- why it is unimaginable for authentic differences to be blameworthy
- on the schools of fiqh being the work of hundreds of scholars
- on later scholars going against the founders of their schools
About al-Maqasid
- the foremost references of the Shafi`i school
- why the works of Imam Shafi`i are not central to the school
- long works vs. short works
- why short works need to be understood through a teacher
- the motivation behind authoring such short works
- the changing needs of our times
- why al-Maqasid is an invaluable resource
- Shaykh Nuh's supplication for those who study this book
- the focus of these lessons
Author's Preface
- why author's begin with "In the Name of Allah …" and "Praise be to Allah …"
- who are ultimately successful
- on the meaning of al-Maqasid
- on the seven sections of al-Maqasid
- Section 1: Tenets of Faith
- Section 2: Purification
- Section 3: Prayer
- Section 4: Zakat
- Section 5: Fasting
- Section 6: Hajj
- Section 7: Sufism
Lesson 1b
Al Maqasid
Lesson 1b: Tenets of Faith (Section 1.1)
Teacher: Sidi Hamza Karamali
Opening Supplication
Introduction
- some basic points of belief
- context of this world
- Conditions of moral responsibilty
- first condition: reaching puberty
- fate of those not reaching puberty
- second condition: sound mind
- example of being born insane
- example of losing sanity after reaching puberty
- third condition: message reaching one
- example of this
- consequence of meeting the conditions
- the first obligation
- on the meaning of "knowing God"
- what is obligatory to believe regarding Allah
- the categories of Attributes
Essential Attribute (1)
- First Attribute: Existence
Negative Attributes (5)
- why the attribute of Beginningless Eternality is a negative attribute
- why the attribute of Everlasting Abidingness is a negative attribute
- why the attribute of Dissimilarity is a negative attribute
- why the attribute of Self-Subsistence is a negative attribute
- why the attribute of Oneness is a negative attribute
- Beginningless Eternality
- what this does not mean
- what this attribute means
- Everlasting Abidingness
- what this attribute means
- what this these last two refer to
- reference to verse from Quran
- Dissimilarity to Creation
- what this attribute means
- reference to verse from Quran
- what scholars have said
- Self-Subsistence
- what this attribute means
- on the two aspects scholars mention
- the first aspect: not in need of an entity like an attribute
- the second aspect: not in need of a creator
- reference to verse from Quran
- Oneness
- what this attribute means
- aspects in which He is One
Existent Attributes (7)
- Almighty Power
- what Allah does through this attribute
- Will
- relationship between Will and Power
- what Allah does through this attribute
- Knowledge
- what Allah does through this attribute
- relationship between Knowledge and Will
- limitations of speech when describing Allah
- logical connection vs. temporal sequence
- how these attributes relate to the world
- Life
- Hearing and Sight
- differences between our hearing and sight and these attributes
- independence of hearing and sight to conventional physical causes
- Speech
- what Allah does through this attribute
- eternality of Allah's speech
- what some Ash`ari scholars said
Existent Attributes (7)
- how these attributes follow from the existent attributes
- historical context of mentioning these attributes
Closing Supplication
Lesson 1c
Al Maqasid
Lesson 1c: Tenets of Faith (Section 1.2)
Teacher: Sidi Hamza Karamali
Opening Supplication
Introduction
- what was covered in the previous lesson
- what will be covered in this lesson
- Allah's generosity and the sending of prophets
- what Imam Nawawi is hinting at
- Allah's actions: He can do or not do anything
- error of Mu`tazila regarding Allah
- regarding Allah's Actions
- question that arises from this point
- Allah's generosity
- Allah was not bound to send prophets
- will cover traits about prophets
Four Necessary Traits
- on the four necessary traits for prophets
- Truthfulness
- how Allah supports their claim
- Sinlessness
- what Imam Nawawi mentions
- prophets protected from sins
- reason for this
- verse from Quran
- what this verse indicates
- what would happen if prophets were able to commit a sin
- Next two traits: conveyal and intelligence
- reason for intelligence
Other Aspects of Prophethood
- returning to what Imam Nawawi mentioned
- what makes prophets unique
- why prophets are the best
- what is unbecoming of prophets
- physical traits not possible for them
- reason for this
- how they are human
- on their being the best of creation
- the position of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah give him blessing and peace)
- the position of the law of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah give him blessing and peace)
- Imam Sawi's commentary regarding the best of creation
- the order of best of creation
- the place of the archangels and those close to Allah
- on the best humans after the prophets and messengers
- the best generation
- the best among Companions
Closing Supplication
Lesson 1d
Al Maqasid
Lesson 1d: Tenets of Faith (Sections 1.3, 1.4)
Teacher: Sidi Hamza Karamali
Opening Supplication
Introduction
- what was previously discussed
- what will be covered in this lesson
Angels and Scriptures
- Angels
- what an angel is
- what forms we see them in
- belief in particular angels
- on Jibril
- on the other specific angels we must know
- belief in sacred scriptures
- particular scriptures we believe in
- on the only scripture that remains preserved
The Afterlife
- belief in questioning of the dead
- what questions will be asked
- belief in resurrection of the dead
- what the resurrection means
- what will take place on this day
- on the difficulty of this day
- on people's seeking the commencement of judgment
- on Prophet Muhammad's (may Allah give him blessing and peace) intercession
- the record of one's deeds
- how everyone will be giving this record
- those who will not be reckoned
- belief in the balance scale
- belief in the bridge
- differing speeds of those who cross the bridge
- fate of those who fall off the bridge
- belief in intercession
- the various intercessions of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and give him peace)
- belief in
Core Islamic Beliefs
- belief in what is necessarily known
- examples of denying a necessarily known point
- denying a fine point
- an exception to the rule
- recommended reading: Appendix Section 8.3
- a hadith warning against accusations of unbelief
- difference between belief and action
- consequence of committing a sin
- consequence of denying that something is a sin
Closing
Supplication
