Lesson 2a
Al Maqasid
Lesson 2a: Fundamentals of Islam (Sections 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8)
Teacher: Sidi Hamza Karamali
Opening Supplication
Introduction
- hadith on the foundations of Islam
- translation of this hadith
- explanation of the hadith
- what the existence of these foundations indicates
- the two testifications of faith
- the necessity of uttering them to become Muslim
- the state of those born to Muslim family
- Prayer as a pillar (discussed in Sections 2 and 3)
- Zakat as a pillar (discussed in Section 4)
- Pilgrimage as a pillar (discussed in Section 6)
- Fasting as a pillar (discussed in Section 5)
Validity of Islam
- Imam Nawawi mentions the preconditions for Islam
- to whom what Imam Nawawi mentions does not apply
- to whom it applies
- what validity means
- what validity entails
- treatment of someone whose Islam is valid
- what validity does not reflect
- what the Sacred Law judges by
- condition #1: reaching puberty
- condition #2: being of sound mind
- example of someone insane
- condition #3: that the message reaches one
- condition #4: voluntary acceptance
- condition #5: uttering both testifications
- what the first testification means
- what the second testification means
- how they must be uttered
- what must be acknowledged alongside the utterance
- example: someone who previously believed in the eternality of the world
- example: someone who previously believed that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was only sent to the Arabs
- the general rule regarding previous beliefs
True Faith
- Imam Nawawi on true faith (iman)
- on beliefs that were previously covered
- on belief in 25 specific messengers
- names of these messengers
- a correction
- belief in destiny
- recommended reading: Section 8.4
Din
- meaning of din
- what Imam Nawawi will cover here
- what is inconsistent with the acceptance of fate
- what is not inconsistent with acceptance of fate
- examples of supplication and other worldly means
The 4 Sources of Islamic Law
- Imam Nawawi on the foundations of religion
- what one qualified to deduce rulings uses
- meaning of scholarly consensus
- role of analogy as a source of law
- how scholars use analogy
- example of an analogy
- Imam Nawawi on contravention of these bases
- Imam Nawawi's definition of innovation
- recommended reading on innovation: Section 8.6
- what scholars define as innovation
- how innovation falls into on of five categories
Closing Supplication
Lesson 2b
Al Maqasid
Lesson 2b: The Sacred Law (Sections 1.9, 1.10, 1.11)
Teacher: Sidi Hamza Karamali
Opening Supplication
Introduction
- the three aspects of our religion
- what most of this work covers
- types of rulings
- who is accountable
- what categories such a person's acts fall into
The Obligatory
- definition of the obligatory
- the context of belief
- promises of reward vs. threats of punishment
- example of a specific promise
- example of a specific threat
- non-fulfilment of promise versus non-fulfilment of threat
- further explanation of what Imam Nawawi means
- consequence of performing an obligatory act
- consequence of not performing an obligatory act
Other Rulings Actions Can Take
- definition of the recommended
- examples
- what nonperformance of a recommended act means
- definition of the unlawful
- an example
- when nonperformance is rewardable
- definition of the offensive
- an example
- when nonperformance is rewardable
- definition of the permissible
- examples
- how permissible can turn into worship
- what those close to Allah do
More on the Obligatory
- the identicalness of fard and wajib
- the only exception
- two categories of the obligatory
- the personally obligatory: an example
- what its performance does not imply
- the communally obligatory
- an example: responding to a greeting addressed to a group
- other examples
- implications of its nonperformance
- fulfilling communal obligation through one's occupation
More on Recommended Acts
- Hanafi distinction between various types of sunnas
- different words for the recommended
- how an action becomes recommended (1)
- an exception
- examples of the ruling of certain acts for Muslims and the Prophet (May Allah give him blessings and peace)
- how an action becomes recommended (2)
- the implications of prophetic acceptance
- how an action becomes recommended (3)
- an example
- the hadith referred to by the text
- another hadith
Closing Supplication
Lesson 2c
Al Maqasid
Lesson 2c: The Remembrance of Allah (Sections 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15)
Teacher: Sidi Hamza Karamali
Opening Supplication
Dhikr
- The two testifications of faith
- on obligation to utter once in a lifetime
- who this obligation applies to
- on their meaning
Faith and Prayer
- The best form of worship
- supporting hadith related by Bukhari and Muslim
- why the prayer has this merit
- the meaning of seeing Allah
- how the prayer is similar to the Ascent
- why faith is still superior to the obligatory prayer
Optimal Forms of Remembrance
- The best form of dhikr
- The best form of glorification
- The best form of praise
- The best form of blessing the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)
- Differing scholarly opinions
- Ibn Hajar's position on the optimal form of blessing the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)
- The position of the Sufis
- dhikr of heart and dhikr of the tongue
- why masters of the spiritual path put their disciples on various forms of dhikr
- When the blessing on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is obligatory
- the position of the Hanafis
- a supporting hadith
Outward and Inward Obligations
- On the outward obligation of applying the Sacred Law
- the sphere of the Sacred Law
- a supporting hadith
- On the inward obligation of purity
- why inward purity results in thinking well of others
- Inward and outward obligation towards those of apparent righteousness
- Inward and outward obligation towards those of apparent disobedience
- who Imam Nawawi is talking about
- the way of
the perfected Sufis
