Short Courses

Course Title: Reaching the Mahdi – Demystifying the Characteristics of the Prophesised Imam and his Companions.

Course Overview:
Amidst the chaos & confusion plaguing every aspect of human life today, many Muslims believe that the arrival of the supreme end-time heir of Prophecy, Sayyiduna Imam Mahdi, is ever-imminent.
Prophecies, promises and politics dominate the discussion of his blessed emergence and the advent of his holy mandate. The classical Islamic discourse on the Imam, however, is much broader and deeper.

What is the spiritual rank and virtue of the blessed Imam?
How have the scholars, saints and sages of the classical tradition perceived his holy personage?
How do we connect, inwardly and outwardly, to his holy person and mission?
What are the traits and qualities of the Imam’s noble companions?
How do we prepare for his emergence?

This short course is a deep dive into the teachings of Islam related to Imam al-Mahdi (Alayhissalam) and his distinguished companions from this very specific perspective.
Based on Prophetic traditions, the sayings of the Prophet’s ﷺ noble Family, and the profound spiritual commentary of scholars and sages, the course will help participants navigate this difficult, and often divisive, terrain of Islam’s end-time theory.

Blending source texts, classical scholarly insights and contemporary analysis, this course will leave students with a thorough understanding of the Imam, the magnitude of his mission and our role in connecting and preparing for his advent.

Course Aims

To identify and understand the spiritual virtue, attributes and significance of Imam al-Mahdi (Alayhissalam)
To correctly frame and reconcile the differing views around his birth, his extant appearance and claims to have met him over the centuries.
To understand the timeline of events to occur before, during and after his blessed appearance.
To identify the traits and qualities of the Imam’s noble deputies & companions, and their significance to his mission.
To understand and operationalise what we must do and how we must be to connect with his holy person and mandate.

Course Instructor: Qasim Farid

Course Duration: 2 sessions (90 min. live class)

Start Date: TBC

Time: TBC

Fee: TBC

Course Title: Majesty & Beauty – The Path to Prophetic Manhood & Womanhood

Course Overview:
With new-age modernist ideologies establishing a firm grip on virtually every aspect of life, even the most basic and historically undisputed dimensions of human identity have now been placed under the microscope of rampant modern scepticism. At the forefront of these challenged notions is that of gender and sexuality.

This short course seeks to pave the path to recovering from this modern malaise by rediscovering and realising classical Islamic teachings on Manhood and Womanhood. In addition to providing an analysis and critique of the modern gender discourse rooted in a sound Islamic worldview, the course will also provide practical guidance on how to embody Prophetic manhood and womanhood. Moreover, the course will equip Muslims, young and old, to speak about these topics with intelligence, confidence and clarity.

Some of the key themes and issues that will be covered in the course include:

The Metaphysics of Gender in Islam: How classical Islamic teachings frame the issue of gender and the divine wisdom in the creation of man and woman
The principles of Prophetic Manhood: the definition, characteristics and functions of masculinity in Islam
The principles of Prophetic Womanhood: the definition, characteristics and functions of femininity in Islam
Gender Wars: a brief historical analysis of the current crises in masculinity and femininity, and the civilizational implications of feminism.

Course Aims

To identify and understand the ideological causes of the current crisis in masculinity and femininity.
To understand and appreciate the masculine and feminine principles from a rooted Islamic perspective.
To see the interplay of spirituality, psychology and biology in the Divine design of man and woman, and how that governs the intended purpose and function of each.
To outline a practical roadmap for the development and nurturing of Prophetic manhood and womanhood.

Course Instructor: Bilal Hussain

Course Duration: 4 sessions (90 min. live class)

Start Date: TBC

Time: TBC

Fee: TBC

Course Title: Scattered Minds: Faith, Doubt and the Challenge of Secularism

Course Overview:
The modern age has introduced and imposed several new-age idols upon the hearts and minds of people; secularism, liberalism, feminism, scientism, transgenderism, progressivism and the plethora of other ‘isms’ that permeate our era. These are the contagions of the age; spread in the classrooms of educational institutions, on the screens of phones and TVs and on the pages of popular science and self-help books.

As Muslims, how do we navigate the ‘isms’ of the age? How do we ensure that even while we live and engage with the modern age, we remain firmly rooted in an Islamic worldview? How do we tackle the challenge of secularism, and its various manifestations, with clarity and conviction?

This short course will provide detailed framing and answers to such questions through anchoring participants in a Quranic worldview. The course will also touch on historical factors that led to the formation of the modern mind, and outline, in contrast, the formative building blocks of a true Muslim mind.

Course Aims

To understand the context in which secularism emerged and how it shapes and defines contemporary thought.
To understand the foundational ideas and principles that lie at the heart of truly Quranic worldview.
To acquire the concepts and tools that enable one to recognise manifestations of secular thinking and to navigate them with confidence and clarity.
To embody a wholly Quranic worldview and learn to process life and existence through a Prophetic lens.

Course Instructor: Bilal Hussain

Course Duration: 3 sessions (90 min. live class)

Start Date: TBC

Time: TBC

Fee: TBC

Course Title: The Sacred Covenant – Love, Marriage & Gender Relations in Islam

Course Overview:
Marriage is as old as the story of human beings themselves. The union of man and woman in marriage is the first type of human relation to ever exist, and has ever since been the bedrock of human civilisation. However, with the rise of several new-age ideologies, most specifically in the post sexual-revolution era, this ancient human practice has been under a widespread, systematic and intensive attack; both as an idea and institution. On one extreme, where marriage is still practiced, it is reduced to partnership built largely on an elusive notion of ‘chemistry’ between two individuals, the mutual agreeability of their personalities and sexual interest. On the other extreme, marriage is considered an ‘oppressive’ and ‘wretched’ institution that must be completely terminated.

How do we, as Muslims aspiring to the Way of Prophecy, navigate such extremes? What is the higher meaning and institutional purpose of marriage according to Islam? How do the teachings of classical Islamic law, spirituality and ethics ensure the meaningfulness and success of marriages?

This unique course on the law and spirit of marriage, blends classical Islamic Law with traditional Islamic psycho-spirituality and social anthropology, changing the way one perceives and approaches this sacred Prophetic practice.

Some of the key themes and issues that will be covered in the course include:

The Metaphysics of Marriage in Islam: the higher meaning and purposefulness of marriage as a practice and an institution.
How to correctly frame and approach marriage from a traditional Islamic perspective, including how to find and what to look for in a potential spouse
The underlying philosophy and wisdom of Islamic legal rulings related to marriage, and the roles, rights and responsibilities of husband and wife.
Islamic principles of creating happy homes, including approaches to conflict resolution and spiritual fulfilment through marriage.

Course Aims

To equip participants with the ideas and knowledge to anchor their understanding of marriage in a classical Islamic worldview, while navigating the extremes of the modern discourse
To appreciate and understand the wisdom and underlying philosophy of Islamic marital law as it relates to the roles, rights and responsibilities of the husband and wife respectively.
To acquire and operationalise the Islamic principles of creating happy and spiritually stable homes

Course Instructor: Various

Course Duration: 5 sessions (90 min. live class)

Start Date: TBC

Time: TBC

Fee: TBC