The Islamic Essentials Course has been exclusively designed for women, men, university students, professionals and teens. Basically all adults. It can be run for as little as one day a week or for more days, depending on the demand and need. The curriculum has proven to be extremely effective for numerous students over the past decade. The purpose of the course is to provide attendees a holistic understanding of Islam and to aid them in embedding the Islamic principles into their life. It can be covered entirely in two years, starting from the basics up to an intermediary level. It is unique in the sense that it provides a safe environment for students to openly discuss any questions or doubts that they may have and develop an Islamic outlook for life.
We provide here a detailed overview of the course, the syllabus, costs, job description for potential teachers, and many other resources on how to set it up and run it successfully
If you are a male or female scholar, member of a masjid committee, or just a concerned individual, this is an excellent opportunity for you to set up such a course in your area and provide an invaluable service to your community.
This resource page is a work in progress. We are here to assist with any query you have about the course once you have listened to the seminar. We also encourage people who have successfully setup the course to share with us any advice and resources they have found useful, so others can also benefit.
Aims of the Programme
Module Title | Quranic Exegesis (Tafseer) |
Duration | 1.5 hours a week |
Aims of the Module | |
· Introduce students to Quranic exegesis · Develop student’s appreciation of the language and style of the Quran · Give students a good understanding of the context behind the verses |
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Indicative content | |
· Surah Fatiha · Last 10 Suwar · Surah Yaseen · Selected verses from Surah al-Baqarah |
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Learning and teaching Strategy | |
· Lectures · Discussions · Reading of primary sources |
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Key Reading List |
Author | Title | Publisher |
Mufti Muhammad Shafi Usmani |
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Maktaba Darul Uloom Karachi |
Module Title | Islamic Belief (Aqida) |
Duration | 1.5 hours a week |
Aims of the Module | |
· Introduce students to what Muslims believe about Allah Most High and His messengers · Given an appreciation of the scholarly depth of the Islamic theological tradition · Cover the core fundamental tenants of Islamic Belief |
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Indicative content | |
· Attributes of Allah Most High · Death, the grave and the afterlife · Prophets, companions, and saints · The Divine Names |
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Learning and teaching Strategy | |
· Lectures · Discussions · Reading of primary sources in English |
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Key Reading List |
Author | Title | Publisher |
Imam Abu ‘l-Ikhlas Hasan al-Shurunbulali | Ascent to Felicity |
Whitethread press |
Module Title | Hadith |
Duration | 1.5 hours a week |
Aims of the Module | |
· Focus on general advice and the adoption of the sunnah through ahadith. · Cover the meaning of the hadith is covered and the advice of the Prophet ﷺ is related to our personal lives and society at large. There is no emphasis on grammatical analysis. |
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Indicative content | |
· Comprehensive advice · Prophesies · stories |
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Learning and teaching Strategy | |
· Cover one hadith a week · Discussions · Reading of primary sources in English |
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Key Reading List |
Author | Title | Publisher |
Shaykh ‘Ashiq Ilahi al-Bulandshehri | Whitethread press |
Module Title | Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) |
Duration | 1.5 hours a week |
Aims of the Module | |
· Focus on developing behaviour (amal zahirah) by correcting belief and ibadah. · Core rulings are presented with students encouraged to ask question and seek clarification. · Greater emphasis is placed on issues they may practically encounter rather than issues which are mostly academic. |
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Indicative content | |
· Purification (Tahara) · Prayer (Salat) |
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Learning and teaching Strategy | |
· Lectures · Discussions · Reading of primary sources in English |
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Key Reading List |
Author | Title | Publisher |
Imam Abu ‘l-Ikhlas Hasan al-Shurunbulali | Ascent to Felicity |
Whitethread press |
Module Title | Tajweed |
Duration | 1.5 hours a week |
Aims of the Module | |
· Focus on correct pronunciation of Arabic letters. · Study of theoretical rules with a lot of time for practice and implementation | |
Indicative content | |
· Basic rules of Tajweed | |
Learning and teaching Strategy | |
· Lectures · Practice | |
Key Reading List |
Author | Title | Publisher | Link |
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Module Title | Seerah |
Duration | 1.5 hours a week |
Aims of the Module | |
· Focus on deriving lessons from the events in the life of the Prophet ﷺ · Great emphasis on understanding the characteristics of the Prophet ﷺ | |
Indicative content | |
· Before revelation · Makkan Period · Madinan Period | |
Learning and teaching Strategy | |
· Lectures · Discussions · Reading of primary sources in English | |
Key Reading List |
Author | Title | Publisher |
Ml Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi | Prophet of Mercy | Turath Publishing |
Module Title | Islamic Spirituality (Tasawwuf) |
Duration | 1.5 hours a week |
Aims of the Module | |
· Focus on developing character (amal batinah) namely by identifying the traits outlined in parts two and three within ourselves · Understand techniques on how we can reduce or improve these traits accordingly. | |
Indicative content | |
· Introduction to tasawwuf and suluk · Blameworthy character traits · Praiseworthy character traits · Guidance and admonitions | |
Learning and teaching Strategy | |
· Discussion based and fluid · Work on a trait at a time and the class discusses the challenges they face in their respective lives relating to abandoning or adopting the characteristic as well as successful strategies that worked for them. · Teacher shares tried and tested methods along with common pitfalls underpinned by the book. | |
Key Reading List |
Author | Title | Publisher |
Shaykh Masihullah Khan Shewani | Path to Perfection | Whitethread press |
Module Title | Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) |
Duration | 1.5 hours a week |
Aims of the Module | |
· Focus on developing behaviour (amal zahirah) by correcting belief and ibadah. · Core rulings are presented with students encouraged to ask question and seek clarification. · Greater emphasis is placed on issues they may practically encounter rather than issues which are mostly academic. | |
Indicative content | |
· Fasting (Sawm) · Almsgiving (zakat) · The Greater Pilgrimage (Hajj) | |
Learning and teaching Strategy | |
· Lectures · Discussions · Reading of primary sources in English | |
Key Reading List |
Author | Title | Publisher |
Imam Abu ‘l-Ikhlas Hasan al-Shurunbulali | Ascent to Felicity | Whitethread press |
Module Title | Hadith |
Duration | 1.5 hours a week |
Aims of the Module | |
· Focus on general advice and the adoption of the sunnah through ahadith. · Cover the meaning of the hadith is covered and the advice of the Prophet ﷺ is related to our personal lives and society at large. There is no emphasis on grammatical analysis. | |
Indicative content | |
· Comprehensive advice · Prophesies · stories | |
Learning and teaching Strategy | |
· Cover one hadith a week · Discussions · Reading of primary sources in English | |
Key Reading List |
Author | Title | Publisher |
Shaykh ‘Ashiq Ilahi al-Bulandshehri | Whitethread press |