Learning

Core Curriculum

Section 1 - God, Religion and Islam: An Introduction

Topic 1.1 - God, Allah and Religion
Topic 1.2 - What is “Religion” and What’s the Point of it Anyways?
Topic 1.3 - Introduction to Islam
Topic 1.4 - A Brief Introduction to the Prophet Muhammad (s), the Prophet of Islam

Section 2 - Foundations of Islam - Theology

Topic 2.1 - Satan, Jinns and Angels: Their Influence in the World
Topic 2.2 - The Islamic Concept of the Nafs: Battling the Human Ego
Topic 2.3 - The Sharīʿa: Purpose and Practice
Topic 2.4 - Nubuwwa: The Purpose of Prophethood in Islam
Topic 2.5 - Tawhīd: The Unity and Oneness of God in Islam
Topic 2.6 - The Usūl al-Dīn: The Fundamental Beliefs of Islam
Topic 2.7 - Adala: Divine Justice in Islam
Topic 2.8 - Entering Islam: The Shahada
Topic 2.9 - Maʿād: The Day of Judgment in Islam
Topic 2.10 - Imāmah or divinely guided leadership in Islam after the Prophet Muhammad.

Section 3 - Foundations of Islam - Obligatory Acts

Topic 3.1 - Accepting Islam: Putting Faith into Action
Topic 3.2 - The Furūʿ al-Dīn: The Fundamental Practices of Islam
Topic 3.3 - Salāt: Obligatory Ritual Prayers in Islam
Topic 3.4 - Fasting in Islam, its Purpose, Dos and Don’ts
Topic 3.5 - The Hajj Pilgrimage
Topic 3.6 - The Purpose of Zakat and Khums in Islamic Law
Topic 3.7 - Jihād in Islamic Law and Spirituality
Topic 3.8 - Commanding the Good and Forbidding Evil in Islam
Topic 3.9 - Tawalla and Tabarra, its Basics and Purpose
Topic 3.10 - The Five Categories of Islamic Law
Topic 3.11 - Niyya: Religious Intention as the Foundation of Islamic Practice
Topic 3.12 - Ritual Purity in Islamic Law: Understanding Tahāra and Najāsa
Topic 3.13 - Other Obligatory and Forbidden Acts in Islam

Section 4 - Prophethood in Islam

Topic 4.1 - A Brief Biography of the Prophet Muhammad (s): The Prophet’s Childhood (PART I of III)
Topic 4.2 - Bio: The Prophet Muhammad as a Prophet of God (PART II of III)
Topic 4.3 - A Brief Biography of the Prophet Muhammad (s): The Prophet’s Character (PART III of III)
Topic 4.4 - The Prophet Muhammad (s) as Messenger and Teacher
Topic 4.5 - The Prophet and his Relationships
Topic 4.6 - The Prophet’s Sunnah and Hadith
Topic 4.7 - Ghadīr and Arafah: The Two Last Sermons of the Prophet
Topic 4.8 - Jesus and Mary in Islam

Section 5 - The Qur'an and Hadith

Topic 5.1 - Islam and Other Religions
Topic 5.2 - What is the Qur’an? A Short Introduction to Islam’s Holy Book
Topic 5.3 - The Structure of the Holy Qur’an
Topic 5.4 - The Quran and Islamic law
Topic 5.5 - The Qur’an, Allah and Humankind
Topic 5.6 - Hadith and Sunnah, difference and variations
Topic 5.7 - The Reliability of Hadiths
Topic 5.8 - A Reflection on Verses of the Holy Qur’an
Topic 5.9 - Hadith al-Thaqalayn
Topic 5.10 - Imam Ali (as) and Nahj al-Balagha.
Topic 5.11 - Taqlid and Tawḍih Al Masail Genre of Literature

Section 6 - Measuring Good and Bad in Islam

Topic 6.1 - Guidance According to Islam
Topic 6.2 - Life and Death in Islam
Topic 6.3 - Heaven and Hell in Islam
Topic 6.4 - The Effects of Our Actions in this World
Topic 6.5 - The Gray Areas of Islamic Law and Morality
Topic 6.6 - Benefits of Islamic Law in this World
Topic 6.7 - Good and Bad Deeds: The Spiritual Consequences of our Choices
Topic 6.8 - The Effect of Culture and Environment in Shaping our Religious Choices
Topic 6.9 - Fate and the Consequences of our Choices in Islam
Topic 6.10 - Trivializing the Harām
Topic 6.11 - Sinning Against Others and their Delayed Punishment
Topic 6.12 - The Three Kinds of Rights in Islam
Topic 6.13 - Major Sins in Islam
Topic 6.14 - Repentance and Forgiveness of Sins in Islam
Topic 6.15 - Kufr in Islam
Topic 6.16 - Why Allah Allows People to Sin

Section 7 - The Legacy of the Prophet Muhammad (s) and his Ahl al-Bayt (as)

Topic 7.1 - Islam and Knowledge: the Importance of Islamic Education
Topic 7.2 - The Ahl al-Kisa
Topic 7.3 - Imamah in the Qur’an
Topic 7.4 - Fatima al-Zahrah (as)
Topic 7.5 - A Brief Look at the Lives of the Imams (Imam al-Hasan until Imam Muhammad al-Baqir)
Topic 7.6 - A Brief Look at the Lives of the Imams (Imam Jafar al-Sadiq until Imam Hasan al-Askari)
Topic 7.7 - A Brief Look at the Life and Importance of Imam al-Mahdi (aj)
Topic 7.8 - Salawat and Atonement in Islam
Topic 7.9 - The Companions (Sahaba) of the Prophet According to the Qur’an
Topic 7.10 - Clerical Hierarchies in Muslim Communities
Topic 7.11 - Mosques in Islam
Topic 7.12 - The Philosophy of Karbala and Majalis
Topic 7.13 - A Brief Biography of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as)
Topic 7.14 - The Battle of Karbala: A Brief History

Section 8 - Islamic Relationships, Sects and Conflicts

Topic 8.1 - Islam and Rights
Topic 8.2 - Islam and Religious Conflicts
Topic 8.3 - Major Sects of Islam
Topic 8.4 - Sunnism and Shi’ism, beginnings and historical developments.
Topic 8.5 - Misconceptions about Shi’ism

Special Topics

Section 9 - Independent Topics

Topic 9.1 - Muslim Converts – Welcome to Islam!
Topic 9.2 - Basic Dos and Don’ts of Being a Muslim
Topic 9.3 - Halal Food and Zabiha
Topic 9.4 - Modesty in Islam
Topic 9.5 - Family, Parents and Marriage in Islam
Topic 9.6 - Marriage in Islam
Topic 9.7 - Islam and Sex
Topic 9.8 - Women’s Menstruation in Islam
Topic 9.9 - Music, Alcohol, Drugs and Pork in Islam
Topic 9.10 - Islam and Science
Topic 9.11 - A Reading List of Islamic Knowledge
Topic 9.12 - Islam and Sufism
Topic 9.13 - Ritual Prayers and Supplications in Islam
Topic 9.14 - Death & Burial Rituals in Islam
Topic 9.15 - The Battle of Armageddon: An Islamic View
Topic 9.16 - The Muslim Calendar
Topic 9.17 - Muslims and non-Muslims in the Shariah
Topic 9.18 - A Timeline of Major Events in Islamic History
Topic 9.19 - Introducing the Qur’an: Why it is the way it is
Topic 9.20 - The School of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq
Topic 9.21 - Major Fields in Islamic Studies
Topic 9.22 - The Caliphate in Sunni and Shia Islam
Topic 9.23 - The Spread of Islam: After the Prophet until the Ottoman Empire
Topic 9.24 - Islam, Racism and Anti-Semitism

Section 10 - Islam, Religion, and Modern Controversies

Topic 10.1 - Modern Fallacies about God: where Theists and Atheists Agree
Topic 10.2 - Tawhīd: The Muslim God according to the Prophet Muhammad and the Ahl al-Bayt (as)
Topic 10.3 - God’s Existence: The Argument From Being (Wujūd)
Topic 10.4 - God’s Existence: The Kalam Cosmological Argument
Topic 10.5 - God’s Existence: The Argument From Design
Topic 10.6 - The Problem of Evil, Suffering and Pain
Topic 10.7 - Why did God Create Us? The Purpose of our Creation
Topic 10.8 - Why Humans Need Religion according to Islam
Topic 10.9 - Jahl and Spiritual Ignorance in Islam
Topic 10.10 - Faith in Islam: Belief without Evidence?
Topic 10.11 - Do Non-Muslims Go to Hell?

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Islam and Sufism

Abstract

Sufism is at the heart of Islam. It began with the Prophet Muhammad (s) and its authentic real teachings continued with his Ahl al-Bayt (as). Sufism is known through its practice of unceasing remembrance of God and spiritual self-awareness. However, not all forms of Sufism are acceptable by Islamic standards.

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INTRODUCTION

Bismillāhir Rahmānir Rahīm, As-salāmu ʿAlaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh. Peace be upon you brothers and sisters.

Welcome back to the Muslim Converts Channel!

In this lesson, we will take a brief look at what Sufism is and the kinds of Sufisms that exist.

BODY OF TEXT

Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) once said: "The book of Allah comprises four things: the statement set down, the metaphors, the hidden meanings relating to the supra-sensible world, and the exalted spiritual doctrines. The literal statement is for the ordinary believers. The metaphors are the concern of the elite. The hidden meanings pertain to the friends of God. The exalted spiritual doctrines are the province of the prophets."

The above hadith is a complicated one. It takes some effort to read and reread until one gets a good idea as to what it is talking about. But to make its message short, what the Imam is telling us is that Islam’s teachings, and particularly the Qur’an, has a multi-layered meaning. The literal meaning is for ordinary people, but its deeper spiritual meanings are for people who are advanced in the mystical path of the religion.

The attainment of spiritual meanings and spiritual transformation is what Sufism seeks to achieve through a series of spiritual insights and practices.

Origins

There are two theories as to what the word Sufi means. The first theory believes that it is derived from the word “safa” which means purity as the Sufis were seen as the “people of purity” (ahl al-tasawwuf).

The other theory believes that it comes from the word “sūf” meaning wool, as Sufis were known to wear harsh garments out of wool for ascetical reasons.

Most Muslim scholars historically opted for the second meaning.

Sufism, in its essence, is about purifying the heart from spiritual diseases, including pride, hatred, anger, jealousy, and learning to love God more than the world. It is also a practice of unceasingly remembering God.

Furthermore, Sufism also holds that Islam contains outward knowledge, but also inside spiritual knowledge that is transferred from teacher to student.

If understood this way, Sufism begins with the Prophet Muhammad (s) himself. It is therefore no wonder that all Sufi groups trace their religious orders back to Imam Ali (as).

They trace it back to Imam Ali (as) as he was the first man to transfer and teach the Prophet’s (s) teachings on inner purification and inner spiritual knowledge to the public after the Messenger of Allah’s (s) death.

As time went on, and as more teachers taught students, Sufism broke into different groups. These different groups eventually turned into spiritual orders called tarīqas with their own spiritual leaders called shaykhs.

So you’ve probably guessed it by now, when groups grow and split up over time, teachings do often change, and sometimes for the worse. Some Sufi groups went to the extent that they dismissed all religious obligations, such as prayer and fasting. It is these groups that prompted our 6th Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) to disavow and reject them.

Even today you will find these two groups of Sufis, one which abides by the religious obligations and duties of Islam, and others who don’t. But if you understand the origin of Sufism, you will see that the Sufism of the Prophet (s) was one with religious obligations. Didn’t Imam Ali (as) and the Prophet (s) himself pray and follow Islamic law?

So if you want to find true Sufism, one that is unadulterated, you can only find it in the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (as)

Practices

Sufi practices vary widely. But there are two practices that are essential to Sufism: dhikr and muraqaba.

Dhikr means remembrance, as in remembrance of God. The practice of dhikr is central to Sufism. The remembrance of God is supposed to be an unceasing act. So how do they do it?

Dhikr is in two forms:

Remembering the God by reciting one of His 99 names throughout the day. This is often done with prayer beads called a subha or masbaha. Dhikr can also be reciting Qur’an or sending blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (s) and his family (as).
Remembering God by seeing Him in everything one experiences, one’s own breath, the sky, mountains, skies. The world of creation is to remind one of God’s power and majesty.

Dhikr is thus of paramount importance. In one hadith from the Messenger of Allah (s), he is reported to have said to his companions:

"Shall I tell you about the best of deeds, the most pure in the Sight of your Lord, about the one that is of the highest order and is far better for you than spending gold and silver, even better for you than meeting your enemies in the battlefield where you strike at their necks and they at yours?" The companions replied, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah!"

He said, "it is the Remembrance of Allah (dhikr)”

In another hadith, he is also reported to have said:

"People will not sit in an assembly in which they remember Allah without the angels surrounding them, mercy covering them, and Allah Mentioning them among those who are with Him"

The other practice is that of muraqaba, which means to watch over oneself. Muraqaba is when a person watches over himself or herself, making sure to purify the heart and to keep it away from spiritual diseases, such as the ones we mentioned before (that is, pride, anger, jealousy).

Muraqaba is also taking lessons from the world to help one in the spiritual path. As the seventh Imam, Imam Musa al-Kādhim (as) once said, “every single thing your eye sees contains a lesson.”

In a state of muraqaba, the world is your spiritual university. You take from it what benefits your soul and you leave that which corrupts it. In this sense, it is a state of constant and vigilant meditation.

Until Next Time, Thank you for watching. As-salāmu ʿAlaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh

Safa

purification

Sūf

wool

Ahl al-tasawwuf

people of purification

Tarīqa

sufi order

Shaykh

sufi spiritual master, usually the head of an order

Dhikr

Remembrance of God

Muraqaba

To watch over one’s spiritual health

Subha /mabaha

Prayer beads

What is Sufism?

Sufism, in its essence, is about purifying the heart from spiritual diseases, including pride, hatred, anger, jealousy, preferring worldly matters over God and so on and so forth. It is also a practice of unceasingly remembering God.

What does Sufism literally mean?

Sufism comes from the word sūf, meaning those who wear wool as Sufis often wore uncomfortable wool for ascetical purposes.

Where did Sufism start with?

Sufism, in its essence, began with the Prophet Muhammad (s) and Imam Ali (as)

What is Dhikr?