About this Course
Islamic Foundations is a two-part course that aims to provide a structured and comprehensive introduction to the foundational sciences of Islam, covering core topics such as ʿAqīdah, Tafsīr, Tazkiyah, Uṣūl al-Fiqh, ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth, ʿUlūm al-Qurʾān, and Islamic Apologetics.
By studying classical texts and scholarly insights, students will gain a deeper understanding of the principles that shape Islamic belief, practice, and scholarship. By the end of this course, students will be equipped with essential Islamic knowledge that strengthens their faith, deepens their understanding of Dīn, and enhances their ability to practice Islam with awareness and certainty in the modern world.
With accessible knowledge, our students can continue their journey of seeking a deeper understanding of sacred sciences concurrently with family life and developing their careers.
Learning Format
- Interactive Classes – Weekly live sessions that are both in-person and streamed on Zoom with interactive Q&A and reading assignments that push our intellectual boundaries.
- Guided Study – Students are expected to read the assigned textbook prior to class while the instructor will provide guided explanations, contextual insights, and contemporary applications.
- Assessment – Comprehensive exams will be administered to facilitate preservation and ensure precision and depth in practical contexts.
Evaluation
- Participation and Attendance – 20%
- Reading Assignments – 30%
- Module Exams – 50%
Fee & Commitment
- Fee – $40/month for the duration of the full course (tuition only) *
- Time Commitment –
3 to 4 hours per week (2-hour class plus readings & assignments)
- Duration – 2 years combined (1 year per module)
*Sponsorship & financial assistance available upon review. Please fill out the form here.
Course Breakdown
8 Topics
Module 1: Aqīdah – Creed & Faith
Uṣūl al-Sunnah by Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal (d. 241 AH)
Supplementary Texts for Contemporary Matters – TBDModule 1: Tazkiyah – Purification & Spirituality
Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn by Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī (d. 505 AH)
Manāzil al-Sāʾirīn by Abū Ismāʿīl al-Harawī (d. 481 AH)Module 1: Uṣūl al-Fiqh – Fundamentals of Fiqh
Understanding Uṣūl al-Fiqh by Abū Ṭāriq Hilāl/Abū Ismāʿīl al Beirawi
Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence by Mohammad Hashim KamaliModule 1: Ulūm al-Ḥadīth – Ḥadīth Sciences
Nukhbat al-Fikr by Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī (d. 852 AH)
Module 2: Analysis of Imām al-Nawawī’s 40 Ḥadīth
Jāmiʿ al-ʿUlūm wa-l-Ḥikam by Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī (d. 795 AH)
Commentary on the 40 Ḥadīth by Jamāl al-Dīn ZarabozoModule 2: Ulūm al-Qurʾān – Qur’ānic Sciences
An Approach to Qurʾānic Sciences by Muftī Taqī Usmani
Module 2: Islamic Apologetics – Refuting Misconceptions
Topics Addressed: Slavery, Jihad, Age of Aisha RA’s Marriage, Ḥudūd, Apostasy, Gender Roles, etc.
Module 2: Analysis of Sūrat al-Ḥujurāt
Based on Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr (d. 774 AH) & Tafhīm al-Qurʾān by Abū al-ʿAlāʾ al-Mawdūdī (d. 1399 AH)
Instructor
Ust. Abu Abdullah Al Hanbali
A graduate of Finance & International Economics from the Schulich School of Business and Islamic Sciences & Shari’ah from Mishkah University along with specialized training in ʿAqīdah, Fiqh, and Uṣūl.
As founder of The Revivalist Society, he also serves as an active Khaṭīb, lecturer, and teacher in the Greater Toronto Area, while holding a senior management role in Corporate Finance.
