Traditional Islamic Theology
Taught by Hamza Karamali
Experience the truth-based religious worldview of the Muslim scholarly tradition by studying a traditional primer in Islamic theology that summarizes a millennium of top-notch religious scholarship into 144 lines of Arabic verse. Become adept at traditional arguments that show the truth of mainstream Muslim creed, study how Muslim theologians responded to the arguments of the Mu‘tazilites and the falasifa, and learn how to apply those arguments to modern problems of atheism, irreligion, and religious extremism. Imagine what it was like to be a student sitting at the feet of a traditional shaykh in al-Azhar of old.
25 - 30 hours of instruction, spread out over 10 weekly live sessions (1 - 2 hours) and supplementary recorded lessons (all live classes will be recorded for later viewing)
Unlimited live question-and-answer during and after the live sessions
Course discussion forum for further question-and-answer outside of live class hours
Start Date: February 12
End Date: April 9
Weekly Live session timings - Saturday 6 pm UTC
PLEASE NOTE:
This course assumes that students can prove the existence of God and the genuine messengerhood of the Prophet Muhammad (God bless him and give him peace). If you are unfamiliar with these arguments, you should take Why Islam is True first (or concurrently with this course).
The Muslim scholarly tradition is amazing because it has taught for centuries that every Muslim is religiously obliged to critically evaluate his religious beliefs and make sure that they are really true.
OTHER DETAILS
Delve into the truth-based, fully rational, and fully-based-on-the-Quran-and-Sunna scholarly world of the science of traditional Islamic theology as it has been taught for hundreds of years in traditional seminaries all over the Muslim world.
Formally study a 144-line primer in of Islamic theology that has been studied for hundreds of years at al-Azhar University.
Arrive at a first-hand critical evaluation of the beliefs of various classical and modern Muslim sects, including the Mutazilites, the Khawarij, the Anthropomorphists, modern reformists, perennialists, the Quran-only-sect (Quraniyyun), and ISIS.
Use the terms and techniques of the science of Islamic theology to develop a precisely-organized evidence-based mind-map of the foundational beliefs of Islam and learn how to use that map to navigate modern questions that challenge our faith and tradition.
(SCROLL DOWN FOR THE MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTION)
Syllabus
The Pearl of Divine Oneness (Jawharat al-Tawhid)
A 144-Line Poem on Traditional Islamic Theology by Shaykh Ibrahim al-Laqani (d. 1632)
Section 1: Introductory Topics (Lines 1 to 22)
1.1. General Introduction to the Science of Theology
1.2. The First Obligation
1.3. The Argument For the Existence of God
1.4. The Relationship Between Faith and Good Deeds
Section 2: Beliefs About God (Lines 23 to 56)
2.1. The Attributes of God
2.2. The Relations of God’s Existent Attributes
2.3. The Names of God
2.4. Critical Analysis of Anthropomorphic Interpretations of Revelation
2.5. Critical Analysis of the Mu'tazilite Position on the Quran
2.6. Impossible and Possible Matters for God
2.7. Divine Omnipotence, Divine Foreknowledge and Human Freewill
2.8. Seeing God
Section 3: Beliefs About Prophets (Lines 57 to 83)
3.1. Prophetic Attributes and a Critical Analysis of the Quraniyyun
3.2. La Ilaha Illa Allah as a Summary of Theology
3.3. Ranks of Prophets, Angels, and Saints
3.4. Abrogation, the Finality of Prophethood, and Miracles
3.5. The Companions, Early Muslims, Scholars, and Saints
Module 4: Beliefs About the Unseen (Lines 84 to 118)
4.1. Supplications and the Divine Decree
4.2. Angels
4.3. Death and Annihilation
4.4. The Soul and the Mind
4.5. The Interworld and Resurrection
4.6. The Reckoning and Judgment
4.7. Other Unseen Realities
4.8. Intercession
4.9. Sin, Repentance, and Forgiveness
Module 5: Concluding Topics (Lines 119 to 144)
5.1. Critical Analysis of Mu'tazilite Position on Provision (rizq)
5.2. Critical Analysis of Medieval Natural Philosophy
5.3. Critical Analysis of Kharijite Position on Sin
5.4. Critical Analysis of Modern Reformism and Perennialism
5.5. Critical Analysis of Modern Secularism and Religious Extremism
5.6. Islamic Spirituality and Shunning Religious Innovations
5.7. Author’s Conclusion
OPTION 1: SINGLE-PAY
OPTION 2: THREE INSTALLMENTS
PLEASE NOTE THAT BY CHOOSING THIS OPTION YOU ARE ENTERING INTO A BINDING AGREEMENT TO PAY ALL THREE INSTALLMENTS.
