The Light of the Prophet -- 140 Live Classes (One Installment)
Taught by Hamza Karamali
The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) himself is clear and conclusive evidence that Islam is true. His miraculously impeccable character, his unmistakably sincere and honest life, his immense knowledge (despite his being unlettered), his incomparable wisdom (despite his being born an orphan), his innumerable miracles, and his dedication to the love and worship of God—all of these make him a light from God in perfect human form.
This course is an English-language exposition of one of the best scholarly works on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), al-Anwar al-Muhammadiyya (“Muhammadan Lights”) by the late Lebanese scholar and great lover of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), Shaykh Yusuf al-Nabahani (d. 1932). This book is an abridgment of the famous al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyya, whose 12-volume commentary by the Azhari hadith scholar al-Zurqani is one of the most comprehensive extant works on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
This course is more than just a list of the events of the Prophet’s life (Allah bless him and give him peace). It tells you everything you could possibly know about him (see below for more details) and uses that to bring joy and hope in the midst of the sadness and despair that engulfs many of us.
Learning everything about the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) has never been more important. Atheists cast doubt over the truth of Islam by citing disturbing examples of the Prophet’s character, multiple marriages, battles, and government. And Muslims are often disappointed by religious leaders or institutions who use their religion to serve their selfish interests.
When you fill your heart with details about the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace), the doubts that atheists would cast will disappear. And when you see the infallibility and perfection of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), you will learn to turn away from relying on fallible human beings and connecting directly with the best and most wonderful human being who has ever existed.
Online students are encouraged to attend live, but they may also take the class by listening to class recordings and asking their questions by email and voice communication.
140 live classes
Start Date: 20 September 2020
End Date: 30 April 2021
Daily Live Classes on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
9:40 am Istanbul time (Convert to your timezone) to 10:20 am
What Will I Learn?
This course is much more than a list of events in the life of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). The topics that you will cover will include: his lineage, the divine hand in his life, his names, his relatives, his wives, his servants, his leaders, his messengers, his weapons, his mounts, his physical characteristics, his character, what he ate, how he dressed, how he lived, his miracles, special legal rulings that applied only to him (khasa’is), the specialness of his umma, how the Quran venerates him, prophecies about him in previous scriptures, how to hold him in proper respect, loving him, loving his Companions, loving his family, sending blessings on him, prophetic medicine, his dream-interpretations, his purification, his prayer, his fasting, his zakat, his hajj, his supplications, his demise, visiting his grave, and his role in the events of the afterlife.
What Kind of Student is This For?
This course is designed for an adult audience, but enthusiastic teenagers are welcome to join and will also benefit from the course. Several teenagers have already registered for this course and will participating live from Istanbul. If you have time (about 4-5 hours a week), and are enthusiastic about learning the traditional Islamic sciences, you will benefit from this course, whether you are a teenager, a working professional, a community activist, or a parent.
This course will delve into the original Arabic text and will therefore benefit students who are able to decipher simple Arabic texts with the aid of a dictionary. But most of the class will comprise English-language explanations and students with little or no Arabic will benefit greatly and are welcome to join. (Watch Amina’s testimonial)
What Are the Class Dates and Times?
Classes run daily from Saturday to Wednesday at 9:40 am Istanbul time (Convert to your time zone). Each class is 40 mins long. Thursdays and Fridays are off. The full schedule is described below.
Fall Semester: September 15 to December 23 (70 days of instruction)
Winter Break: December 24 to January 9
Winter Semester: January 9 to April 11 (64 days of instruction)
Ramadan (Reduced Schedule): April 12 to April 30 (6 days of instruction)
Where Can I Get the Class Texts?
Shaykh Yusuf al-Nabahani’s al-Anwar al-Muhammadiyya will be provided to students in pdf format