Islam, An Intensive Course for Beginners

Welcome to our introductory course on Islam. This course will take you on a fascinating journey to explore one of the world's most influential religions.

You'll learn about the core beliefs of Islam and how they shape the daily lives of Muslims around the world.

The course will cover the Pillars of Islam and Iman, which are the core practices and beliefs that all Muslims are expected to follow. These include the declaration of faith, prayer, giving alms tax, fasting during Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Mecca, as well as the belief in one God, angels, prophets, holy books, the day of judgment, and fate.

Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to be introduced to Ihsan, known as Sufism, a spiritual tradition of Islam that focuses on the inward and mystical aspects of the faith.

The aspects of free will and the purpose of life will be explained as well.

You will also have access to a range of books and resources that will continue to enrich your knowledge and understanding of Islam.

Whether you're a student of religion, a curious traveler, or simply interested in learning more about Islam, this course is a must. Enroll today and join us on a journey of discovery into one of the world's most fascinating religions.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Developing an understanding of the basic beliefs and practices of islam, including the five pillars of islam, the six articles of iman and ihsan (sufism).
Understanding what muslims believe in.
Offering a simplified perspective on one of the most widely debated religions in the world.

Onthological issues like the purpose of life, predestination, free will, and life after death
Arguments of the existence of god from muslim philosophers.
Developing cultural competence: gaining an understanding of islamic customs, and be better equipped to communicate with muslim colleagues, classmates...

Developing an understanding of the basic beliefs and practices of islam, including the five pillars of islam, the six articles of iman and ihsan (sufism).
Understanding what muslims believe in.
Offering a simplified perspective on one of the most widely debated religions in the world.
Onthological issues like the purpose of life, predestination, free will, and life after death
Arguments of the existence of god from muslim philosophers.
Developing cultural competence: gaining an understanding of islamic customs, and be better equipped to communicate with muslim colleagues, classmates...

Syllabus

Introduction

- Hadith of Gabriel
- The definition of each of the dimensions of the religion: Islam, Iman & Ihsan
- Definition of a Muslim

- Who is Allah?
- How do the Muslims know God?
- The 99 names of God
- Some arguments for the existence of God according to Muslims philosophers

Five arguments for the existence of Allah as used by Mutakkalimun and Muslim philosophers, such as Ibn Sina and al-Farabi.

- Who are the angels?
- The story of human creation: Adam and Eve in paradise
- The human free will
- Why humans are created?

- The purpose of life
- Human vs. Jinn vs. Angel
- Satan (Ibliss)

- The problem of evil

- The definition of the day of judgment

- The concept of human responsibility, reward, and punishment
- Life after death and life on earth

- The prophets mentioned in the Qur'an
- Who are the prophets?

- Why do we have prophets?
- Why do we have many religions?
- The prophet Muhammad
- Sanctifying the prophets?

- The 5 holy scriptures Muslims believe in: Torah, Bible, Psalms, Scrolls and the Qur'an.
- What makes the Qur'an special?
- The oldest copies of the Qur'an
- Who is the Imam?
- Qur'an recitation (tajweed)

- Definition of Qadar
- Are humans predestinated or have free will?
- The problem of evil

-The 5 pillars of Islam: Profession of Faith (shahada), Prayer (salat), Alms tax (zakat), Fasting (sawm), Pilgrimage (hajj)

- The shahada

- Salat in Arabic
- The time of the 5 daily prayers
- Ablution and facing mecca
- The movements of the prayer
- The types of prayer: salat & du'a

- The importance of the 5 daily prayers

- Equality in front of God

- The definition of zakat
- How much is the zakat?
- Horizontal vs. vertical relationship

- The definition of the month of Ramadan and fasting Ramadan
- Who should not fast?
- The triple function of Ramadan
- The spiritual virtue of Ramadan

- The lunar Muslim calendar

- Definition
- What is Ka'ba? (the black cubic building)
- An insight into the performed rituals during hajj
- Ihram; the hajj clothing etiquette

- Ihsan, known as Sufism
- Rumi and Rabi'a al 'Adawiya

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a comprehensive overview of Islam, catering to beginners and those interested in learning more about the religion

Covers the essential practices and beliefs of Islam, including the Five Pillars of Islam, Six Articles of Iman, and Ihsan (Sufism)

Explores philosophical arguments for the existence of God from Muslim scholars, offering a deeper understanding of Islamic theology

Reviews summary

Comprehensive introduction to islam for beginners

According to learners, this course offers an absolutely brilliant introduction to Islam, providing a comprehensive overview of its core beliefs and practices. Many students found the modules easily digestible and praised the instructor's passion and ability to convey complex ideas in an engaging way. It's frequently highlighted as a solid foundation for understanding Islam and significantly contributes to fostering cultural competence. However, some learners noted that while generally beginner-friendly, sections dealing with philosophical arguments and ontological issues can be a bit dense or feel fast-paced, potentially overwhelming true novices without prior background.

Offers helpful additional books and resources for deeper learning.

"The included resources are also very helpful for anyone wanting to delve deeper into the topics."

"The provided books list is a great bonus, allowing me to continue my learning journey beyond the course."

Effective in building cultural understanding and dispelling myths.

"The modules on daily prayers and their significance were particularly insightful for cultural understanding."

"I highly recommend this course for cultural competence as it provided a respectful and clear introduction."

"This course is essential for anyone wanting to dispel misconceptions and gain a respectful understanding of the faith."

"I found the cultural aspects of Islam were also well-covered, which was very helpful."

Instructor's expertise and engaging delivery are highly praised.

"The instructor breaks down complex topics... into easily digestible modules, showing real passion."

"The instructor's passion shines through, making the lessons on the 99 names of God and the prophets very engaging."

"The instructor presented the material in a very balanced and accessible way, making it easy to understand."

"I found the instructor very knowledgeable and capable of conveying complex ideas with ease."

Offers a clear and broad foundational understanding.

"This course is an absolutely brilliant introduction to Islam for beginners. The instructor breaks down complex topics... into easily digestible modules."

"A very comprehensive overview for those starting from scratch. It definitely sets a good base for further study."

"As a non-Muslim, I was looking for a respectful and clear introduction, and this course exceeded my expectations. It's truly comprehensive for a beginner course."

"I found this course to be an incredible journey into Islam, and the instructor conveyed complex ideas with ease."

Sections on philosophy can be dense and fast-paced for beginners.

"Some of the philosophical arguments were a bit dense for a 'beginner' course, still manageable, but I felt it was too much."

"I found the sections on philosophical arguments for God's existence and the problem of evil to be quite advanced and a bit rushed."

"I felt some parts were rushed, particularly the philosophical discussions. The sheer volume of information can be overwhelming."

"As a complete beginner, I struggled with the philosophical sections, which felt too advanced and abstract for me."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Islam, An Intensive Course for Beginners with these activities:

Translate Arabic-English Terms

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Enhance understanding of Arabic terminology and improve language skills by translating words and phrases.

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Compile a list of Arabic-English terms relevant to the course content.
Practice translating the terms from Arabic to English and vice versa.
Review and correct translations for better comprehension.

Watch Online Lectures on Islamic History and Culture

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Gain a deeper understanding of Islamic history and culture by following guided online tutorials.

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Find a series of online lectures on Islamic history and culture.
Watch the lectures and take notes.
Reflect on the content of the lectures and how it applies to your life.

Summarize Hadith of Gabriel

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Summarize the Hadith of Gabriel to develop an understanding of the basic beliefs of Islam, including the Five Pillars of Islam.

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Read the Hadith of Gabriel.
Write down the main points of the Hadith.
Summarize the main points of the Hadith in your own words.

Four other activities

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Create a Presentation on the Five Pillars of Islam

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Develop an understanding of the Five Pillars of Islam and how they are practiced.

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Research the Five Pillars of Islam.
Create a presentation that explains the Five Pillars of Islam and how they are practiced.
Present the presentation in class.

Create a Timeline of Islamic History

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Develop a strong understanding of Islamic history by creating a timeline of significant events.

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Research and gather information about important events in Islamic history.
Create a timeline that presents the events in chronological order.
Label and describe the events on the timeline.

Read and Understand the Quran

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Develop an understanding of the Quran and its teachings.

View The Study Quran on Amazon

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Read the Quran in Arabic or a translation of your choice.
Understand the meaning of the Quran by reading commentaries and interpretations.
Reflect on the meaning of the Quran and how it applies to your life.

Volunteer at a Mosque or Islamic Community Center

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Experience Islam firsthand and gain a deeper understanding of its teachings by volunteering in the community.

Browse courses on Islam

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