Islamic-studies

Why choose ISNAD?

ISNAD is a contemporary Islamic education provider. Our aim is to help Muslims worship Allah correctly, increase their love and attachment to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and to become beacons of lights in their communities. The ISNAD teachers & team endeavour to provide the best platform to educate all those who choose to study with us.

We understand that intellectual and personal development can be difficult, so we have designed courses which take our learners on a gradual journey of discovery and self-development; one step at a time. From the beginner wanting to learn the basics of Islam to the advanced student of the Liberal Arts, ISNAD is able to support each individual’s intellectual and spiritual growth.

Islamic Studies For Everyone

This course is for students seeking to deepen their understanding of Islam and build on their foundational studies. We will cover a variety of units which explore aspects of Islamic finance, doctrine, poetry, take a look at halal & haram and study the Prophetic Character.

1. Prophetic Characteristics

Introduction
Muhammad: The individual who Allah adorned every beauty; inner and outer, hidden and apparent, subtle and manifest. Some companions said that his face was brighter than the moon, while others found no words to describe him except, “we did not see anything like him; not before him, nor after him.”
This is his outer form and physical appearance which left nations in awe. What about his inner beauty and character? Allah Himself declares in the Quran, ‘And indeed you [Muhammad] are upon an immense character”. [Surah Qalam: 4]
The companions preserved every intricate details about both these aspects of the Prophet , from his physical features to his noble character. In this course, we take a journey through several narrations (hadith) known as Shama’il Muhammadiyya.
Unit Aims:

Understanding outer and inner characteristics of the final Messenger of Allah .
Understanding why he is the best of creation and increasing in reverence for him .
Developing a deeper and stronger connection with the Prophet .
Understanding how to emulate the Prophet .

What will I learn?
You will learn about:

The physical description of the Prophet , including his height, complexion, hair, countenance, physique, walk, and much more.
The items used and worn by the Prophet , including his garments, rings, scent, utensils, armour, swords and much more.
The food and drink the Prophet preferred and his manner of consuming it.
The manner in which the Prophet sat, spoke, slept, prayed, fasted and more.
The noble characteristics of the Prophet , including his modesty, his humility and his interaction with others.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

Describe the physical appearance of the Prophet .
Explain the detail in which the all aspects of the Prophet’s life have been preserved.
Understand the prophetic diet and its benefits.
Apply the prophetic manners and etiquettes of eating, drinking, reclining, speaking and sleeping to your own life.
Embody some of the noble prophetic character traits.

Develop your knowledge and reverence for the Prophet

2. ‘Letter to a Disciple’ - Ayyuhal-Walad of Imam al-Ghazali

Introduction
An old disciple of al-Ghazali (1058–1111 CE) had studied the Islamic sciences, including the many works of his master, for most of his life. Faced with the proximity of death, he turned to his master, this time asking for a summary of all his teachings. Letter to a Disciple is al-Ghazali’s response. The emphasis in this short treatise is on religious and spiritual action and on putting into practice the knowledge that one has acquired.
We will cover these timeless pieces of advice and hope to engage on a spiritual journey ourselves. Taking a closer look at some important themes such as sincerity, companionship, intentions, spiritual training and more.
Letter to a Disciple can be considered as the last testament of he who is regarded as Hujjat al-Islam, the ‘Proof of Islam’.

3. Critical Thinking – The Role of Logic in Islam

Introduction
Have you heard of the Translation Movement? Well, it was a Muslim Movement during the ninth century with its capital in Baghdad. It involved several Muslim scholars dedicating their efforts to preserve the tools of thinking; the intellectual instruments which built civilizations.
Logic is one of those instrumental sciences which the Muslim scholars preserved but also refined it to suit their Islamic needs. In this unit, within 10 weeks, you will be learn about the major themes in Arabic Logic and more importantly, how you can utilise it to benefit in everyday life or in academic study.
Learn how to, think critically, identify flawed arguments, how to construct sound and valid propositions and much more.
Aims:

Equip learners with the tools of Arabic logic.
Apply theoretical knowledge of logic to practical contexts.
Understand the use of logic as an instrument of learning.
Understand how key logical principles are applied in language studies, jurisprudence and theology.

What will I learn?
You will learn about:

The influence of logic on other Islamic sciences.
Different views about knowledge and its types.
Two key processes for learning and acquiring new information.
Types of logical fallacies.
The nature of syllogisms.
Classical methods of classification and taxonomy.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

Construct sound syllogisms.
Identify logical fallacies in arguments.
Assess the validity and soundness of given information.

4. Islamic Finance

Introduction
The Prophet said “The honest merchant will be risen with the martyrs on the Day of Judgement”.
Financial dealings are an essential aspect of human life. We are all involved in financial transactions on a daily basis; buying and selling, taking up employment, hiring and leasing, etc.
However, do we know the Islamic regulations and ethics relating to these types of dealings? Are we following the commands of Allah in this aspect of our lives? We all know that unlawful income, which is earned by flouting Islamic regulations, is a sin and has severe spiritual implications from supplications not being accepted to the Anger of Allah Almighty.
This imperative unit comprehensively break down these regulation and rulings for you in an engaging manner. It covers everything you need to know in order to fulfil your responsibilities in financial matters and provides you with a firm basis in the foundational principles, rulings and etiquettes of Islamic Finance.
Unit Aims:

Understanding the underlying principles that govern Islamic financial transactions.
Understanding how to ensure financial transactions are valid and lawful.
Learning about different types of contracts and transactions and their rulings.
Differentiating between the principles of Islamic Commercial Law and those of modern financial systems.

What will I learn?
You will learn about:

The goals of Islamic Jurisprudence and Commercial Law.
The foundational principles of financial transactions.
The core elements of a valid contract.
The 3 types of financial contracts and their implications.
The different types of options in a contract.
Specific contracts such as currency exchange, advance payment and manufacturing contracts and trust sales.
The rulings of employment, hiring and leasing.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

Explain the principles that ensure that Islamic financial transactions are fair, ethical and protect the wealth of the contracting parties.
State the elements that are required in a financial contract in order for it to be valid.
Describe the factors that render a contract irregular or void.
Explain the different types of options that may exist in a contract and their effects.
Ensure any contracts you undertake in buying and selling are lawful according to the Sacred Law.
Understand how to conduct a number of different specific contracts.

Apply the rulings of employment, hiring and leasing.

5. Poet's Delight

Introduction
Whether it's Islamic or from other cultures, poetry is one of the most effective ways to tell the world how you feel. Since the beginning of Islam, Muslims have been casting poetry about Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), the Quran, divine love, and beliefs. In this unit, you will explore the rich poetic tradition of the Companions, Sufi masters, and Muslim writers, from across the last 1400 years. So join this unit if you want to for in love with Allah and the Beloved Prophet (peace be upon him).
Unit Aims:

Understanding the importance of poetry according to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Exploring the Arabic and Persian poetry of the Sufi poets such as Rumi, Shirazi, and Sadi.
Understanding the intimate relationship between humans and Allah, through the lense of poetry.

What will I learn?
You will about:

The poetry of the Companions such Hassan b. Thabit.
The early Muslim female poetesses in Iraq, Arabia, and India.
The epic Mathnavi of Rumi and it's history.
The poetry of the Sufi Shaykh Sadi.
How to express yourself in poetic form.
and so much more.

Course Structure

The course take place on Tuesday Evenings for a period of 30 weeks divided into 3 terms. Each term consists of 10 weeks and each week contains 2 sessions of study. The tables below explain how this is set out and the subjects studied each term:

TERM 1 - 10 Weeks
(Sept 15th 2021 – Nov 23rd 2021)

7:30pm - 8:25pm
Ayyuhal-Walad of Imam al-Ghazali

8:35pm - 9:30pm
Prophetic Characteristics

TERM 2 - 10 Weeks
(Nov 30th 2021 – Feb 15th 2022)

7:30pm - 8:25pm
Critical Thinking

8:35pm - 9:30pm
Prophetic Characteristics

TERM 3 - 10 Weeks
(Mar 1st 2022 – Jun 1st 2022)

7:30pm - 8:25pm
Islamic Finance

8:35pm - 9:30pm
Poet's Delight

Start Date & Time

Tuesday 15th September 2021 (30 weeks)
7.30 pm - 9.30 pm (Weekly)

Location

Waterloo Centre, Manchester
389 Waterloo Road, M8 9AB

Course Fee

Fee: £275
Instalment option: 10 payments of £27.50

Please note that we endeavour to make Sacred Knowledge accessible and available to everyone, so if you are genuine unable to afford the fee you may be able to access our Sponsorship Fund which can offer partial payment of fees.
You can get it contact with us if you require such assistance, email: education@guidancehub.org

If you are a Regular Donor there are special offers and discounts available to you.
Please contact us for more information

Sponsorship Fund

Please consider donating towards our Sponsorship Fund, your contribution will help to achieve our aim of providing accessible Islamic Education to everyone regardless of their financial circumstances.

Not only will potential students benefit from your generosity but you will insha'Allah reap the rewards from this wonderful Sadqah Jariyah.

SPONSOR A STUDENT

ACCESS THE FUND

Our Teachers

Our teachers convey traditional Islamic knowledge, which they have learnt from their teachers, who learnt from their teachers with an unbroken chain all the way back to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ

Course Instructor: Shaykh Waseem Ahmed

Shaykh Waseem started his search for sacred knowledge studying Arabic in the UK for a more than two years before leaving for Damascus in Ramadan 1426 (Oct 2005) to further his Arabic language studies at the Abu Nur institute.

In 2007 Shaykh Waseem started studying privately under his teachers, Shaykh Ahmad Al-Khatib, a graduate of the Fath institute and faculty of Shari’ah and a Friday speaker in the mosques of Damascus as well as a teacher in various Islamic institutes, and Shaykh Anas Al-Sharfawi, a graduate of the Fath institute, a teacher, Friday speaker and a research scholar. He completed works in Aqidah (Doctrine), Fiqh (Jurisprudence) , Spirituality, Arabic Grammar and Rhetoric.

In 2008 alongside his private studies he attended the accelerated programme at the Dawli Institute for Arabic and Islamic sciences in Damascus. He completed a traditional curriculum and graduated in the summer of 2012. Read more..

Venue Information

All our classes are based within a classroom environment giving you the best opportunity and comfortability to make the most of your learning experience. Getting here will be easy whether you are travelling by car or public transport.

Address
Waterloo Centre, 389 Waterloo Road, Manchester, M8 9AB

Getting Here
The Centre is easily accessible from the motorway and the local bus service.

Parking
There is a free car park available onsite. Please do not park in the reserved spaces on the left of the entrance marked with blue signs. Please avoid parking on the side of the building as this has caused problems and issues in the past. Please us the front (approx. 5 spaces) or rear (approx. 15 spaces) of the building. Parking on surrounding streets is also available free of charge.