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Adult Study Circles

 

The Adult Study Group is a friendly space dedicated to softening the heart and sharpening the mind.

 

Throughout the year, Imam John Starling holds a variety of adult study circles to help you navigate the balance between religiosity and spirituality.

 

Please check our calendar for timings.

Current and previous topics can be found below.

The Seeker's Mainstay/Umdat al-Talib

This study circle is dedicated to discussing the entire corpus of Islamic law according to the illustrious school of Imam Ahmad.

Topics range from worship, transaction, marriage, inheritance, and crime and punishment.

 

Review or get caught up with the course videos posted here.

Islamic Law Q&A

This study circle will focus on the basics of ritual purification. Subject matter will be delivered in a Q&A format and is based on Imam Musa al-Qaddumi's Elementary Hanbali Primer (Available on Amazon). Topics will include, purification, prayer, fasting, zakat, and hajj.

 

 

Review or get caught up with the course videos posted here.

Q&A 31-33 - Tayammum
10:22

Abridged Biography of the Prophet

This study group's aim is to get closer to the Prophet by becoming familiar with his life and the companions around him. This study group is based on the primer text, Abridged Biography of the Prophet and his 10 Companions by al-Hafiz Abdul Ghani al-Maqdisi.

 

 

Review or get caught up with the course videos posted here.

The Golden Pendant/Qala'id al-Iqyan

This study group is dedicated to better understanding of the foundations of faith. Topics of discussion will revolve around the corpus of Islamic Doctrine and is based on the classic text, The Golden Pendant by Imam Ibn Balban.

 

Review or get caught up with the course videos posted here.

Qala'id al-Iqyan 02 - Awareness of the Most High
18:34
John Starling

Qala'id al-Iqyan 02 - Awareness of the Most High

Footnote: It should be noted that the issue of "the first obligation" is a point of debate among the scholars. Some scholars of the school such as Ibn Hamdan, Ibn Balban (here), Ibn Qa'id, Abd al-Baqi, al-Saffarini, al-Buhuti, and others declare awareness of Allah as the first obligation as opposed to an examination of evidence typically held by the Ashari school. There are others who specify the first obligation to be the shahadatan, tawhid, or Allah's worship (obedience). Ibn Taymiyah, a great Hanabli scholar, concluded that the first obligation upon the morally responsible depended on their personal condition. In other words, if they need to ponder and reflect to accept faith, they are required to do so as a means to an end. If they do not, they are not. This issue is the starting point to the ruling on blind-following in issues of faith. Those that believed that awareness of Allah, which may require a precursory examination of evidence, typically believed it was not permissible to blindly follow in the foundations of faith. They held the view that certainty was necessary which could not be achieved through blind-following. Though considered impermissible, they deemed such faith is sufficient (as mentioned in the video) as it was for the bedouin Arabs during the life of the Prophet. Those that deemed it permissible typically did so in consideration for the masses of the lay congregation that were simply not equipped to achieve the certainly that study and analysis produces.

The Seeker's Way

This study group has 4 major areas of interest such as the inner dimensions of worship, pursuits of custom, destructive vices, and qualities of deliverance. This study group is based on the classic text, The Seeker's Way as abridged by Abul-Abbas Ibn Qudamah.

 

 

Review or get caught up with the course videos posted here.

Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Qasidin 18 - Focused Zakat Distribution