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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.

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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
John Starling

Q&A 31-33 - Tayammum

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.

Commencement of the Worshiper

This concise juristic manual, by the great scholar ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Baʿli, introduces the fledgling disciple to the illustrious school of the great Imām Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal.  This text presents the most common issues pertaining to the rites and rituals of worship i.e. purification, prayer, funeral proceedings, alms-giving, fasting, pilgrimage, and briefly touches on legal rulings and ethics of military service.  

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

10 - Tayammum
21:45
John Starling

10 - Tayammum

11 - Removal of Najasah
18:31
John Starling

11 - Removal of Najasah

14 - Adhan & Iqamah
16:43
John Starling

14 - Adhan & Iqamah

18 - Prostration of Forgetfulness
16:49
John Starling

18 - Prostration of Forgetfulness

The prayer is invalidated if the obligatory sujūd al-sahwu is intentionally abandoned; the time of which is before the salām. If he gets up abandoning or forgetting the tashahhud, he is obliged to return to perform tashahhud, it is makruh if he stands completely, haram if he begins recitation, and the prayer is invalidated due to returning after beginning recitation besides someone forgetful or ignorant. If he produces a ḥadath, speaks; even if forgetfully, audibly laughs, or clears his throat without need and 2 or more letters are produced, it is invalidated, but not if he sleeps and then speaks or weeps out of fear, is overcome by coughing, sneezing, or yawning etc. He builds upon certainty which is the least amount for he who doubts in a pillar or number of rakats and there is no effect of doubt after its completion.

Key to the Saintly Path

The following is an English presentation of a small treatise by Imam Ibn Shaykh al-Hazzāmiyyīn (d. 711), a medieval Ḥanbalī scholar and a mystic, entitled: “The Key to the Saintly Path” (Miftāḥ Tarīq al-Awliyā'). In it, he details the practical steps that you can apply in your day-to-day endeavors that will help strengthen your spiritual connection with Allāh Almighty.

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

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