Imam Al-Ghazzālī, like many other classical Islamic thinkers, regarded the sciences of religion (‘ulūm al-dīn) as a practical pursuit. For him, the science of religion anchored an obligation for seekers to establish a direct and personal relationship with Allāh The Almighty, with the aid of the cognitive faculties endowed in every human being.

Imam Al-Ghazzali was a deep-thinker. A highly-intelligent and gifted man whose entire thinking was driven by a deeper layer of philosophical understanding of the soul, and of the human self, where the heart sits at the epicentre of this core understanding, and forms the cornerstone and birthplace from which ethics and morality are developed and delivered. 

Like many other great Sufi masters, Imam Al-Ghazzali shared the belief that the heart is the single and most important medium that holds the conduit for one to understand and connect with the Divine. Through years of ultimate devotion in seeking and deciphering knowledge, and through great spiritual affinity, Imam Al-Ghazzali painstakingly developed the science of the hereafter, from which he derived that obtaining felicity in the afterlife is the ultimate purpose of human terrestrial life. He does not deny the importance of worldly life, but instead demonstrates how this life if a bridge to the next.

The Ihya Ulumuddin

The Iḥyā’ is a culmination of Imam Al-Ghazzali's life's work - a totalizing vision of Muslim life, oriented towards the attainment of otherworldly felicity. Its massive content - 40 books where each book requires sustained and unfettered dedication to complete and understand - contains a unique synthesis of Sufism, theology, philosophy and law.  

The Iḥyā ‘Ulūm al-Dīn is the book that has been dedicated to lead seekers towards felicity in the hereafter. The Iḥyā’ does show a clear debt to Sufism, but it also contains many philosophical elements that provide the telos of felicity in the hereafter.

This magnum opus of Imam Al-Ghazzālī shows the path on how God-consciousness can be developed through watching over the heart to detect the residues of ‘I’ and cleanse one’s heart of such impurities. The book is relevant to all seekers because it brings forth in plain terms the intrusions of the ego or ill intentions when one is seeking any kind of knowledge or position, especially when it complies with Islamic Law. 

The Sufi approach of practise alone was capable, in theory, of leading seekers towards felicity, but without the theoretical science to access the insights achieved by such practices, it could also lead to delusion rather than true knowledge. The Iḥyā’ empowers seekers through its science, and contains both the theoretical and practical discussions that are needed for seekers of felicity in the hereafter.

Course Objectives

This 20-week course will bring you closer to the teachings of Imam Al-Ghazzali, and closer to Allah The Almighty, Insha'Allah. At the end of this course, it is hoped that participants will be able to:

• plan their own course of action towards becoming a moral-ethical human being
  
• carry out some of the recommendations of Imam Al-Ghazzālī in seeking felicity in the hereafter.
• understand the philosophical bases of the path that Imam Al-Ghazzālī advocates.

Register NOW: https://simplyislam.sg/imamghazzali/

Structure & Content of the Course

This course will be conducted over 20-weeks, starting 05 February 2020. Lessons will be conducted every Wednesday evening, from 7.45pm - 10pm. 

(*SimplyIslam reserves the right to make changes to class dates due to public holidays or any other unforeseen eventuality.)

Commencement Date: 26 February 2020 (Wednesday)

Time: 7.45pm to 10pm

Frequency: Every Wednesday

Venue: SimplyIslam, 152 Still Road, S(423991)

Teacher: Dr Muhammad Mubarak Habib Mohamed

No. of Lessons: 20

Medium of Instruction: English

Course Fee: S$300

The books that will be covered in the 20 weeks are:

ABOUT THE LECTURER

Dr Muhammad Mubarak Habib Mohamed received his PhD in Islamic Civilisation and Contemporary Issues at Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Centre for Islamic Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam. He has a Master of Arts, Islamic Spiritual Culture & Contemporary Society from the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC), International Islamic University of Malaysia.

He has previously taught and won awards at Temasek Secondary School and was also a lecturer at Jamiyah Education Centre in their Diploma in Shar’iyyah Law. He is a Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) Secretariat member since 2009. He has also been teaching voluntarily at Muslim Converts’ Association of Singapore since 1998.

REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT 

Registration can be made at: https://simplyislam.sg/imamghazzali/

·       Payment can be made:

i) in person at SimplyIslam Office, 152 Still Road, S(423991),  (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, Sat and Sun, 9am to 1pm)

ii) By Bank Transfer:

Bank Details: As-Siddiq Centre for Islamic Studies Pte Ltd 

DBS Current Account 027-902298-1

Course registrations will not be confirmed until registration is complete and payment of $300 is made (one-time payment) by 19 February 2020.

CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY

• For all cancellation requests, please submit an email request to: enquiries @simplyislam
  
• Please submit all cancellation requests within 60 calendar days of registration and no later than 30 days prior to the scheduled course date in order to receive a full refund of paid registration fees.
  
• No shows and cancellations not made within the specified cancellation period will incur the full cost of registration.
  
• SimplyIslam.sg reserves the right to cancel any course due to insufficient enrollment at least 30 calendar days in advance of the scheduled course date. Notice will be provided with the option to reschedule for a future course date or to receive a full refund of course fees.
  
• SimplyIslam.sg is not responsible for any expenses incurred by the customer if a course is cancelled.
  

For any enquiries, please call 65474407 or email: enquiries@simplyislam.sg

https://simplyislam.sg/imamghazzali/