1. Sheikh Jaffer H. Jaffer Masumeen Islamic Centre February 7 th, 2012

2.  Overview of Rules  Books used: Muhaadharat fil Ilahiyat – Sheikh Ja’far Subhani Theological Instructions – Ayatullah Mohammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi Usool al-Aqaid – Ayatullah Hakim

3.  Week One: Introduction Concept of Religion; Importance of Ijtihad in matters of Usool; Necessity of Inquiring into Religion  Week Two: Tawheed – Oneness of God: Knowing God - Fitree and Irtikazee Proofs of His existence - Wajib, Mumkin, Mumtani’  Week Three : Oneness of God - Tawheed fi Dhaat; Sifaat; Khaliqiyah; Rububiyah; Ibadat Attributes of God

4.  Week Four: Attributes of Essence – Hayat, Ilm & Qudrah Attributes of Action – Khaliqiyah, Rububiyah & Uluhiyat  Week Five: Additional Attributes – Iradah, Kalaam, Sidq Negative Attributes  Week Six: Analyzing the reasons for deviation; The Materialistic Worldview

5.  Question: What is Religion?  The Arabic term for Religion is دين Lexical: Obedience and Recompense Technical: To have a belief in the ‘Creator’ of man and the universe. The prescribed actions that accompany such a belief also fall within this definition.  Therefore, Religion encompasses two things: Fundamentals : Usool ud-Deen Practical Rules : Furoo ud-Deen

6.  Question: What are our fundamental principles?  FP of all Monotheistic Religions: Belief in One God (Tawhid)  Justice of God (Adalat) Belief in the prophets of God sent to guide human beings (Nabuwat)  Vicegerency (Imamat) Belief in eternal life in the hereafter:(Ma’ad)

7.  Taqleed not allowed Why?  Because the answers are available for all of us to find  It requires individual certainty – we are responsible for ourselves

8.  Question: Why is it necessary to inquire about Religion?  Fitrah: Intrinsic nature of human beings to seek and become aware of Reality  فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتىِ فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيهَْا لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذَالِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَ لَاكِنَّ أَكْثرََ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ  So set your face upright on the religion as a people of pure faith, the origination (nature) of Allah according to which He originated mankind. There is no altering Allah's creation; that is the upright religion, but most people do not know (Ar-Room:30).

9.  Desire: To protect oneself from eternal punishment and harm  دفع للضرر المحتمل Desire to accomplish worldly or materialistic bounties  To thank the provider شكر المنعم

10.  Question: Why do people deny the existence of Religion?  The intrinsic nature (Fitra’) which is inherent in man does not necessarily mean it is always active and alert  Understanding religious realities are vast, difficult and sometimes out of reach  Laziness, apathy or complacency