Idara Taleemat-e-Deenia Lahore

Fahm-e-Deen Course

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Introduction & Comprehensive Syllabus

Ladies and gentlemen! Whatever professional field you may belong to, or if you are currently a student, you cannot remain detached or independent from authentic sacred Islamic knowledge and understanding. Acquiring this knowledge is both your religious duty and your innate spiritual thirst. To fulfill this essential religious and natural need, Hazrat Dr. Mufti Abdul Wahid Sahib (M.B.B.S.) of Jamia Madnia, Lahore, formulated a comprehensive yet concise curriculum in Urdu possessing rigorous academic standards, entitled Fahm-e-Deen (Understanding the Religion). Through this course, your numerous intellectual queries will be resolved, perplexities removed, and answers to your profound questions provided. This curriculum comprises two distinct levels:

1- General Level (O-Level)

In light of contemporary circumstances and modern challenges, acquiring the knowledge of this level is incumbent upon every Muslim man and woman. This level comprises the following three textbooks:

(1) Islamic Beliefs (Islami Aqaid): (Total Pages: 261)

All contents of this book are embellished with definitive proofs from the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah. A selection of its core chapter topics includes:

1. The Qur'anic Method of Deduction for the Existence of the Divine Creator
2. The Essential Attributes (Sifat Dhatiyyah) and Active Attributes (Sifat Fi'liyyah) of Allah
3. Detailed Exposition of the Foundational Attributes of Allah Almighty
4. The Relationship of the Divine Will with Both Good and Evil
5. The Relationship of Allah Almighty with the Created Cosmos
6. The Allegorical Attributes (Sifat Mutashabihat)
7. Transcendent Holiness and Incomparability (Tanzeehat) of Allah Almighty
8. The Reality of Wahdat-ul-Wujood (Unity of Being) and Wahdat-ush-Shuhood
9. Prophethood and Messengership (Nubuwwah & Risalah)
10. Infallibility of the Prophets (Ismat-e-Anbiya, peace be upon them)
11. Refutation of Darwin's Theory of Evolution
12. Miracles and Rational Evidences of Prophethood
13. Distinctive Prerogatives of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Finality of Prophethood
14. The Creed of the Continued Life of the Prophets (Hayat-un-Anbiya)
15. The Extravagance of Innovators Regarding the Prophet's Status and Its Refutation
16. Exposition of the Angels
17. Exposition of the Divinely Revealed Scriptures
18. Exposition of the Jinn
19. Signs of the Day of Resurrection (Ashrat al-Sa'ah)
20. Portents of the Day of Judgment, Paradise, and Hellfire
21. Confirmation of the Punishment and Comfort in the Grave, and Questioning by Angels
22. Exposition of Divine Predestination (Taqdeer) and Resolution of Arising Doubts
23. Exposition of Creeds Concerning the Noble Companions (Sahabah, may Allah be pleased with them)
24. Imamate and Khilafah (Islamic Governance)
25. Exposition of Faith (Iman) and Its Pertaining Branches
26. Exposition of Polytheism (Shirk) and Its Categorizations

(2) Principles of Religion (Usool-e-Deen): (Total Pages: 216)

Its core scholarly discussions substantiated by evidence from the Qur'an and Hadith are:

1. Discussions on Divine Revelation (Wahy)
2. Principles of Qur'anic Exegesis (Usool al-Tafseer)
3. Principles of Hadith and the Prophetic Sunnah (Usool al-Hadith)
4. Consensus of the Ummah (Ijma' al-Ummah)
5. Analogical Deduction (Qiyas)
6. What Constitutes the Science of Jurisprudence (Ilm al-Fiqh)
7. Introduction to the Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence (Ilm Usool al-Fiqh)
8. Selected Maxims of Islamic Jurisprudence (Qawa'id Fiqhiyyah)
9. Principles of Independent Legal Reasoning (Ijtihad) and Following Authority (Taqleed)
10. Principles Distinguishing Sunnah from Blameworthy Innovation (Bid'ah)
11. Principles Defining Faith (Iman) and Disbelief (Kufr)

(3) Rulings from Bahishti Zewar (Masail Bahishti Zewar): (In Two Volumes, Total Pages: 954)

This classic masterpiece by Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahimahullah), restructured with modern pedagogical ordering and numerous valuable scholarly additions, serves as an all-encompassing compendium of practical jurisprudence. In addition to essential rules governing bodily purification and daily worship, it encompasses vital rulings concerning marital affairs, commercial transactions, criminal justice (Hudood & Qisas), and wills and estate distribution. A selection of modern contemporary juristic issues covered includes:

1. Post-Mortem Autopsy
2. Human Organ Transplantation
3. Statutory Zakat Deductions from Public / Government Banks
4. Criteria and Standards for Invalidating or Preserving the Fast
5. Islamic Marriage Contract (Nikah) Conducted via Telephone or Remote Media
6. Family Planning and Birth Control
7. Modern Reproductive Technologies and Assisted Conception
8. Human Donor Milk Banks
9. Judicial Dissolution of Marriage (Khula' through Civil Courts)
10. General Legal Principles Defining Halal (Permissible) and Haram (Prohibited)
11. Commercial Stocks and Corporate Shares
12. Classifications of Legal Rights (Huqooq) and Their Commercial Transfer / Sale
13. Interest-Free (Islamic) Banking Principles
14. Foreign Currency Exchange and Arbitrage
15. Prize Bonds and Contemporary Commercial Insurance Schemes

In addition to these, everyday contemporary rulings include:

1. Exposition of Intoxicants and Substance Abuse
2. Categories and Sources of Livelihood
3. Legal Injunctions Concerning Photography, Images, and Sculptures
4. Rulings Regarding Imitation of Disbelievers and Transgressors
5. Injunctions Pertaining to Clothing and Jewelry
6. Jurisprudential Injunctions on Modesty and Hijab
7. Injunctions on Medical Treatment, Spiritual Healing (Amliyat), and Amulets (Ta'weez)
8. Religious Innovations (Bid'at)
9. Legal Injunctions on Giving and Receiving Bribery (Rishwat)
10. Legal Rulings Concerning Gambling (Qimar)
11. Etiquette and Rulings of Greeting (Salam), Handshaking, and Embracing
12. Injunctions Concerning Sports, Games, and Recreation

Note: All three textbooks are readily available in bookstores. With one hour of daily study and one day of rest per week, this General Level (O-Level) can easily be completed in six to seven months.

2- Advanced Level (A-Level)

Upon completing the General Level, studying the books of this advanced stage completes the comprehensive curriculum of Islamic theological studies in Urdu. This level consists of two comprehensive works:

(1) Tafseer Fahm-ul-Quran: (Volume 1: 462 Pages | Volume 2: 470 Pages)

The primary foundation of this commentary is the renowned exegesis "Bayan-ul-Quran" by Hakim-ul-Ummat Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahimahullah). The translation is written separately with meticulous fidelity to individual words so that enthusiasts of precise literal translation can derive maximum benefit. The commentary is composed in an engaging, fluent narrative style, intentionally avoiding burdensome numbered marginalia. The thematic coherence between adjacent verses is lucidly elucidated, and emerging intellectual and theological questions are methodically resolved. The first volume spans five and a quarter Paras (Juz), and the second volume extends through Surah Hud. Both volumes have been published and are available in the market. Insha'Allah, the subsequent parts will also be published in due course.

(2) Fahm-ul-Hadith:

A thematic compendium of Prophetic traditions covering every subject, available in three volumes. All Hadiths are rigorously authenticated with citations, vocalized with full diacritics (A'rab / Harakaat), and distinctly demarcated between direct translation and explanatory commentary through brackets.

This collection is crafted to enable both the general public and students of religious seminaries (Madaris) to derive profound academic and spiritual benefit. Alongside its accessible, constructive approach and conciseness, its scholarly depth is meticulously maintained, and its foundational discussions are exemplary:

Volume 1: Beliefs (Aqaid), Noble Prophetic Attributes (Shamail), Rights and Moral Ethics (Huqooq & Akhlaq), etc.
Volume 2: Acts of Worship (Ibadat)
Volume 3: Societal Transactions and Mu'amalat (from Marriage to Inheritance)

Note: You can study these textbooks with the guidance and mentorship of any qualified religious scholar ('Alim).

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