Building the Foundations, Lessons for Beginners and New Muslims - By Abu Fuḍayl ‘Abdur Raqīb

Lesson 1: Building the Foundations, Lessons for Beginners and New Muslims - By Abu Fuḍayl ‘Abdur Raqīb حفظه الله. Lesson series at Masjid As-Sunnah An-Nabawiyyah, Aston, Birmingham, UK.

- Benefits from the treatise of Shaykh al-‘Uthaymīn (رحمه الله), A Concise Overview of the Islamic Creed.
- The key to seeking nearness to Allāh (عز وجل).  
- The three categories of Tawḥīd.
- Benefits from the verse, “Allāh bears witness that Lā ilāha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He is always) maintaining His creation in Justice. Lā ilāha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” [Sūrah Āli ‘Imrān 3:18]
- Chapter One: The Religion of al-Islām.
- Proof that Islām is perfect and complete and is the only religion accepted by Allāh. 
- Proof that the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ was sent to all of mankind and jinn. 
- The meaning of Ummatud-Da’wah. 
- The obligation of compliance and obedience along with believing in what the Messenger Muḥammad ﷺ came with.
- That which distinguishes Islām from the previous religions.
- Allāh’s guarantee to those who practice Islām correctly and truthfully. 
- The necessity of belief along with implementation of the legislation. 
- A mention of some of the virtuous characteristics Islām calls to and the evil, lowly traits it prohibits.

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1 Building the Foundations, Lessons for Beginners and New Muslims By Abu Fudayl

[LESSON TWO] Building the Foundations, Lessons for Beginners and New Muslims – By Abu Fuḍayl ‘Abdur Raqīb حفظه الله. Lesson series at Masjid As-Sunnah An-Nabawiyyah, Aston, Birmingham, UK.

- The pillars of al-Islām.
- The First Pillar: The Shahādah 
- The meaning of the Shahādah, and that which it entails.
- The two conditions that must be fulfilled in order for an act of worship to be accepted by Allāh.
- Benefits of the Shahādah. 
- The two components of the statement ‘Lā ilāha illa Allāh’. 
- The Second Pillar: Establishment of the Prayer
- The manner in which the prayers should be performed.
- Benefits of the prayer.
- The Third Pillar: To pay the Zakāh
- The meaning of Zakāh. 
- Benefits of Zakāh. 
- A warning against being diverted from the hereafter due to the life of this world.
- The Fourth Pillar: Fasting in the month of Ramaḍān
- The meaning of fasting in Ramaḍān. 
- Benefits of fasting in the month of Ramaḍān.
- The Fifth Pillar: Making the pilgrimage to the House (Ḥajj)
- The meaning of Ḥajj
- Benefits of Ḥajj. 
- The jihād of the women.
- The means of purifying the Muslim nation.
- That which will rectify the problems the ummah is currently facing.

2 Building the Foundations, Lessons for Beginners and New Muslims By Abu Fudayl

[LESSON THREE] Building the Foundations, Lessons for Beginners and New Muslims – By Abu Fuḍayl ‘Abdur Raqīb حفظه الله. Lesson series at Masjid As-Sunnah An-Nabawiyyah, Aston, Birmingham, UK.

[LESSON THREE]

- Proof from the Qur’ān and Sunnah for the foundations of the Islamic creed. 
- The four ways in which belief in Allāh’s existence is established:
- Al-Fiṭrah (the natural inclination). 
- The meaning of fiṭrah, and proof for it from the Sunnah.
- Clarification regarding the statement, “Everyone is born a Muslim.”
- Al-‘Aql (the sound intellect). 
- The impossibility of something creating itself or coming about by mere chance. 
- A decisive, rational, intellectual proof from the Qur’ān in this regard, and the effect these verses had upon Jubayr b. Muṭ’im (رضى الله عنه). 
- An example that highlights the absurdity of those who claim the universe brought itself into existence without an Originator or Creator. 
- Ash-Sharī’ah ( the legislation/textual evidences).
- All of the divinely revealed scriptures mention the existence of Allāh. 
- Al-Ḥiss (that which is perceived by the senses).
- Allāh’s answering of the supplications of those who call upon Him. 
- Proof from the Qur’ān and Sunnah for this.
- Some conditions of making du’ā (supplication).

3 Building the Foundations, Lessons for Beginners and New Muslims By Abu Fudayl

[Lesson 4] Building the Foundations, Lessons for Beginners and New Muslims – By Abu Fuḍayl ‘Abdur Raqīb حفظه الله. Lesson series at Masjid As-Sunnah An-Nabawiyyah, Aston, Birmingham, UK.

- Recap of the previous lesson.
- The four ways in which belief in Allāh’s existence is established [cont’d].
- 4. Al-Ḥiss (that which is perceived by the senses): The Miracles of the Prophets.
- The reason Allāh granted miracles to His Prophets. 
- Examples of miracles given to Prophets Mūsā, ‘Īsā and Muḥammad (عليهم الصلاة والسلام). 
- Belief in Tawḥīd ar-Rūbūbiyyah (Allāh’s Lordship). 
- The characteristics attached to belief in Allāh’s Lordship.
- The arrogance of Fir’awn, which caused him to deny and disbelieve in Allāh. 
- Proof that the Arab polytheists (mushrikūn) affirmed Allāh’s Lordship.
- The two types of Allāh’s Command.
- Belief in Tawḥīd al-Ulūhiyyah (Allāh alone deserves to be singled out in worship).
- The distinction between Tawḥīd ar-Rūbūbiyyah and Tawḥīd al-Ulūhiyyah. 
- The meaning of the word “ilāh”. 
- Proof that Allāh alone has the right to be worshipped. 
- The falsehood of everything that is worshipped besides Allāh. 
- Referring to something/someone as a “god” does not give them the right to be worshipped. 
- Proof that these “gods” are only names given to them by their worshippers.

4 Building the Foundations, Lessons for Beginners and New Muslims By Abu Fudayl

[Lesson 5 | 30/09/2024] Building the Foundations, Lessons for Beginners and New Muslims – By Abu Fuḍayl ‘Abdur Raqīb حفظه الله. Lesson series at Masjid As-Sunnah An-Nabawiyyah, Aston, Birmingham, UK.

- Recap of the previous lesson.
- Belief in Tawḥīd al-Ulūhiyyah [cont’d].
- Āyāt wherein Allāh uses his Lordship to necessitate His worship.
- Belief in Tawḥīd al-Asmā waṣ-Ṣifāt (the Names and Attributes of Allāh).
- The obligation of affirming the Names and Attributes of Allāh in a manner that befits Him.
- Explanation of the four matters we must avoid as it relates to the Names and Attributes of Allāh - taḥrīf, ta’tīl, takyīf and tamthīl. 
- A verse that highlights the fundamental principle of how we understand the Names and Attributes of Allāh. 
- The two main groups who went astray regarding the understanding of the Names and Attributes of Allāh, the reason they perpetrate these false beliefs, and a refutation of their falsehood. 
- The famous incident between Imām Mālik (رحمه الله) and the individual who asked about Allāh’s ascending over the Throne.
- Clarification regarding the widespread belief that Allāh is everywhere. 
- The questions the Prophet ﷺ asked the slave girl in order to establish her belief. 
- Benefits of having correct belief in Allāh.

5 Building the Foundations, Lessons for Beginners and New Muslims By Abu Fudayl

Lesson 6 | 13/10/2024 Building the Foundations, Lessons for Beginners and New Muslims – By Abu Fuḍayl ‘Abdur Raqīb حفظه الله. Lesson series at Masjid As-Sunnah An-Nabawiyyah, Aston, Birmingham, UK.

- Belief in the Angels.
- The reason belief in the angels follows on from belief in Allāh. 
- The purpose for which the angels were created, what they were created from and their absolute obedience to Allāh. 
- Clarification regarding the belief of the Christians that Shayṭān is a “fallen angel”.
- A synopsis of the Night Journey and Ascension of the Prophet ﷺ, and the importance of the prayer.
- A ḥadīth that illustrates the tremendous number of angels. 
- Four matters that constitute belief in the angels.
- A description of angel Jibrīl in his original form. 
- Examples of angels taking the form of human beings. 
- A point of benefit regarding how a student of knowledge should adorn himself when attending the circles of knowledge. 
- Examples of specific duties of the angels. 
- The correlation between the duties of the angels Jibrīl, Mīkā’īl and Isrāfīl. 
- Clarifying the misconception that each person has an angel on the right and a devil on the left. 
- Benefits of having belief in the angels. 
- Refutation of those who claim angels are metaphorical and do not have bodies. 



6 Building the Foundations, Lessons for Beginners and New Muslims By Abu Fudayl

Lesson 7 | 17.11.24 - Building the Foundations, Lessons for Beginners and New Muslims – By Abu Fuḍayl ‘Abdur Raqīb حفظه الله. Lesson series at Masjid As-Sunnah An-Nabawiyyah, Aston, Birmingham, UK.

- Belief in the Books. 
- The meaning and intent of the word ‘kitāb’. 
- The reason Allāh sent Books to mankind. 
- Four matters that constitute belief in the Books. 
- Fruits and benefits of having belief in the Books. 
- The Qur’ān’s suitability for every nation, place and time until the Day of Judgement. 
- The two types of nations. 
- The connection between the six pillars of Īmān.
- Belief in the Messengers.
- The meaning and intent of the word ‘rasūl’. 
- Proof from the Qur’ān and Sunnah that Nūḥ (Noah) عليه السلام was the first Messenger. 
- The story of how shirk began, and a warning against picture-taking. 
- Proof from the Qur’ān that Muḥammad ﷺ is the final Messenger. 
- Proof that Allāh sent a Messenger to every nation. 
- Clarification that the Messengers were free from falling into major sins. 


Building the Foundations, Lessons for Beginners and New Muslims - By Abu Fuḍayl ‘Abdur Raqīb

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