Classes on Theology Sheikh Jaffer H Jaffer Masumeen

Classes on Theology Sheikh Jaffer H. Jaffer Masumeen Islamic Centre February 7 th, 2012

Week One: Introduction �Overview �Books of Rules used: • Muhaadharat fil Ilahiyat – Sheikh Ja’far Subhani • Theological Instructions – Ayatullah Mohammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi • Usool al-Aqaid – Ayatullah Hakim

Subjects Covered � 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

Subjects Covered (cont)… � 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

Concept of Religion � Question: • What is Religion? ﺩﻳﻦ � The Arabic term for Religion is • 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

Fundamental Principles �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)

Ijtihad (Independent Reasoning) �Taqleed not allowed • Why? �Because the answers are available for all of us to find �It requires individual certainty – we are responsible for ourselves

Necessity of Inquiring into Religion � Question: ● Why is it necessary to inquire about Religion? � Fitrah: ● � ﻭ � Intrinsic nature of human beings to seek and become aware of Reality ﻟ ﻳ ﻳﺍ ﺍﻟ ﺍﺗ ﺍﻟ ﺍ ﻳ ﺍﻟ ﺍ ﺍﻟ ﻳ ﺍ ﺍ ﺛ ﺍﻟ ﺍ ﺍ 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).

Necessity of Inquiring into Religion �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

Necessity of Inquiring into Religion �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

Any Questions?