The Forty Hadeeth Lessons

Imam An-Nawawi (God be pleased with him) understood his times and he thought of us by his collection of the famous "The Forty Hadeeths". If this illustrious scholar knew the import of these noble prophetic sayings, then what should be our response to his most excellent endeavor besides to nourish our souls with this spiritual buffet.

In the Introduction Imam An-Nawawi (God be pleased with him) notes, "Every person wishing to attain the Hereafter should know these hadeeth because of the important matters they contain and the directions they give in respect of all forms of obedience, this being obvious to anyone who has reflected upon it."

The 40 Hadeeth course via teleconference with Sidi Ibrahim Osi-Efa is every Saturday. Please contact us at khayraannaas@hotmail.com for directions and seating.

About Sidi Ibrahim - He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in Syria, Mauritania and Yemen. He was one of the architects of the Ibn Abbas Institute http://www.ibnabbas.org.uk/ and the Rihla a.k.a. Deen Intensives. He was instrumental in setting up Badr Institute in Yemen. He has studied Shafi'i Fiqh, The Forty Hadeeths and other sciences with chains of transmission returning to the authors of various text or the Prophet (God shower his peace and blessings upon him) himself.

After participating in the course, a participant should know the following:

• Biography of Imam An-Nawawi
• Biography of the Companions of the Prophet
• Biography of the Hadeeth Compilers
• Classical Understanding of the Prophetic Traditions
• Hadeeth Grades

Introduction to Sacred Law

We have initiated an introductory course based on "Kitab Al-'Ibadat" also known as "Kitab Al-Akhdari" written by Imam Abdur-Rahman Al-Akhdari of Algeria in the 10th century hijra (1512-1585).

"The Commentary of Kitab Al-Akhdari" written by Shaykh Al-Hajj Saad bin Umar bin Sa'eed Jalil Al-Futa Tori, a Malian scholar, who in 1971, wrote the commentary to address the issues of traditional scholarship and the relevance and reliability of traditional text.

Shaykh Al-Futa Tori undertook the arduous task of providing proofs from the Koran, Hadeeth and Consensus of the Rightly Guided Scholars to counter the tide of those of excessive verbosity and pomposity who were hurling abuses and accusations at the great scholars of jurisprudence (Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Ash-Shafi'i and Imam Ahmad Hanbal and their ilk) and students of sacred knowledge.

We've been blessed to have Shaykh Mas'ud Laryea of Ghana teaching this ancient treatise on classical jurisprudence and clarifying many issues surrounding this brilliant tract.

After participating in the course, a participant should know the following:

• Belief in God and what it entails
• Belief in the Angels and what it entails
• Belief in the Divine Books and what it entails
• Belief in the Messengers and what it entails
• Belief in the Last Day and what it entails
• Belief in the Divine Decree, the good and bad of it and what it entails
• Legal Rulings according to Sacred Law
• Repentance and its conditions
• Unlawful Matters
• Types of Water that fulfill the requirements
• Ritual Purity - Major and Minor impurities
• The Monthly Cycle of Women and its matters
• Post-Partum Bleeding and its matters
• Ritual Prayer
• How to tell the Times of Prayer
• How to make-up Prayers
• How to rectify the Prayer if one makes a mistake during the Prayer
• What to do if the Imam makes a mistake during the Prayer

Place: Masjid Ummatullah, St. Clair and Blenheim (Cleveland, Ohio)
When: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Time: Between the prayers of Maghreb and 'Isha


“The learned are the heirs of the Prophets. The Prophets have not bequeathed dinar nor dirham, but have only left Sacred Knowledge, and whoever takes it has taken an enormous share.” (Abu Dawoud and Tirmidhi)

"Each of your breaths is a priceless jewel, since each of them is irreplaceable and, once gone, can never be retrieved. Do not be like the deceived fools who are joyous because each day their wealth increases while their life shortens. What good is an increase in wealth when life grows ever shorter? Therefore, be joyous only for an increase in knowledge or in good works, for they are your two companions which will accompany you in your grave when your family, wealth, children and friends stay behind." (Imam Al-Ghazali)

The Summer Sessions

MSA and CSG will be conducting two classes "Funeral Matters" and "The Essentials of Islamic Belief" to enrich, inform and inspire individuals in The Summer Sessions held at Cleveland State University. Below is the basic course content.

Muslim Student Association and Cleveland Study Group

Presents

”The Summer Sessions: Funeral Matters and The Essentials Islamic Belief”

From: May 27th - August 5th

“Funeral Matters: Last Rites”

Where: Cleveland State University
Room: Mainclassroom 311 (MC 311)
Days: Saturdays
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

After participating in the course, a participant should know the following:

Legal rulings according to Sacred Law
The rights of the deceased
Water: Its constitution
The funeral prayer: Its elements
The shroud: Its description
Who has more preference to wash the deceased
Who has the most right to lead the funeral prayer
What's recommended for those near death
The burial
The grave
Visiting the graves
Signs of death
Signs of a good ending
Signs of a bad ending
Mourning and condolences

“The Essentials of Islamic Belief
Time: 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

After participating in the course, a participant should know the following:

Legal rulings according to Sacred Law
Ritual Purity
Ritual Prayer
How to tell the Times of Prayer
How to rectify the Prayer if one makes a mistake during the Prayer
Conditions of an Imam
Matters concerning the Congregational Prayer (Jumu’a)
Praiseworthy Characteristics
Blameworthy Characteristics

Instructor: Luqman Williams

Free and open to the public

For further information please contact: (216) 513-0959

The Messenger of God (May God bless him and give him peace) said, “A Muslim never gives a fellow Muslim a better gift than wisdom through which God increases him in guidance or turns him away from harmful behavior.” Al-Bayhaqi

General 3-year Curriculum

Cleveland Study Group (CSG) is trying to develop a three-year program in order to educate, motivate and have a form of accountability. Therefore, we've set out the following measures.

To know before December 31, 2006 c.e.

• To know a text in any of the Juristic Schools (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali) at an Introductory Level
• Memorize Surat Al-Qadr (97) to Surat Al-Nas (114), along with Surat Al-Fatiha, Ayat Al-Birr, Ayat Al-Kursi, the last 2 verses in Surat Al-Baqarah, and Surat Al-'Aala (87) with the rules of pronunciation.

To know before December 31, 2007 c.e.

• To know a text in any of the Juristic Schools at an Intermediate Level
• Memorize Surat Al-Tariq (86) to Surat Al-Alaq (96) with the rules of pronunciation.
  

To know before December 31, 2008 c.e.

• Memorize Surat Al-Naba (78) to Surat Al-Burooj (85) with the rules of pronunciation.
• Memorize the first 10 hadeeth of Imam Nawawi's famous 40 Hadeeth.
• Study the Shama'il Al-Tirmidhi.

The Prophet (May God bless him and give him peace) said:

“Whoever God wishes well, He gives a clear understanding of the religion.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

The Task

“Ask those who know well, if you know not.” (Koran 16:43)

"A day when wealth will not avail, nor sons, but only him who brings God a sound heart" (Koran 26:88).