Module Description: This module explores the deep relationship between outward acts of worship and their inward realities. Just as the Lawgiver has prescribed specific forms for worship to be outwardly valid, He — the Most High — has also set essential conditions for the inner state of the believer so that these acts may be worthy of His acceptance.
Throughout the course, students will examine the core spiritual and practical dimensions of the following pillars of the religion:
Divine Recompense: Fasting The Secret Pillar: Zakkāh & Voluntary Charity Celestial Guests: Pilgrimage (Ḥajj and ʿUmrah) Divine Communication: Prayer (Ṣalāh)
Students will gain an integrated understanding of how outward worship is enriched, elevated, and completed through the inward qualities that accompany it.
Module Text: Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship by Imam Al Ghazzali Translated by Muhtar Holland
Module Outline
Below is the weekly outline for this module.
Week 1 – Introduction to Fasting
Week 2 – The 3 Degrees of Fasting
Week 3 – Supererogatory Fasts
Week 4 – Introduction to Zakkah & Supererogatory charity
Week 5 – Spiritual state of the Payee & Receiver
Week 6 – Introducing to Pilgrimage
Week 7 – House of God
Week 8 – Makkah & Madinah
Week 9 – Introduction to Prayer
Week 10 – The Prostrated Heart
Module Instructor
“The scholars are the inheritors of the prophets.” [Abu Dawud]
Ustadh Tariq Mahmood
Has travelled and spent over 10 years studying the sacred sciences at the feet of some the leading scholars in the muslim world, which began by attending the Dowra in Tarim, Yemen in 2005 at the age of 16 and before then at the hands of his righteous grandfather, Muhammad Fadl. Shaykh Tariq Mahmood
Module Details
All our Saturday classes are available both in person and online. As an institute, we strongly encourage students to attend in person, as the benefits of in-person learning far exceed those of online attendance. The Friday sessions are conducted online via Zoom.
Location
Online Zoom: links will be provided via email
Date/Time
Starting – 2nd January 2026 for 10 weeks Fridays – 8.10am to 8.50pm
Module Content
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The course is based on the book Inner dimensions of Islamic worship.
In this book readers are led on a powerful and inspiring journey through the inner dimensions of a range of Islamic acts, including prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage. Consisting of a selection of writings by a great figure in Islamic history, Imam al-Ghazali, this book helps readers realize the benefits of the upliftment of their spiritual, social, and moral qualities.
Al-Ghazali (10581111), a towering figure in Islam, was born at Tus, near Mashhad in Iran, in the early Seljuq era. He wrote a large number of works, of which his magnum opus was the Ihya' Ulum al-Din compiled during his period of retirement and contemplation.
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Knowledge
Knowledge is understanding that every choice and view one forms is framed in the guidance presented in the Quran and the Prophetic way as understood by Ahle Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah.
Practice
Practice seeks to implement that knowledge in all aspects of our lives. Sincerely applying knowledge facilitates the soul to acquire virtuous characteristics and move beyond its vices and capricious element
Realisation
The soul becomes receptive to realisations concerning God’s oneness, majesty, beauty, and how creation is an ongoing sign of Divine favour. This witnessing is highlighted in the Prophetic statement,‘Excellence is to worship Allah as though you see Him. If you do not see Him, He sees you.
Tariq Mahmood
Has travelled and spent over 10 years studying the sacred sciences at the feet of some the leading scholars in the muslim world, which began by attending the Dowra in Tarim, Yemen in 2005 at the age of 16 and before then at the hands of his righteous grandfather, Muhammad Fadl.
His studies initially took him to Cairo where he studied with scholars such as: Shaykh Abdul Salam Shannar, Shaykh Mahmood Dahla, Shaykh Ali Jumm’ah, Shaykh Fath Hijazi and the great gnostic Shaykh Muhammad Awad. He also received ijaza in the recitation of Quran by Shaykh Ali. His travels also took him to Mauritania where he read Shamail Tirmidhi in the presence of the great gnostic Murabit al-Haaj as well as various other texts to Murabit Ahmed Fa’al, Shaykh Muhammad Haddamin and Shaykh Abdullah.
In Istanbul he met the great gnostic Shaykh Mahmood Effendi who granted him ijaza in Dalail al-Khayrat as well as studying with: Shaykh Muwaffaq, Shaykh Khalid Kharsa, Shaykh Adnan Darwish, Shaykh Mahmood Masree and Shaykh Abdul Rahman Argaan.
For the last 8 years he has been living, studying and teaching in Tarim, Yemen under the guidance of the great caller to Allah, al-Habib Umar, where he is a official teacher in Dar al-Mustafa and Dar al-Zahra primarily teaching Hanafi Fiqh and the Prophetic Biography (Sira)
