
Dear Students,
Congratulation! Welcome to the Adult Spiritual Education Program (ASEP) more courses to follow in the future. It is a pleasure to have you join our spiritual journey that focuses on understanding Islam in depth. I am glad to see that you are here and I hope you will enjoy your learning experience with me. If you have any questions for me, feel free to leave a message. I'll respond as soon as possible.
Before beginning this course, I encourage students to keep an open mind and heart without preconceived ideas or judgment in order to benefit from this course and apply some of the spiritual teachings.
I am glad to see that you have joined our network of students who have benefited across the world from this course and experienced personal transformation. Transformation can not be achieved quickly, it is based on the cumulative learning process. I am confident as we go through the course series you will experience spiritual growth.
Excited to see you in the class!
Best wishes for your learning experience,
Uzma Sharaf :)
This course offers much more than just a basic understanding of the Islamic faith.
Course Objective
Besides a deeper understanding of Islam, the series of courses (Level 1, 2, & 3) will cover a wide variety of other topics integrating spirituality, Positive psychology, Islamic eschatology, spiritual growth exercises for self-improvement that leads to the evolution of the soul. Students will analyze their own preconceived ideas for personal growth.
In this course you will learn;
Students will learn a broad definition of Religion and Islam.
Students will learn the 5 pillars of Islam (Ritualistic Practices) Level 1
Students will learn 6 articles of Faith covered in Level 2. ( Spiritual Believes)
Students will learn the purpose of existence and the concept behind worship in Islam.
Students will understand the thinking styles and underlying principles behind each concept.
Students will assess their own levels of learning using a questionnaire, self-reflection exercises, and Quiz.
Enroll in understand IQM level one to access updated content with new videos and resources, ask questions via email or Udemy, and embrace lifelong learning and intellectual exploration.
Welcome class!
Why religious studies?
What is Islam?
How Muslims throughout the world practice their faith.
What are the common ritualistic practices?
What are the basic principles on which their life is based?
What is the source of their belief?
What is the difference between Islam, Muslims, and Arabs?
How do they worship God?
The Arabic word for religion is " Deen". Why should we engage in Religious studies?
Religious study is a multi-facet discipline that sparks interest in life itself.
It encourages us to investigate the mysteries surrounding life.
Religious studies exercite spiritual and intellectual curiosity.
Address issues of eschatology - What exists beyond earthly existence.
Love and relationship with the divine are explored.
Human beings wanted to know the purpose of life and their position in the Universe.
Unseen matters excite innate curiosity in human beings.
It is an enriching experience because it satisfies the curiosity of the soul.
Before we begin, we should analyze our assumptions, fear, and perceptions.
Why should we analyze our perception?
Most often religion is considered to be the cause of conflict & violence that drives people away from religion.
According to Psychology, it is not a religion but prejudice and discrimination are often the root causes of human conflict and source of violence, which explains how strangers come to hate one another and cause harm.
Prejudice and discrimination affect everyone. No one is exempt people of all faith tradition, nationality, and country suffer from prejudice & hatred. In order to be an informed human being, one should analyze their deep-rooted assumptions and prejudice against others.
Read the entire attached (PDF) article for personal research :
The Western media tend to portray Muslims in an overwhelmingly negative manner (Ahmed and Matthes 2017; Knott et al. 2013), frequently associating Islam with terrorism, extremism, and a cultural otherness that conflicts with mainstream values (Cowan and Hadden 2004; Kalkan et al. 2009). Given the influence of the media in shaping public perceptions, this negative representation of Islam likely plays a role in how Muslims are viewed and treated by the public (Boomgaarden and Vliegenthart 2009; Entman 1989; Saleem et al. 2016)
Muslim is one who follows Islam.
There are 1.8 billion Muslims in the world as of 2015 – roughly 24% of the global population according to the Pew research estimate.
There is diversity in Islam. Muslims are from various different backgrounds and nationalities.
They live all over the world but the majority of the Muslims globally (62%) live in the Asia-Pacific region, including large populations in Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, and Turkey.
What is your view of Islam based on Media representation or personal interaction with other Muslims.
Islam is a monotheistic faith, continuation of Abrahamic tradition. The Arabic word ‘Islam ’ means;
To submit to God alone. ( Serving none but Him)
To submit to the Will of God.
3. Followers of Islam are called Muslims.
Explore how Islam is broader than cultural identity, connecting past revelations and prophets. Appreciate its universality, monotheistic faith, and spiritual lineage with Jesus, Moses, and other prophets.
Explore the five pillars of Islam—shahada, salah, zakat, hajj, and fasting during Ramadan—and how their interconnected practices foster spiritual growth and equality before God.
Explore the five pillars of Islam as a spiritual framework, shahada, prayer, fasting, zakat, and hajj, within level one, and preview level two's six articles of faith for interfaith comparison.
Explore the five pillars of Islam, including shahada, prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca, and understand how diverse Muslim practices map to conservative, moderate, and liberal paths.
Explain worship (ibadah) in Islam as a comprehensive concept, not limited to rituals, extending to everyday acts like eating and working, guided by sincere intention.
Explore object worship in Islam, noting Islam discourages statues or images, emphasizes Arabic calligraphy, and upholds Prophet Muhammad as a messenger, while God remains above all.
Explore fasting (sawm) in Islam, observed dawn to sunset during Ramadan, to purify the soul, build self-control, and foster compassion for the less fortunate, with exemptions for illness or travel.
Explore how fasting blends physical self-control over food and drink with spiritual purification in Islam, urging abstention from evil, gossip, and harmful speech to cultivate mindful, divine connection.
Explore fasting in Islam and among Muslims and other faith traditions, its purposes and spiritual benefits, including self-control, awareness of God, and the role of prayer, charity, and abstention.
Understand how zakat cultivates mercy by distributing wealth to the deserving, reducing greed and social and economic injustice. It frames care for relatives and the needy as a welfare duty.
Explore the qibla, the direction Muslims face toward the Kaaba in Mecca, the central place of worship, and trace Jerusalem’s historical role and the shift from Jerusalem to Mecca.
Explore how power dynamics in pre-Islamic society shaped perceptions of Islam, violence, and peace, examining radical misinterpretations of the Prophet Muhammad and Quranic verses.
In Medina, Muslims receive a command for self-defense amid external threats from Mecca. Sharia aims to preserve religion, life, wealth, soul, and rights within a pluralistic, peaceful community.
Explore holy places in Islam, including the Kaaba in Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Mount of Mercy, and Arafat, and explain the kibla shift and the unity of humanity before God.
A couple of books that I will suggest for the students interested in exploring the subject;
Mohammed: A Biography of Prophet ( Karen Arm strong)
Mohammed A prophet of our time (Karen Arm Strong)
The History of God: A 4000-year quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
A spiral Staircase; My climb out of Darkness ( Personal story of Karen Arm Strong)
Wow! You have come a long way. We have covered so many topics in this course.
Let's have a look at what we covered in IQM- Level 1
A broad definition of Religion and Islam.
Importance of Religious Study Programs (RSP)
Islamic Believe System (IBM)
5 pillars of Islam (Ritualistic Practices)
Introduction to 6 Articles of Faith covered more in-depth in Level 2. ( Spiritual Believes)
Holy Places & Frequently used Terms
Declaration of Faith (Spiritual perspective)
Self-Reflection exercises to analyze
Celebrations (Eid)
Concept of Happiness (spiritual & fleeting happiness)
I conclude this course with gratitude for your presence and for completing all sections. Reflect on the personal reflection exercises and consider exploring one-on-one coaching for spirituality and Islam.
Welcome you to Understanding Islam, Quran, and Muslims. We are excited for those students, teachers, and spiritual seekers who are willing to learn, explore, and understand Islam in depth by analyzing it through a psychological, and spiritual perspective. If you are new to Islam, or if you are a teacher who interacts with students of different faith traditions, have Muslim neighbors, colleagues, and friends and you wonder what they are all about. What are their beliefs and practices? This is a course for you.
We offer educational support to create a better world to defeat fear, misunderstanding, and misconception. The course is designed to infuse ancient wisdom taught in Islam, psychological perspective, and practical implementation of these concepts in your life and so much more. Each course is different and designed to inspire you, motivate you, and enhance your existential well-being.
This course offers much more than a basic understanding of the Islamic faith.
Course Objective
This course offers much more than just a basic understanding of the Islamic faith. In this course, you will learn
Muslim ritualistic practices and the spiritual significance behind them.
A wide variety of other topics such as Islamic eschatology.
Frequently used Islamic terms.
Spiritual growth exercises for self-improvement
Students will analyze their preconceived ideas for personal growth.
Gain a deeper understanding of Islam