Windows to Islam @ St. Stephen’s College
This year, I am proud to offer Windows to Islam in coordination with St. Stephen’s College (on the University of Alberta campus).
Nov. 10th & 17th
10:00 am – 3:00pm
Windows to Islam provides an overview of Islam’s rich historical and religious tradition with an emphasis upon how history, contemporary issues, and the Islamic religious sciences (‘ulum al-din) contribute to the religious identity and practice of Muslims today.
This course is ideally aimed at providing counselors, chaplains, clergy, educators, and community members with the essential aspects of Islam and Muslims that will better enable them to engage with and serve Muslims in our increasingly multi-faith and multi-cultural context.
People of all faith, or no faith, are encouraged to attend.
Attendees may apply for 10 CEU credits for this workshop with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
Following this class, I will be offering another workshop called Counselling Muslims together with Ubah Mohammoud (MPS) in February 2019. Attendees who apply for both will save $50 off their total tuition.
Download the Flyer: Windows to Islam at St. Stephen’s College
About the Instructor:
Ibrahim J. Long is a clinical chaplain and religious educator with 10+ years of experience supporting the diverse religious and psycho-spiritual needs of individuals and families in educational, healthcare, community-based, and correctional institutions. In addition to studying with traditional Islamic scholars, he holds degrees in Religious Studies (BA), Islamic Chaplaincy (GCIC), and Islamic Studies & Christian-Muslim Relations (MA). He has also received certified clinical training in psycho-spiritual care and counseling.
#NAIN Conference in #Edmonton
This year, the annual North American Interfaith Network (NAIN) conference will be hosted in Edmonton. The conference moves around each year to various cities across North America. This year it will be hosted at MacEwan University between August 1st and 2nd (with events preceding and following these workshops and events).
From their website: “NAIN builds communication and mutual understanding among interfaith organizations and diverse religious groups throughout North America. Without infringing on the effort of existing organizations, NAIN facilitates the networking possibilities of these organizations and encourages cooperative interaction based on serving the needs and promoting the aspirations of all member groups.”
God-willing, I will be presenting my workshop Caring for the Muslim Soul Wednesday morning (August 1, 2018). Hope you can swing by.
For more information about the conference, visit here.
Dr. Ingrid Mattson: #Interfaith Event in #Edmonton
Dr. Ingrid Mattson was my first teacher when I attended Hartford Seminary’s Islamic Chaplaincy program. At the time, I wasn’t sure if it was the right school for me and was still on the fence about it. However, I was so impressed with her knowledge, academic rigor, and the way that she carries herself that I knew I had to stay.
Undoubtedly, Dr. Mattson is one of the key authorities on Islam and Interfaith Relations. She will be visiting Edmonton to provide a talk on promoting interfaith and multicultural connections, and I encourage you to attend if you are in the area.
Tickets may be purchased in advance here.
al-Shaybānī and the Conclusion of this Tale…
After Abū Yūsuf, the second most prominent student of Abū Ḥanīfa is Abū ʽAbdullah Muḥammad b. al-Ḥaṣan al-Shaybānī (132-189AH/749-804CE), more often known simply as Imam Muḥammad or al-Shaybānī. He was born in Wasit but grew up as a client in Kūfa and, like Abū Yūsuf, he first began his studies in hadith. Unfortunately he was only able to study briefly under Imam Abū Ḥanīfa since he passed away when al-Shaybānī was about 18 years old. However, this limited time of study must have included an intense study of hadiths for al-Shaybānī later compiled (or transmitted from Imam Abū Ḥanīfa) a work of hadith and transmitted sayings of earlier scholars which rivaled in size Mālik’s al-Muwaṭṭa (the book is called Kitāb al-Athār).
After Abū Ḥanīfa passed away al-Shaybānī continued his study of Ḥanafī fiqh under Abū Yūsuf. However, he also took his fiqh from the hadith scholar al-Thawri, the scholar of Syria al-Awza’i, and traveled to Medina to study under Mālik b. Anas. In fact, al-Shaybānī is one of the main narrators of Mālik’s al-Muwaṭṭa. Notably, al-Shaybānī also included a commentary in his transmission of al-Muwaṭṭa where he discussed points of agreement and disagreement between Mālik and Abū Ḥanīfa; making it one of the first books on comparative fiqh.
Continue reading “al-Shaybānī and the Conclusion of this Tale…”
Abū Yūsuf: The Knowledge of Kūfa Inherited
One day Waki’ b. al-Jarrah, a prominent hadith scholar of the time, cited a ruling given by Abū Ḥanīfa when someone remarked that Abū Ḥanīfa had committed an error. “How could Abū Ḥanīfa commit an error,” Waki’ replied. “He had eminent men to assist him – in analogy Abū Yūsuf and Zafar [b. al-Hudhayl]; in hadith Yaḥya b. Zaʽidah, Hafs b. Ghiyath, Habban and Mundal; in lexicography and the Arabic language Qasim b. Ma’n; in devotion and piety Dawūd al-Ta’i and Fadl b. ʽIyād. How could one with such men at his side commit an error? Even if he were going to commit one, would these men let him do so?”
In the city of Kūfa, Abū Ḥanīfa had surrounded himself by some forty scholars–some of whom were considered mujtahīds (independent legal jurists) in their own right. They debated issues of fiqh and were free to agree or disagree with the Imam’s legal judgments. Yet, it appears through reported statements and their later writings that they often accepted Abū Ḥanīfa’s judgments. In fact, after his death they still held his rulings with great esteem and maintained that he was a prominent, if not the most prominent, legal authority of their time. Many of his students later went on to become respected scholars of not only fiqh but also hadith; some specializing in Asma’ al-Rijāl, the study of hadith narrators.
Continue reading “Abū Yūsuf: The Knowledge of Kūfa Inherited”
Abū Ḥanīfa: Rising Out of Kūfa
Abū Ḥanīfa Nuʽman b. Thabit (80-150AH/703-767CE) is considered by many to have been the greatest scholar of the Ahl al-Raʽy. Presently, his school is also the predominant school of Sunni law with nearly half of all Muslims associating with it. However, the Imam has not escaped fierce criticisms alleged against him based upon misperceptions concerning the city of Kūfa; particularly the belief that hadiths were severely limited to people so far removed from Medina. However, recent scholarship has shown just how important and active the study of hadith was in Kūfa. In fact, a study of classical sources (conducted by Wael B. Hallaq) revealed a source detailing Kūfa as the largest base of hadith specialists (living between 80-120AH/699-737CE), followed by Basra, then Medina, Syria, Mecca, and Egypt.[1]
A New Class @AlRashidMosque
Windows to Islam is a 2-Day course intending to provide those interested with an objective look at Islam and Muslims. This will be provided through a basic, albeit in-depth, overview of Islamic Theology, Law, and History.
By the end of the course students will have become familiar with many of the subjects covered in a 12-week undergraduate course.
Windows to Islam is not intended to proselytize, or convert any person to the religion of Islam. The sole purpose of the class is to provide fellow community members, clergy, professionals and those interested with an objective perspective of Islam and Muslims in a time when stereotypes have muddled rational observation.
Registration now available online.
