AQE101 – Introduction to the Islamic Creed

COURSE INFORMATION:

When:  Saturdays

Where: Masjid Mumineen -- TTY

Instructor’s Name: Br. Mubarak Oladejo

Email Address: mubolado134@yahoo.com

Phone Number: (713) 909-5491

Office Hours: Saturdays from 10:00am – 2:30pm (or by appointment)

Course Description:
This course introduces the basics of the Islamic Creed and rectifies common misconceptions and
elements that can damage one’s beliefs such as polytheism and hypocrisy. The course explores
the six pillars of faith that form the building blocks of the Islamic Creed and elaborates on the
concept of Lordship. The impact of the Islamic Creed on a Muslim’s life is further discussed
along with a comparative view of basic beliefs underpinning other religions.

Pre-Requisites: None
Learning Objectives:
 Students will be able to define and explain fundamental concepts of faith, belief, and
worship.
 Students will explain the principles of Islamic creed; it’s relevance in their lives and the
importance of studying it.
 Students will articulate the five pillars of Islam, and why the testimony of faith is the first
and central belief.
 Students will describe each of the six articles of faith.
 Students will be able to explain the concept of Divine Will and Decree.
 Students will illustrate the categories of Tawheed with textual proofs and provide
examples of each category.
 Students will be able to explain how all the categories of Tawheed are needed for proper
worship.
 Students will explore each category of Tawheed while identifying their antithesis Shirk.
 Students will develop basic knowledge and recognize some of the common
misconceptions and misrepresentations related to Tawheed.
 Students will have the ability to compare and contrast Islamic creed with the creed of
other divine religions.

Course Outlines:
Introduction:

 Context setting.
 Definition of creed, faith, and relevant Arabic terminology.
 Importance of the creed and relationship between Pillars of faith and Islam.

The Pillars of Faith:

 Oneness of Allah and the impact of Faith on human life.

 Polytheism and its consequences.
 Different types of polytheism.
 Hypocrisy: Its meaning, signs and consequences.

Belief in Allah’s Angels:

 Angels, their nature and their functions.

Belief in Allah’s Books:

 What are the known revelations (scriptures) before the Qur’an?

  How The Qur’an Is protected from change.
 Non-tamper proof status of previous books.

Belief in Allah’s Prophets:

 The First and Last Messengers.

 Why human beings are best suited to be messengers.
 Differences between Prophets and Messengers.

Belief in life after the death:

 Impact of belief in the life after the death on human life

 Inevitability of the Day of Judgment and its stages
 Records and Scales
 Intercession
 Straight Path
 Paradise and Hell
 What happens in the Grave

Belief in Fate and the Divine decree:

 Concept of Freewill

Main Textbook
1. The Muslim’s Belief by Shaikh Muhammad as-Saleh Al-’Othaimeen
(Translated by Dr. Maneh Al-Johani)

2. Tawheed For Children by Dr. Saleh as-Saleh