Learning Cove
أَلَا لَا تَنَالُ الْعِلْمَ إِلاَّ بِسِتَّةٍ
سَأُنْبِيكَ عَنْ مَجْمُوعِهَا بِبَيَانِ
ذَكَاءٍ؛ وَحِرْصٍ؛ وَ اصْطِبَارٍ؛ وبُلْغَةٍ؛
وَإِرْشَادِ أُسْتَاذٍ؛ وَطُوْلِ زَمَانِ
“The pursuit of knowledge is not carried on without six things which I shall inform you through words that are clear:
Ingenious acumen, fervent desire, patience, sufficient sustenance, guidance of a teacher, and length of time.”
Imam ‘Ali bin Abi Talib r.a.
Featured Course
The Beginners’ Course on Islam
- 19 well-structured modules
- An enriching and comprehensive learning journey on Islam
- Curriculum centred around the profound Hadith of Archangel Jibrail (Gabriel) a.s.
- Each component of the paradigm thoroughly explored and presented
- Ustaz’s specialization in comparative religion adds a unique dimension to the course
- Sign up required for access to the online modules
- Course fee: Free
As you delve into the course materials, you will discover a wealth of knowledge carefully curated to foster intellectual growth and spiritual enrichment of adult learners interested in Islam. Ustaz’s teachings have undoubtedly left a lasting impact on many towards becoming a better Muslim and deepening their conviction in the Truth. By embarking on this educational journey, you can unearth the precious gems of knowledge left behind by Ustaz in his teachings. His experience in comparative religion helps to broaden students’ perspectives; encouraging them to appreciate the commonalities and distinctions between Islam and other belief systems. Sign up now and immerse yourself in the teachings of Ustaz to embark on a transformative and inspiring path towards spiritual growth, insyaAllah.
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I truly understood the reach Islam has in all aspects of our lives, civilisations, and world. Having said that, the one thing I have always been interested in was comparative religion. Interested in how complete Islam is no matter what it is compared to. So when we were learning about how Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. was mentioned in the bible etc. and why we believe Al-Quran was the holy book and the book of God and the ways to tell if it is a book of/from God I felt happy and it reaffirms how I feel about Islam being the truth.
I guess that is what makes Ustaz’s lessons/methods different and something I will always value. Coming from the background of working with converts or would-be converts, he is able to teach Islam from the view that a non-Muslim can understand, reflect and possibly accept. It makes sense. For me, having been taught Islam from the perspective of a Muslim, there are things that we take for granted in our knowledge. For example the six beliefs in Islam (Rukun Iman), Believe in Allah s.w.t., His Angels, His Books, His Prophets, Qada’ and Qadr’, Judgement Day. We believe it and we don’t question it whereas for someone new to Islam, these would be questioned.
With that, I do admit when asked why we believe in them at first I was taken aback a little. I guess as time passes by we forget and just take it for granted. Not that we stop believing it but more of forgetting why we do. After the lessons now I understand why. I do not blame the madrasahs or anything, I feel Ustaz was right, drill the knowledge when we are young when we are much older and able to think, it is time to complete it by introducing the context of why we believe. In this case the hadith of Iman, Islam and Ihsan.
Ustaz’s lessons bring in a more basic perspective with its reflections, context, and reasons and I feel much more complete in my understanding of Islam. Al-Quran is a Holy Book and context is needed to understand it, with people picking up passages without any knowledge of context or hadith that are sahih. A teacher is needed to convey the message correctly which I feel Ustaz has done. I am glad and happy to be his student.
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I would like to recommend a course that will be taught by Ustaz Zhulkeflee (in short, Ustaz Zhul). It is called the Beginners’ Course. I would like to say a little from my perspective about this course. To me, it is an important foundational course in the systematic educational curriculum for Muslims or non-Muslims who want to know about Islam. He introduces the terms from scratch, and makes it easy for non-Muslims, converts, and Muslims to understand. This Beginners’ Course is one not the level of kids, it is one suited for adults with holistic education of Muslim in mind with breadth and depth. He offers a comparative perspective and also offers comprehensive materials for born Muslims to deepen their understanding & faith and to better appreciate Islam. I always come out reflecting and the words of Deen and wisdom which kept resonating & reverberating in me after every session.
I’ve attended a few rounds of Ustaz Zhul’s Beginners’ course and I feel that revisiting the fundamentals brings deeper layers of meaning and I keep uncovering the beauty and wisdom in it. Yes, he unveils the beauty of the foundations of Islam and that he & his course also sharpens my worldview of Islam, dispels my misconceptions and gets me to continuously review my education of a nurturing Muslim in this world. I felt that in his class, I am learning, in Ustaz Zhul’s words, ‘to subject ourselves to Islam, and not learn Islam as a subject’. I am also learning what is adab over the years with him and the fellow classmates I’ve learned together with. And know that adab is such an essential prerequisite to ‘ilm, knowledge.
It’s truly a Beginners’ Course because, in every session I go to, the foundations of Islam always humbled me and always make me feel like I’m only beginning to learn knowledge and perhaps scratching the surface or having a taste of the wisdom of the Deen and the wide & deep scholarship of the rich Islamic tradition. It’s indeed a humbling and enriching course for me, and I hope you will benefit from him and his course as I do. 🙂
Course Listing
.. Islamic education is organic. Just like a plant, it has to be continuously nurtured to develop a Muslim to grow to be like the good tree.. insha-Allah! – Ustaz Zhulkeflee
After going through the basic course on Islam following the primary “Islam-Ihsan-Ihsan” paradigm, the subsequent lessons on the Fardhu’ Ain would be to revisit those topics again, but with an increased depth and detail with a view to strengthen faith, and to motivate commitment and adherence. This too will be in accordance with the Muslims’ intellectual level of development viz. as youth, as adults, layman, professionals, etc. It is pertinent to understand that the concept and application of “fardhu ‘ain” refers to the obligatory knowledge required to be undertaken upon each individual at any given time, and that it is a lifelong learning journey.
Therefore in the progression of seeking fardhu ‘ain knowledge, we next have the intermediate core modules of “Aqeedah-Fiqh-Akhlaq” as a follow-up curriculum subjects of the BCI. After which it is followed by the advanced modules.
Ustaz’s courses tend to be structured in a way that would firstly aid the students to develop a strong foundation in their understanding of the subject matter. As most students these days may only afford to attend classes once, or at most twice weekly, Ustaz had recognized the pertinent need in developing a course structure that would help “modern-day” students to still be able to receive traditionally transmitted knowledge in a manner that would meet the priority of needs for the Muslim. Once the student has established the core principles, he or she will be able to grasp the higher levels of discussions should they choose to pursue them further; otherwise, they are educated sufficiently in order to fulfill their obligations as Muslims.
All Courses
Featured course. Log in/ register for the course to view the contents!
‘Ilm Tauheed – ‘Aqeedah (Creed or Thoelogy) is one of the 3 core intermediate courses after BCI. The purpose and objective of this course is to help in the development of certainty (belief), create awareness of Reality/ Truth, and to develop discernment between Truth and Falsehood. It involves the proper use of reasoning/ intellect (‘aql), instincts and innate feeling/ perception (fitrah), and the reliance upon revelations and reliable traditions (tauqifiy). The effect of learning ‘ilm tauheed is the development of firm conviction and strong principles, committing to the concept of unity and justice of Allah as well as knowing the true purpose, role and destiny of Man.
Note: This is only an introduction to the study of ‘ilm tauheed.
Some of the topics that will be covered in this course:
- Understanding the methodology or approaches of attestation to the Oneness of God
- A brief overview of the development of madzhab (school of thought), its history and relevance for Muslims
- The causes of wrong thinking
- The cornerstones of Islamic thoughts
Contents (PDF slides only) coming soon. Come back again for updates.
‘Ilm Fiqh- (Practical laws for life; Learning of the Shariah) is one of the 3 core intermediate courses after BCI. The purpose and objective of this course is to help in the development of correct practices, in the submission and obedience to the will of Allah (Islam). It involves knowing the law and the rules as Guidance to every aspect of one’s life, and having the capability of implementing them. The effect of it is to develop a community of people who are inviting others to what is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding evil, and advocating the fulfillment of trust as Allah’s vicegerent (khalifah), as well as establishing the Brotherhood of Man in the servitude of One God.
Note: This is only an introduction to the study of ‘ilm fiqh.
Some of the topics that will be covered in this course are:
- Maqasid Shariah (objectives of shariah)
- History of Madzhahib (schools of thought)
- The Adab in following Madzhab
- Khilafiyyah (Differences of opinion)
- Clarification on Bid’ah (innovations)
- History of Islam in Southeast Asia
- History of Islamic Da’wah Education in Singapura
- Da’wah spirit
Contents (PDF slides only) coming soon. Come back again for updates.
‘Ilm Akhlaq/ Tasawwuf/ Irfan- (Science of the human disposition/”Sufism”) is one of the 3 core intermediate courses after BCI. The purpose and objective of this course is to help in the development of a righteous personality, and the purification or perfection of the Self. It involves reforming or purifiying the Self (Nafs), having best behaviour/ relationship with Allah, oneself as well as with others. It also involves the knowledge of Self and of Allah (Gnosis). The effect of it is the development of most noble personality traits founded on love of Allah, of all of His Prophets, especially the Seal of Prophethood Muhammad ﷺ, his household and loyal companions, as well as in fellowship eith the Truthful (siddiqin), the Witnesses and the martyrs (shuhada) and the Righteous servants (solihin). We also hope that through this we are able to strive to purify the nafs and adorn it with the exalted moral traits of Rasulullah ﷺ who is insan kaamil (Perfected Man).
Note: This is only an introduction to the study of ‘ilm akhlaq.
Some of the topics that will be covered in this course are:
- Preparation for learning
- Learning about the Nafs and its types
- Building submission upon the 5 pillars of Islam
- About taking guidance from Al-Qur’an and the performance of night devotions
- On striving as Muslims towards higher nobility
Contents (PDF slides only) coming soon. Come back again for updates.
This module is an 18-week course based on the book, “Ta’lim al-Muta’allim Tariqat Ta’allum” (Instruction of the student: The method of learning) by Shaykh Burhanuddin al-Zarnuji. This remarkable manual touches upon the method by which students of the classical Muslim world learned Islam in a traditional manner.
Its author, Imam al-Zarnuji, has attracted the attention of Western men of learning for centuries, as they tried to decipher the secret behind the stunning educational success of the Islamic civilization. His book reflects the relevance of exercising etiquette (adab) in the contemporary era.
This course was amongst the first few courses Ustaz taught upon returning to teaching after almost 3 years of hiatus, following his recovery from stroke.
Contents (PDF slides only) coming soon. Come back again for updates.
Ustaz conducted the first run of this module on Adab back in 2010, after the completion of an 18-week course on the kitab, “Ta’lim al-Muta’allim Tariqat Ta’allum“. The Adab course was amongst the first few courses he taught upon returning to teaching after almost 3 years of hiatus, following his recovery from stroke. He developed this adab module as he realized that he had to address certain shortcomings that was prevalent amongst “modern-day” students in our community.
Our community tends to adopt a single generic curriculum of Fardhu ‘ain development which traditionally would develop a Muslim into a scholar (a specialist) of the Deen. With well-written textbooks as curriculum manual available, this approach has traditionally been the norm, and would have been the best trajectory for those able to follow. Yet, such traditional curriculum has to be approached topically according to subjects. It was designed for full-time intensive students, and it requires long duration and commitment for the students to complete. While most students these days may be keen to seek knowledge, they may be unable to commit to such curriculums. Furthermore, those knowledge which they may need to know may be delayed due to this approach which tends to cover topic according to subjects, sequentially, and not according to the priority of needs for the Muslim. As an educator, while Ustaz understood that the traditional approach was to develop a faqih (a Muslim who has profound understanding of the Deen), he was also aware of the fact that there were many who were waiting to further their studies in fardhu ‘ain lessons, but may not aspire to be specialists of the Deen. They only want to be educated sufficiently to fulfill their obligations as Muslims. Hence it was why he embarked on this new approach apart from his structured intermediate Islam courses. He identified there was such a need for a simple yet adequate approach to teach fardhu ‘ain for adult Muslims in general which can be given adequately to everyone; meeting their general needs for relevant knowledge; and not confined to only one topic but is widely grouped into a subject on Adab that is pertinent to their current developmental stages in life as a Muslim.
In Part 1 of the Islamic concept of Adab, Ustaz elaborated on learning the Adab towards oneself; towards one’s parents and teachers; towards following a madzhab (school of thought); towards the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ; and also towards the Holy Qur’an.
Contents (PDF slides only) coming soon. It will be of the revised edition of the course, which was the 3rd run of the module conducted in August 2013.
Come back for updates.
In Part 2 of the Islamic concept of Adab, Ustaz elaborated on learning the Adab towards Allah.
The content provided on this website (PDF slides only) is the revised edition of the course, which was the 3rd run of the module conducted in early 2014.
Contents (PDF slides only) coming soon. Come back again for updates.
Tafaqqahu fid-deen (understanding of the Deen – intermediate Fiqh) was the “advanced” course, after the completion of the core modules. This was an ongoing course which ran from August 2014 till his passing in March 2016.
Ustaz understood that lessons were held once a week and that the students may not aspire to study fiqh intensively but rather adequately. But he aimed to deepen the understanding of his students, and wanted them to manifest as much of the knowledge that have been taught/learnt into practice (‘amal). With those considerations in mind, this course was crafted. He covered from the basic, daily applications of fiqh, till the broad extent of topics related to fiqh.
Contents (PDF slides only) coming soon. Come back again for updates.