Registration is now open for the Fall 2008 quarter. Classes begin September 29. TWO new classes have been added! Register here: http://www.zikrcast.com/Distance_Learning/index.php

Sample clips are available on individual class pages.

Islam, Marriage, and the Family with Imam Zaid Shakir
A course for those wishing to deepen their understanding and implementation of a fulfilling Islamic family life. Topics covered include aspects of Islamic family law, relevant aspects of the Prophetic biography, and practical advice for newlyweds.
- Registration fee: Video course $50

The Essentials of Faith with Ustadh Abdullah Ali
This course aims at raising a believer’s awareness about God’s uniqueness, greatness, and absolute perfection. It also aims at giving a historical context to some of the polemical controversies that developed after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) and led to the strife brought on by religious sectarianism. Topics covered include the basic tenets of the Islamic faith, scriptural and rational proofs and arguments for the existence of God, the first fundamental obligation of every human being, the godly attributes, prophetic attributes, and other issues. Based on the introductory chapters of the classical text, Al-Murshid Al-Mu’in (The Helping Guide) by the great scholar, Imam ‘Abd al-Wahid Ibn Ashir.
- Registration fee: Video course $45, Audio course $30

Back to Basics with Imam Zaid Shakir
A course explaining the basics of Islamic belief and worship with a concentration on the elements and issues that are essential for the sound and practical practice of Islam in our time. Appropriate and beneficial for not only the new Muslim, but for any Muslim living in the West, this course will cover “the Five Pillars,” “the Articles of Faith,” aqidah, basic fiqh, and critical issues such as appropriate gender relations and how to defend oneself against the attacks currently being levied against Muslims. As a supplement to these essentials each session will also include commentary on a Prophetic Hadith from Ibn Hajar’s collection outlining the rights of one’s fellow Muslim.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40

Living the Qur’an with Imam Zaid Shakir
An examination of selected passages from the Qur’an emphasizing the practical lessons we can draw from those passages for our daily lives. Considering specific themes such as patience, sacrifice, principled morality, the philosophy of life, the philosophy of history, and the reality of death, this course seeks to connect the believer with the Qur’an in a deep and meaningful way.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40

Getting Right with Allah with Imam Zaid Shakir
An examination of the deeper meanings of the idea of God-consciousness (taqwa) and its profound implications for a believer’s life.Based on the text by the great fourteenth-century scholar al-’Izz bin ‘Abdus-Salaam, Maqasid ar-Ri’aya li Huquq Allah (The Objectives of Guarding the Rights Owed to Allah), this class will relate the lessons of the text to our contemporary situation and aims to assist the believer in getting their heart, body, and soul rectified and connected with their Creator.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40

Disciplining the Soul with Ustadh Yahya Rhodus
A course based on two sections in the third quarter of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ Ulum al-Din (Revival of the Religious Sciences). This course will delve into the foundational principles of disciplining one’s soul, offering a theoretical framework of how this is achieved. A topic of utmost importance in every age, these principles are key in enabling the human being to maximize their Adamic potential.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40

The Prophetic Characteristics Pt. 1, 2, 3, & 4 with Ustadh Yahya Rhodus
A four-part study of the inward and outward characteristics of the Prophet, upon him be peace, from his lineage to his names to his physical stature to his noble attributes, taking from the text of the late scholar Shaykh Yusuf al-Nabahani, Wasa’il al-Wusul ila Shama’il al-Rasul (The Means of Arrival to the Characteristics of the Messenger).Studying the characteristics of the Messenger of Allah, upon him be peace, fills one’s heart with love for him and inspires one to follow his great example.
- Registration fee: Audio course $40 each. Part 1 * Part 2 * Part 3 * Part 4

The Attainment of Excellence in Prayer with Shaykh Salek bin Siddina
A comprehensive explanation of the means and benefits of developing greater presence and humility in the Muslim ritual prayer, based on the text Ishraq ul-Qarar (Radiance of the Hereafter).Delivered in a beautiful poetic format, this inspiring text by the great West African scholar, Muhammad Maulud, addresses all the elements of this "backbone of the five pillars" to assist the student in taking the prayer to a deeper level than simply its outward, physical actions and to make each prayer a spiritual journey in itself. (Course is taught in Arabic with live English translation by Ustadh Usama Canon.)
- Registration fee: Audio course $30

Official Zaytuna Distance Learning organization page on Facebook.

From: http://zikrcast.com/Distance_Learning/deenload.php

Zaytuna Distance Learning Program Presents: DeenLoads

A new single-lecture format, offering timely and illuminating lectures from a wide variety of top Muslim scholars. Featuring numerous exclusive lectures including:

“Curing Extremism” with Hamza Yusuf, Zaid Shakir and Abdal Hakim Murad

“Real Love” with Hamza Yusuf.

DeenCards give you access to exclusive lectures. Your DeenCard has a special access code that you enter on a special DeenLoad page. Your DeenCard is your gateway to beneficial and enriching knowledge you can expect from the Zaytuna Distance Learning program.

How do you get an exclusive DeenCard? Visit us at a Zaytuna booth at Minara events, regional conventions and other venues.

These limited edition DeenCards are an exciting new way for you to learn from Zaytuna scholars, anytime, anywhere.

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IslamCrunch has exclusive details on the material that is available on the 2 inaugural DeenLoad cards.

“Real Love” with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf:

This Limited Edition card gives you access to an exclusive, CD-Length lecture by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf in high-quality, MP3 audio format. A preview of the  special 3-Part series, “Curing Extremism” featuring Shaykh Hamza Yusuf,  ImamZaid Shakir and Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad is also included as a bonus.

ZDL DeenCard [Know Your Self, Know Your Prophet, Know Your Lord]:

This Limited Edition card gives you access to over 6 hours of course selections from the Zaytuna Distance Learning portal in high-quality, MP3 audio format! Featuring illuminating courses and lectures by Imam Zaid Shakir, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Shaykh Salek bin Siddina,  Ustadh Abdullah Ali, Ustadh Yahya Rhodus and others to come.

Both cards will be available at the Zaytuna booth at the ISNA 45th Annual Convention in Columbus, Ohio from August 29 – September 1.

DeenLCards allow Zaytuna to bridge the gap between the physical and digital world.

New book release, translation, commentary and notes by Imam Zaid Shakir!

The translation, notes, and commentary of Imam al-Harith al-Muhasibi’s Risala al-Mustarshidin (Treatise For The Seekers Of Guidance) by Imam Zaid Shakir is intended to serve as a layman’s guide to Islamic spirituality. Al – Muhasibi presents most of the major ideas that would both serve as the basis for a full program of spiritual development and comprise an insightful overview of a system of Islamic moral psychology. He examines in great depth and penetrating insight the psychological motivations and justifications for moral thought and action and correspondingly the associated bases of immorality. In so doing, he has provided a road map that any person can follow to overcome the guiles of his fundamental enemies: the world, the ego, the whims of the soul, and Satan.

Reviews
“There is no way to know how much of traditional Islamic scholarship has been lost forever in libraries that have been burned, looted or destroyed. Other manuscripts lay forgotten in dusty archives, unread and untranslated. New literary works such as “A Treatise for the Seekers of Guidance” seek to preserve a part of Islamic heritage and are astoundingly relevant to our homes and society today. –Dr. Noreen Kassem, July 25, 2008

Powerful and magnetic … it is difficult to put this book down. An essential primer for self-rectification and drawing closer to the divine, this is a highly accessible translation of a classical Islamic text that provides ample guidance and advice for souls longing for spiritual nourishment and refinement amid the prevailing state of social and moral disintegration. This book not only offers definitive counsels on rectifying the self and becoming responsible and dignified human beings, but it also showcases the moral and ethical standards which Islam calls to. Imam Zaid Shakir has done a tremendous service in rendering this crucial text into the English language. –Aftab Ahmad Malik, Visiting Fellow – DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE & ETHNICITY, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

About the Author
Imam Abu Abdullah al-Harith bin Asad al-Muhasibi was born in the important Iraqi port city of Basra. No one has ascertained the date of Imam al-Muhasibi s birth with certainty. It is considered to be between 165/781 and 170/786. Scholars are more certain concerning his death, agreeing that he passed away in 243/857 at Baghdad. At the time of his birth, Basra was a city whose bustling port and vibrant intellectual life rendered it a major cosmopolitan center of great significance. However, it is unlikely that Imam al-Muhasibi benefited from the intellectual life of the city for he appears to have moved to Baghdad at an early age. There he received a very thorough education. His writings not only reveal his mastery of Islamic orthodox scholarship and traditions, but also a deep knowledge of the philosophical and rational thought of both the heretical Muslim sects as well as a credible knowledge of Jewish and Christian theology. He would spend his career in Baghdad and be a full participant its tumultuous intellectual activity.

Cover design by IslamCrunch’s Creative Director.

Kitaba is a new website promoting the needs of visually impaired Muslims in their search of sacred knowledge. IslamCrunch is a big supporter of sacred knowledge and we would like to highlight the efforts of Kitaba. Check out their mission statement:

“We have established a social enterprise community project dedicated to empowering and promoting the growth and well-being of visually impaired Muslims and their communities through meeting their religious, educational and developmental needs, thereby advancing accessibility and awareness. Our primary focus is on providing accessibility to information and knowledge relevant to their Islamic needs. We also support families, teachers and other service providers who are supporting Muslims with a visual impairment.”

And about Kitaba:

“We at the Islamic Texts for the Blind believe that all people with visual impairments should be empowered and should be able to participate fully in cultural, community and religious activities. We recognise that Muslims with visual impairments have to overcome many barriers.”

To support Kitaba, become a member – it’s easy to do and it’s free. Membership is open to our service users, volunteers, network agencies, partners, voluntary organisations and mainstream service providers. As a member, you will be kept up to date with all the latest news and events and you will be invited to the Annual General Meeting.

To find out more about Kitaba, visit http://www.kitaba.org and add Sidi Adnan Tariq on Facebook (read his inspirational story here: http://www.kitaba.org/Stories/AdnanTariq.aspx). You can visit his personal blog here: http://www.adnant.wordpress.com/

HalfDate is a new endeavor that is a platform for sadaqa promotion. Users submit a cause or charity that they want to promote. HalfDate chooses a project to promote every month. No funds are collected by HalfDate, all proceeds go directly to the project.

More info can be seen at their site:

"Each Hijri month, you will suggest a specific cause (specific goal and due date) and HalfDate.com will feature it as a DateDrive. For example, through HalfDate, Muslims around the globe (from Trinidad to California) have:

• Donated over $5,127.54 for textbook
• Showed their care for convert Muslims
• Expressed their appreciations to halal businesses, and
• Donated to publish five teacher study guides for children books

As you can see, HalfDate is not only about monetary donation drives, because in Islam, the concept of sadaqa (charity) is much broader than that.

HalfDate.com is a charity/cause site, every month, you and the Ummah come together to solve one issue, at least get one specific goal done using our collective resources and efforts.

Please tell the brothers and sisters in your company/community about
HalfDate.com, the upcoming BIGGEST Sadaqa promoter on the net (not yet
there, but in-sha-Allah). So far, Muslims from CISCO, Google, EDS, MathWork, Cap Gemini, New York Times companies, … are all educating themselves about HalfDate."

There is an opportunity for HalfDate to acquire $20,000 in funds which they will donate to children and/or education causes.

So, here are the consequences for achieving or missing this drive’s goal (deadline: July 27, 2008).

1. If we achieve 20,000 subscribers to the mailing list, in-sha-Allah, a group of Muslims (HalfDate founders and friends) are pledging to give $20,000 to children or education causes.
2. If we miss the goal, we have to cancel next month’s drive as a sign of failure.

Sign up for their mailing list to find out about their monthly sadaqa projects.