APPENDIX: An Extended Syllabus and Some Areas of Focus

Dec 21, 2010

APPENDIX

An Extended Syllabus
and Some Areas of Focus

The following represents an extended syllabus. It also provides lessons and discussion topics.

Lesson 1* Still Working for Allah:  
Who Are We – You and Me?

- Introductions – that generally don’t work

Lesson 2* Still Working for Allah:
Creating a New Culture

- Innallaha La Yughaiyyiru Ma Bi-Qawmin…….

Lesson 3* Still Working for Allah:
Sponsors

- Courtesies and Disclaimers

Lesson 4* Still Working for Allah:
Orientation I

- Why are you here? What do you want?
- And why do you want it – whatever it is that you want?

Lesson 5* Still Working for Allah:
Orientation II

- What do you bring to the table?
- What do you have to offer?
- What makes you think you have a right to it?
- How are you willing to pay for it?
- Learning and Teaching
- Attitude and Preparation

Lesson 6* Still Working for Allah:
Learning Outcomes and GIGO

Lesson 7* Still Working for Allah:
Proper vs. Improper Use of Material

- Ijazah, Idhn, Khiyanah, Sariqah, Barakah
- Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights

Lesson 8* Still Working for Allah:
Some Goals and Objectives

Lesson 9* Still Working for Allah:
Some Common Questions

Lesson 10* Still Working for Allah:
Some Prerequisites

- The Positives: Ikhlas, Taubah, Ihsan, Taqwa, Dhikr

Lesson 11* Still Working for Allah:
Some Concomitants

- The Negatives: Amraadul Qalb and
- Tazkiyah-i-Baatin
- Bukhl, Hasad, Kibr, Ghaibah – Nafs

Lesson 12* Still Working for Allah:
Three Levels of Taqwa Plus One

1. Relationship with Allah
2. Accountability and thoroughness (Itqan) in responsibilities
3. Dealings with Khalq of Allah
4. Makarim Akhlaq

Lesson 13* Still Working for Allah:
Working against Nafs

- Nafs Ammarah The biggest roadblock
- The other Jihad – the bigger Jihad

Lesson 14* Still Working for Allah:
Dealing with a dichotomy that never was

- Confusion about Huququllah vs. Huququl 'Ibad

Lesson 15* Still Working for Allah:
A Minimum Human

- Threshold
- A question of character – before Islam even begins
- Integrity of thought and speech
- Integrity of behavior and conduct
- Sadaqah, Amanah, Qawl Sadeed

Lesson 16* Still Working for Allah:
Interpersonal Relations

- A question of character – once again
- Good vs. Bad people
- Action vs. Abstention; omissions and commissions
- Makarim Akhlaq and Mu’amalaat
- Man Salimal Muslimoona Min …

Lesson 17* Still Working for Allah:
Loving Your Brother and Showing it

- Hatta Yuhibba Li-Akheehi Ma Yuhibbu Linafsih

Lesson 18* Still Working for Allah:
Helping Your Brother and not showing off

- Qawlun Ma’roofun wa Maghfiratun Khairin Min…
- Ma Daamal 'Abdu Fi 'Auni Akheeh …

Lesson 19* Still Working for Allah:
Neighborliness, Next to Godliness

- Wal Jarul Junub was Sahibu Bil Janb …
- Wallahi La Yu’min, Wallahi La Yu’min …

Lesson 20* Still Working for Allah:
Understanding the Environment

- EQ: the environmental intelligence quotient
- Speaking the Language
- Wa Ma Arsalna Mir Rasulin Illa Bi-Lisani Qawumih!

Lesson 21* Still Working for Allah:
Democracy vs. Dictatorship

Lesson 22* Still Working for Allah:
A Golden Triangle of Islam in the West

Lesson 23* Still Working for Allah:
Nature of Change

- Ta’alawu Ila Kalimatin Sawaa-in Bainana wa Bainakum
- Selecting issues
- Shoulder to the wheel in motion
- Making native dreams come true
- Translating local ideals into realities
- Third-Worldization vs. Westernization
- Indianization, Africanization, Arabization vs.Britishization, Americanization, Europeanization
- Addressing local fears and concerns

Lesson24* Still Working for Allah:
Understanding the Role

- Western Wing of the Muslim Ummah
- Living in the West, thinking East
- Interlopers, cultural refugees, social outcasts vs. ownership
- Helplessness vs. empowerment
- Survival and victimhood vs. ownership, equality and participation

Lesson 25* Still Working for Allah:
Success vs. Failure

- Responsibility and accountability

Lesson 26* Still Working for Allah:
Beyond Time and Space

- Limitations of times
- Boundedness of geography
- Constraints of culture
- Culture of Islam

Lesson 27* Still Working for Allah:
Having the Cake and Eating it too

- Reconciling contradictions of life in Islam
- Totally earthbound
- Totally transcendent
- Totally local
- Totally global

Lesson 28* Still Working for Allah:
Darul What?

- Home vs. Back Home
- Darul 'Amal
- Darul Hijrah
- Darul anything else?

Lesson 29* Still Working for Allah:
Islam and the Heartstrings

- Emotional attachment to Pakistan, India, Turkey and Egypt
- Emotional attachment to England, Scotland, Europe and America

Lesson 30* Still Working for Allah:
We Are the West!

- I am America! England! France!
- Har Mulk Mulke Maast
- Muslim America
- Islamic West

Lesson 31* Still Working for Allah:
Are Elections Haram?

- How about Fard or Wajib?
- Two ways to put people in power

Lesson 32* Still Working for Allah:
Slaves on a Plantation

- Surah Maryam – the last few Aayaat

Lesson 33* Still Working for Allah:
Need for Literature

- Standards and qualifications
- Issues and concerns

Lesson 34* Still Working for Allah:
Rethinking Some Old Ideas

- Government service

Lesson 35* Still Working for Allah:
Secrecy vs. Openness

- Wa Asrartu Lahum Israra
- Fasda’ Bi-Ma Tu’mar
- Balaagh Mubeen
- Qur’an Mubeen
- Kitaab Mubeen
- Aayaat Mubeen

Lesson 36* Still Working for Allah:
A Question of Accountability

Lesson 37* Still Working for Allah:
A Question of Trust

Lesson 38* Still Working for Allah:
The Bai’ah Question

- Permanent vs. time bound
- General vs. task and situation specific
- Form vs. function and spirit

Lesson 39* Still Working for Allah:
The Mystery of As-Sam’ wat-Taa’ah

- Command vs. advice and request
- Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam vs. the rest
- Reasoning, understanding, disagreement, dissent

Lesson 40* Still Working for Allah:
An Ilah called Organization

- Filters
- Commitments and loyalties
- Friends and foes
- Good guys vs. bad guys
- Status and class hierarchy

Lesson 41* Still Working for Allah:
The Leadership Question

- Nature of leadership
- Tasks vs. talents and traits
- Good and bad leaders
- Mechanisms and processes
- Duration vs. transition

Lesson 42* Still Working for Allah:
Questioning Leadership

Lesson 43* Still Working for Allah:
Theory

- Nature and meaning of theory
- Role of theory
- Is there room for theory in Islam?

Lesson 44* Still Working for Allah:
Methodology

- There is no madness without a method

Lesson 45* Still Working for Allah:
Reaching Out

Lesson 46* Still Working for Allah:
Reaching Out to Muslims

Lesson 47* Still Working for Allah:
Reaching Out to Non-Muslims

Lesson 48* Still Working for Allah:
Reaching Out to the World

- Rahmatul Lil-'Aalameen

Lesson 49* Still Working for Allah:
Seeking and Serving Haqq – Truth

Lesson 50* Still Working for Allah:
A Method Named Salaam – Peace

- Mau’idha Hasanah
- Jidal Billati Hiya Ahsan

Lesson 51* Still Working for Allah:
A Concept Called Moderation

- Ummatan Wasata
- Ifrat
- Tafrit

Lesson 52* Still Working for Allah:
Mainstreaming Islam

Lesson 53* Still Working for Allah:
Putting Our Money Where Our Iman is

Lesson 54* Still Working for Allah:
Ideas, Language and Vocabulary

- Tazkiyah vs. Tarbiyah
- Islamic work vs. working for Allah
- The deal with Da’wah
- Movement vs. organization
- Foundations, trusts and such other things

Lesson 55* Still Working for Allah:
Getting it Right

- Fitting in
- Making a difference
- Making it better
- Inna Hadhal Qur’ana Yahdi Lillati Hiya Aqwam …

Lesson 56* Still Working for Allah:
Proper Understanding and Perspective

- Iqamat Deen: Aqeemuddeena wa La Tatafarraqu Feeh
- Izhar Haqq: Liyuzhirahu 'Aladdeeni Kullih
- Itmam Nur: Wallahu Mutimmu Nurih
- Ihqaq Haqq Bi Kalimaatillah: Yuhiqqal Haqqa Bikalimaatih

Lesson 57* Still Working for Allah:
Building a Better World!

- What does it really mean?
- Who knows the answer?
- A working model for future work

Lesson 58* Still Working for Allah:
A Political Party?

- Open boundaries
- Identity question
- Message integrity
- I am still thinking this through

Lesson 59* Still Working for Allah:
Building Skills

- Understanding and awareness
- Empathy and appreciation
- Overcoming shyness and lack of confidence
- Learning social graces through humility
- Assertiveness and self-confidence

Lesson 60* Still Working for Allah:
Evaluation and Retooling

Lesson 61* Still Working for Allah:
Results Orientation

Lesson 62* Still Working for Allah:
Process Orientation

Lesson 63* Still Working for Allah:
Creating Ribaless Financial Institutions

- Ribaless micro-credit
- Ribaless business loans
- Ribaless start-up loans
- Ribaless personal loans

Lesson 64* Still Working for Allah:
Entrepreneurship

- Creating a culture of commerce and enterprise
- Teaching people how to trade
- Profit orientation

Lesson 65* Still Working for Allah:
Building Social Service Structures

- Financial and business guidance, counseling and support
- Family guidance, counseling and support
- Educational guidance, counseling and support
- Personal guidance, counseling and support
- Civic guidance, counseling and support

Lesson 66* Still Working for Allah:
Political Participation

- Voting and elections
- Voter education and candidate identification
- Issue selection

Lesson 67* Still Working for Allah:
Neighborhood and Community

- Localization Hypothesis

Lesson 68* Still Working for Allah:
Opportunities and Resources

- Iqbal’s lament on scarcity of worldly wealth among Muslims
- Muslims never lacked resources
- It is a question of leadership
- One More Time: Don’t Turn Jum'ah into a Hustle for Funds

Lesson 69* Still Working for Allah:
Challenges, Constraints and Impediments

- Internal vs. external
- Personal vs. social and cultural
- Individual vs. institutional and structural

Lesson 70* Still Working for Allah:
Coping

- Approaches, techniques and strategies
- Thinking and philosophy

Lesson 71* Still Working for Allah:
Anticipating Problems

Lesson 72* Still Working for Allah:
Strategizing, Planning and Preparation

Lesson 73* Still Working for Allah:
Simulation and Forecasting

Lesson 74* Still Working for Allah:
Ghettoization of Islam

Lesson 75* Still Working for Allah:
Third-Worldization of Islam

Lesson 76* Still Working for Allah:
Racialization and Ethnicization of Islam

Lesson 77* Still Working for Allah:
Commercialization of Islam

- Corporatization
- Industrialization
- Big business
- Making a buck
- Making a living

Lesson 78* Still Working for Allah:
Servicization of Islam

Lesson 79* Still Working for Allah:
Fetishization of Islam

Lesson 80* Still Working for Allah:
Theologization of Islam

Lesson 81* Still Working for Allah:
Lizardization of Islam

- Judaization
- Scholasticization

Lesson 82* Still Working for Allah:
Lizardization of Islam

- Hinduization
- Other-worldization- Christianization

Lesson 83* Still Working for Allah:
Lizardization of Islam

- Westernization
- Easternization
- La Sharqiyyah
- La Gharbiyyah

Lesson 84* Still Working for Allah:
Sirat Mustaqeem

- Straight path between humans and God

Lesson 85* Still Working for Allah:
Clericization of Islam

- Their Eminences and other sundry counterparts
- From The Book to book-masters

Lesson 86* Still Working for Allah:
Narcissization in the Name of Islam Super-perfectionism

- Trips of the ego or of the soul?
- Insecurities and props

Lesson 87* Still Working for Allah:
Kafirization of Enemies and Undesirables

- A loose-lip approach
- Liberal with Jahannam
- Frugal with JannahA-Hum Yaqsimoona Rahmata Rabbik?

Lesson 88* Still Working for Allah:
Materialisation of Islam

- Living for this world
- Islam = material objects
- Obsession with resources

Lesson 89* Still Working for Allah:
Hypocrisization of Islam

- Fostering a culture of hypocrisy
- Double standards
- Islamic and Muslim Schizophrenia

Lesson 90* Still Working for Allah:
A Word on Conspiracy Theory

- Competition and conspiracy
- Paranoia vs. awareness and calculation
- Aggression vs. self-protection and self-defense
- Wa Makaru Makran Kubbara

Lesson 91* Still Working for Allah:
Islam and Muslims Made on Television

- Tawaf around the media
- Episodic Islam

Lesson 92* Still Working for Allah:
Nature of Western Media

Lesson 93* Still Working for Allah:
Media Relations and Management

Lesson 94* Still Working for Allah:
Reality vs. Image

Lesson 95* Still Working for Allah:
Truth vs. Falsehood

- Haqq
- Baatil
- A bit of both
- Wa La Talbisul Haqqa Bil Baatil

Lesson 96* Still Working for Allah:
Reaction vs. Proaction

- Winning vs. Also-Running

Lesson 97* Still Working for Allah:
Not if Shaitan Will Have His Way

Lesson 98* Still Working for Allah:
But Against a Lot of Odds

Lesson 99* Still Working for Allah:
Not if We Won’t Do it Right

Lesson 100* Still Working for Allah:
While Being Watched by Allah

Lesson 101* Still Working for Allah:
With Help from Allah

Lesson 102* Still Working for Allah:
Grace from Above

 

* All parts of this syllabus are copyrighted material. Don’t copy or use, in part or full, without express permission, authorization, acknowledgment and credit from the author.

 

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