Absolute Essentials

A one-year programme with modules on Belief and Theology (Aqidah), Practice and Understanding (Hanafi Fiqh), and Purification of the Heart (Tazkiya).

 Avatar    Thaqib Mahmood

Financial Assistance
Nobody will be turned away for lack of funds. Click here to be considered for a bursary.
Course Fee

Price range: £150.00 through £300.00

Free to all monthly donors! Click here to learn more.
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Time & Location

Sunday 11:55 am – 1:30 pm

4 October - 5 December 2026


In-person only: Ruskin College, Room 2.11, Dunstan Road, Old Headington, OX3 9BZ

Course Description

Any action undertaken by a Muslim must be guided by knowing its significance as judged by Allah and His Messenger. As scholars developed what are now independent subjects of Islam, the identification of Fardh ‘Ayn (Obligatory) knowledge also emerged — what every adult Muslim is required to know, and neglecting this responsibility means they will be held accountable before Allah. 

Across three 10-week terms, students will gain their Fardh ‘Ayn (Obligatory) knowledge, covering the following areas: 

Belief and Theology (Aqidah)

Practice and Understanding (Hanafi Fiqh)

Purification of the Heart (Tazkiya)

The programme is accompanied by a course text, composed and, where necessary, translated from well-established works within the Sunni scholarly tradition. A key feature of the course will be to demonstrate the relevance of these classical works in addressing contemporary issues and challenges faced by Muslims, particularly in their practice and belief. For example, questions of practice, such as how to perform prayer when travelling, and questions of faith, including why God created us and why He allows injustice to occur. The course also aims to explore the spiritual and metaphysical foundations of Islam’s practices, providing a deeper understanding and the rationale for striving to become the best version of ourselves.

About the Instructor

Thaqib Mahmood

Sheikh Thaqib Mahmood is a traditionally-trained Muslim scholar and instructor in Arabic. He has studied the traditional Islamic disciplines in Yemen, Syria, the UK, Mauritania, and Turkey. He currently teaches Arabic at the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford. He holds a PGDIP in Arabic teaching from the School of Oriental and African Studies, and is completing a Master's degree in linguistics at the same institution.

Course Fee

Price range: £150.00 through £300.00

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Financial Assistance
Nobody will be turned away for lack of funds. Click here to be considered for a bursary.