ALKAUTHAR PRESENTS
"THE RISE OF THE SELJUKS -
THE SAVIOURS OF SUNNI ISLAM"
A 9-SESSION ONLINE COURSE TO GIVE
YOU A GLIMPSE OF OUR RICH HISTORY
History is a subject that never fails to intrigue us. It has always been a source of inspiration and contemplation. Various historians have spent their lives studying, deciphering and understanding the events that marked the significant milestones of humanity. It's about time we learn about our history too.
Today, a majority of Muslims are unaware of the rich history that framed the Muslim presence in the world.
The kids of this generation are inspired by imaginary heroes like Spiderman and Batman, who neither exist nor project the values and character of a Muslim. They are a figment of imagination, yet we love them.
WHY IS IT THAT THESE FICTIONAL CHARACTERS DOMINATE
THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OUR GENERATION?
IT'S BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW THE REAL HEROES:
THE HEROES WHO LIVED, FOUGHT AND DIED FOR ISLAM.
- That the period between 1000-1300 CE witnessed great upheavals in the Muslim world similar to what we are witnessing today.
- That civil wars, invasions and disunity were rampant in that time and age.
- That the period saw some of the worst massacres in the form of the Crusades and Mongol invasions, the fall of the Abbasid caliphate, etc.
Most of us don’t know:
While this period was filled with bloodshed and civil war, it also witnessed the presence of some of the greatest Islamic figures like Imam al-Ghazali, Abdel Qadir Jilani, Toghril Beg, Nizam al-Mulk, Alp Arsalan, Malik Shah, al-Mawardi, Ibn Hazm, Yusuf ibn Tashfin among others.
But it is not easy to find this knowledge and a lot of the events have been manipulated and distorted to present a different picture.
We realised that an analysis of this period can provide great insight and help us find the remedy to our current situation.
And this is why AlKauthar presents to you an opportunity to learn about the events without any cuts or additions.
AlKauthar Institute presents "The Rise of the Seljuks - The Saviours of Sunni Islam"
A 9-session online course to give you a glimpse of our rich history.
I'VE READ ENOUGH, SIGN ME UP
1
One of the greatest and most influential Muslim dynasties- The Seljuk Dynasty.
2
Important events between 1000-1300 that shaped the world.
3
The conflict between the Sunni Seljuks and Ismaili Shia Fatimids.
4
The advance of the Crusaders and their eventual take of Jerusalem.
5
The great contributions of the Seljuk Empire.
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The advance of the Crusaders and their eventual take of Jerusalem.
Almost felt like we took a shuttle to the past, right?
Our history is just that intense and captivating.
There is so much to know, so much to learn and so much to take lessons from.
Most of us have never even heard of these names, let alone know about their legacies and impact.
But this course will open the chapters of history in front of you that you didn’t know existed.
Your instructor, Sheikh Bilal Ismail, will take you through the ups and downs of the Great Seljuks and the Seljuks of Rum.
You will learn about the heydays of Sultan Malik Shah when the great Seljuks reached their peak.
You will also learn about Sultan Alaeddin Keyqubad and about the internal chaos that eventually led to the downfall of the dynasty.
We know that seeking knowledge is an essential part of Islam.
We also know that learning about deen and its principles can benefit us immensely.
But how does learning about our
history help or benefit us?
Any knowledge that inspires you or encourages you to stay on the right path is the knowledge you should strive to gain. The history of the Muslim empires shows us the courage and perseverance of the believers and their firm faith in the purity of Islam.
There are various lessons for us to take from them.
Some of the objectives of this course are:
Some of the objectives of this course are:
To bring to light and revisit the golden history of Muslim dynasties.
To learn from them and take lessons of leadership, courage and steadfastness.
To give Muslim heroes and role models to our future generations and make them relatable.
To build confidence in our youth by reminding them of our rich and powerful history.
To find strategies from these stories and events that can help us remedy our current situation.
The more we are advancing in technology and science, the more we’re losing touch with our history and culture. If we began reading and learning about the important events of our past, we’d be amazed and awed by not only the intellect, proficiency and insight of our Muslim ancestors but also their perseverance in the face of tribulations.
Here are some facts that you might not be aware of:
- Nur al-Din Zengi & Salahudin Ayyubi first united the Muslims by successfully repelling the Crusaders.
- Imam al-Ghazali’s books were burnt in his lifetime, and he had fatawa issued against him. He died in 1111 CE.
- Imam Abdel Qadir Jilani was born 20 years after Imam Ghazali. He had 49 children.
- Arsalan means Valiant Lion.
- Alp Arsalan was assassinated one year after Manzikert.
- Nur al-Din Zenki is regarded as a saintly king figure.
- Alp Arsalan was the hero of the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. This was the only battle where the Roman Emperor Romanos was captured.
- The Great Seljuks reached their peak during the rule of Malik Shah, and the Seljuks of Rum reached their peak during the rule of Sultan Alaeddin.
- Nizam al-Mulk, the great powerful Sunni Seljuk Minister was assassinated by the Ismaili Nizari assassins.
- Three major achievements of the Seljuks were:
1. Halting the Shia expansion
2. Setting up of the Nizamia colleges
3. Islamisation of Anatolia
- Seljuk Vizier ‘Amid al-Mulk al-Kundari persecuted many scholars & thus imam Juwayni of Nisapur had to flee to Hijaz. He eventually was given the title of Imam al-Haramain.
- Nizari Ismailis do not perform 5 daily prayers, do not fast in Ramadan and do not perform hajj. They believe that the Imam has the power to abrogate the laws of Shariah.
- The Ismaili Fatimids ruled for 262 years.
- The al-Azhar University was founded in 972 CE by the Ismaili Fatimid Shia as a base to spread their ideology.
- The Ka’bah was adorned with a white kiswa covering during the Ismaili Fatimid influence over Makkah.
- Cairo (al-Qahirah) was given its name by the Fatimid Ismailis.
- The Golden Shi’ite Century was between 945-1055 CE.
- Dawoodi Bohras, Sulaymani Bohras, Nizaris are all Ismaili Shia sects.
- Jalaluddin Rumi is the most widely read poet in the USA, but unfortunately, there is an attempt to secularise him and downplay his Islamic belief.
- The Somoni currency of Tajikistan was named so after the Samanid Dynasty, also known as the Samanian Empire. The Samanids assisted in spreading Islam amongst the Turks.
- There was a time when the Shite Fatimid Caliph’s name would be taken in the Friday Khutbah in Makkah, Madinah & al-Aqsa.
- The city of Isfahan was the capital of the Seljuks and later became the capital of the Shia Safavid dynasty.
- It is said that Salman al-Farisi, the companion of the Prophet (pbuh) was from Isfahan.
- The Nizami colleges were instrumental in the spread of the Shaf’i and Ashari schools.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s so much more, but first, let’s get to know your instructor, Sheikh Bilal Ismail.
Who is your instructor?
Sheikh Bilal joined the AlKauthar academic team in 2008 as an instructor and as the academic head of the Student’s Guild. Born in Durban, South Africa, he completed the memorisation of the Qur’an while studying at school and went on to complete his high school in 1998. He obtained a diploma in Computer Science in 1999 and also qualified as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. In 2001, he was accepted into the Islamic University of Madinah, where he completed his diploma in Arabic, followed by a BA in Islamic Law from the faculty of Shariah. He is currently completing his Master’s degree.
He returned to South Africa after graduating from Madinah, where he has been teaching Fiqh and Tafsir weekly classes in Durban since the summer of 2007.
He has taught over 100 AlKauthar weekend seminars in over 20 cities around the world and has quickly become a favourite of our students all over. Over the past few years, he has spent extensive time travelling and researching Islamic history from numerous sources. He accompanies our Knowledge Hive groups (residential retreats for families to explore the rich Islamic history around the world) as the main tutor for lessons on Islamic history. He is also the founder and Director of the Imam Development Program, which aims to assist currently employed Imams and Religious leaders to empower, develop and refine their skills.
Even after his vast knowledge and command on Islamic history, and the long list of beneficial projects he is involved in, he remains humble and calls himself a perpetual student of knowledge.
Let’s see what Sheikh Tawfique Chowdhury, Chairman of Mercy Mission and fellow graduate at the Islamic University of Madinah, has to say about him:
“He was always one of the most studious people I have met, and he never wasted time whilst in Madinah. Sheikh Bilal is a personal friend of mine, and I would describe him to be a true student of knowledge – someone who speaks with knowledge and is one with the highest adab (manners) and morals.”
Wouldn’t it be exhilarating to go on a thrilling journey with Sheikh Bilal and revisit the glorious days of Islamic history?
Whether you’re a fan of Ertugrul and Osman or you’ve never heard of them, this course will be equally exciting and informative for you.
Our students always learn something new with AlKauthar Institute, and while we associate all goodness to Allah and none to us, they have only good things to say.
Some of the feedback by students on attending
different courses at AlKauthar Institute:
“I was not expecting to learn so much in such a short amount of time. This course has broadened my perspective on the problems Muslims are facing.”
“I have never found studying classical knowledge so enjoyable. The style of teaching is truly refreshing.”
“Excellent opportunity to attend a structured Islamic course, intended for the student to take away applicable knowledge of Islam.”
“I just finished watching all of the videos. Thank you very much for sharing. You have inspired me to learn more about our glorious past. May Allah reward you!”
Feedback about one of our previous courses covering the Ottoman empire-
‘FROM ERTUĞRUL TO ATATÜRK – THE RISE AND FALL OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE’.
“One of my favourite courses, so much to know about the Ottomans that we hardly knew. The course was nicely organised, especially the periods were nicely described chronologically. The course instructor had such a deep knowledge of all the events in so much detail. Really loved the video clips. A must course for the history lovers, the glorious days indeed!”
"Every single Muslim needs to hear this. Regardless of whether you have watched the show or not. SubhanAllah, the amount I have learned has shocked me. May Allah bless this brother and his family with everything in this world and the hereafter. Brother, thank you SO much for putting this together. JazakAllahu Khayr. Please continue to make more!"
“You cannot love someone until you know them and appreciate their striving and this course has increased me in my love for the scholars and their striving. And how true is it that empty vessels make more noise, now I have learned to remain silent or speak good.”
"Very good course and overview of the Ottomans."
Want to take a peek into our sessions?
We have 9 engaging sessions for you in which we will cover our course- ‘The Rise of the Seljuks - The Saviours of Sunni Islam’.
HERE WE GO!
SESSION 1 – OVERVIEW
We will begin with a broad overview by discussing the following:
The context.
The great Seljuks and Seljuks of Rum.
Who were the three Major Personalities:
Toghril Beg, his nephew Alp Arsalan and Arsalan’s son Malik Shah?
The three Major Events that occurred during the rule of the Seljuks:
The Battle of Dandanaqan against the Ghaznavid Empire.
The entry into Baghdad and coming to the rescue of the Abbasid Caliphate.
Battle of Manzikert against the Byzantine Empire.
Isfahan, the capital of the Seljuk Empire.
Some prominent scholars of this period.
Three Major Achievements of the Seljuks.
SESSION 2 – POLITICS
In Session 2, we will get deep into matters of politics.
An overview of the years 1000-1250.
Toghril Beg & his setting up of the Seljuk dynasty.
Muhammad Alp Arsalan and his victory in the battle of Manzikert in 1071 against the Byzantine Empire in which the Byzantine Emperor was taken prisoner.
The heydays of Sultan Malik Shah.
Chaos post-Sultan Malik Shah.
The internal fighting in the family that led to the eventual decline caused by disunity and chaos among them.
Barkiyaruk.
Terken Hatun & her son.
Muhammad Tapar.
Ahmad Sanjar.
The house of the Zenkids.
SESSION 3 – THE ISMAILIS BATINIS & HASAN AL-SABBAH
This session is all about the Ismailis, Fatimids, Shia and Dawoodi Bohras.
Terms & definitions and different groupings.
Dawoodi Bohra and their fancy dressing.
49th Ismaili Imam Karim al-Husseini.
The 4 Aga Khans. The Fatimids Dynasty.
The “Mad Caliph”.
Ismaili and Twelve Shia Branches and divisions.
The Beliefs of the Ismailis.
The Ginans- devotional hymns and poems which they recite.
How the Al-Azhar University in the city of Cairo was set up by the Ismaili Fatimids.
Assassins Creed!
How the term ‘assassin’ comes from the Hashashiyun- the Nizari Ismailis.
The Alamut Castle (featured in the Assassins game!).
The Dawoodi Bohras and the divisions within them.
SESSION 4 – MOVERS AND SHAKERS
We will begin with a broad overview by discussing the following:
Nizam al-Mulk- the famous vizier and the one who set the Nizamia Colleges.
Nizami Colleges and the Sunni Project.
Omar Khayyam- the scholar.
Relationship between the Abbasid Caliphs and the Seljuk rulers and sultans during this period.
Recap and Q&A.
SESSION 5 – IMAM GHAZALI
This session is all about one of the greatest scholars of this period- Imam Ghazali
Introduction.
Context.
Chronological overview of his life.
His different works.
Criticism that he had against other ulema and the criticism that they levelled against him.
Some lessons that we can extract from his life.
SESSION 6 - ABDUL QADIR JILANI (RAHIMAHULLAH)
This session is about another great scholar of this period who is influential to this day.
Abdul Qadir Jilani or Al-Baz-al-Ashab
(The Grey Falcon) - An epithet with which he is widely known.
- Introduction to his life.
- Background & context.
- Some of his advice.
- The issues and tension between him and the famous scholar Ibn al-Jawzi.
SESSION 7 – THE CRUSADES
This session is all about one of the greatest scholars of this period- Imam Ghazali
- Motivations behind the Crusades.
- Timeline of the Crusades.
- The fall of Jerusalem.
SESSION 8 – THE SELJUKS OF RUM
This session is about the Seljuks based in Anatolia, which is modern-day Turkey
- The capital of the Seljuks of Rum
- Konya.
- 10 Quick Facts.
- Details.
SESSION 9 – MAWLANA JALALUDIN RUMI
This session is about the scholar of Konya- Mawlana jalaluddin Rumi
- 8 Quick Facts about his life.
- His life & times.
CONCLUSION
This is where we will go over everything we have learned and:
- Extract lessons from what we learned.
- Go through the Resources used & discuss further reading material for those who want to learn more and dig deeper.
Don’t you feel like you’ve been transported to a different world?
This was just a glimpse, but once you start the journey with Sheikh Bilal, you’ll surely be at the edge of your seat!
We guarantee you 100% satisfaction with lots of thrill and a highly informative record of events.
Sign up today, and if you don’t like it within the first 2 sessions, you can request a full refund.
We believe that this will be a worthwhile investment for you, and we are confident that you will leave with a new perspective of our world’s history.
(Please note that the refund policy is applicable only when the request is made within the first 2 sessions.)
Who is the course for?
1. All Muslims eager to know more about our past.
2. Ertugrul, Osman & Uyanış: Büyük Selçuklu Seljuks fans.
3. Islamic history buffs.
4. This course is for those who want to understand the historical events which have shaped our current world.
5. Those who want to extract lessons from the lives of the prominent figures of this period and find a remedy for our current situation.
6. Those who want to introduce Muslim heroes and Muslim inspirational characters in the lives of their children.
