Questions & answers.

The Madrasah is convinced that every Muslim should strive to seek knowledge, so the target audience is Muslims in general. Through our different courses and progressive curricula, there are study options for every Muslim, suited to the different levels at which individuals arrive.

Speaking Arabic is not a prerequisite for following lessons. By default, lessons are taught in English unless stated otherwise. Knowing Arabic may maximise the learning outcome and enrich one’s study, but for the main content of a course, English is sufficient.

By default, lessons are taught in English unless stated otherwise. If no other prerequisites are set for a course, then English is the only requirement.

Beginners are advised to study:

• Bidāyat al-ʿĀbid in Fiqh
• Lumʿah al-Iʿtiqād in ʿAqīdah
• The Tadhkirah in Muṣṭalaḥ al-Ḥadīth
• Al-Waṣiyyah in Taṣawwuf

After completing any of these, progress to the next course in that curriculum. It is advisable to contact one of the admins and, through them, seek counsel with our shaykh to determine the next logical step or a full study plan.

In general, yes: scholarships are part of the Madrasah’s study system. Whether they are actually available at any given moment depends on several factors. If you are interested, please contact us.

At the moment it is not possible to set up private lessons. We hope to offer this opportunity in the future.

There are several reasons. A madhhab provides a structured, scholarly approach to understanding and interpreting the teachings of Islam, drawn from scholars who dedicated their lives to studying the law. It offers a consistent and cohesive framework for worship, helping ensure harmony within a community. It helps a Muslim avoid confusion when faced with conflicting opinions, giving a clear path to follow. And it opens access to a vast body of knowledge and expert guidance accumulated over centuries.

Studying without a qualified shaykh or teacher tends to lead to incomplete understanding. A shaykh gives you the text with its context, corrects you when you are wrong, and holds you to the work. That is how Islamic knowledge has always been acquired.

A muʿīd is a student who is permitted by his shaykh to teach a specific book or subject. Most importantly, the muʿīd restricts himself to repeating what he has learned from his shaykh, without adding any new material of his own.

Taṣawwuf is the path within Islam that focuses on the inner dimensions of faith: seeking a connection with the divine through purification of the soul and adherence to moral principles. To explore it further you may study al-Waṣiyyah, a work that examines its teachings and practices. See also our page on Taṣawwuf.

Tawassul is the practice of seeking to draw closer to God through an intermediary, supplicating to God by invoking the names or qualities of the righteous, the prophets, or the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ. To study the subject in depth, the course Lumʿah al-Iʿtiqād offers a comprehensive exploration of the concept and its theological underpinnings.

No. It is recommended, but it can be done alongside your studies.

An ijāzah is a certification that acknowledges understanding of a specific book or subject. It does not automatically grant the authority to teach. Teaching is permitted only when the qualified teacher who granted the ijāzah has explicitly given permission to share the knowledge. The ijāzah is evidence of thorough study under a knowledgeable teacher; permission to teach is a further step requiring the teacher’s authorisation.

No. Becoming a scholar requires a significant amount of time and dedication. Intensive courses or shortcuts cannot replace the necessary commitment and study.

Dedication, patience, guidance from a knowledgeable teacher, financial resources, and a consistent study approach.

A common source of confusion is the selection of books: some suggest studying only the works of Ibn Taymiyyah, while others overlook Ibn Qudāmah. Both sets hold significance and should be studied in conjunction. The concept of the “relied-upon position” helps reconcile their teachings, integrating them into a comprehensive understanding. A suggested progression of texts builds from foundational works upward. Above all, acquiring knowledge in the school requires dedication, time, and guidance from a knowledgeable teacher. See our page on the Foundations of the Madhhab.

Some key principles: ask open-ended questions to encourage detailed responses; probe for examples to gain deeper insight; use follow-up questions to gather detail; stay unbiased and avoid leading questions; listen actively to verbal and non-verbal cues; keep the discussion focused; foster an open and honest atmosphere; balance listening and speaking; prepare your questions beforehand; and respect others’ time by asking permission before posing a question.

We do not set a fixed number of lessons for a live course; they continue for as long as necessary. This reflects our philosophy and teaching methodology, which is also why we use a monthly payment structure.

You receive instant access to the Telegram group. Please note this covers only the upcoming live sessions. Previous recordings are not included, but you will receive a separate email from the Madrasah Team about how to purchase them if you wish.

After placing your order, it is reviewed and processed within 48 hours, in shāʾ Allāh. For live classes you receive instant access to the Telegram group; access to previous recordings is not included, but you will receive a separate email about purchasing them. For recorded courses or physical items, access or shipment is arranged within 7 days. You do not need to contact us during this period; we will reach out if anything is required from your side.

Our team consists of students of knowledge who volunteer for admin duties alongside their studies. If you have not received a reply to your registration after 48 hours, please contact us.

No. The monthly subscription only covers access to live lessons. Past recordings require an additional one-time fee, as outlined in the course terms.

In terms of lesson content, that of the muʿīd is not lacking compared to his shaykh, since the muʿīd repeats only what the shaykh taught him. However, the higher standing of a shaykh in knowledge, experience and skill adds more depth and barakah to the lesson.

The additional fee ensures fairness to all students, as the monthly subscription is designed for real-time participation in live lessons. Past recordings represent a significant amount of extra content, which is why a one-time fee is required.

An official oral ijāzah is given live at the end of the last live lesson of a course, and it suffices as ijāzah. A written ijāzah is an affirmation of the oral one and is usually issued some time after completion. It is not possible to state a maximum period in advance.

All orders, including recorded lessons and physical items, are processed manually by our volunteer team. This may take some time, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding.

You are not buying knowledge. You are gifting the Madrasah for its efforts in providing lessons and making authentic knowledge accessible.

The Madrasah communicates with students primarily through Telegram, and uses it as the platform for the various courses we offer.

After successful payment, you are given a Telegram link to the dedicated group chat for the course you registered for. A pinned message in that group includes a link to the drive folder containing the recordings of the lessons.

After successful payment, you are given a Telegram link to the dedicated group chat for your course. A pinned message in that group includes the login details for the Zoom room used for the live lessons.

The one-time fee is usually paid in a single installment. If you wish to discuss payment flexibility, please contact us directly; accommodations may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Once your registration is processed and payment is fulfilled, you can manage your subscription through your account. Click “Already a student? Log in here” at the top-left of any page to access your account, then navigate to the “Subscription” section to cancel. If you need further assistance, contact us.

To log in, click the link “Already a student? Log in here” located at the top-left of any page, and enter your credentials to access your account.

No. Your questions and the answers stay between you and the bot. Nothing appears in the group.

No. It is easiest from your phone, because every step then opens the next one by itself. Open the website in your phone’s browser, sign in and go to My account. In the Telegram section press Send me a new connection link. Open the email on that same phone and press Connect Telegram. Telegram opens on its own and the connection is made.

Then the bot cannot write to you yet. Open @Hanbaliyyah_bot once and press Start. Telegram does not allow a bot to begin a conversation with you.

A connection link works once and stays valid for ten minutes. Simply request a new one from My account. There is no limit.

Check your spam folder first. If it is not there either, the address on your account may be an old one. You can change it under My account.

Ask the bot for the schedule and press Change my time zone. You can share your location once, or pick a region from a list. Only the time zone is stored, not your location.

That mark only appears once your Telegram is connected to your account. Until then you see the schedule, but not which lessons are yours.

Yes. Send /language to the bot and choose English, French or Arabic. It also follows the language of your phone on its own.

Students can ask in our IT support group on Telegram; the invite link is shared inside the madrasah channels. For anything involving your account, your order or your personal details, use our contact page instead. Please do not post your email address or order number in a group chat.