A Purpose Driven Muslim Life - January 2008

This class will examine the purpose of Life from an Islamic perspective and then endeavor to show how it is imperative that a Muslim live his or her life in pursuit of that purpose.

To accomplish these twin objectives we will examine aspects of Qur'an and its commentary; Hadith or prophetic tradition and its explanation; prophetic biography and its implications; along with contemporary insights into the human condition.

We will emphasize how important certain theological themes an concepts that oftentimes are neglected by Muslims contemporarily but are critically important in defining how we should be leading our every-day lives. Examples would include redemption, justice, fairness, magnanimity, divine grace, divine retribution, thankfulness, human kindness, and human decency.

We will also examine the consequences of an aimless life with special emphasis on the impact of such an approach to life on the contemporary Muslim world.

This examination will be follow, to a certain extent, the noted work of Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, from an Islamic perspective. That being the case, we will endeavor to introduce practical steps that will help in discovering and manifesting purpose in our lives into each lesson.

BIO (Brief Summary )

Imam Zaid Shakir is amongst the most respected and influential Muslim scholars in the West and former member of the U.S. Air Force. He obtained a BA summa*censored*laude in International Relations at American University in Washington D.C. and later earned his MA in Political Science and International Relations  at Rutgers University. From 1988 to 1994 he taught as an Adjunct Professor of Political Science and Arabic at Southern Connecticut State University. For seven years in Syria and briefly in Morocco, he immersed himself in an intense study of Arabic, Islamic law, Quranic Studies, and Islamic spirituality with some of the top Muslim scholars of our age. In 2001, he graduated from Syria's prestigious Abu Nur University. Currently, as a scholar-in-residence and lecturer at Zaytuna Institute, he teaches regular courses on Arabic, Islamic Law, History, and Islamic Spirituality. Amongst several works that he has translated from Arabic into English, is his translation of "Scholars Are The Heirs of the Prophets" in 2001. Another work, "Scattered Pictures: Reflections of An American Muslim,"appeared in 2005. He is currently completing his latest work, to be released in 2008, entitled, "Divine Yearnings". For more information concerning Imam Zaid. Please visit www.zaidshakir.com.

Date: Jan. 13, 2008

Time: 3 pm PST / 6 pm EST