Course Overview

This course covers Bidāyat al-Hidāyah (The Beginning of Guidance), a practical manual on building consistency in worship, avoiding the sins of the limbs and the heart, and developing good character. Students will gain practical guidance on structuring their day according to the Sunnah, avoiding outward and inward sins, and interacting with others with sincerity and good character.

Who This Course Is For

• Learners of all ages
• Students of knowledge seeking practical application
• Anyone wanting to strengthen their practice of Islam and travel the spiritual path

About the Text

Bidāyat al-Hidāyah is one of Imām al-Ghazālī’s final works, valued for its clarity and practicality, making it beneficial for both students of knowledge and the general believer. Written toward the end of his life, it was composed for students beginning their religious studies, with the purpose of guiding seekers to:

• Structure one’s day according to the Sunnah
• Avoid the sins of the outward limbs and the heart
• Uphold good character in dealings with others

About the Author

Imām Abū Ḥāmid Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad al-Ghazālī (450–505 AH / 1058–1111 CE) is widely regarded as the renewer (mujaddid) of Islam of his century. He played a central role in defending traditional Islamic beliefs and revitalizing the Islamic sciences through his landmark work Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn (Revival of the Religious Sciences).

After teaching at the Niẓāmiyyah Academy in Baghdad, Imām al-Ghazālī withdrew from public life to focus on spiritual purification, producing works that continue to guide seekers of knowledge and sincerity.