Module 2: The Foundations of Submission

Welcome to the second module of the Gabriel course

Welcome to the second module of the Gabriel Course, a curriculum set by the angel Gabriel on what all believers are required to learn, where we discover the fascinating and fundamental concepts that define īslām (complete subservience) according to the Quran.

The human, a carbon based organic form imbued with a life force (rūh), is brought into the world with a natural inclination (fiṭrah) to godliness (al-hanīfīyyah). This world is one in which humans are provided resources so that they may find contentment and show gratitude having identified God’s favours. At the same time Iblis seeks to undermine their productivity, have humans question God's favours and render them ungrateful.

God tells humans to develop five foundational practices, to be maintained with consistency, which

1. facilitate the practical actions required to flourish 
2. reinforce the emotional and cognitive tools that īmān provides
3. furnish the strength to resist Iblis and his minions.

Holistic subservience to God is built on five behaviours, which means that these five practices give us an indication as to what holistic subservience is about, and provide us with key habits and skills that facilitate all of what God expects from us. This module is designed to provide a deep understanding of these fundamental practices which frame the political, social and personal lives of believers. They are not merely rituals, they are profound concepts that require deep understanding and consistent practice.

You have already covered the Abrahamic perception you need and how it is meant to manage your psychological and emotional wellbeing effectively. Now it's about the behaviours that practically institute and reinforce those strengths. Over four months, you’ll go through five fascinating practices described in revelation that are needed to shape your active resilience and drive. This is not just learning but training. Here, we raise the bar for adult learning and unpack revelation and history to give you the confidence and understanding you need.

This is vocational training as the Prophets intended. It is for those who seek meaning and are committed to reason and revelation which the Prophets hoped for in their people. It’s for those who are deeply curious, fascinated by revelation and truth, and enjoy (or need!) ground shifting self-discovery with the intention to flourish. What you will find is a mind blowing experience and jaw dropping learnings via revelation entirely geared towards observable outcomes.

How is the module delivered?

• Sunday evening Live seminars on Zoom (recorded for catch-up and revision)
• Live QA sessions during the week (evening)
• Podcasts and resources via the online learning hub.
• Telegram messageboard and forum for ongoing 24/7 discussions

The contact time for the course is unprecedented, with constant learning and guidance taking place throughout the day via Telegram at your convenience. It's a lifestyle for people on the go - we don't all have the luxury of sitting down for hours! Additionally, you can log on to the weekly live Zoom session on Sunday evenings (recorded) through your smartphone/device whilst everything else is delivered through the online learning hub and Telegram app.

Designed for busy people, the program keeps you continuously engaged. On the forum, indulge in topical discussions, ask questions, and catch up with short explanations (text and audio recordings) whilst doing your chores or on the go! You'll be invited to the Telegram forum to discuss course content with like-minded people as a virtual community. Dip in whenever you feel like it to catch up on discussions, it's always lively and thoroughly engaging!  

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course you should:

• have a comprehensive understanding of the five foundations that is coherent and employs first-principles,
• develop the ability to engage issues covered in this module in a reasoned, systematic, and intelligent way,
• īslām in your life in a way that constructively institutes positive and resilient thoughts and behaviours,
• be transformed by your learning into a confident, stable and informed believer making good God-centric decisions in the world and experiencing positive outcomes across the board.

What to expect:

After contextualising īslām as God's "law" and what it denotes in variant Quranic contexts, and as the practical facility for humans to get optimally through life, we study its five foundations intended to practically institute our perception of reality in the real world:

1. The two 'shahada', which means to declare or testify. We study what it means to shahada, its varying types depending on the situation, and why it is important. Are there times when we shouldn't do so, and what is its function? What is in the wording and what is the wording's value? Can there be a shahada without practice? What does it necessitate?
2. Salah refers to a connection and simply seeing it as ritual prayers performed by Muslims five times a day is a gross misunderstanding and extremely partial glimpse (if that). People struggle with salah because it is mischaracterised as a ritual and loses meaning and purpose. We explore its philosophy and go through the acts of salah to determine what they represent and how they fit into its purpose.
3. Zakat refers to cleansing and growth, and typically seen as a charity offered to the poor and less fortunate. But this is completely wrong. Zakat is simply tax. Whilst wealth redistribution and social justice are commonly associated with zakat, it really comes down to political economy. We look at what is taxed, the categories of government spending and what that tells us of priorities, as well as citizenship of the polity. 
4. Fasting is the act of refraining from food, drink and sexual intimacy during daylight hours. We explore the philosophy of fasting, why God would want us to forego the above, and how it relates to human flourishing.
5. 'Hajj' means resolve. It may be considered a form of pilgrimage in that it is a long journey made to the Ancient House as an act of devotion to the King. But it is not religious ritual, it is a patriotic action and a show of loyalty. We go through the actions of the Hajj to determine what they represent and how they fit into its purpose. We also study how believers have done so for thousands of years and why God expected it.

We subsequently bring the foundations together to explore the personal and the political, along with how to practically build on them.