SOC204 SELF DEVELOPMENT

Course Description

This course focuses on self-development. Students learn the importance of purifying the soul, softening the heart, strengthening the relationship between the servant and his Lord, and increasing one’s faith. It encourages students to examine and appreciate the deep meanings behind acts of worship, learn how to transform worldly acts into acts of worship, acknowledge the magnitude of good character in being a pious Muslim, and master the etiquette of remembering Allah SWT and attaining His pleasure.

Course Code: SOC204

Credit hours: 3

Pre-Requisites: None

Course Objectives

To develop a solid structure and framework for one’s religious devotion.
To discuss modern challenges to spiritual development.
To understand the nature of our souls and the entry points of the devil.
To understand the nature of the devil and the common methods he employs.
To study and assess the matters that corrupt the heart and the matters that contribute to its revival.
To discuss the nuances of the pillars of one’s journey to Allah.
To fuse between the inner and outer dimensions of faith (Knowledge, spirituality and character)
To shed light upon the inner dimensions of the acts of worship.
To discuss matters relevant to belief in the unseen.
To research one of the aspects of spiritual development and the way it draws relevance to religiosity.

Course Outlines

Virtues of Spiritual Development
Understanding the Soul
Wisdom Behind Divine Trials
Consequences of Sins
Spiritual Exercise
Pillars of the Spiritual Journey
Repentance and Spiritual Awakening
Accountability and Reflection
Sacrifice and Submission
Spirituality and Character
Patience and Gratitude
Ostentation and Seeking Repute
Arrogance and Conceit
Envy and Greed
Fear and Hope
Toward a Healthy Relationship with the Qur’an
Dhikr and Supplication
Death and the Afterlife