Founder’s WelcomeWelcome to Hanbali Disciples.If you are reading this handbook, it means that you have taken a step onto the path of studying the sacred sciences through the Hanbali tradition. This path is one that generations of scholars and students have walked before us, seeking knowledge as a means of drawing nearer to Allah and serving His religion.This handbook has been prepared to help guide you through your studies. Within its pages you will find an overview of the institute’s academic programs, expectations for students, and the structure through which courses are offered. It is intended to serve as a practical guide as you begin and continue your journey of learning.I pray that your studies here are a source of benefit for you in this life and the next, and that Allah places barakah in your pursuit of knowledge.Shaykh John Starling, IIIOur HeritageThe Hanbali school of thought stands among the great Sunni traditions of law and creed, known for its devotion to revelation, sincerity in worship, and steadfast defense of the Sunnah. Its foundations were laid by Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal (may Allah have mercy on him), a man whose life embodied scholarship, humility, and sacrifice in service of divine truth.Al-Muwaffaq Ibn Qudāmah, in the introduction to al-Mughnī, wrote that Allah appointed among the early generations of this Ummah guiding Imams who paved the principles of Islam and clarified its difficult rulings. Their agreement is proof, and their disagreement is mercy. Hearts, he wrote, “are revived by hearing about their lives, and happiness is attained by following in their footsteps.” Among these Imams, Allah preserved the mention of a select few according to their rank and virtue, and among the highest of them stands Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.The great scholars described him as unmatched in his mastery of ḥadīth, his knowledge of Qurʾānic exegesis, his asceticism, and his courage during the Mihnah (Inquisition). Ibn al-Jawzī and ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Badrān record that even Imām al-Shāfiʿī testified to Aḥmad’s superiority in the sciences of ḥadīth, saying, “You are more knowledgeable than I am in this field; when you find an authentic report, inform me so I may follow it.”For his vast memorization, precision in narration, and unparalleled restraint from worldly gain, the jurists of Islam turned to his school for guidance. As Ibn al-Jawzī wrote, “Aḥmad combined what others could not: immense knowledge with profound scrupulousness.”Though the Hanbali school produced countless luminaries across the centuries—from Ibn Qudāmah to Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Rajab, and al-Buhūtī—its followers often remained few.Ibn ʿAqīl al-Baghdādī explained that the adherents of other schools often gained prominence through official appointments and judicial posts, while the Hanbalis, out of piety, turned toward worship and asceticism rather than worldly recognition.

About Hanbali DisciplesHanbali Disciples Institute of North Carolina (HDINC) is a religious educational institute dedicated to the study, preservation, and transmission of Sunni Islamic disciplines through the scholarly tradition of the Hanbali madhhab. The institute exists for devotional, theological, educational, and religious vocational purposes rooted in the classical traditions of Sunni Islam. Rooted in more than a thousand years of scholarship, devotion, and spiritual refinement, the institute seeks to preserve a sacred inheritance carried by generations of God-fearing scholars, worshippers, jurists, theologians, and spiritual guides.We seek to deepen our awareness of Allah ﷻ, to worship Him with understanding and sincerity, and to map our spiritual journey toward the Hereafter. At HDINC, we seek to preserve the sanctity of our faith for generations to come, safeguarding it from distortion, extremism, and innovation.We honor this heritage by reviving a tradition rooted in evidence, illuminated by spirituality, and safeguarded by the sincerity of those who carried it. In studying their works, we aim not only to learn their rulings and teachings, but to embody their reverence for Allah ﷻ, their love for the Messenger ﷺ, and their humility before the truth.Educational Vision and MissionThe educational vision of HDINC is the flourishing of the Hanbali madhhab in the modern world through the preservation and faithful transmission of its intellectual, devotional, and spiritual heritage.The educational mission of HDINC is to train students in the Hanbali madhhab through guided study of its creed, spiritual tradition, and the relied-upon juristic and doctrinal positions of the later Hanbali scholars.Educational PhilosophyHDINC approaches the study of the Islamic disciplines as a gradual process rooted in the traditional methods of scholarly formation. Sacred knowledge has historically been transmitted through structured engagement with classical texts under the sustained guidance of qualified teachers. HDINC seeks to preserve this model while making it accessible to students in contemporary learning environments.Three principles guide this educational approach.First, the Islamic disciplines are best learned through engagement with the classical texts that shaped the scholarly tradition. These works preserve not only religious knowledge, but also the methodology, language, ethics, and spiritual orientation of the scholars who carried the tradition across the centuries.Second, meaningful learning requires gradual progression. Students begin with concise works that introduce the terminology and structure of a discipline before moving to more detailed and advanced texts. This gradual progression reflects the traditional methods through which scholars historically cultivated understanding, discipline, and mastery.Third, the pursuit of sacred knowledge is inseparable from ethical and spiritual refinement. The study of the Islamic disciplines is not merely an academic exercise, but a form of devotion requiring sincerity, humility, discipline, and reverence for divine revelation.

Madrasah Certificate ProgramThe Madrasah Certificate Program is designed for students seeking a structured introduction to the Hanbali scholarly tradition without undertaking a multi-year course of study. Students engage concise foundational works in Hanbali creed, jurisprudence, spiritual wayfaring, and prophetic biography, developing familiarity with the basic terminology, teachings, and structure of each discipline.Students who successfully complete all requirements of the Madrasah Certificate Program are awarded the Undergraduate Certificate in Hanbali Studies by Hanbali Disciples Institute of North Carolina (HDINC).Program StructureSuccessful completion of this course includes the granting of a sanad, documenting the student’s chain of transmission for the text studied.Students whose personal circumstances require a slower pace may take additional time to complete the program. HDINC does not presently impose a fixed maximum completion period for the Madrasah Certificate Program.Primary Texts StudiedThe Madrasah Certificate Program is centered upon four concise introductory works selected to provide students with a foundational encounter with the Hanbali scholarly tradition.ʿAqīdah - Hanbali Doctrine and TheologyLumʿat al-Iʿtiqād al-Hādī ilā Sabīl al-Rashād — al-ʿAllāmah Imām Muwaffaq al-Dīn Ibn QudāmahThis course introduces students to foundational Sunni creed through Lumʿat al-Iʿtiqād by Imām Muwaffaq al-Dīn Ibn Qudāmah, one of the most widely studied primers in the Hanbali tradition. The course examines the foundations of belief related to the names and attributes of Allah ﷻ, revelation, divine decree, faith, the Hereafter, and the virtues of the Companions. Particular attention is given to the early Hanbali and Ahl al-Ḥadīth method of affirming transmitted texts without speculative reinterpretation while maintaining transcendence and avoiding anthropomorphism, including introductory discussions related to tafwīḍ. The course serves as an accessible introduction to classical creed literature and the theological language of the early Hanbali tradition.Successful completion of this course includes the granting of a sanad, documenting the student’s chain of transmission for the text studied.Fiqh - Hanbali JurisprudenceBidāyat al-ʿĀbid wa Kifāyat al-Zāhid — ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-BaʿlīThis course introduces students to foundational Hanbali jurisprudence through Bidāyat al-ʿĀbid wa Kifāyat al-Zāhid by ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Baʿlī. The course focuses on the essential rulings of worship while acquainting students with the wording and structure of later relied-upon Hanbali manuals, especially Muntahā al-Irādāt. Instruction is supported by multiple references, with particular attention to al-Baʿlī’s Bulūgh al-Qāṣid Jull al-Maqāṣid and Kashf al-Mukhaddarāt wa al-Riyāḍ al-Muzhirāt. Students are introduced to the organization, terminology, and juristic reasoning characteristic of the Hanbali scholarly tradition.Successful completion of this course includes the granting of a sanad, documenting the student’s chain of transmission for the text studied.Sulūk - SpiritualityMiftāḥ al-Ṭarīq ilā Sulūk al-Taḥqīq — al-ʿĀrif bi-llāh Shaykh ʿImād al-Dīn al-WāsiṭīThis course introduces students to the foundations of spiritual wayfaring through al-Wāsiṭī’s heart-softening treatise Miftāḥ al-Ṭarīq ilā Sulūk al-Taḥqīq. The text equips the disciple with essential principles for the spiritual journey to Allāh, addressing repentance, muḥāsabah, murāqabah, sincerity (ikhlāṣ), prayer, Qurʾān recitation, the knowledge required of the spiritual aspirant, and maintaining balance upon the path. Particular attention is given to the terminology and concepts of sulūk and taṣawwuf, enabling students to develop a basic vocabulary for further study. The course is designed to cultivate both spiritual awareness and conceptual readiness for engagement with more advanced works of Islamic spirituality.Sīrah - Life of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺMukhtaṣar Sīrat al-Nabī ﷺ — ʿAbd al-Ghanī al-MaqdisīThis course studies the concise prophetic biography of ʿAbd al-Ghanī al-Maqdisī, one of the major Hanbali scholars of the classical period. Students examine the essential stages of the Prophet’s life ﷺ, including the Makkan mission, migration, Madinan community, major expeditions, treaties, and final years. Attention is also given to the Prophet’s character, worship, leadership, family life, and selected miracles. The course emphasizes clarity, memorization of major historical developments, and familiarity with the core structure of the prophetic biography within the Sunni scholarly tradition.Successful completion of this course includes the granting of a sanad, documenting the student’s chain of transmission for the text studied.Continuing EducationIndividual Course EnrollmentStudents may enroll in individual courses without committing to a full program of study. Those who successfully complete a course receive a Certificate of Completion, or sanad whenwhen available for a particular text. All students remain subject to the same academic standards.Academic Standards and Course CompletionStudents must achieve a minimum score of 80 percent to complete a course. Students who do not meet this standard may retake the course in a future offering.Midterm requirements must be completed by the designated midterm week. Failure to do so may result in withdrawal from the course.Extensions may be granted in cases of extenuating circumstances.Course StructureCourses are delivered through recorded lectures, live online sessions, or a combination of both. Instruction centers on guided reading of assigned texts with explanation of terminology and key concepts.Courses may include, student summaries, quizzes, discussion forums, midterm and final examinations, and reading exercises.Students are expected to review lessons regularly, participate in course discussions, and complete required assessments according to the course schedule.

Admissions ExpectationsThe HDINC Madrasah Programs do not require prior formal study in the Islamic sciences.Students enrolling in HDINC courses should possess the maturity, seriousness, and personal discipline necessary to participate responsibly in structured religious study. Because courses involve sustained engagement with classical texts, recorded instruction, assignments, and assessment, students are expected to manage their studies consistently and approach their coursework with appropriate commitment and respect.Admission is not based upon a conventional sequence of secondary or post-secondary education. Students who demonstrate sufficient maturity and readiness may begin their studies regardless of whether they have followed a traditional college-preparatory or higher-education path.EnrollmentHDINC operates on an open and flexible enrollment model. A student becomes an enrolled student of Hanbali Disciples Institute by registering for any course offered by the Institute. Students are not required to select a credential program when they begin their studies, nor is there a separate admissions process for entering a Madrasah Program.Students may progress through available courses according to their interests, availability, and educational goals. Some may choose to complete only selected courses, while others may gradually fulfill the requirements of an available Madrasah Program. Course availability and recommended sequencing help guide this progression from term to term.The Madrasah Programs therefore function as structured pathways of study leading to the credentials associated with their respective requirements, rather than as separate enrollment tracks. Students who complete the requirements of a Madrasah Program are awarded the corresponding credential offered by the Institute.Because many courses build upon concepts and texts encountered earlier in the curriculum, HDINC provides a recommended sequence of study. Students pursuing a credential are expected to complete the applicable requirements and observe prerequisite or sequencing requirements where established. Students who are not pursuing a credential may take individual courses according to their interests where course prerequisites permit.Enrollment begins through the Hanbali Disciples Institute website. After registering for a course, students receive instructions for accessing the Institute’s online learning platform, where recorded lessons, course materials, assignments, assessments, and announcements are provided.Tuition, Contributions, and PatronageHDINC seeks to make structured study of the Islamic sciences accessible to students from a wide range of financial circumstances.The Institute is supported substantially through patronage, including support provided by members of its own student community. Many courses therefore operate on a pay-what-you-can contribution model, allowing students to contribute according to their ability at the time of registration or through recurring support.These contributions help sustain the Institute, its instructors, educational resources, and the continued development of its courses and Madrasah Programs. Students are encouraged to support the Institute according to their means while recognizing that the educational work of HDINC depends upon the ongoing patronage of those who value and benefit from it.Certain courses or programs may carry a structured tuition amount or other required fee. Any such amount will be clearly communicated prior to enrollment. Contributions designated as supportive donations to the Institute are non-refundable.

CertificationStudents who successfully complete the requirements of a Madrasah Program and meet the Institute’s academic standards are awarded the credential associated with that program.HDINC credentials recognize completion of structured study across the relevant disciplines and texts of the curriculum. Each credential reflects the level, scope, and requirements of the program through which it is awarded.Sanad AuthorizationIn certain courses, students may receive sanad for the text studied.A sanad represents a chain of scholarly transmission connecting students to the teachers through whom a work has been conveyed across generations. It serves as a record of participation in that tradition of learning and as a means of tabarruk (seeking blessing) through connection to the chain of scholars.The granting of sanad acknowledges completion of a text under teacher guidance. It does not, by itself, constitute authorization to teach independently or a claim to scholarly authority.TranscriptsHanbali Disciples Institute maintains academic records for students who complete coursework through the Institute. Students may request an official transcript documenting courses completed and grades earned.These transcripts provide a formal record of academic study through HDINC and may serve as documentation of completed coursework for students pursuing further educational or religious study.Accreditation and Scholarly RecognitionHDINC is not currently seeking accreditation by a secular or interfaith theological accrediting body.The Institute understands the scholarly authenticity of its Madrasah Programs within the traditional Islamic model of transmitted knowledge. Islamic learning has historically been preserved through generations of teachers and students, with knowledge received from qualified teachers and transmitted in turn to succeeding generations. HDINC’s instructors themselves stand within such lines of study and transmission through their own teachers.The scholarly character of the Madrasah Programs is grounded in structured curricula and formal assessment alongside teacher-guided study of classical texts within an inherited scholarly tradition. Textual transmission, sanad, and ijāzah remain important expressions of this continuity and reflect the principle that sacred knowledge is received and preserved through generations of scholarly instruction.As institutional frameworks for Muslim theological education continue to develop in North America, HDINC remains open to forms of recognition that appropriately reflect the nature of the Islamic scholarly tradition.

The study of the Islamic sciences has historically been accompanied by a strong emphasis on adab—the ethical and spiritual discipline that governs the pursuit of sacred knowledge. Hanbali Disciples seeks to preserve this tradition by cultivating a learning environment characterized by reverence, humility, and mutual respect. Students enrolled in courses at Hanbali Disciples are therefore expected to uphold standards of conduct that reflect the dignity of the knowledge being studied and the scholarly tradition through which it has been transmitted. Respect and Reverence for Teachers Instructors at Hanbali Disciples are to be addressed as Shaykh, reflecting the traditional etiquette of seeking knowledge from teachers. Students are encouraged to approach their instructors with humility, gratitude, and sincere intention to learn. Questions should be asked in a spirit of inquiry and clarification rather than argument or debate. Students are also encouraged to remember their teachers in duʿāʾ, following the longstanding practice of scholars and students within the Islamic tradition. Courtesy Toward Assistant Instructors and Teaching Assistants Assistant Instructors and Teaching Assistants play an important role in supporting the learning environment and assisting students throughout the course. They should be addressed respectfully as Ustadh and treated with the same courtesy shown to the primary instructor. Demanding or dismissive behavior toward teaching staff is not appropriate within the learning environment. Adab in Communication All communication within the learning environment should reflect courtesy, clarity, and professionalism. Students are encouraged to begin written communication with greetings of peace (salām) and expressions of gratitude. Messages and discussion posts should be written thoughtfully and respectfully. Students should avoid sarcasm, harsh criticism, or public shaming of others. Clear writing, proper grammar, and thoughtful expression help maintain a serious and respectful academic environment. Conduct with Fellow Students Students are expected to interact with their peers in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation. Discussion forums, group activities, and classroom interactions should reflect kindness, patience, and sincerity. Differences of opinion should be expressed respectfully without mockery or belittlement. Students should avoid polemical debates and remain focused on the learning objectives of the course. Sincerity and Responsibility in Study Students are encouraged to regularly renew their intention (niyyah) and to pursue knowledge for the sake of Allah rather than for recognition or argumentation. Consistent participation, punctuality, and responsible completion of coursework are essential to successful study. Students should strive for iḥsān in their work and take responsibility for their own learning. Where possible, students are encouraged to support and assist their fellow learners in the shared pursuit of knowledge. Maintaining the Learning Environment The educational environment of Hanbali Disciples is intended to reflect the dignity and discipline of the Islamic scholarly tradition. Students who repeatedly disregard these guidelines or engage in behavior that disrupts the learning environment may be withdrawn from a course or excused from the program.

Communication with InstructorsStudents communicate with instructors and teaching assistants primarily through the institute’s online learning platform. Questions regarding course material, assignments, or lesson clarification should normally be directed through this platform.Course Telegram groups may also be used for announcements and general communication. Students are expected to use all communication channels respectfully and in accordance with the conduct guidelines outlined in this handbook.Student Services and Administrative SupportAdministrative support assists with course enrollment, platform access, and general student inquiries.Students may contact student services through the course Telegram group or by email:support@hanbalidisciples.comClear and respectful communication is expected when requesting assistance.Student and Alumni CommunityEnrolled students participate in official Telegram groups where course updates, announcements, and discussions take place.Students who complete courses are invited to join the Hanbali Disciples Alumni Telegram group, allowing them to remain connected with fellow students and continue benefiting from institute updates and scholarly activities.Email CommunicationsStudents and members of the broader community may receive announcements through the official Hanbali Disciples email list, including updates on courses, institutional developments, and other educational initiatives.Subscription is available through the institute website: hanbalidisciples.comVolunteer OpportunitiesStudents and community members may periodically assist with educational, administrative, or digital initiatives supporting the institute’s work.Volunteer opportunities are announced through the institute’s student communication channels.

The study of the Islamic sciences has long been a path of devotion, discipline, and service to the Muslim community. Through the preservation and transmission of knowledge, generations of scholars carried the teachings of Islam across centuries, linking students and teachers in a shared pursuit of truth and worship of Allah.HDINC seeks to participate in this tradition by providing a structured environment in which students engage the classical sciences through the intellectual and spiritual heritage of the Hanbali madhhab. Students are encouraged to pursue their studies with sincerity, patience, and reverence for the knowledge they seek.May Allah grant success to all who seek knowledge for His sake, increase them in understanding, and make their efforts a source of benefit for themselves and for the wider Muslim community.