Futuwwah: The Way of Spiritual Chivalry

Dr. Talal Al-Azem

Course Overview

Every condition and every moment demands an aspect of Futuwwah. There is no state or time without this demand. There is a Futuwwah fit for your behaviour towards God, another towards the Prophet, and others toward his companions; yet others towards the pure ones of the past, your sheikh, your brethren, and the two angels on your shoulders who keep the accounting of your deeds. (Imam al-Sulami)

In this course, we will explore how we can counter selfishness by adopting a cardinal virtue of Islam: spiritual chivalry (futuwwah), or preferring others to one’s self. The course will treat the definition of chivalry and its qualities: service to others; generosity of heart and hand; loyalty and friendship; and personal honour. By reading a thousand-year old classic book on the topic, and reflecting on the knowledge and stories it contains, students will walk away with a clear understanding of the sunnah of ‘selflessness’ and how better to operationalise this in our lives.

Course Content Overview

• Introduction – Definitions of Futuwwah
• Service to Others
• Graciousness, Generosity and Hospitality
• Respect, Overlooking Faults, and Friendship
• The Honor Code of Chivalry

Course Aims

• Understand the value and benefit of being in service
• Recognize the importance of entering joy into other’s hearts through graciousness and compassion
• Develop a love for the exceptional traits of generosity and altruism
• Explore the concepts of kindness, modesty, loyalty and hard work from a traditional perspective
• Evaluate the meaning of honor and nobility from the context of an Islamic world view

Course Structure

• Weekly live sessions with Instructor – Recorded for you in case you miss it
• Weekly Q/A built in to live sessions
• Registered students will receive access to a PDF text that is an abridged translation of the original classical text

About Dr. Talal Al-Azem

Dr. Talal Al-Azem studied the disciplines of Islamic learning in Syria and Turkey, and is a university lecturer in Islamic history and theology. His works include Prayers of Occasions, a book describing different prayers to be performed throughout life.