Starts mid-September 2026
Mapping the Divine
An 8-week journey into classical logic and sacred thought
Taught by Shaykh Zakaria AbdilAziz
Have you ever wondered how classical thinkers reasoned through life's deepest questions? How do we talk about existence, purpose, and reality using pure logic, without relying strictly on dogma?
The course
Mapping the Divine is an interactive group course designed for anyone curious about the bridge between intellect and spirituality. Over eight weeks we work through al-‘Aqida al-Sanusiyya al-Sughra — the short creed of Imam Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Sanusi, known everywhere as Umm al-Barahin, the Mother of Proofs — a timeless masterpiece that uses formal logic to investigate the Divine and the human condition. Whether you are seeking to deepen your personal faith, explore classical philosophy, or simply engage with an ancient rational tradition in an open, welcoming environment, this workshop offers a space for meaningful conversation and critical inquiry.
- Book
- al-‘Aqida al-Sanusiyya al-Sughra by Imam al-Sanusi — known as Umm al-Barahin, the Mother of Proofs
- Format
- 2 months · 16 sessions · 1.5 hours each · 24 hours in total · taken 1-on-1 or in a group
- When
- Mid-September to mid-November 2026 · two sessions a week · days and times to be confirmed
- Where
- Online, plus one in-person session per month
- Fee
- $50 a month minimum, by e-transfer — contribute more to support the teaching
What we will explore
The Tools of Logic
Discover the three universal categories of reason and how they shape human understanding.
The Nature of Existence
Delve into how divine attributes such as eternity, unicity, and knowledge are articulated.
Ethics & Revelation
Examine the rational foundations behind moral responsibility.
Open Dialogue
Engage in weekly guided reflections connecting historical philosophy to modern questions of life.
Who teaches it
Shaykh Zakaria AbdilAziz
Shaykh Zakaria AbdilAziz heads Muraqabah’s academic vision and is a graduate of the distinguished Alimiyyah program at Dar al-Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen, where he spent nearly two decades immersed in the traditional curriculum.
- Graduate of the Alimiyyah program at Dar al-Mustafa, Tarim, Yemen
- Nearly two decades of traditional study under eminent scholars, including Habib Umar bin Hafiz
- Formal authorizations (ijazat), including Hadith and Shafi’i jurisprudence
The 16 sessions
Weeks 1–2
The Foundations of Reason & Inquiry
- 01Welcome & Orientation— The essentials, and unpacking the art of inquiry and sacred philosophy
- 02The Three Rulings of the Mind— Necessary, impossible, and possible
- 03Moral Accountability & The Human Journey Toward Truth
- 04Reason & Tradition— How ancient thinkers approached big questions
Weeks 3–4
- 05The Concept of Existence
- 06Time and Timelessness— Pre-eternity and continuity
- 07Transcending the Material World— Distinctness and independence
- 08The Idea of Oneness— Exploring unicity in classical thought
Weeks 5–6
- 09Divine Will & Power
- 10Unlimited Knowledge
- 11Perception Beyond the Material— Hearing and sight
- 12Perception Beyond the Material— Speech
Weeks 7–8
- 13The Harmony of Divine Attributes— Understanding the quasi-attributes, and the role of guides and teachers in human history
- 14Miracles, Proofs, and the Validation of Truth
- 15The Core Message— Distilling creed into everyday wisdom
- 16Closing Reflection— Integrating reason, logic, and personal conviction
The room it is read in
How we read
A few pages a session, read aloud and taken apart. Nobody is expected to have read ahead, and the questions matter more than the notes.
Who comes
People from across Ottawa, most with no formal study behind them. Come as you are; ask the question you think everyone else already knows the answer to.
Who runs it
Ottawa Majless, a small volunteer-run circle that studies a classical text a few pages at a time — closer to a seminar than a lecture. This program is what it is running now.
Joining
Registering takes a minute. Here is the whole of it.
- 01
Register
The form below — your name, an email, and a WhatsApp number. Nothing is due at that point.
- 02
We message you
On WhatsApp within a few days: the schedule, the Zoom link, whether you are joining a group or taking it 1-on-1, and the e-transfer details for the fee.
- 03
Your place is held
Once the first month's fee arrives you are a member of the cohort, and the place is yours for as long as you are with us.