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Hamid Algar, born in England in 1940, received his formal training in Islamic studies at Cambridge University, from which he received his Ph.D. in 1965. Since 1965, he has been teaching at the University of California, Berkeley, a wide range of courses including tafsir, Sufism, Shi'ism, the history of Islam in Iran, Arabic, Persian and Turkish literature.

Madhahib:
The Main Schools of Islamic Law, their Principles and History.
The topic of Islamic law is a source of confusion to many, people despite its great importance and the concern increasingly shown for it. It is frequently imagined that it constitutes a more or less fixed and finite body of ordinances, akin to man made systems of law. This lecture seeks to delineate the distinctive features of Islamic law, above all its interplay between fixed principles and varying applications, and examines the historical evolution of the law with respect to the four schools of Sunni jurisprudence and the Ja'fari legal school of Shi'i Islam. Running Time: I Hour 10 Minutes.
VIIB098 VIDEO $ 12.00
AUIP 024 CASSETTE $ 5.00

Imam Abu Hamid Ghazali:
An Exponent of Islam in Its Totality
If a list of the half dozen most important figures in the historical elaboration of Islam were to be drawn up, there can be no doubt that Abu Hamid Ghazali would figure on that list. As a versatile and gifted scholar and, more importantly, a believer of great spiritual insight., he confronted all the intellectual and spiritual currents of his day and elaborated what might be called a defining synthesis of Sunni Islam. He achieved this result through both lengthy personal experience and erudition., and this lecture deals, therefore, both with his life and his works, as well as attempting to assess his impact on the religious history of Islam. Running Time: 1 Hour 10 Minutes
VIIB097 VIDEO $ 12.00
AUIP 023 CASSETTE $ 5.00

The Qur'an:
The Revelation & Recording of The Text
A full understanding of what is meant by revelation is ultimately inaccessible to all but the prophetic recipients of God's word. Nonetheless, the Qur'an contains numerous references to the sending down of the divine speech and its infusion into the mind and the heart of the Prophet (pbh). Authentic hadith also describe some of the external and observable phenomena that accompanied the revelation of the Qur'an. This lecture seeks to analyze and explain the relevant verses and traditions, and describe, too, the dual process - oral
and written - whereby the text of the Qur'an was codified and transmitted. Running Time: 1 Hour 10 Minutes
VIIB101 VIDEO $ 12.00
AUIP 025 CASSETTE $ 5.00

Sufism I:
Principles and Practice
There can be few topics in the religious and intellectual history of Islam that have aroused as much controversy and misunderstanding as Sufism. This is due partly to the multiform and elusive nature of Sufism itself and partly to the profusion of false claimants to Sufism, particularly in recent times. The first in this two part series of lectures attempts to clarify the principal conceptual bases of Sufism and the way in which it may legitimately claim to be derived from both the Qur'an and the Sunnah; the varying levels of religious understanding and practice and of moral progress that can be deduced from those two sources of Islam; and the key practice of dhikr . The second traces the main lines in the historical development of Sufism, with attention both to individuals and organizational forms. Running Time: 1 Hr 10 Min.
VIIB105 VIDEO $ 12.00
AUIP 027 CASSETTE $ 5.00

Sufism II:
Historical Development
There can be few topics in the religious and intellectual history of Islam that have aroused as much controversy and misunderstanding as Sufism. This is due partly to the multiform and elusive nature of Sufism itself and partly to the profusion of false claimants to Sufism, particularly in recent times. The first in this two part series of lectures attempts to clarify the principal conceptual bases of Sufism and the way in which it may legitimately claim to be derived from both the Qur'an and the Sunnah; the varying levels of religious understanding and practice and of moral progress that can be deduced from those two sources of Islam; and the key practice of dhikr . The second traces the main lines in the historical development of Sufism, with attention both to individuals and organizational forms. Running Time 1Hr 10 Min
VIIB106 VIDEO $ 12.00
AUIP 028 CASSETTE $ 5.00

Surah Al-Fatihah:
Foundation of the Qur'an
Although no distinction may be made among the parts of the Qur'an in terms of relative excellence, it is obvious that the opening surah has a special significance that goes beyond its placing at the beginning of the Book. This is indicated among other things by the numerous designations given to it, some by the Prophet (pbh) himself; by the fact the uniquely it was revealed twice; and by the fact that its recitation constitutes the core of the prayer. Many commentators have seen in it, in fact, a concise summary of the whole Qur'an, the implications of which they have sought to draw out in many volumes. In this lecture the more modest attempt is made to analyze some of its principal themes and the miraculous conciseness with which they are expounded. Running Time 1 Hour 10 Minutes
VIIB109 VIDEO $ 12.00
AUIP 030 CASSETTE $ 5.00

Hasan Al-Banna:
Founder of the First Modern Islamic Movement
At a time when Islamic movements are unprecedentedly numerous and active, the Organization of Muslim Brothers continues to demand our attention as the first of those movements and the seedbed from which several other organizations have arisen. One of the defining characteristics of the organization is the way in which it has passed through several distinct stages of development, each clearly dominated by a leading personality. In this lecture the attempt is made to assess the career and contribution of Hasan al-Banna, the founder of the organization. Running Time 1 Hour 10 Minutes
VIIB107 VIDEO $12.00
AUIP 029 CASSETTE $5.00

Shi'ism I:
General Characteristics & Qur'anic Proofs
The Islamic Revolution of Iran brought Shi'ism to the forefront of world attention. This did not mean, however, that even non-Shi'i Muslims, let alone non-Muslims, were or became correctly informed about what Shi'is actually believe. In this first two presentations, some general problems in the understanding of Shi'ism are addressed, Then the concept of the Imamate is outlines, with emphasis on the fact that not merely the identity of the successor to the leadership function of the Prophet (pbh) is crucial for the Shi'is, but still more the nature and extent of the direction he is provide, Qur'anic verses in which Shi'i scholars have seen evidence for their distinctive doctrines are examined, together with a number of hadith that are adduced for the same purpose. Running Time: I Hour 10 Minutes.
VIIB111 VIDEO $12.00
AUIP 032 CASSETTE $5.00

Shi'ism II:
Life & The Legacy of Twelve Imams
In this second lecture on Shi'i Islam, first the lives of the Twelve Imams are reviewed, with particular attention to the imprint left by the most important among them both on the historical development of Shi'ism and on the memory and consciousness of the Shi'i community. Next the occultation of the Twelfth Imam is examined as constituting in one sense the completion of Twelver Shi'ism, which was henceforth a community believing in an occulted Imam and awaiting his return. The role of the religious scholars as agents of the Imam during his occultation is also discussed, both in its theoretical dimensions and its historical expression. Running Time: I Hour 10 Minutes.
VIIB 112 VIDEO $12.00
AUIP 033 CASSETTE $5.00

The Sunnah:
Its Obligatory and Non-Obligatory Aspects
The authority and excellence of the Sunnah, the normative mode of conduct of the Prophet (pbh), is mandated in the Qur'an itself, even though the term itself does not occur there with the same meaning. Certain aspects of the Sunnah are obligatory for the Muslim to follow; these include those several instances where the Sunnah clarifies the mode of implementation of a Qur'anic injunction, as is the case with prayer. A number of jurists hold, in fact, the Sunnah is a source of legal authority independent of the Qur'an. Other dimensions of the Sunnah are non-obligatory; to observe them is meritorious, but to omit them is not sinful. These include certain acts of devotion in which the Prophet (pbh) would engage. Finally, there are those matters in which the Prophet (pbh) was exercising his personal taste or judgment in matters not intrinsic to his prophetic mission; these must be regarded as incidental to the Sunnah. Running Time: I Hour 10 Minutes.
VIIB102 VIDEO $12.00
AUIP 026 CASSETTE $5.00

Jesus In The Qur'an: His Reality Expounded in the Qur'an
A feature of the Qur'an that deserves careful attention is that while it unambiguously asserts the finality of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the divine abrogation by means of the revelation entrusted to him of all preceding books, it also devotes considerable attention to the prophets that cam before him. This is not by way of ecumenical goodwill to the followers of religious other than Islam for the prophets in question are all legitimately regarded as prophets of Islam are portrayed, moreover, in ways radically different from the relevant biblical narratives. This is especially true of Jesus, upon whom be peace; his true character is revealed to us by the Qur'an to have been that of a prophet sent to reaffirm the law of the Torah, while modifying certain parts of it, and to proclaim the coming of the last and most perfect of the messengers, Muhammad (SAW). He was born without paternity, whether human or divine, and he was neither killed on the cross, nor even placed on it, being instead raised by Allah unto Himself. Both his entry to this world and his departure fro it are, then, of a strictly mysterious nature. The Qur'an alludes, in addition, to his return to earth at the end of time, a theme more fully elaborated in hadith. Given the fallible nature of the Gospels, it may safely be asserted that the Qur'an, as revelation, is the only source of true and certain knowledge concerning this messenger of Allah..
VIIB110 VIDEO $ 12.00
AUIP 031 CASSETTE $ 5.00

Wahhabism: Origins & Doctrines.
VIIB115 VIDEO $12.00
AUIP 036 CASSETTE $5.00

Qur'an And Ahl Al-Kitab
(Jews & Christians):
VIIB117 VIDEO $ 12.00
AUIP 038 CASSETTE $ 5.00

The Life and Work of Jalaluddin Rumi
VIIB123  VIDEO $ 12.00
AUIP 45 CASSETTE $ 5.00

The Life and Work of Ibn A;l-Arabi
VIIB124  VIDEO $ 12.00
AUIP 46 CASSETTE $ 5.00

The Five Pillars of Islam:
Their Wisdom & Purpose
SHAHADA
VIIB118 VIDEO $ 12.00
AUIP 040 CASSETTE $ 5.00

The Five Pillars of Islam:
Their Wisdom & Purpose
SALAT
VIIB119 VIDEO $ 12.00
AUIP 041 CASSETTE $ 5.00

The Five Pillars of Islam:
Their Wisdom & Purpose
RAMADAN
VIIB120 VIDEO $ 12.00
AUIP 042 CASSETTE $ 5.00

The Five Pillars of Islam:
Their Wisdom & Purpose
ZAKAT
VIIB121 VIDEO $ 12.00
AUIP 043 CASSETTE $ 5.00

The Five Pillars of Islam:
Their Wisdom & Purpose
HAJJ
VIIB122 VIDEO $ 12.00
AUIP 044 CASSETTE $ 5.00

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