{"id":33645,"date":"2026-08-24T13:26:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T19:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ribat.rabata.org\/riverstead\/?post_type=product&#038;p=33645"},"modified":"2026-09-02T12:38:40","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T18:38:40","slug":"guarding-the-inner-fortress","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/ribat.rabata.org\/riverstead\/product\/guarding-the-inner-fortress\/","title":{"rendered":"Guarding the Inner Fortress"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"background: linear-gradient(135deg, #33005c, #4b2366); color: #ffffff; padding: 32px; border-radius: 14px 14px 0 0;\">\n<h2 style=\"margin: 0; color: #ffffff; font-size: 30px;\">Course Information<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- COURSE DESCRIPTION --><\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 1px solid #ded4e3; padding: 28px; background-color: #ffffff;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin: 0 0 12px; color: #33005c; font-size: 22px; padding-bottom: 8px;\">Course Description<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This course explores the Islamic science of spiritual purification (Tazkiyah). Adults will learn to protect their inner sanctuary using Imam Al-Ghazali\u2019s Marvels of the Heart (Aja&#8217;ib al-Qalb). The curriculum connects classical theology with practical tools for modern emotional regulation.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- LEARNING OUTCOMES --><\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 1px solid #ded4e3; padding: 28px; background-color: #faf8fb;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin: 0 0 12px; color: #33005c; font-size: 22px; padding-bottom: 8px;\">Course Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By the end of this course, students will be able to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-section-id=\"5vwy8m\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"73\"><strong>Explore<\/strong> Imam al-Ghazali\u2019s <em data-start=\"28\" data-end=\"44\">Aja&#8217;ib al-Qalb<\/em> as a map of the inner world.<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"391d67\" data-start=\"74\" data-end=\"167\"><strong>Develop<\/strong> practical tools for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and spiritual resilience.<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"m0hedw\" data-start=\"168\" data-end=\"294\"><strong>Strengthen<\/strong> the ability to protect the inner sanctuary (<em data-start=\"225\" data-end=\"242\">\u1e25ir\u0101sat al-qalb<\/em>) from distortions, agitation, and modern stressors.<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"1eo13bk\" data-start=\"295\" data-end=\"374\"><strong>Practice<\/strong> <em data-start=\"306\" data-end=\"317\">mur\u0101qabah<\/em> (watchfulness) as a daily discipline for self-awareness.<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"41nlt0\" data-start=\"375\" data-end=\"475\"><strong>Translate<\/strong> spiritual insights into daily habits, relational practices, and ethical decision-making.<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"1q55laz\" data-start=\"476\" data-end=\"613\" data-is-last-node=\"\"><strong>Analyze<\/strong> al-Ghazali\u2019s conceptualization of the heart as an epistemic organ and compare it with modern theories of cognition and emotion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- PREREQUISITES --><\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 1px solid #ded4e3; padding: 28px; background-color: #ffffff;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin: 0 0 12px; color: #33005c; font-size: 22px; padding-bottom: 8px;\">Course Schedule<\/h3>\n<div>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 15px;\"><strong>#<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 186px;\"><strong>Topic\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 700px;\"><strong>Description<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 15px;\"><strong>1<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 186px;\"><strong>The Heart as the Locus of Knowing<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 700px;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The heart (qalb) as the centre of perception, moral discernment, and spiritual intelligence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ghazali\u2019s distinction between physical heart, spiritual heart, and metaphorical heart.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The modern crisis of attention and fragmentation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 15px;\"><strong>2<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 186px;\"><strong>The Inner Sanctuary: What Are We Protecting?<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 700px;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ghazali\u2019s metaphor of the heart as a fortress.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The idea of <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u1e25ir\u0101sah<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (guarding) and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mur\u0101qabah<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (watchfulness).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emotional dysregulation as a breach in the sanctuary.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 15px;\"><strong>3<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 186px;\"><strong>Forces Within: The Nafs, Shay\u1e6d\u0101n, and Angelic Inspirations<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 700px;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ghazali\u2019s four forces: nafs, qalb, \u02bfaql, r\u016b\u1e25.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How impulses arise and how they can be redirected.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Modern parallels: cognitive distortions, emotional hijacking.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 15px;\"><strong>4<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 186px;\"><strong>Diseases of the Heart in a Modern Context<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 700px;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Classical diseases: envy, arrogance, heedlessness, ostentation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Modern manifestations: comparison culture, performative identity, burnout, worship of the self (the I, I, I culture).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ghazali\u2019s diagnostic method: tracing symptoms back to root causes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 15px;\"><strong>5<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 186px;\"><strong>Living with a Guarded Heart<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 700px;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ghazali\u2019s vision of the illuminated heart.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sustaining spiritual clarity in a noisy world.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relational ethics: how a purified heart transforms a community.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- COURSE MATERIALS --><\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 1px solid #ded4e3; padding: 28px; background-color: #faf8fb;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin: 0 0 12px; color: #33005c; font-size: 22px; padding-bottom: 8px;\">Requirements<\/h3>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f1fa; border-left: 5px solid #6f3b87; padding: 14px 18px; border-radius: 6px;\">This course is open to women ages 17 and above.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- REGISTRATION --><\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 1px solid #ded4e3; padding: 28px; background-color: #ffffff;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin: 0 0 16px; color: #33005c; font-size: 22px; padding-bottom: 8px;\">Registration Information<\/h3>\n<div style=\"background-color: #33005c; color: #ffffff; border-radius: 10px; padding: 22px; margin-bottom: 18px;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 5px; color: #f4c95d; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px;\">Registration Fee<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0; font-size: 30px; font-weight: bold;\">$100.00<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 4px 0 0; color: #eee5f2;\">Course materials are not included.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"overflow-x: auto;\">\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; height: 69px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 23px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 30%; padding: 13px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5dce9; font-weight: bold; color: #33005c; height: 23px;\">Late Registration Fee<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 13px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5dce9; height: 23px;\">None<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #faf8fb;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 13px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5dce9; font-weight: bold; color: #33005c; height: 23px;\">Registration Deadline<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 13px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5dce9; height: 23px;\">November 10, 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 23px;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 13px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5dce9; font-weight: bold; color: #33005c; height: 23px;\">Course Access Ends<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 13px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5dce9; height: 23px;\">July 31, 2027<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 20px; background-color: #fff8e5; border: 1px solid #edd88d; border-left: 5px solid #d2a62c; border-radius: 7px; padding: 16px;\"><strong style=\"color: #674f12;\">Important:<\/strong><br \/>\nRegistration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Before enrolling, please review the <a style=\"color: #5d2d76; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/ribat.rabata.org\/admissions\/tuition\/#riverstead_container\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Registration Fees &amp; Policies<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"margin: 20px 0 0;\"><strong>Questions?<\/strong><br \/>\nContact <span style=\"color: #33005c;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #33005c;\" href=\"mailto:registration@rabata.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">registration@rabata.org<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS --><\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 1px solid #ded4e3; padding: 28px; background-color: #ffffff;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin: 0 0 12px; color: #33005c; font-size: 22px; padding-bottom: 8px;\">Technology Requirements<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 18px;\">To ensure a successful online learning experience, all students must have regular access to a personal computer and reliable high-speed internet. Courses at Rib\u0101\u1e6d University are delivered through Canvas and may include video lectures, interactive discussions, digital readings, and multimedia assignments.<br \/>\nStudents are responsible for maintaining the technology needed to participate fully.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"margin: 22px 0 12px; color: #33005c; font-size: 18px;\">Minimum Technical Requirements<\/h4>\n<div style=\"border: 1px solid #ded4e3; border-radius: 10px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"padding: 15px 18px; background-color: #faf8fb; border-bottom: 1px solid #ded4e3;\"><strong style=\"color: #33005c;\">Computer:<\/strong><br \/>\nA desktop, laptop, or similar device manufactured within the last five years and capable of running current software and updates. Students should not rely solely on a phone, as coursework requires a full computer interface and functionality.<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 15px 18px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ded4e3;\"><strong style=\"color: #33005c;\">Operating System:<\/strong><br \/>\nThe computer operating system should be kept current with all recommended security updates and upgrades.<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 15px 18px; background-color: #faf8fb; border-bottom: 1px solid #ded4e3;\"><strong style=\"color: #33005c;\">Internet:<\/strong><br \/>\nA high-speed broadband connection with a minimum speed of 5 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload.<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 15px 18px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ded4e3;\"><strong style=\"color: #33005c;\">Web Browser:<\/strong><br \/>\nA current version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge.<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 15px 18px; background-color: #faf8fb; border-bottom: 1px solid #ded4e3;\"><strong style=\"color: #33005c;\">Software:<\/strong><br \/>\nMicrosoft Office, Google Workspace, or Apple productivity applications for word processing,<br \/>\npresentations, and spreadsheets; a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat; and updated antivirus and security software.<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 15px 18px;\"><strong style=\"color: #33005c;\">Multimedia:<\/strong><br \/>\nA functional webcam, microphone, and speakers or headset for participating in live sessions and assessments.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4 style=\"margin: 22px 0 12px; color: #33005c; font-size: 18px;\">Technology Skills<\/h4>\n<div style=\"border: 1px solid #ded4e3; border-radius: 10px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"padding: 15px 18px; background-color: #faf8fb; border-bottom: 1px solid #ded4e3;\">\n<p>Students should be comfortable with basic computer operations, including using email, browsing the internet, uploading and downloading files, and navigating an online learning platform. Training resources and orientation will be provided for students who need additional guidance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4 style=\"margin: 22px 0 12px; color: #33005c; font-size: 18px;\">Additional Notes and Technical Support<\/h4>\n<ul style=\"margin: 22px 0 12px; padding-left: 24px;\">\n<li>Students are expected to check course announcements and email regularly.<\/li>\n<li>Technical support is available for login issues, course access, and basic troubleshooting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f1fa; border-left: 5px solid #33005c; padding: 16px 18px; border-radius: 7px;\">\n<p>For technical assistance, select <strong>Help<\/strong> from your Canvas course page or email <strong><a href=\"mailto:techsupport@rabata.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">techsupport@rabata.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2; color: #111;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 2px 0;\"><strong>Instructor:<\/strong> Anse Aysha Fazil<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 2px 0;\"><strong>Type:<\/strong> Short Course<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\"><strong>Method of Delivery:<\/strong> Online via Zoom<\/p>\n<div style=\"height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 2px 0;\"><strong>Term:<\/strong> Fall 2026<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 2px 0;\"><strong>Course Dates:<\/strong> Oct. 19 \u2013 Nov. 21, 2026<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 2px 0;\"><strong>Class Days:<\/strong> Th<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\"><strong>Class Times:<\/strong> 7:00 \u2013 8:00 PM CT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":33646,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_thinkrank_schema_form_data":"","_thinkrank_selected_schema_type":"","_thinkrank_additional_schemas":"","_thinkrank_canonical_url":"","_thinkrank_og_title":"","_thinkrank_og_description":"","_thinkrank_og_image":"","_thinkrank_twitter_title":"","_thinkrank_twitter_description":"","_thinkrank_twitter_image":"","_thinkrank_imported_from":"","_thinkrank_focus_keywords":[],"_thinkrank_focus_keyword":"","_thinkrank_robots_meta_enabled":0,"_thinkrank_robots_meta":"[]","_thinkrank_advanced_robots_meta":"[]","_thinkrank_primary_category":0},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[545],"product_tag":[],"class_list":["post-33645","product","type-product","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","product_cat-short-courses-262","first","instock","virtual","purchasable","product-type-simple"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ribat.rabata.org\/riverstead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/33645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ribat.rabata.org\/riverstead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ribat.rabata.org\/riverstead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/ribat.rabata.org\/riverstead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/33645\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33761,"href":"https:\/\/ribat.rabata.org\/riverstead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/33645\/revisions\/33761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ribat.rabata.org\/riverstead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ribat.rabata.org\/riverstead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ribat.rabata.org\/riverstead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=33645"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ribat.rabata.org\/riverstead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=33645"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ribat.rabata.org\/riverstead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=33645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}