Introduction to Fiqh
Introduction to Islamic Fiqh
✨ Welcome to this Noble Science
All praise is due to Allah who taught by the pen, who taught mankind what they knew not. May peace and blessings be upon the teacher of humanity and guide of the Ummah, our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Dear brother, dear sister in Islam, welcome to the first step of an extraordinary journey — the journey of learning Islamic Fiqh, the science that illuminates every moment of your life, from your prayer to your dealings, from your purification to your worship.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever Allah wants good for, He grants him understanding of the religion"
— Agreed upon (Bukhari & Muslim)
This blessed hadith reveals the high status of Fiqh with Allah. When Allah wants good for someone, He opens for them the door of understanding His religion!
📖 What is Fiqh?
Linguistic Definition
Al-Fiqh (الفقه) in Arabic means: deep and precise understanding, not mere superficial knowledge.
Allah تعالى says:
﴾ What is wrong with these people that they can hardly understand (يَفْقَهُونَ) any word? ﴿
— Surah An-Nisa: 78
Technical Definition
Fiqh in Islamic terminology is:
The science of practical Sharia rulings derived from their detailed evidences
Let's break down this definition:
- Science: certain or highly probable knowledge
- Sharia rulings: divine commands and prohibitions
- Practical: relating to actions of legally responsible people (not beliefs)
- From detailed evidences: from the Quran, Sunnah, consensus, and analogy
🌟 Why Learn Fiqh?
1. It's an obligation upon every Muslim
Allah تعالى says:
﴾ And it is not proper for the believers to go out all together. Of every group, let a party go forth to gain understanding in the religion and warn their people when they return ﴿
— Surah At-Tawba: 122
2. To worship Allah with knowledge
Worship without knowledge may be invalid or incomplete. Fiqh teaches you how to pray as the Prophet ﷺ prayed, how to fast, give Zakat, and perform Hajj.
3. To distinguish the lawful from the unlawful
Allah تعالى says:
﴾ Allah has made trade lawful and has forbidden usury ﴿
— Surah Al-Baqara: 275
📚 Sources of Islamic Fiqh
| Source | Description | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| The Quran | The word of Allah revealed to the Prophet ﷺ | Absolute authenticity |
| The Sunnah | Words, actions, and approvals of the Prophet ﷺ | Proof by consensus |
| Ijma' | Consensus of scholars of an era on a ruling | Definitive proof |
| Qiyas | Analogy between a new case and an established one | Proof according to majority |
🏛️ The Four Schools of Jurisprudence
Know that all four schools are upon the truth. They are efforts of interpretation of the Quran and Sunnah:
🟢 The Hanafi School
| Founder | Imam Abu Hanifa An-Nu'man ibn Thabit (80-150 AH) |
| Methodology | Frequent use of analogy and reasoning |
| Prevalence | 🇹🇷 Turkey • 🇮🇳 India • 🇵🇰 Pakistan • 🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
🟡 The Maliki School
| Founder | Imam Malik ibn Anas (93-179 AH) |
| Methodology | Relies on the practice of the people of Madinah |
| Prevalence | 🇲🇦 Morocco • 🇩🇿 Algeria • 🇹🇳 Tunisia • 🇱🇾 Libya |
🔵 The Shafi'i School
| Founder | Imam Muhammad ibn Idris Ash-Shafi'i (150-204 AH) |
| Methodology | Codified the principles of Fiqh (Usul al-Fiqh) |
| Prevalence | 🇪🇬 Egypt • 🇾🇪 Yemen • 🇮🇩 Indonesia • 🇲🇾 Malaysia |
🟣 The Hanbali School
| Founder | Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (164-241 AH) |
| Methodology | Prioritizes text over opinion |
| Prevalence | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia • 🇶🇦 Qatar • 🇰🇼 Kuwait • 🇦🇪 UAE |
📋 The Five Legal Rulings
Every action in Islam falls under one of these rulings:
| Ruling | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Obligatory (Wajib) | Rewarded if done, punished if left | The 5 daily prayers |
| Recommended (Mustahab) | Rewarded if done, not punished if left | Duha prayer |
| Permissible (Mubah) | Neither reward nor punishment | Eating, drinking |
| Disliked (Makruh) | Rewarded if left, not punished if done | Excessive talking |
| Forbidden (Haram) | Rewarded if left, punished if done | Drinking alcohol |
🎯 Our Program in This Course
In this blessed course, we will cover in detail the Fiqh of Worship:
- 🚿 Tahara (Purification): its types and rulings
- 💧 Wudu (Ablution): pillars, sunnahs, and nullifiers
- 🛁 Ghusl (Ritual Bath): its causes and manner
- 🏜️ Tayammum: when, why, and how
- 🩸 Rulings of menstruation and postnatal bleeding
- 🍽️ Toilet etiquette and Istinja
- 🪥 Siwak and practices of the Fitra
💎 Golden Advice
Imam Ash-Shafi'i رحمه الله said:
"Whoever learns the Quran, their value increases. Whoever studies Fiqh, their rank elevates"
Begin this journey with a sincere intention, ask Allah to open the doors of understanding for you, and always remember:
﴿ And say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge! ﴾ — Surah Ta-Ha: 114
And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds 🤲