The foundations of the Deen for every Muslim who hopes to meet Allāh in a state of goodness and live an eternity in Jannah, consists of two matters:
- Aqīdah: correct belief regarding Allāh, the 6 pillars of Imān and other connected matters.
- Fiqh: A correct understanding of Ḥalāl and Ḥarām, the rulings of Islām and how to worship Allāh.
The final Āyah of Sūrah al-Kahf, recommended to be recited every Friday, concludes with this point:
فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدًۢا
So whoever hopes for the meeting with their Lord, let them do good deeds and associate none in the worship of their Lord [18:110]
In a previous blog post, I wrote about the importance of Tawḥīd and sincerity. You can read it here. This blog is for beginner students of knowledge who want to start studying Fiqh - the rulings of halal and haram - and need some direction. Here are five tips to get going.
1. Start with a small text book covering the common rulings of ‘Ibādāt (worship).
The first action we will be asked about on the Day of Judgement is your Ṣalāh (Prayer), so it is important to get it right. This includes actions within Ṣalāh, as well as actions and rulings which are a pre-requisite of Ṣalāh such as purification, knowing impurities, times of Ṣalāh etc…
Furthermore, if Allāh has blessed you with wealth to the degree that you have a surplus, then you have to know all about the fiqh of zakāt, sharing the blessings of Allāh with those less fortunate. Likewise, fasting Ramadān and performing Ḥajj.
A good practice is to choose a textbook on Fiqh, which is concise and comprehensive enough to cover the core issues of the above obligations, without delving into differences of opinion.
Here are three books you could start with to get a good overview, starting with the easiest and smallest and then progressing to the largest and more detailed:
- Important Lessons For Every Muslim by Abdul-Azīz bin Abdullah bin Bāz.
- Fiqh Made Easy by Dr. Ṣāliḥ ibn Ghānim al-Sadlān.
- A Summary Of Islamic Jurisprudence Volume 1 by Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān.
This is not an exhaustive list, and there may be other books which could be mentioned, however, the goal should be small texts before the large texts, and contemporary explanations before the more classical explanations.
2. Learn Fiqh terminology
Learning the jargon of the subject as soon as possible. What does fiqh actually mean? What is Tahārah and what does it entail? What is a Ḥukm? If we translate it into english, we would say it is a ruling. So then what's the difference between the ruling in a court and the ruling when we are discussing fiqh?
It is important to understand the key terms that are repeated throughout the subject so you can fully understand the book. It may be an idea to start by making a glossary of key terms and their definition when you first get started until the words become familiar to you. Then when you do read and attend lectures and the teacher says ‘the Ḥukm of this mas’alah is Mustaḥabb’ you are not completely lost.
Bonus tip: When writing down Fiqh terminology, try to find precise definitions as opposed to mere translations. The direct translation of a word from Arabic to English does not necessarily define the term; Islamic definitions are carefully worded and precise in meaning, so search for definitions penned by scholars as opposed to translations from a dictionary.
3. Join a community of students
It is easy for Shaytān to tempt you when you are doing something alone and not so easy when you are in a group, i.e. the wolf and the lone sheep!
Motivation will eventually dwindle so it is important to hav
