أصول الفقه Principles of Fiqh (Jurisprudence)

Principles of Fiqh (أصول الفقه) Component

Raodotul Irshad wal Is’ad Institute, Nigeria

This module delves into the methodological foundations of Islamic jurisprudence, training students to derive ethical-legal rulings (aḥkām) from primary sources while addressing contemporary challenges. Grounded in the Maliki madhhab (dominant in West Africa), it bridges classical scholarship and modern contexts.

Core Objectives

1. Source Mastery: Analyze the Qur’an, Sunnah, Ijmāʿ (consensus), and Qiyās (analogy) as primary sources.
2. Juristic Reasoning: Develop skills in ijtihād (independent reasoning) and taqlīd (following precedent).
3. Contextual Application: Resolve modern Nigerian societal issues through Islamic legal principles.

Curriculum Structure

1. Foundational Sources

• Qur’anic Legislation:
  • Examine verses of legal import (Āyāt al-Aḥkām), e.g., inheritance laws ([Surah An-Nisa: 11-12]).
  • Differentiate between definitive (Qaṭʿī) and speculative (Ẓannī) texts.
• Sunnah Integration:
  • Authenticate and apply Hadiths using ʿilm al-rijāl (narrator criticism).
  • Case study: Reconciling seemingly contradictory Hadiths on financial transactions.

2. Derived Methodologies

• Analogical Reasoning (Qiyās):
  • Map classical precedents onto modern issues (e.g., cryptocurrencies as ʿayn ribawī).
  • Workshops on ʿillah (effective cause) identification for ethical AI governance.
• Supplementary Principles:
  • Maṣlaḥah Mursalah (public interest): Design poverty-alleviation programs compliant with Sharia.
  • ʿUrf (custom): Adapt Nigerian marital customs to Islamic legal frameworks.

3. Comparative Fiqh

• Madhhab Diversity:
  • Contrast Maliki, Hanafi, and Shafi'i approaches to bioethics (e.g., organ transplantation).
  • Debates on ikhtilāf (scholarly disagreement) as a source of legal richness.
• Contemporary Challenges:
  • Fatwa analysis on issues like environmental conservation and digital privacy.

Teaching Methodology

• Textual Deep Dives:
  • Annotate classical manuals (e.g., Al-Shāṭibī’s al-Muwāfaqāt) with Nigerian case annotations.
  • Decode mukhtaṣarāt (abridged texts) into visual flowcharts.
• Simulated Councils:
  • Role-play as muftīs issuing rulings for hypothetical community disputes.
  • "Fiqh Labs": Collaborative problem-solving on topics like Islamic finance in Nigeria’s economy.

Assessment & Outcomes

• Applied Projects:
  • Draft a model waqf (endowment) contract for Nigerian Islamic schools using uṣūl principles.
  • Research paper reconciling democratic governance with Shura (consultation) in uṣūl al-fiqh.
• Certification:
  • Diploma in Islamic Jurisprudence accredited by Nigerian and international seminaries.
• Community Impact:
  • Advise local NGOs on Sharia-compliant solutions for conflict resolution.

Vision: To nurture scholars who anchor Nigeria’s Muslim community in authentic Islamic jurisprudence while innovatively engaging with modernity.

"يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ"

— Quran 4:59 ("O believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.")*