Fiqah refers to
Islamic Jurisprudence and is the explanation of the Shariah in the light of the
Qur’an and Sunnah. There are four well-known schools of Jurisprudence, namely;
Hanafi; Shafi’i; Hambali and Maliki. Fiqh plays a very important part in the
life of every Muslim. The learned Jurists (Fuqaha) have derived the important
rulings of the Shariah based on the commands of Qur’an and Sunnah. The
importance of Fiqh and the excellence in understanding the Deen has been
mentioned clearly in the Holy Qur’an and the Hadith.
Shafi'i, Malik, Ahmad, Imam-e-Hanif;
Chaar Baag-e-Imamat pe Laakhon Salam
Blessed Grave of Imam al-Azam Abu Hanifa Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu in Baghdad Sharif, Iraq.
Fiqh in the Light of the Qur’an al-Karim
Intellect, acumen and understanding are great blessings of Allah. It is
necessary for a Muslim to be blessed with these if he wishes to understand the
Holy Qur’an, The Hadith, and the secrets and laws that have been mentioned
therein.
Almighty Allah says
إن في ذلك
لآيات لقوم يعقلون
‘Verily, in it are
signs for those who understand’ [Surah al-Rome,
Verse 24]
In another verse of the Holy Qur’an Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala says
إن في ذلك
لآيات لقوم يتفكرون
‘Verily, in it are
signs for those who deliberate.’ [Surah al-Rome,
Verse 21]
Almighty Allah says
وتلك
الأمثال نضربها للناس لعلهم يتفكرون
‘And We present
these examples for the people, so that they may contemplate’
[Surah al-Hashr, Verse 21]
Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala says
قد فصلنا
الآيات لقوم يفقهون
‘Undoubtedly, we
have explained the signs in detail; for those who understand.’
[Surah al-An’aam Verse 98]
The above mentioned verses of the Holy Qur’an make it very clear that to attain
Tafaqquh fid Deen, i.e. proper understanding and appreciation of the Deen; one
has to be blessed with intellect and the capability to understand.
Those who have been blessed with the knowledge of Deen and especially with the
knowledge of Fiqh are those who have been bestowed with special blessings by
Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala.
The Holy Qur’an makes it very clear that those with knowledge and those who are
unaware are not alike. Almighty Allah says
قل هل
يستوي الذين يعلمون والذين لا يعلمون إنما يتذكر أولو الألباب
‘(O Beloved) Say
you; Are those who know and those who know not equal? Surely, it is the wise
alone that recognize the guidance.’ [Surah al-Zumar,
Verse 9]
Almighty Allah says:
ومن يؤت
الحكمة فقد أوتي خيرا كثيرا
‘And he, who has
been blessed with wisdom, has surely been blessed with great virtue.’
[Surah al-Baqarah, Verse 269]
It must be noted that the Mufasireen (commentators of the Qur’an) have mentioned
that wherever in the Qur’an the mention of Wisdom has come, it refers to the
knowledge of Fiqh. The importance of Fiqh, i.e. understanding the Deen is also
evident from this verse of the Holy Qur’an.
Almighty Allah says
فلولا نفر
من كل فرقة منهم طائفة ليتفقهوا في الدين ولينذروا قومهم إذا رجعوا إليهم لعلهم
يحذرون
‘And it is not
possible for all the believers to go out (at once); Then why should a delegation
not come forth from every grouping, so that they may attain the understanding of
Religion, thereafter returning to their people, warning them, in the hope that
they may remain guarded. [Surah al-Tawbah, Verse
122]
Whilst explaining this verse of the Holy Qur’an, Sadrul Afaadil Allama Sayyid
Na’eemud’deen Muradabadi Alaihir raHma wa ar-Ridwan says:
‘It is not necessary for every person to become an Aalim or Faqih. However, every individual has to attain sufficient knowledge to be able to differentiate between that which is lawful and unlawful, and to know what Fard is and what Waajib is. To acquire this amount of knowledge is Fard-e-‘Ain upon every Muslim, and to acquire more knowledge than this is Fard-e-Kifaayah. It has been mentioned in the Hadith, that it is Fard upon every Muslim to acquire knowledge (of Deen).’ [Tafseer Khazain al-Irfan]
Blessed Grave of Imam Maalik Ibn Anas Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu in Baqi Sharif.
The Excellence of a Faqih in the Light of Hadith
Up to now, we have mentioned the importance of Fiqh in the light of the Holy
Qur’an. This has been further explained and clarified in the Hadith Sharif.
Hadrat Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu has reported that the
Beloved Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him) said:
من يرد
الله به خيرا يفقهه في الدين
‘If Allah wills to
bestow someone with special virtue; He makes him a Faqih of the Religion’.
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Chapter 13, Page 137,
Hadith 71
Sahih Muslim, Volume 6, Chapter 34, Page 396, Hadith 2439
Mishkat al-Masabih, Volume 1, Page 43, Hadith 200
Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu reported that Rasoolullah SallAllaho
Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said:
خيارهم في
الجاهلية خيارهم في الإسلام إذا فقهوا
‘Those who were good
in the days of ignorance are also good in Islam, if they have understanding of
the Deen.’
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 12, Chapter 8, Page 20, Hadith
3353
Sahih Muslim, Volume 15, Chapter 44, Page 450, Hadith 6311
Mishkat al-Masabih, Volume 1, Page 43, Hadith 201
In this Hadith, Rasoolullah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam mentioned that
people are bestowed with being better, on the basis of Fiqh, i.e. on the basis
of their understanding of their Deen. This also proves that according to
Rasoolullah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam, one of the best qualities in
a person is for him to have knowledge of Fiqh.
Once the Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him) made the
following Dua for Hadrat Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu by saying:
اللهم
فقهه في الدين
‘O Allah! Make him a
Faqih of the Religion.’
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Chapter 10, Page 260,
Hadith 143
Sahih Muslim, Volume 16, Chapter 45, Page 195, Hadith 6523
Mishkat al-Masabih, Volume 3, Page 340, Hadith 6139
Hadrat Ibn ‘Abbas Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu says that Rasoolullah SallAllaho
Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said
فقيه واحد
أشد على الشيطان من ألف عابد
‘One Faqih is more
superior over shaitaan, than a thousand worshippers.’
Sunan Tirmidhi, Volume 10, Chapter 19, Page 203,
Hadith 2897
Sunan Ibn Majah, Volume 1, Chapter 39, Page 267, Hadith 227
Mishkat al-Masabih, Volume 1, Page 47, Hadith 217
From this Hadith it is evident that a single Faqih (Jurist) is more powerful
over shaitaan, than a thousand devout worshippers. The reason for this is that
due to the knowledge which Almighty Allah has bestowed upon him, and due to his
understanding of the Deen, he is able to recognise and avoid the traps and the
trickery of shaitaan. In reality, he becomes the one who assist others to be
protected from the trickery and deception of shaitaan.
Blessed Grave of Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu in
al-Fustat, Egypt.
In Ilm al-Hadith,
there are two things that are fundamental. The first being, the authenticity of
the chain of transmission, and its narration; and the second being its meaning
and understanding it. The Muhaditheen of the Ummah memorised and preserved the
words and chain of transmission of the Hadith, whereas the distinguished Fuqaha
carried the responsibility of understanding its true meaning and wisdom. It
should also be noted that the distinguished Fuqaha also have complete expertise
and proficiency in the subject of Hadith. One incident pointing to the
importance and excellence of the Fuqaha is as follows:
Khateeb Baghdadi Alaihir raHma wa ar-Ridwan mentions that a Group of Muhaditheen
were present, when a woman who used to bathe deceased females came forth and
asked a question, ‘Can a female who is menstruating give Ghusl to a female who
has passed away or not?’
Imam Yahya bin Mu’een, Abu Hatheema, Zuhair bin Harb, and Khalf bin Saalim etc.
who are regarded amongst distinguished Muhaditheen were present there. Each one
of them began to look at the other, and none of them was able to give an answer
immediately. At that time, Imam Abu Thaur who with the exception of being a
Muhadith; was also a Mujtahid and a Faqih, passed by. The lady approached him
and queried regarding the said issue. He said ‘Yes, a female who is menstruating
is permitted to give Ghusl to a deceased female.’ The reason being that once
Rasoolullah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said to Hadrat A’isha Radi
Allahu Ta’ala Anha:
حيضتك ليس
في يدك
‘Your menstruation is not in your hand’.
It is also mentioned in the Hadith that whilst in the condition of Haidh, Hadrat
A’isha Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anha used to sprinkle water in the hair of the Prophet
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him) and she would comb a path in his
hair. So, if in such a condition, water can be poured onto the head of a living
person, why then can a deceased not be given Ghusl?’
When the distinguished Muhaditheen heard this Fatwa of Imam Abu Thaur they began
to discuss the chain of transmission of the Hadith he had mentioned, mentioning
who its narrators were and how it was narrated. When the woman heard this, she
said ‘Where were you all this while?’ In other words, she tried to say that if
that were the case, why then did they not give the answer’.
[Tareekh-e-Baghdad, Volume 6, Page 67]
Blessed Grave of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu in Baghdad, Iraq.
— —
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Excerpted from the Book
‘Imam-e-Azam Abu Hanifa’ by
Allama Sayyid Shah Turab al-Haq Qadiri