Part 1: Understanding Usul ul Fiqh

Question 1

True or False: If a statement is made and no scholars comment on it, that statement carries the same weight as ijmaa` (the consensus of the scholars).

Answer 1

False!

Question 2

True or False: If Allah forbids us from something, the default is that it is forbidden (Haraam) to do that action.

Answer 2

True!

Question 3

True or False: The Prophet’s (S) actions alone are not proof of Islamic Law.

Answer 3

False! The Prophet’s (S) actions are proofs of Islamic Law.

Question 4

What is Fiqh?

Answer 4

Fiqh are the rulings

Question 5

What are Usul?

Answer 5

Usul is the methodology

Question 6

Usul or Fiqh? If someone talks in their salah, it breaks their salah.

Answer 6

Fiqh

Question 7

Usul or Fiqh? Eating pork is haram.

Answer 7

Fiqh

Question 8

Usul or Fiqh? Mustahab means that an act is recommended.

Answer 8

Usul

Question 9

Usul or Fiqh? How to reconcile between two different evidences when they appear to contradict each other.

Answer 9

Usul

Question 10

Fiqh deals with:

a) our actions
b) where the rules come from

Answer 10

a) our actions

Question 11

Usul al-Fiqh deals with:

a) our actions
b) where the Islamic rules come from

Answer 11

b) where the Islamic rule comes from

Question 12

What are the 4 places that the principles of Fiqh come from?

Answer 12

1) Qur’an 2) Sunnah 3) the Arabic language 4) Logic

Question 13

During the Prophet’s (S) time, why was there no need for methodology (Usul ul Fiqh)?

Answer 13

Because rulings were given directly through the Qur’an or the Prophet (S)

Question 14

Complete this hadith from Bukhari & Muslim: “If the Haakim (ruler or mufti) exerts an ijtihaad and appeared to be right, he will double reward, and if the Haakim exerted an ijtihaad and appeared to be wrong ___________________.”

Answer 14

“…he will get one reward.”

Question 15

The principle of Ijmaa’ (consensus) was developed during which time period?

Answer 15

The Era of the Companions

Question 16

What do you think Ibn ‘Umar meant when he said, “It is feared that rocks fall down from the skies upon you; I tell you the Messenger of Allah (S) said such and such and you tell me Abu Bakr and ‘Umar said such and such.”

Answer 16

He was upset that the people bought up what Abu Bakr and ‘Umar’s said when he (Ibn ‘Umar) told them what the Prophet (S) said. No other person’s word should take precedent over the Prophet’s words.

Question 17

Who were the tabi’een?

Answer 17

The tabi’een were the students of the Companions. (Tabi’ means to follow. They were the followers of the sahabah).

Question 18

What was the first book written on Usul ul-Fiqh that we know of? Who was it written by?

Answer 18

Ar-Risaalah, by Imam ash-Shafi’ee

Question 19

There are two classical approaches to fiqh. What are they called?

Answer 19

Al-Fuqahaa` (the Hanafis) and the Mutakallimeen (the other major scholars)

Question 20

Which school of thought looks at the scholars’ rulings first to come up with the methodology for coming up with rules?

Answer 20

The Fuqahaa`

Question 21

Which school of thought looks at the evidences and then decides to come up with a methodology?

Answer 21

The Mutakallimeen