Fiqh in Islam and the four main types

Fiqh is the Islamic jurisprudence, which is the study of Islamic law and how it is derived from the Quran and the Sunnah (the teachings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)). Fiqh encompasses a wide range of topics related to Islamic law, including acts of worship, social transactions, commercial transactions, family law, criminal law, and more.

Islamic scholars study the Quran and the Sunnah to derive legal rulings that govern the daily lives of Muslims. These legal rulings are known as “fatwas,” which are issued by qualified Islamic scholars and jurists. Fatwas can be related to a wide range of issues, such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, business transactions, and even medical issues.

Fiqh is an important aspect of Islamic life, as it provides guidelines for Muslims to follow in their daily lives. It is also important for Muslim societies, as it provides a framework for establishing laws and regulations that are in line with Islamic principles and values.

Types of Fiqh

There are four main types if Fiqh, they are

1. Hanafi Fiqh
2. Maliki Fiqh
3. Shafi’i Fiqh
4. Hanbali Fiqh

Hanafi Fiqh

Hanafi Fiqh is one of the four schools of Islamic law, named after its founder, Imam Abu Hanifa (d. 767 CE). It is the oldest and most widely practiced school of Islamic law, and is followed by Muslims in many parts of the world, including Turkey, Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and parts of the Middle East.

The Hanafi school of thought is based on the principle of istihsan, or “preference.” This means that if a legal ruling is not explicitly stated in the Quran or Sunnah, a judge or scholar may use their own reasoning and judgment to arrive at a ruling that is in line with the spirit and objectives of Islamic law.

The Hanafi school of thought places a strong emphasis on the use of reason and rationality in interpreting Islamic law. This means that Hanafi scholars often use a systematic and logical approach to derive legal rulings, based on the principles and objectives of Islamic law.

The Hanafi school of thought is known for its relatively liberal approach to Islamic law, and is often associated with a focus on the individual’s rights and freedoms. For example, the Hanafi school is generally more permissive in matters of personal worship, and is known for allowing some flexibility in the performance of religious duties.

Some specific examples of the Hanafi school’s legal rulings include:

1. Prayer: Hanafi scholars allow for a wider range of postures and movements in prayer than some other schools of Islamic law. For example, Hanafis allow the use of a chair or stool for prayer, as long as the worshipper is unable to stand or kneel.
2. Marriage and divorce: Hanafi scholars allow for greater flexibility in matters of marriage and divorce, and allow for the dissolution of a marriage in cases of irreconcilable differences or other valid reasons.
3. Business transactions: Hanafi scholars allow for a wide range of commercial transactions, including the use of interest-based loans in certain circumstances.

Maliki Fiqh

Maliki Fiqh is one of the four schools of Islamic law, named after its founder, Imam Malik ibn Anas (d. 795 CE). It is primarily followed in North Africa, West Africa, and some parts of the Middle East.

The Maliki school of thought is based on the principle of istislah, or “public interest.” This means that if a legal ruling is not explicitly stated in the Quran or Sunnah, a judge or scholar may use their own reasoning and judgment to arrive at a ruling that is in the best interest of society.

The Maliki school of thought places a strong emphasis on the use of traditions and practices of the people of Madinah, where Imam Malik lived and taught. This means that Maliki scholars often rely on the customs and practices of the people of Madinah, in addition to the Quran and Sunnah, to derive legal rulings.

The Maliki school of thought is known for its relatively moderate approach to Islamic law, and is often associated with a focus on public interest and social welfare. For example, the Maliki school is known for placing a strong emphasis on the rights of the individual, as well as on issues related to social justice.

Some specific examples of the Maliki school’s legal rulings include:

1. Prayer: Maliki scholars allow for a wider range of postures and movements in prayer than some other schools of Islamic law. For example, Malikis allow the use of a chair or stool for prayer, as long as the worshipper is unable to stand or kneel.
2. Marriage and divorce: Maliki scholars allow for greater flexibility in matters of marriage and divorce, and allow for the dissolution of a marriage in cases of irreconcilable differences or other valid reasons.
3. Criminal law: The Maliki school of thought is known for its relatively lenient approach to criminal law, and emphasizes the importance of avoiding punishment in cases where it may cause more harm than good.

Shafi’i Fiqh

Shafi’i Fiqh is one of the four schools of Islamic law, named after its founder, Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi’i (d. 820 CE). It is primarily followed in Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and parts of the Middle East.

The Shafi’i school of thought is based on the principle of usul al-fiqh, or “foundations of Islamic law.” This means that the Shafi’i school places a strong emphasis on the Quran, Sunnah, ijma’ (consensus of scholars), and qiyas (analogical reasoning) as the primary sources of Islamic law.

The Shafi’i school of thought places a strong emphasis on the use of reason and rationality in interpreting Islamic law. This means that Shafi’i scholars often use a systematic and logical approach to derive legal rulings, based on the principles and objectives of Islamic law.

The Shafi’i school of thought is known for its relatively moderate approach to Islamic law, and is often associated with a focus on the individual’s rights and freedoms. For example, the Shafi’i school is generally more permissive in matters of personal worship, and is known for allowing some flexibility in the performance of religious duties.

Some specific examples of the Shafi’i school’s legal rulings include:

1. Prayer: Shafi’i scholars allow for a wider range of postures and movements in prayer than some other schools of Islamic law. For example, Shafi’is allow the use of a chair or stool for prayer, as long as the worshipper is unable to stand or kneel.
2. Marriage and divorce: Shafi’i scholars allow for greater flexibility in matters of marriage and divorce, and allow for the dissolution of a marriage in cases of irreconcilable differences or other valid reasons.
3. Criminal law: The Shafi’i school of thought is known for its relatively moderate approach to criminal law, and emphasizes the importance of avoiding excessive punishment or harm to the accused.

Hanbali Fiqh

Hanbali Fiqh is one of the four schools of Islamic law, named after its founder, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 855 CE). It is primarily followed in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

The Hanbali school of thought is based on the principle of literalism, which means that the Hanbali scholars take a strict and literal approach to interpreting the Quran and Sunnah. This means that the Hanbali school places a strong emphasis on the literal meaning of Islamic texts, and is generally less flexible in matters of interpretation than some other schools of Islamic law.

The Hanbali school of thought places a strong emphasis on the use of hadith, or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as a primary source of Islamic law. This means that Hanbali scholars often rely on hadith collections and the works of hadith scholars to derive legal rulings.

The Hanbali school of thought is known for its relatively conservative approach to Islamic law, and is often associated with a focus on preserving traditional Islamic practices and beliefs. For example, the Hanbali school is known for placing a strong emphasis on the importance of the Friday prayer, and is often stricter than other schools of Islamic law in matters of personal worship.

Some specific examples of the Hanbali school’s legal rulings include:

1. Prayer: Hanbali scholars are generally stricter than other schools of Islamic law in matters of prayer, and emphasize the importance of following the traditional practices of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions.
2. Marriage and divorce: Hanbali scholars are generally stricter than other schools of Islamic law in matters of marriage and divorce, and are known for placing a strong emphasis on the importance of upholding traditional family values and structures.
3. Criminal law: The Hanbali school of thought is known for its relatively strict approach to criminal law, and emphasizes the importance of upholding Islamic law and punishments in matters of crime and justice.