FIQH: Essentials of Islam
Islamic jurisprudence — fiqh in Arabic — is the science of understanding and applying Allah’s commands as revealed in the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. For a Muslim to worship correctly and conduct their daily affairs in a manner pleasing to Allah, a working knowledge of fiqh is essential. This course provides that foundation for English-speaking Muslims, following the Shafi’i school of jurisprudence.
Why the Shafi’i School?
Of the four accepted schools of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence — Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali — all are valid expressions of the prophetic tradition. This resource focuses on the Shafi’i school because:
- It is the madhab of the Ba‘Alawi scholars whose tradition informs this site
- It is the majority madhab of Southeast Asia, East Africa, and communities of Hadhrami descent worldwide
- Excellent English-language resources are available for Shafi’i fiqh
The Five Pillars in Depth
1. Shahada — The Declaration of Faith
The shahada — “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” — is both the entry point into Islam and its most fundamental statement. The fiqh of the shahada covers its conditions of validity and what it means in terms of belief and commitment.
2. Salah — Prayer
The five daily prayers are the most important pillar of Islamic practice after the shahada. The fiqh of salah covers: the conditions of valid prayer, purification (tahara) — ablution (wudu), ritual bath (ghusl), and dry ablution (tayammum) — the obligations of prayer, what invalidates prayer, and prayer for those in unusual circumstances (travel, illness).
3. Zakat — Purifying Alms
Zakat is the obligatory purification of wealth — a fixed proportion of qualifying wealth given annually to prescribed categories of recipients. The fiqh of zakat covers: who is obligated to pay it, what types of wealth are zakatable, the minimum amounts (nisab), and the eight categories of zakat recipients.
4. Sawm — Fasting
The month-long fast of Ramadan is one of the most recognizable and transformative practices of Islam. The fiqh of sawm covers: the precise beginning and end of the fast, what breaks the fast, those exempt from fasting, and the highly recommended voluntary fasts throughout the year.
5. Hajj — Pilgrimage
The pilgrimage to Mecca is obligatory once in a lifetime for every Muslim who has the physical and financial means. The fiqh of Hajj covers the three types of Hajj, the rites of Hajj in sequence, and the rules of Umra (the lesser pilgrimage).
Recommended Study Materials
For those who wish to study Shafi’i fiqh in depth, the following English-language resources are highly recommended:
- Reliance of the Traveller (Umdat al-Salik) — the comprehensive manual of Shafi’i fiqh, available in full English translation
- The Mukhtasar al-Latif — concise guide to the essentials of worship (see our Mukhtasar al-Latif course)
- SeekersGuidance — offers free structured Shafi’i fiqh courses taught by qualified scholars
Explore our full Courses page for additional resources, and visit the Resources page for more recommended texts and institutions.