Usul al-Fiqh Course - Islamic Jurisprudence for Beginners

Al-Usūl min ʿIlm al-Usūl, a celebrated contemporary introduction by Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn, serves as the basis for exploring uṣūl al-fiqh (Islamic legal theory). The course provides students with a foundational understanding of the sources of Islamic law and the systematic principles scholars use to deduce legal rulings, helping learners navigate the Qur’ān and Sunnah with the correct methodology.

By engaging with this subject, students develop the Islamic mindset of the great scholars, gaining the tools to understand legal reasoning, protect against weak advice, and navigate scholarly differences with clarity.

Taught by Shaykh Abdulwahid Stephenson, the course focuses on making complex Islamic legal concepts accessible and guiding students through the foundational framework of Islamic jurisprudence.

Students will learn:

• The definition, scope and significance of uṣūl al-fiqh in Islamic studies

• The sources of Islamic law: the Qur’ān, Sunnah, ijmāʿ (consensus), and qiyās (analogy)

• The principles and methods scholars employ to derive rulings from the Qur’ān and Sunnah

• The types of legal rulings in Islam and how they are classified

• How uṣūl al-fiqh bridges the understanding between revelation and real-world application

An ideal course for students of knowledge, community leaders, and convert Muslims seeking a deeper understanding of Islamic legal thinking and methodology.