Fiqh

Fiqh, from Arabic فقه, is Islamic jurisprudence—the human endeavor to understand and apply the divine Sharia to daily life. It seeks to articulate practical rulings for Muslims on how to worship, conduct business, govern family life, and interact with others. Sharia denotes the overarching divine law, believed to be revealed by God; fiqh is the scholarly interpretation and application of that law.

Its primary sources are the Quran and the Sunnah (the practices and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad). Secondary sources include ijma' (consensus of scholars) and qiyas (analogical reasoning). Other methods and precepts, such as istihsan (juristic preference) and maslahah (public interest), may influence rulings. Jurists use ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) to derive rulings; taqlid (adherence to established authorities) is common when non-experts rely on previous consensus or legal opinions.

Fiqh covers acts of worship (ibadat) and dealings (muamalat), personal status, contracts, families, and criminal law in various jurisdictions. It is organized within schools of jurisprudence or madhabs, especially in Sunni Islam (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) and Shia Islam (Ja'fari). Each school has its methodology and opinions, leading to differences in rulings on some issues while sharing core theological foundations.

From the 8th to the 12th centuries, jurists systematized fiqh into formal legal textbooks and manuals. Today fiqh remains a living field, shaping religious practice and legal frameworks in Muslim-majority and minority communities, often interfacing with secular law and local customs while adapting to new circumstances.