Class Schedule: Fiqh 101

Islamic Online University

I. Class Description
A. Name of Class: Fiqh 101,
B. Credit Hours: 3 hours
C. Catalog Description: This course is a critical study of the history
of Islamic legislation and the evolution of
its various schools of law.
D. Prerequisites: None

II. Instructor Information

A. Name: Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
B. Location: Doha, Qatar.
C. Instructional methods: Recorded Lectures, Live discussions and
independent student research

III. Textbook and Supplies

A. Required Texts: Bilal Philips, The Evolution of Fiqh,
Bilal Philips, The Chennai Treatise

B. Supplementary Texts: ‘Abdur Rahman Doi, The Shariah

IV. Objectives
A. To develop the student’s understanding of how Islamic Law evolved from the
time of the Prophet (pbuh) until the present.
B. To enable the student to comprehend the extent of the harm resulting from
the fanatical approach to the math’habs.
C. To help students realize that following the math’hab of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) was the goal of all the early scholars.
D. To teach students the common basis shared by all the leading schools of Islamic
Law and to enlighten them as to the reasons why they differed.
E. To clarify for students how Islamic Law is applicable to all places and for all
times in spite of it being revealed 14 centuries ago.

V. Class Content
Class Procedure/Instruction Methodology
Recorded Lectures dedicated to the course material will be available for
online viewing or download and periodic Live Discussions will be held
with the instructor on topics covered. Please note that the Course
material being provided is confidential and copyrighted. You may keep a
copy on your PC but you are not allowed to distribute it to others.
HomeworkAssignments
2 Homework assignments will be assigned in the course.

Exams
The course will contain Session tests and a final exam covering the entire
book i.e. The Evoltion of Fiqh.. All students will take the exams on the
scheduled day and time.

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 Class Schedule: Fiqh 101
VI. Attendance Policies
A. Attendance: The students are required to login and access the weekly
sessions each week for all subjects available. There is no
fixed time for accessing the content. Students may do it
at their own convenience but within the week in which
the content is required to be studied.

Students are encouraged to make every effort to join the

Live Sessions as this will be best for them. If sometimes
circumstances do not allow, they may listen to the
recording of that Session

B. Special requirements
1. Students should behave respectfully during Live Discussions,
in their correspondences and forum posts. If a student is
disrespectful to the instructor or to another student he or she will
be removed from class.
2. The Video and Audio study material provided to you is
confidential and copyrighted. You are allowed to keep a copy
on your PC but you are not allowed to distribute copies to
others.
3. All students should participate fully in Live Discussions.

4. As a student of the Islamic Online University, you should

pledge that all tests taken by you and that all work turned in by
you will be original and solely the result of your own efforts.
Any form of academic dishonesty, including cheating and
plagiarism, will be recorded in the student’s permanent file.
Breaches of academic integrity will be dealt with severely, as
per the University policy. After the first instance of a breach of
academic integrity, the student will receive a failing grade IN
ALL CLASSES FOR WHICH HE/SHE IS CURRENTLY
ENROLLED. After the second instance, the student will be
expelled permanently from the program.
Note: Besides the definition of cheating in the Student
Handbook, cheating in this class includes using others’ planning
or drafting to generate one’s own essay, copying any part of
another person’s homework, or collaborating on assignments
that are meant to be individual efforts. Unless otherwise
indicated, all assignments completed outside of class should be
completed individually.

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 Class Schedule: Fiqh 101

Session 1 Topics: Riddle of the Math’habs, Definitions and distictions

between Fiqh and Shari’ah, Overview of stages in
the development of Fiqh

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Preface to the Second

Assignments: Edition, and Introduction, pp. 11-18.

Session 2 Topics: Method of Legislation, General Content of the

Qur’an (Makkan and Madeenah Stages); Legal
Content of the Qur’an

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section One: The First Stage:

Assignments: Foundation, pp. 19-27.

Session 3 Topics: Basis of Legislation in the Qur’an, points 1-3:

Removal of Difficulty, Reduction of Religious
Obligations, Realization of Public Welfare

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section One: The First Stage:

Assignments: Foundation, pp. 27-43.

Session 4 Topics: Point 4: The Realization of Universal Justice;

Sources of Islamic Law; Summary

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section One: The First Stage:

Assignments: Foundation, Section Summary, pp. 43-53.

Session 5 Topics: Era of the Righteous Caliphs, Problem Solving

Procedures, Ijtihaad of Individual Sahaabah,
Factionalism, Characteristics of Fiqh, Summary.

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section Two: The Second

Assignments: Stage: Establishment, Section Summary, pp. 55-62.

Session 6 Topics: Era of the Umayyads, Factors Affecting Fiqh,

Characteristics of Fiqh, Reasons for Differences,
Compilation of Fiqh, Summary.

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section Three: The Third

Assignments: Stage: Building, Section Summary, pp. 63-71.

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 Class Schedule: Fiqh 101
Session 7 Topics: Era of the Abbasides (First 200 years), Development
of Fiqh, The Great Imams, Period of the Minor
Scholars, Sources of Islamic Law, Summary.

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section Four: The Third

Assignments: Stage: Flowering, Section Summary, pp. 73-85.

Session 8 Topics: Introduction, Hanafi Math’hab, Awza’I Math’hab

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section Five: The Math’habs:

Assignments: Schools of Islamic Legal Thought, pp. 87-95.

Session 9 Topics: Maliki Math’hab, Comparison between the Fiqh of

Iraq and Hijaz, Zaydi Math’hab, Laythi Math’hab,
Thawri Math’hab, Reasons for their disappearance.

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section Five: The Math’habs:

Assignments: Schools of Islamic Legal Thought, pp. 95-107.

Session 10 Topics: Shafi’i Math’hab, Comparison between Hanafi,

Maliki and Shafi’i. Hambali Math’hab, Thahiri
Math’hab and Jariri Math’hab, Summary.

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section Five: The Math’habs:

Assignments: Schools of Islamic Legal Thought, pp. 108-119.

Session 11 Topics: Revision of main features of first four stages of

development and the unique characteristics of
leading schools of Islamic Law.

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, pp. 10 -120.

Assignments:

Session 12 Topics: Introduction, Word Meanings (shared literal, literal

and figurative, grammatical). Hadeeth Narration
(availability, weak narrations, conditions for
acceptance, resolution of textual conflict),
Admissibility of certain Proofs, Methods of Qiyas,
Summary.

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section Six: Main Reasons

Assignments: for Conflicting Rulings, pp. 121-132

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 Class Schedule: Fiqh 101
Session 13 Topics: Four Madh-habs, Compilation of Fiqh, Section
Summary

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section Seven: The Fifth

Assignments: Stage: Consolidation, pp. 133-136

Session 14 Topics: Emergence of Taqleed, Reasons for Taqleed,

Compilation of Fiqh

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section Eight: The Sixth

Assignments: Stage: Stagnation and Decline, pp. 137-142

Session 15 Topics: Reformers, Section Summary

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section Eight: The Sixth

Assignments: Stage: Stagnation and Decline, pp. 143-150

Session 16 Topics: Imaam Abu Haneefah, Imaam Maalik ibn Anas,

Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee, Imaam Ahmad ibn Hambal

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section Nine: Imaams and

Assignments: Taqleed, pp 151-158

Session 17 Topics: Students of the Imaams, Comment, Section

Summary,

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section Nine: Imaams and

Assignments: Taqleed, pp158-164

Session 18 Topics: Differences among the Ummah, Differences among

the Sahaabah, Section Summary,

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section Ten: Differences

Assignments: among the Ummah, pp 165-178

Session 19 Topics: Dynamic Fiqh, Proposed Steps, Contradictory and

Variational Differences.

Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Section Eleven: Conclusion,

Assignments: pp. 179-184

Session 20 Topics: Conclusion Review. Case study: the Chennai

5/8 Treatise, Introduction of Case. PJ Zainul-Aabideen’s
claim. Ijmaa of the Ummah and the understanding of
the Sahaabah. The Obligation of Zakaah, Statements
of the Sahaabah and Salaf, Annual Payment of
Zakaah, Advance Payment of Zakaah and Zakaah on
the Wealth of Orphans

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 Class Schedule: Fiqh 101
Reading The Evolution of Fiqh, Chennai Treatise, pp. 9 – 36.
Assignments:

Session 21 Topics: Punishment for not paying Zakaah. The heresy of

12/8 PJ’s claims. Revision of Second Half Material:
Chapters 7 & 8.

Reading Chennai Treatise, Chapter Two and Conclusion, pp.

Assignments: 36 – 42. Study Questions 1-13.

Session 22 Topics: Revision of Second Half Material: Chapters 8 & 9.

19/8

Reading Study Questions 14-30.

Assignments:

Session 23 Topics: Revision of Second Half Material: Chapters 10 & 11

21/8 and Chennai Treatise Chapters 1, 2 & Conclusion.

Reading Study Questions 31-55.

Assignments:

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