The amount of Islamic jurisprudence that is obligatory, and the difference between it and its principles

Question:
May Allah reward you and bless you. The questioner, Abu Muhammad, who resides in Riyadh, asks: What is the sufficient amount of Islamic jurisprudence for an ordinary person? And what is the difference between Islamic jurisprudence and the principles of jurisprudence?

Answer:
Or, the obligatory portion of Islamic jurisprudence is what keeps a person's religion sound, including his creed, prayer, zakah, fasting, and Hajj. It is necessary for every Muslim, male and female, to know what keeps a Muslim's religion sound. As for what goes beyond that, such as matters of transactions, inheritance, bequests, endowments, marriages, foods, and judgment, this is a collective obligation. If a sufficient number of people fulfill it, the sin is lifted from the rest, and it remains a confirmed recommended practice for them. This is the distinction between the amount of Islamic jurisprudence that is obligatory and the amount that is not obligatory for everyone. The difference between Islamic jurisprudence and the principles of jurisprudence is that the principles of jurisprudence are the matters by which rulings are understood. Islamic jurisprudence is understanding, and Islamic jurisprudence is understanding, and what is meant by it is understanding the rulings of the Shari'ah. This is Islamic jurisprudence. As for the principles of jurisprudence, it is the knowledge by which one reaches the derivation of the rulings of the Shari'ah from their detailed evidence.