The Need to Learn and Teach Fiqh

Question:
The truth is, Shaykh Salih, it is very evident to anyone who looks at the reality of the Muslims that there is a great deal of ignorance that covers Muslim societies, especially regarding matters of their worship and transactions. There is a pressing need there to learn Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), especially after knowing the oneness of Allah (tawhid) (Glorified and Exalted is He) and establishing it. There are attempts by many scholars to find what is called a contemporary jurisprudential formulation that addresses new issues and events, but these may still be in their early stages. Shaykh Salih, you have written in many areas of jurisprudence, and you have a praiseworthy and noted contribution in that regard. In fact, you are currently teaching and studying many jurisprudential books in your lessons, and you have a program on the Holy Quran Radio explaining the book *Zad al-Mustaqni*. Shaykh Salih, do you not see that there is a pressing need to create contemporary jurisprudential encyclopedias in a contemporary language, as they say, while benefiting from the books left by our scholars and the noble Salaf?

Answer:
There is no doubt that connecting people to jurisprudence is a matter of importance, because jurisprudence in the religion is the foundation of action. No one other than a jurist can perform a righteous and upright deed unless he has jurisprudence in the religion of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
Therefore, Allah commanded understanding His religion and praised those who seek to understand it. He the Exalted said: . "Let them seek to understand the religion" means let them comprehend the matters of their religion. Linguistically, fiqh is understanding. And fiqh in the religion is understanding the rulings and the laws of the religion.
Look at how "to gain knowledge of religion" was placed before "and to warn," because warning and calling to Allah, and enjoining good and forbidding evil, only happen after jurisprudence. They only happen after jurisprudence and knowledge. So warning, calling, and enjoining good and forbidding evil are not valid based on ignorance. Rather, it must be based on jurisprudence. Therefore, the effort of the Salaf, from the time of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to the present time of the Muslims, was directed toward caring for jurisprudence, teaching people jurisprudence, and educating them in the matters of their religion. And from that came this result and the great jurisprudential wealth that our righteous Salaf left behind, derived from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). This jurisprudence that our righteous Salaf left behind is a means to understanding the Book and the Sunnah and acting upon them.
In my opinion, jurisprudence does not need a renewal of phrasing or a new formulation, because it is formulated in eloquent Arabic, and the predecessors were more eloquent than us, and more capable than us of expression, and more capable than us of gathering information, because Allah gave them a capacity that was not given to those who came after them, except for whom Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) willed. So in my opinion, jurisprudence does not need a renewal of phrasing or formulation, but rather it needs to be learned. Jurisprudence needs to be learned, cared for, and embraced, and the young generation needs to be taught and raised on the jurisprudence of the righteous Salaf. This is what is important. As for the issue of new formulation and expression, if that happened, it would not suffice, and people are turning away from jurisprudence. The affliction did not come from the formulation and the phrasing, but rather it came from people's turning away and their ignorance of this matter. If they are directed and taught, the intended result will be achieved without us burdening ourselves with creating a new phrasing or formulation, because we will not bring forth anything better than what preceded us from the people of knowledge, experience, and understanding. Yes.

The presenter:
You have done well, and may Allah reward you.