Islamic Jurisprudence Study Notes

Islamic Jurisprudence Study Notes

• Sources of Islamic Law: The Sunnah is the second source of Islamic jurisprudence, not the first. Quran is the first source.
• Sunnah's Authority: The authentic Sunnah is as authoritative as the Quran.
• Sunnah's Compilation: The Sunnah was compiled during the Prophet's lifetime.
• Purpose of Recording the Sunnah: Preservation, not to question its authority.
• Sunnah Collections: There are collections of the Prophet's sayings and practices beyond the seven canonical books.
• Sahih Bukhari: Considered the most authentic book after the Quran.
• Sunan Al-Tirmidhi: Ranked lower in authenticity compared to the seven canonical books.
• Sunan Ibn Majah: Ranked lower in authenticity compared to the seven canonical books.
• Muwatta Imam Malik: The author of Muwatta is Imam Malik.
• Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal's Role: Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, not Imam Bukhari, was a prominent figure following the dispute about the creation of the Quran.
• Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim: Distinguished by their thoroughness and precise organization, not necessarily the sheer number of hadiths.

Islamic Ethics

• Avoidance of Controversial Issues: Protection of faith and reputation lies in avoiding doubtful matters.
• Doubtful Matters: There are items between clear permissible and clear prohibited actions that are not explicitly defined; these are often controversial.
• Means to Allah's Pleasure: The key to pleasing Allah lies in fulfilling religious obligations and striving beyond them.
• A Hadith Example: A hadith from Abu Hurayrah about those who oppose God's close allies are considered enemies.
• Hadith Types: This hadith and many others are "Hadith Qudsi" (divine sayings).

Islamic Beliefs

• Seven People Under God's Shade: Seven people will be under Allah's shadow on the Day of Judgement, including a just Imam, a young man who dedicated his life to worship, a man whose heart beats for worship in mosques, two individuals who love each other for Allah's sake, a man who was proposed to by a woman of high status and beauty and refused because he feared Allah, a man who gave charity in secret, and a man who remembered Allah privately until his eyes welled up with tears.
• Prophets and Companions: The text mentions significant Islamic figures like Prophet Muhammad and a Companion, Abu Hurairah. There is a summary of the significance (not the entire life story) of Abu Hurairah.

Islamic Knowledge

• Methods of Knowledge Acquisition: Different approaches to acquiring knowledge (e.g. active learning as a teacher, passive learning as a student).
• A Hadith Explanation: The hadith quoted describes the concept of "friendship and opposition in the path of Allah."
• Importance of the Sunnah: The Sunnah connects Muslims to the essence of Islam in a similar way to how the Quran is transmitted to them.
• Islamic Scholars: There are concise profiles of prominent scholars and the significance of their works.