Hawza Subjects - Fiqh

Fiqh (Jurisprudence)

Fiqh (Jurisprudence) is a major (if not 'the major') science around which most of the other subjects revolve. The study of the practical laws of Islam and how to derive them is divided by areas of jurisprudence such as purification, prayers, fasting, hajj, marriage, trade, etc. For more information on the divisions in this science, see Fiqh and Fuqaha.

Beginners usually commence their studies in Fiqh with Mukhtasar an-Nafi followed by Sh. Jawad Mughniya's Fiqh al-Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq [a] although the latter is fast being replaced by other works like Al-Duroos fi al-Fiqh al-Istidlali of Sh. Baqir al-Irwani.

A higher text that every Hawza student 'must' study is Shahid al-Thani's 9-volume al-Zabdat al-Fiqhiyya fi Sharh Rawdat al-Bahiyya popularly known as Sharh Lum'ah. This work is a commentary of the Lum'ah of Shahid al-Awwal.

Additional texts that may be studied on the side are the Shara'i al-Islam (al-Hilli), Ayaat al-Ahkam (al-Irwani), and the books of laws (tawdhih al-masail) of present and past high-ranking jurisprudents (ayatullahs).

A branch of fiqh that was once never recognized as a subject on its own is Al-Qawaid al-Fiqhiyya (The Laws or Principles of Jurisprudence). This is distinct from but often confused with Usul al-Fiqh. Two popular texts on this subject are the al-Qawaid al-Fiqhiyya (2 vols.) of Sh. Baqir al-Irwani (Qum) and the al-Qawaid al-Fiqhiyya Volume 1 and Volume 2 of Ayatullah Makarim Shirazi (Qum).