Fiqh is the process of deriving and interpreting Islamic law (Sharia).
Linguistically, the Arabic word “fiqh” bears the meaning of “deep understanding or comprehension.”
In the technical sense, fiqh refers to the process of deriving and interpreting Islamic law, as well as the body of rulings that emerge from this process. It is through fiqh that we come to know the Sharia and how to apply it in our lives.
Say you are reading the Qur’an and come across dozens of verses emphasizing the importance of giving something called zakat (obligatory charity). Clearly, zakat is a big deal. But what next?
What is zakat in the first place? To whom is it given? What do I take into account when calculating zakat? Do I have to pay zakat solely on the money in my bank account? How about stocks and cryptocurrency?
All of these questions are the domain of fiqh. The job of one who does fiqh – the Muslim jurist (faqih) – is to sift through the “sacred data” (the Qur’an, the Sunnah, etc.) and to identify and clarify the details of what God wants of us and how to live in conformity with His will.
