The DEEN in BYTES Series | FIQH201 Fiqh Mu’amalat – part 1:

Preamble

Understanding the religion is considered one of the best deeds, and a sign of goodness. Rasulullah (saw) said;

“If Allah wants to do good for a person, He makes him understand the religion” (Bukhari 71, Muslim 2386)

Because understanding religion leads to useful knowledge upon which righteous deeds depend. Allah Azza wa Jalla says;

“It is He Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth…” (Al-Fath 48:28)

Allah also commanded Rasulullah to invoke him for more knowledge (and Allah never commanded the Prophet (saw) to invoke Him for more of anything except knowledge), he said;

“…And say, ‘My Lord, increase me in knowledge.’” (Taha 20:114)

People are divided into 3 categories regarding knowledge and deeds:

1.      The first category is represented by those who combine useful knowledge along with righteous deeds. These are the ones whom Allah has guided to the straight path, the path of those upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous, and excellent indeed are these as companions.
2.    The second category is represented by those who learn useful knowledge but do not act accordingly. Those are the ones who have evoked Allah’s anger, like the Jews and whoever follows their footsteps.
3.     The third category is represented by those who act without having knowledge. Those are the ones who are astray, like the Christians and their likes.

These categories are mentioned in Al-Fatihah ayat 6-7;

“Guide us to the straight path – the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked (Your) anger or of those who are astray”

Interpreting the verses, Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab stated:

“……Some ignorant people mistakenly believe that those two qualities are restricted to the Jews and the Christians, forgetting that Allah commands them to recite the above-mentioned Qur’anic invocation seeking refuge with Him from being one of the people of these two qualities. Subhanallah! How do these ignorant people think that they are safe from these qualities, though they are taught and commanded by Allah to keep on invoking Him, seeking His refuge against them?! Are they not aware that they thus assume evil about Allah?!”

Useful knowledge is that derived from the Quran and the Sunnah. It is gained by deep understanding and comprehension of both.

So, to perform the acts of worship perfectly, we need to learn what leads to the perfection of our performance of these various acts of worship, not only Salah, Fasting, Zakah and Hajj, but also the ‘duniawi’ dealings that we are involved in, so as to make use of what Allah has made halal and avoid what He has made haram. To ensure that the money that we earn and the food that we eat are lawfully obtained, in order to be those whose supplications are granted by Allah.

The worthiest thing to spend our time on is seeking knowledge. It is through knowledge that hearts maintain living, and deeds are purified.

 (To be continued with The Book of Trade – main ref: Salih Al-Fawzan, A Summary of Islamic Jurisprudence II, 2006)