Excuse me for the numerous typos, I hope they dont obscure the message.

Dear Imam Yusuf Rios
Assalaam alaykum wa rahmatLlah wa barakaatuh.
Today, as I was surfing the internet looking for some good resources on Fiq’h, i tumbled upon your website and before I know it, I was caught stuck in the responses to your article: Understanding Usul al-Fiqh, particularly impressed by Mr Reed’s provocative questions and your insightful answers.

I am one of the millions cught in a web of internet fat’was where contradiction is mostly a rule rather than an exception. I had of recent made a decision to take matters in my hands and study my deen. I am currently studying a bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering, but whn I compare how much time I invest in these studies everyday, I can stop feeling guilty about how much I could really learn of my own Deen if only I invested even only a quarter of the time.

That is the reason I am writing to you. My schedules are so tight given my extended family obligations I may never be able to sit in a classroom for formal study again after my current degree, in shaa Allah. So I am need of urgent help. Usul al_Fiq’h sounds like a good area to engage, but polishing my very rusty Arabic skills looks like a necessity too, at least based on your rule of “a means which is necessary for you to accomplish an obligation becomes an obligation to take”.

I will be very happy toi hear from you brother Sheikh Yusuf and barakaLlahu fiika for your endeavours.
Ma’a ssalaam

Alhamdulillah. An interesting topic and discussion. Yes, is there any Part II of this?

Many thanks. Wassalaam.

Is there any Part II of this? I tried to go through the web but I didnt find it, but then this has been for over 1.5 years..

Jazakallaah

Replying just to mention a point came in my mind. We can choose among doctors or lawyers because though we cannot have their knowledge or expertise, we do can see the outcome of their prescription. We can check how successful they are based on previous outcomes.
This is not the case for Faqihs. We cannot judge them in this way.

I understood term ‘obliged’ to have a slightly more classical meaning than the much more specific modern usage implying force. As in, someone not qualified logically ought to prefer the opinion of someone who is, over his own unqualified opinion. In this context, he might compare the opinions of several people who are equally qualified, and might choose what he feels makes the most sense – but not over his own opinion which is likely to be less structured, less informed and sometimes mostly driven by emotion and whim.

In practice, obviously unless it is law of the land, he can still follow his own wishes, however derived. But he has absolutely no grounds to claim it is the “correct” or “better” opinion. Going by logical reasoning, if he is to determine the *best quality* conclusion (as opposed to what he *wants* to be the result), he is “obliged” to defer to a knowledgeable person over an ignorant.

In this case, the position (madhab) of the person not grounded and trained in scholarly principles is that of the person he is following.

To be able to differentiate between opinions requires education and that process requires learning from scholars. It is not a DIY (do it yourself) effort. The easiest way here is to commit yourself to a program of study and start at a foundational level until you develop literacy.

In principle you are free to choose what opinion you feel comfortable with but that can become confusing. So you start off by developing a relationship with teachers. Today this is easier than yesterday. This site can be a resource until you commit to a program of studies. You are free to choose from legitimate opinions that are out there but from experience we see that it becomes confusing so out of necessity it is important to have a reference point and slowly work out a program of studies in a systematic way and with teachers.

For now I recommend you listen to Dr. Umar Faruq’s Four Imams Lecture online or get the Cds

Then read:

First: Islamic Law: Understanding Juristic Differences by Dr. Ahamd Zaki
Second: Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Zakiriya’s ” The differences of the Imams

Third: Shah Wali Allah’s Insaf which is printed in Dr. Marcia’s Hermansen’s Shah Wali Allah’s Treatiss On Islamic Law

This will give you an understanding of the formation of schools of interpretation and the reasons scholars differ.

If you are interested in studying send me the admin a notice with a private email address and we can speak further.