Ibn Rushd’s Ultimate Usul al-Fiqh Primer

Usul al-Fiqh, primarily the science that looks at the principles that underly the outputting of Islamic law, is so much more than that. It is rightly considered to be the crown of the Islamic sciences, and scholars were ranked amongst their peers based on their mastery of it. Why is that, you may ask? It is because as an intellectual endeavour, it ventures far beyond the confines of determining what is halal and haram, to wider systemic issues of how religious texts are understood, how meaning derived from language, and what the determinants of morality are. In short, Usul al-Fiqh is of direct relevance to not only what a muslim does, but also his or her theology (aqidah) and arguably even the spiritual path of Islam (Sufism).

This course is based on the work of not just one, but two exceptional pioneers of Islamic intellectual history, Imam al-Ghazzali and Ibn Rushd. The former is arguably the most influential scholar in Islamic history, the latter is the last great polymath who mediated the realms of religion and reason, and played a pivotal role in the transfer of knowledge to the West. The result is a book, long thought lost, which showcases the various elements of the subject. This is the first time the text is being taught through the English medium. 

The course combines three elements: prior conceptual framing before each major discussion, close textual reading of the classical work, and live engagement through Zoom sessions and Q&A. Rather than placing students directly into technical material without preparation, the instructor will first provide context, summaries and examples, so that the purpose of each discussion is clear before the text is studied.

Uṣūl al-fiqh is indispensable for understanding current disputes around issues such as legal authority, reform, madhhab practice, literalism, maqāṣid, gender, finance, politics, and modern fatwā culture. Many contemporary debates are confused because their underlying legal assumptions are left unexamined. This course gives students the tools to identify those assumptions and read the tradition with greater discipline.

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