Questioner: We see some students starting their learning in Fiqh from Fiqh Ikhtilaaf, is this methodology proper? Is it necessary to follow a procedure in learning Fiqh? Kindly explain this to us.
Answer: What is the meaning of Fiqh Ikhtilaaf? Do you mean, scholars’ difference of opinions? No, this is an error. Whoever starts his learning in Fiqh from the books of difference of opinion of the scholars is lost, he will waste [his time], no doubt. What is however better is for him to get acquainted with a specific school of jurisprudence, when the jurisprudence [of that school] is well entrenched in him then he can go ahead to study books of comparative jurisprudence until Allaah will pave the way for him whereby he can ascertain what opinion is superior which one is not, but for him to commence from khilaaf while he is a beginner, his similitude is like that person who throngs himself into a big ocean while he does not know how to swim.
Source: Al-Fatawa ath-Thulaathiyyah p.10
السؤال: نرى بعض الطلاب يبدءون دراستهم ÙÙŠ الÙقه بÙقه الاختلاÙØŒ Ùهل هذه الطريقة سديدة؟ وهل دراسة الÙقه تØتاج إلى تدرج؟ بينوا لنا ÙÙŠ ذلك.
الجواب: ما معنى Ùقه الاختلاÙØŸ يعني اختلا٠العلماء؟ لا، هذا غلط، الذي يبدأ بالÙقه بكتب الاختلا٠Ùقد ضاع، يضيع بلا شك، الأØسن أن يركز على مذهب معين ويتقن كتبه، Ùإذا رسخ الÙقه ÙÙŠ ذهنه Øينئذ ينظر ÙÙŠ كتب الاختلا٠Øتى إذا ÙØªØ Ø§Ù„Ù„Ù‡ عليه ÙŠØ±Ø¬Ø Ù‡Ø°Ø§ أو هذا، أما أن يبدأ بذكر خلا٠وهو ناشئ Ùهذا كالذي ألقى Ù†Ùسه ÙÙŠ اليم وهو لا يعر٠السباØØ©
