WorksheetsUsul al-Fiqh
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
Which of the following best describes the discipline of uṣūl al-fiqh?
The collection of all individual legal rulings (aḥkām) on worship and transactions
The science that studies the sources of Islamic law and the methods of deriving legal rulings from them
The historical study of how madhāhib emerged and differed over time
The practical manual of fatwā procedures used by contemporary muftīs
The default legal effect of a bare command (al-amr) from the Lawgiver, when no qualifying indicator (qarīnah) is present, is that it:
Indicates recommendation (nadb)
Indicates permissibility (ibāḥah)
Indicates obligation (wujūb)
Has no legal implication on its own
A prohibition (an-nahy) that directly targets the essence of a contract (e.g., ribā in a loan contract) usually implies that the act is:
Makrūh but valid
Harām and invalid/fāsid
Mubāḥ but morally discouraged
Suspended (mawqūf) until a judge decides
When a command (amr) comes immediately after a prohibition (nahy) concerning the same act—for example, allowing hunting after ihrām is lifted—the dominant uṣūl position is that the new command indicates:
A new obligation to perform the act
A shift from ḥarām to makrūh only
A return of the act to basic permissibility (ibāḥah)
Abrogation (naskh) of all previous rulings on that act
Which of the following is a clear indicator of generality (‘umūm) in Arabic legal texts?
A singular noun with tanwīn in an affirmative sentence
A plural noun with the definite article, such as «الْمُؤْمِنُونَ»
A proper name, such as «زَيْد»
A noun attached by iḍāfah to another noun
Which statement correctly captures the difference between al-‘Āmm and al-Muṭlaq?
Al-‘Āmm relates to the number of individuals covered, while al-Muṭlaq relates to whether a noun is described with additional attributes or conditions
Al-‘Āmm applies only to Qur’ān, while al-Muṭlaq applies only to Sunnah
Al-‘Āmm always indicates obligation, while al-Muṭlaq always indicates permissibility
Al-‘Āmm refers to shared terms (mushtarak), while al-Muṭlaq refers to ambiguous terms (mujmal)
In some expiation (kaffārah) verses, the Qur’ān mentions freeing “a slave” (رَقَبَة), while in others it mentions freeing “a believing slave” (رَقَبَة مُؤْمِنَة). When the legal ruling (ḥukm) and the cause (sabab) are essentially the same, the majority uṣūl rule is that:
The muṭlaq wording cancels the muqayyad wording
The muqayyad wording is applied only in the verse where it appears
The muqayyad wording becomes the standard, and the muṭlaq is read in light of it
Both wordings are ignored and a new ruling is derived from qiyās alone
Which of the following best describes a mujmal (ambiguous) text?
A text that is weak in transmission (ḍa‘īf)
A text whose wording is clear but was later abrogated
A text whose detailed meaning is unclear and requires additional evidence to implement
A text that has multiple readings (qirā’āt) in tajwīd
The term «الْقُرُوء» in the verse on the waiting period (‘iddah) of divorced women is often cited in uṣūl as an example of:
A clear indicator of generality
A shared term (mushtarak) whose exact meaning needs clarification
A decisive (muḥkam) text that admits no disagreement
A term that is always interpreted as “periods of purity”
Which of the following best distinguishes a muḥkam text in the uṣūl classification?
Its chain of transmission is weak but its meaning is clear
Its wording is speculative, but widely acted upon
Its wording is decisive in context and does not admit a valid competing meaning
Its wording appears clear but is always interpreted away (ta’wīl)
Which is the most accurate technical definition of ijtihād?
Any personal opinion held by a Muslim regarding religious matters
The exertion of a qualified jurist’s utmost effort to reach a probable legal ruling from the Sharī‘ah sources in matters without clear, decisive texts
The process of compiling existing fatāwā into a single manual
The act of blindly following a particular madhhab in all matters
In which of the following areas is ijtihād generally NOT permitted?
Determining the detailed rulings of commercial contracts
Applying legal maxims (qawā‘id fiqhiyyah) to new cases
Questioning the obligation of the five daily prayers
Evaluating different juristic views on minimum zakāh thresholds
Which of the following is NOT usually listed among the knowledge conditions for a mujtahid?
Knowledge of Qur’ānic verses of aḥkām and relevant aḥādīth
Sufficient mastery of Arabic language and its usages
Familiarity with areas of ijmā‘ to avoid contradicting consensus
Ability to speak fluently in at least three modern languages
Taqlīd, in the technical sense discussed in uṣūl al-fiqh, is best defined as:
Blindly imitating any popular opinion without checking the scholar’s qualifications
Following a qualified jurist’s ruling without personally knowing the detailed proofs
Abandoning all madhāhib and deriving rulings directly from Qur’ān and Sunnah
Limiting oneself strictly to the apparent (ẓāhir) meaning of texts without context
Which Qur’ānic verse is commonly cited as a basis for ordinary Muslims asking scholars and thus justifying taqlīd for non-specialists?
اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ
فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَى بَيْنَهُمْ
Which option correctly states the main difference between fatwā and qaḍā’?
Fatwā is binding and enforceable, while qaḍā’ is only advisory
Fatwā is non-binding guidance, while qaḍā’ is a binding judicial decision resolving a dispute
Fatwā deals only with ‘aqīdah, while qaḍā’ deals only with mu‘āmalāt
In cases of apparent conflict (ta‘āruḍ) between two evidences, what is the first method jurists usually attempt before moving to preference (tarjīḥ) or abrogation (naskh)?
Immediately declare one text abrogated
Suspend judgment (tawaqquf) indefinitely
Reconcile and harmonize the texts (jam‘ wa’t-tawfīq)
Follow whichever text is more popular among the public
Which of the following is a recognized criterion of tarjīḥ (preference) between two conflicting aḥādīth?
Preferring the ḥadīth that agrees more with local custom, regardless of chain strength
Preferring the ḥadīth with a stronger chain and clearer wording over one that is weaker and more ambiguous
Preferring the ḥadīth that seems easier to implement, even if its chain is weaker
Preferring the ḥadīth narrated by a later scholar over one narrated by an earlier Companion
Which scenario best illustrates the Sunnah acting as a specific (khāṣṣ) text limiting the general (‘āmm) wording of the Qur’ān?
A Sunnah report that repeats a Qur’ānic verse word-for-word
A Sunnah report specifying conditions and evidentiary requirements for applying a general Qur’ānic ḥadd punishment
A Sunnah report that contradicts the Qur’ān’s general principle with no way to reconcile them
A Sunnah report that speaks only about recommended (mandūb) actions
The verse وَلا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَا (“Do not go near zinā”) is best classified, from a uṣūl al-fiqh perspective, as:
A mere ethical recommendation against zinā
A prohibition (nahy) indicating that zinā is ḥarām and that one must avoid its causes and approaches
A general text that has no legal consequence until restricted by Sunnah
A text whose legal effect is unknown because the wording is mujmal
