Benefit related to the layout of Fiqh books
23 October 2025 • 1.7K views
The books of Fiqh are comprised of four main sections, arranged in a very logical manner.
The first and most important section is كتاب العبادات [The book of worship]. This section covers issues pertaining to Purification, Prayer, Charity, Fasting, Pilgrimage, etc. Worship is prioritised because it is the primary reason for our existence.
Thereafter, because we need to sustain ourselves in this Dunya, the second section is كتاب البيوع [The Book of Trade (Buying & selling)]. Without sustenance there is no life, and without life humans cannot worship Allah. Thus, humans must utilise this sustenance to worship Allah and make its acquisition the purpose of their existence!
Once a person aquires some sustenance he is then able to support a wife and start a family, this is why the third section is كتاب النكاح [The Book of Marriage].
Once people get married and reproduce, communities are formed. These communities need to be governed and kept in check, until there is no oppression in the land and everyone lives in harmony. For this reason, the fourth and final section is كتاب الحدود [The Book of Limits & Legal Punishments].
This is the general layout we find in most Fiqh books, however, some scholars may prioritise one chapter over another and mention it before others due to their own reasoning.
For example (I came across the following benefit from Abbas Al-Hatimi, who relayed it from Abdush-Shakur As-Somali - may Allah preserve them both -):
In Mishkaat Al-Masaabeeh, Al-Khateeb At-Tibreezi (D. 741 H) rahimahullah mentions the 'Book of Marriage' before 'The Book of Jihad (Warfare)' even though the latter usually comes under 'The Book of Worship'.
Why did he do this?
Mullaa 'Ali Al-Qari (D. 1014 H) rahimahullah explained:
”قُدّم كتاب النكاح على كتاب السِّيَر والجهاد؛ لأن إيجاد مؤمن أفضل من إعدام ألف كافر!“.
“The Book of Marriage was given precedence over the Book of Military campaigns and Jihad; because producing a single believer (through marriage) is better than executing a thousand disbelievers (in Jihad)!
[Mirqaat Al-Mafaateeh (11/343)]