Course Overview:
This winter break, Talweeh Academy is pleased to offer an intensive crash course in Legal Theory within the Ḥanafī School. Legal theory (uṣūl al-fiqh) is the discipline that distinguishes the trained jurist from the lay reader; it provides the analytical tools necessary to understand the principles by which legal rulings are derived. As such, it is among the most intricate and intellectually demanding fields of Islamic studies.
In this course, Talweeh Academy will provide a clear and comprehensive study of Ḥanafī uṣūl based on the work of Shaykh Omer Khurshid. Traditionally, students of the Ḥanafī school began their engagement with legal theory through Uṣūl al-Shāshī, a text widely recognized as challenging for beginners. Although Mabādiʿ al-Uṣūl was later introduced as a concise entry point, it remains a summary of the same foundational work, and leaves out essential discussions.
Drawing on multiple pedagogical approaches, Shaykh Omer has compiled a refined instructional text designed to bridge the gaps often encountered in the standard Ḥanafī curriculum. This course employs that text to provide beginning and intermediate students with a structured, accessible, and rigorous introduction to Ḥanafī legal theory.
Instructor:
Shaykh Omer Khurshid brings a rare and well-rounded expertise to the study of uṣūl al-fiqh, having been formally trained in both the Ḥanafī and Shāfiʿī traditions of legal theory. His foundational studies in the Ḥanafī strand include Mabādiʾ al-Uṣūl, Uṣūl al-Shāshī, and Manār al-Anwār. He further advanced his mastery of Ḥanafī uṣūl under the guidance of Shaykh Hasībullah Jawzjānī, with whom he studied Husāmī, portions of al- Talwīḥ ala al-Tawḍīh, as well as Musallam al-Thubūt.
Complementing this, Shaykh Omer also pursued rigorous training in the Shāfiʿī school of legal theory under the distinguished Shāfiʿī scholar and author Shaykh Ṣafwān Dāwūdī. With him, he studied Miftāḥ al-Uṣūl, Sharḥ al-Waraqāt, Lubāb fī Uṣūl al-Fiqh, he furthered his study with portions of Mukhtaṣar al-Bulbul and al-Badr al-Ṭāliʿ.
This dual specialization affords Shaykh Omer a comprehensive comparative perspective on the science of legal theory. Deeply passionate about uṣūl al-fiqh, he has been teaching its logical foundations—as well as classical manṭiq—for the past five years and continues to engage in active research in the field.
What Makes This Course Text Unique
This specially prepared course stands out for its clarity, structure, and pedagogical depth. Several features distinguish it from traditional introductory works in Ḥanafī uṣūl al-fiqh:
- Comprehensive Preliminary Foundations
The course begins with a rich set of introductory discussions often absent from standard primers. These include detailed treatments of:
- Definitions of uṣūl al-fiqh (as a compound term, linguistically, and technically)
- The nature of legal evidences and their epistemic considerations
- Definitions of fiqh (linguistic and technical)
- The purpose, scope, and history of uṣūl al-fiqh
- Its relationship to Arabic grammar, logic, and theology
- The major methodological approaches (manāhij)—Ḥanafī and non-Ḥanafī
- Logical preliminaries such as types of cognition, definitions of knowledge and ignorance, and classifications of assent
These foundations equip beginners with the conceptual tools needed to engage more advanced discussions.
- Expanded Coverage of Key Theoretical Issues
Important topics commonly overlooked in introductory Ḥanafī texts are included and explained in detail, such as:
- Formulations of generality (ṣiyagh al-ʿumūm) and particularisation (Takhsīs)
- Commands and prohibitions (ṣiyagh)
- Disputed evidences
- Istişḥāb (presumption of continuity)
- Methods of resolving conflicts between evidences (al-muʿāraḍah wa al-tarjīḥ)
- Ijtihād and the conditions of absolute juristic reasoning
These additions bring the text closer to a holistic presentation of classical uṣūl.
- Structure Aligned With Later Ḥanafī Works
The sequence of topics has been reorganized to reflect the structure found in later authoritative Ḥanafī works such as (Mirāt al-Uṣūl), making the text more coherent and pedagogically accessible. - Abundant Illustrative Examples
To support early-stage learners, the text includes many additional examples that clarify abstract concepts and demonstrate their practical application.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, students will have a solid understanding of:
- Explain what uṣūl al-fiqh is and describe its purpose and importance in the study of Islamic law.
- Define key terms such as uṣūl, fiqh, evidence (dalīl), and the basic categories of legal rulings.
- Recognize the main differences between the Ḥanafī approach to legal theory and the approach of the majority (jumhūr).
- Understand the historical development of uṣūl al-fiqh and how it became a specialized discipline.
- Identify the basic logical tools used in uṣūl, such as types of knowledge, understanding, and reasoning.
- Distinguish between the major types of legal rulings, including obligatory, recommended, permissible, disliked, and prohibited.
- Understand how texts are interpreted, including concepts like general and specific wording, commands and prohibitions, and the strength of different evidences.
- Recognize what juristic disagreement and evidence conflict mean and understand the basic idea behind reconciling or giving preference between evidences.
- Describe the concept of ijtihād in simple terms, including who qualifies for it and why it matters.
- Apply basic principles of uṣūl to simple examples, showing an ability to connect theory to legal reasoning.
Why This Course?
This course is perfect for beginners and those that wish to review Usul—concise, clear, and impactful. It distills Hanafi uṣūl into a sequence of lessons that:
- Build gradually and logically
- Prioritize applications rather than memorization
- Provide a reliable foundation for studying advanced Hanafi texts in the future
Course Details:
The intensive will be held throughout the two week Winter Break starting on December 21st 2025 (Sunday to Thursday both weeks)
Class timings will be from 1:30 pm EST – 3:30 pm EST (timings are subject to slight change based on the Sheikh’s availability)
Recordings will be provided
Course price: 100 USD
Course Curriculum
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Telegram group for access to live classes (copy)
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Ḥanafī Uṣūl al-Fiqh 101 Overview
40:10 -
Ḥanafī Uṣūl al-Fiqh 101 Lesson 1
56:16
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