Lesson Note on Fiqh: Islamic Shariah and Other Legal Systems for SSS 2

Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS2)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 4
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Islamic Religious Studies
Curriculum Theme: Islamic Jurisprudence and Law
Previous Lesson: Islamic Civilization: Quran and Sunnah as Sources.
Topic: Fiqh.
Subject Matter: Meaning of Fiqh, Islamic Shariah and other legal systems, concept of Islamic Shariah (definition, scope, sources, and goals), comparison with other legal systems (basic points).

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Charts illustrating the sources of Shariah.
• Relevant Islamic Religious Studies textbook.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the foundation of Islamic law and its application in daily life. It also enables them to compare Islamic legal principles with other legal systems, promoting a broader understanding of governance and societal structure.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should have basic knowledge of Islam, its core beliefs, and fundamental practices.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Fiqh: Understanding Islamic Rulings

Meaning of Fiqh

Fiqh literally means “deep understanding” or “full comprehension.” In Islamic terminology, it refers to the science of deriving Islamic legal rulings (Shariah) from their detailed sources (Quran, Sunnah, Ijma, Qiyas) through careful interpretation. It is the human effort to understand and apply divine law.

Concept of Islamic Shariah

Shariah literally means “the path to a watering place” or “the clear, well-trodden path.” In Islam, Shariah refers to the comprehensive divine law revealed by Allah to guide humanity in all aspects of life. It encompasses beliefs, morals, worship, personal conduct, social relations, economic dealings, and governance.

The following are aspects of the scope of Islamic Shariah:

• Ibadat (Acts of Worship): Prayer (Salat), fasting (Sawm), charity (Zakat), pilgrimage (Hajj).
• Muamalat (Transactions/Social Dealings): Marriage, divorce, business, contracts, inheritance, criminal justice.
• Akhlaq (Morals and Ethics): Honesty, integrity, kindness, justice.
• Beliefs (Aqeedah): Monotheism (Tawhid), prophecy, divine books, angels, Day of Judgment.

Primary Sources of Islamic Shariah

The following are the primary sources of Islamic Shariah:

• Quran: The holy book of Islam, believed to be the literal word of Allah.
• Sunnah: The practices, sayings, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
• Ijma (Consensus): The unanimous agreement of Muslim scholars on a specific legal issue after the death of the Prophet.
• Qiyas (Analogical Deduction): Deriving a ruling for a new issue by comparing it with an existing issue that has a ruling in the Quran or Sunnah, based on a common effective cause.

Goals (Maqasid) of Islamic Shariah

The primary objectives of Shariah are to protect and promote the welfare of individuals and society. These include the protection of:

• Religion (Din)
• Life (Nafs)
• Intellect (Aql)
• Progeny/Family (Nasl)
• Wealth/Property (Mal)

Islamic Shariah and Other Legal Systems

Other legal systems include Common Law, Civil Law, and Customary Law. While they all aim to establish justice and order, they differ in their origins, scope, and application.

The following are basic points of comparison:

• Source: Shariah is divinely revealed, while most other systems are human-made (e.g., legislation, judicial precedent).
• Scope: Shariah is comprehensive, covering religious, moral, and legal aspects. Other systems often focus primarily on civil and criminal law.
• Flexibility: Shariah has fixed principles but allows for interpretation (Fiqh) to adapt to new circumstances. Other systems evolve through legislation and judicial rulings.
• Morality: Morality is an integral and inseparable part of Shariah. In other legal systems, law and morality can sometimes be distinct.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them what they understand by “law” and “order” in a society.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by sharing their understanding of law and order.
Learning Point: Pupils are prepared for the lesson by connecting to familiar concepts.

Step 2: Meaning of Fiqh

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the literal and technical meaning of Fiqh, emphasizing its role in understanding Islamic rulings.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and take notes on the definition of Fiqh.
Learning Point: Pupils learn the definition of Fiqh.

Step 3: Concept of Islamic Shariah

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Lecture/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines Islamic Shariah, explains its comprehensive scope, and lists the various aspects it covers (Ibadat, Muamalat, Akhlaq, Aqeedah).
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, ask questions for clarity, and write down the definition and scope of Shariah.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the definition and broad scope of Islamic Shariah.

Step 4: Sources and Goals of Shariah

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Listing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the primary sources of Islamic Shariah (Quran, Sunnah, Ijma, Qiyas) and discusses the five main goals (Maqasid al-Shariah).
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify and list the sources and goals of Shariah.
Learning Point: Pupils identify the foundational sources and objectives of Islamic law.

Step 5: Other Legal Systems

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Information Sharing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly introduces other common legal systems like Common Law, Civil Law, and Customary Law, mentioning their general nature.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and note down the names of other legal systems mentioned.
Learning Point: Pupils become aware of the existence of various legal frameworks beyond Shariah.

Step 6: Comparison with Other Legal Systems

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Comparative Analysis
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on the basic points of comparison between Islamic Shariah and other legal systems, focusing on sources, scope, flexibility, and morality.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in the discussion, highlighting similarities and differences.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the fundamental distinctions between Islamic Shariah and other legal systems.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is the meaning of Fiqh?
2. Define Islamic Shariah.
3. Mention any three primary sources of Islamic Shariah.
4. State two goals of Islamic Shariah.
5. How does Islamic Shariah differ from other legal systems regarding its source?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, reiterating the importance of Fiqh and Shariah in a Muslim’s life. The teacher then gives homework.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their understanding and are given tasks to reinforce learning.

Lesson Keywords

• Fiqh – The science of understanding and applying Islamic legal rulings.
• Shariah – The comprehensive divine law of Islam.
• Quran – The holy book of Islam, a primary source of Shariah.
• Sunnah – The practices, sayings, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad, a primary source of Shariah.
• Ijma – The consensus of Muslim scholars on a legal issue.
• Qiyas – Analogical deduction used in Islamic jurisprudence.
• Maqasid al-Shariah – The overarching goals and objectives of Islamic law.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can assign additional research on specific applications of Fiqh in modern contexts. For pupils needing more support, the teacher will provide simplified notes and one-on-one explanations, focusing on defining key terms and identifying the main sources of Shariah.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should ensure that pupils understand the difference between Fiqh (human understanding/interpretation) and Shariah (divine law). Emphasize that the comparison with other legal systems is for understanding and not to discredit any system. Encourage respectful discussion and critical thinking about the role of law in society.