Usul al-Fiqh is a fundamental discipline in Islamic law that examines how rulings are derived from sources such as the Qur'an, Sunnah, consensus (ijma'), and analogy (qiyas). While Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) teaches practical rulings, usul al-fiqh elucidates the logic and methodology underlying these rulings. The usul al-fiqh texts studied at DİDAR Academy from the second year onwards offer a comprehensive program, starting with Pezdevî's Usul al-Pezdevî and extending to Ibn al-Humam's al-Tahrir. This education aims for the student to become a scholar who not only memorizes rulings but also comprehends their underlying justifications.
In the DİDAR curriculum, the initial source for usul al-fiqh education is Pezdevî's Usul al-Pezdevî. This work, one of the most fundamental texts of the Hanafi usul tradition, teaches students the concept of evidence, the rulings of commands and prohibitions, and the conditions for consensus and analogy. After acquiring basic usul concepts with Pezdevî, the subject is deepened with Serakhsî's Usul al-Serakhsî. Serakhsî's work addresses usul issues within a broader framework, enabling students to recognize different approaches. The sequential study of these two texts ensures that usul al-fiqh education is built upon a solid foundation.
The discipline of text study in usul al-fiqh is conducted in parallel with fiqh lessons at DİDAR. While a student reads a ruling in Serakhsî's al-Mabsut, they simultaneously learn the evidence and method of deriving that ruling from Pezdevî. This parallel structure ensures that usul knowledge does not remain abstract but is reinforced with living examples in fiqh texts. During study hours, students individually review the usul topics covered in lessons; in discussion groups, they deepen their understanding by debating evidence.
Ibn al-Humam's al-Tahrir, studied in the third and fourth years, represents the advanced stage of usul al-fiqh education. This work is a comprehensive text that delves into the most intricate points of usul issues. With Ibn al-Humam's al-Tahrir, students delve into the theoretical depth of usul al-fiqh while also gaining the ability to compare the views of different scholars. The work Usul al-Ifta wa Adabuhu by Taqī Uthmani, studied in the final year of the DİDAR curriculum, completes the education by connecting usul knowledge with the practice of issuing fatwas.
Knowledge of usul al-fiqh is also a prerequisite for approaching contemporary fiqh issues soundly. Faced with new issues, students must know which evidences to refer to, how to perform analogy, and the limits of consensus. The Contemporary Fiqh Issues course, taught in the fourth year of the DİDAR curriculum, connects classical usul knowledge with current problems. This stage is the period of maturity where the four-year usul al-fiqh education yields practical fruits. Students can now evaluate a ruling not only by its outcome but also by its chain of evidence and method of inference.
The relationship between usul al-fiqh and logic is also considered in the DİDAR curriculum. Logic lessons taught in the fourth year strengthen students' ability to construct arguments and evaluate evidence in usul issues. Logic texts such as Mizan al-Uqul and Idah al-Mubham reinforce the logical infrastructure of usul al-fiqh education. The complementarity of these two disciplines is an important indicator of DİDAR's holistic approach to knowledge.
Students studying at the Faculty of Theology directly benefit from DİDAR's usul al-fiqh education in their faculty usul courses. The experience of reading classical texts and the discipline of individual study and discussion enable a deeper understanding of issues encountered in faculty courses. Formal and distance education students can attend usul al-fiqh courses with flexible schedules at the Kayseri, Istanbul, and Kocaeli branches. Progress tracking applications regularly measure students' advancement in usul issues. Homework assistance and exam preparation support provide additional study opportunities for students struggling with usul courses.
In conclusion, usul al-fiqh is an indispensable discipline that elucidates the theory and methodology of Islamic jurisprudence. When the chain of sources extending from Pezdevî to Ibn al-Humam, the educational model running parallel with fiqh texts, and the discipline of individual study and discussion come together, students grasp the fundamental principles of deriving rulings. DİDAR Academy, with this systematic usul al-fiqh education, opens the doors to a reliable and profound understanding of Islamic jurisprudence for young people.