Question:

What is the difference between creed and jurisprudence and why are they so important?

Answer:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Aqeedah, which is the Arabic term for creed, refers to the core principles of Imaan (faith), which one must believe in with complete certainty and conviction without any doubts. These core principles include: belief in Allah, belief in His angels, His books, His messengers, the day of judgement, and His divine decree, the good and the bad. Aqeedah comprises of the beliefs which ultimately differentiate between a Muslim and a non-Muslim. Incorrect Aqeedah can potentially lead one out of the fold of Islam.
 
Fiqh, which is the Arabic term for Islamic jurisprudence, linguistically means deep understanding or full comprehension. Fiqh refers to the rulings of the Shariah in relation to physical actions and mutual dealings extracted from the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ). It establishes the boundaries outlined by Allah Ta'ala on what is halal and what is haram and also illustrates how a Muslim must live his life on a day-to-day basis.
 
Thus, in essence, creed is related to beliefs, whilst jurisprudence is related to actions. Creed and jurisprudence are both essential elements of Islam.

And Allah Ta'ala knows best.
 
Sh.   Ahmed Jariwala
28/08/2023
 
Checked  and  approved  by:
Mufti Faizal Riza
Mufti Anas  Qazi
 
Darul  Ifta Australia
www.fatwa.org.au

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﴿آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِ ۚ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ﴾ [سورة البقرة، الآية ٢٨٥]

 

 

﴿وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ﴾ [سورة النحل، الآية ٤٣]

في القاموس الفقهي (سعدي أبو جيب):

 

(ص ٢٥٦) العقيدة: الحكم الذي لا يقبل الشك فيه لدى معتقده.

في الدين: ما يقصد به الاعتقاد دون العمل، كعقيدة وجود الله، وبعثة الرسل.

 

 (ص ٢٨٩) الفقه: الفهم، والفطنة.

العلم بالشيء، ثم خص بعلم الشريعة.

في المجلة (م ١): علم بالمسائل الشرعية العملية.

في اصطلاح أهل الأصول: هو العلم بالأحكام الشرعية الفرعية، المكتسب من أدلتها التفصيلية. (الحصكفي)