Means of reaching issues of fundamentals

Authored by Dr. Ali Saad Al-Duwaihi (Introduction) Praise be to Allah, the Guardian, the Praiseworthy, the Originator, the Restorer, the Effective in what He wills. Blessings and peace be upon the most complete and perfect of messengers, the one sent with the sound religion and the guiding methodology, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions who established the foundations of the religion, demolished the structures of polytheism by raising the banner of monotheism, and followed their path with goodness until the Day of Promise and Threat. As for what follows: The science of Usul al-Fiqh (Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence) is a noble and prominent branch in the system of other Islamic sciences. Its principles have clarified the landmarks of the way for the mujtahids (jurists), illuminated its discussions as pathways for travelers, and eased its issues and the difficulties faced by people. Its methodology is derived from the issues of worldly life and religion. There is no surprise in all of this, for it is the science that fundamentally stems from the correct Islamic methodology, whose foundations have been solidified and whose pillars have been established by the texts of the Noble Book and the Sunnah of the Master of Messengers, upon him blessings and peace. This high status and noble position of knowledge deserve appreciation and respect, and are worthy of reverence and honor. There is no room for criticism or belittling it, nor for diminishing its importance or undermining its carriers. Any suspicion or negative assumption about it is, in fact, evidence of ignorance of the value of this science and its significant impact in refining the intellectual awareness of the Islamic scholar, so that he may better understand how to deal with the texts of the Book and Sunnah.