ASSESSING FIQH JURISPRUDENCE CATEGORISATION COMPREHENSION AMONG ISLAMIC STUDIES STUDENTS: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

Fiqh, defined as the human comprehension of Islamic jurisprudence derived from the Qur’an and Sunnah, is a fundamental component of Islamic Studies education and provides a framework for directing practical areas of Muslim life. The fundamental importance of jurisprudential categorisation is essential in fiqh education, however it poses persistent obstacles for students. This study aims to assess the comprehension level of fiqh jurisprudence classification among Islamic Studies students at UiTM Shah Alam as an initial investigation. This study adopted a survey design involving Diploma in Islamic Studies and Education students (n=59) from the Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, UiTM Shah Alam, selected through simple random sampling in line with Johanson and Brooks’ (2010) recommendation for preliminary research. The findings indicate that the understanding of Fiqh classification among UiTM Shah Alam students predominantly falls under the “Good” (39–52.5%) and “Very Good” (30–39%) categories, although the “Excellent” level is rather low (1.7–15.3%). In conclusion, this preliminary study indicates that Islamic Studies students at UiTM Shah Alam possess a robust understanding of fiqh categorisation, primarily within the “Good” and “Very Good” ranges, but face challenges in attaining “Excellent” mastery, implying a necessity for pedagogical improvements to address this deficiency.