As-salaamu 3laikum. When I became a Muslim I did not learn much about aqeedah except for the central points. I had one book about tawheed but after that I went for a while without learning more becauseI didn't know what I had to learn or how. Now I try to learn what I can but I always feel there are still gaps in my knowledge and understanding of aqeedah and I worry about it a lot, especially as many questions occur to me on a daily basis and sometimes I have trouble remembering them all. I used to write my questions down but it didn't work 100 per cent because sometimes I didn't have that notebook with me when a question came to my mind. Then of course I cannot put all of the questions to the scholars at once. So there may be a delay of several weeks or months between a question first occurring to me and actually getting the answer. Also I am never sure how to prioritise my questions in terms of which ones I need to ask first. What should I do if I need to act on or think about one of the things I am waiting for a ruling on? Will I have the excuse of ignorance if I do something wrong? Do I have to refrain from doing everything I have doubts about before finding out the ruling on it? As this can be difficult, especially if you have to explain why you are not doing something to someone else without knowing the ruling on it yourself. Also, is it haram to deliberately think about your own opinion on any everyday matter before knowing the exact Islamic ruling on it? Since as I said it may take a long time to find that out. Jazaakum Allahu khair

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Dear sister, first of all, we congratulate you on the blessing of embracing Islam. It is indeed a great blessing that requires being grateful to Allaah and being keen on seeking beneficial knowledge, performing righteous deeds, keeping company with righteous and pious women and cooperating with them in doing good and in calling to Allaah. Allaah says (what means): {The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give Zakah and obey Allaah and His Messenger. Those – Allaah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allaah is Exalted in Might and Wise.} [Quran 9:71]

You should note that regarding faith, you must have a general and not a detailed knowledge of it; this is enough for your faith to be correct, and anything else is desirable to learn, not obligatory. It is obligatory to learn anything by which your ‘Aqeedah, your acts of worship and the interactions you engage in will be valid. Anything beyond this is among the communal obligations and not an individual obligation. It is on this basis that you should prioritize your questions; you should give individual obligations precedence to communal obligations, and so forth. We have audio lectures on our website about many matters which you may need, so we advise you to take advantage of them.

You should not obsess over these questions; it is enough for you to ask about what you need at its time before taking action, and you can get phone numbers of the Fatwa departments of the Islamic Centers in your country so that you can ask them questions when needed. Allaah says (what means): {So ask the people of the message if you do not know.} [Quran 16:43]

However, if one endeavors to know the truth and is not able to do so, and he acts ignorantly, then he will be forgiven for it – Allaah willing. Allaah says (what means): {So fear Allaah as much as you are able.} [Quran 64:16] Allaah also says (what means): {And Allaah would not let a people stray after He has guided them until He makes clear to them what they should avoid. Indeed, Allaah is knowing of all things.} [Quran 9:115]

It is worth reminding you here of two jurisprudential rules that you may find useful: in principle, all customary acts (i.e. not acts of worship) are permissible; so you are permitted to do all matters that fall within habit/custom unless there is evidence which proves that something is forbidden. By contrast, in regard to acts of worship, they are forbidden and Tawqeefiyyah (i.e. determined only by the Quran or the Sunnah, and not amenable to personal opinion) and only what Allaah has legislated is permissible. The evidence for the first rule is the words of Allaah (which mean): {It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth.} [Quran 2:29] The evidence for the second rule is a Hadeeth in Al-Bukhari and Muslim, from ‘Aa’ishah in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever introduces in this matter of ours (Islam) that which is not part of it, it will be rejected."

Finally, one is not forbidden from deliberately thinking about a matter concerning which one may need to know the Islamic law; in fact, this is essentially commendable as long as it does not go beyond moderation.

Allaah Knows best.