Fakih

The concept of "phakiches" developed in the second half of the VII century. It is primarily associated with the activities of the theological and legal schools of Hijaz and Iraq , which sought to develop norms of the Islamic way of life based on the Qur'an and the Sunnah . The first Fakihs belonged mainly to the urban trade and craft environment and received livelihoods from sources unrelated to theology. For them, this was only part of the fulfillment of religious duty and a pious occupation. With the rapid increase in the required amount of knowledge, the number of people who were professionally engaged in fiqh (teachers, intercessors, compilers, scribes, etc.) increased. Professional knowledge of fiqh was also necessary for judges ( kadi ) and officials ^[1] .

By the 9th century, the Fakihs already represented an influential layer of the urban population, which rulers had to reckon with. They had a great influence on the political and social life of Islamic states , as candidates for various government posts were appointed mainly from their midst ^[1] .

Currently, the Fakihs continue to maintain their influence. Where Islamic positions are strong, the influence of the Fakihs is also strong. In popular literature, the Fakihs are conditionally equated with the clergy . Modern Fakihs have no social privileges; simultaneously with the theological studies, all kinds of activities are permissible for them ^[1] .

• Bogolyubov A. S. Fakikh // Islam: Encyclopedic Dictionary / Otv. ed. S. M. Prozorov . - M .: Science ,GDVL , 1991 . - S. 250. - ISBN 5-02-016941-2 .
• Ali-zade, A.A. Fakih // Islamic Encyclopedic Dictionary . - M .: Ansar , 2007 .-- S. http://islamicencyclopedia.narod.ru/articles/801.html .