Is studying legal rulings more virtuous than contemplating the Qur’an, as your brother claims?

If the brother is studying the rulings of individual obligations (fard al-ayn) such as prayer and purification, then his engagement with them is more deserving, as they are an individual obligation after knowledge of creed. However, if he has already acquired the knowledge of individual obligations, then studying the interpretation of the Noble Quran and pondering its meanings is more deserving, due to Allah Almighty’s saying: "A Book We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may ponder over its Verses." This matter may differ from person to person according to their inclinations and abilities; what is secondary for others may be more beneficial and beloved to him. Learning fiqh does not require an ijazah (authorization), and whoever is able to benefit from jurisprudential rulings has the right to examine them. As for ijtihad (definition) (independent reasoning) in deriving subsidiary Sharia (definition) rulings, it has specific conditions that must be met by the mujtahid (one who performs ijtihad).