Is memorizing the book "'Umdat al-Ahkam," with the aid of its commentaries and listening to them, sufficient to dispense with memorizing the legal texts of Fiqh, such as "Zad al-Mustaqni'," for the methodical pursuit of religious knowledge, or is it essential for a firmly grounded student of knowledge to first study Fiqh according to one of the madhhabs?

Seeking religious knowledge is one of the best acts of drawing closer to Allah. Seeking knowledge that rectifies one's creed and worship is an individual obligation (fard ayn). Memorizing "Umdat al-Ahkam" and understanding its meanings is a great good, but it does not suffice for reading jurisprudential texts (mutun fiqhiyyah) that detail the finer points of jurisprudence.

We advise the questioner to fear Allah, be sincere, not be content with a single book, read under a pious, devout, and ascetic shaykh, be patient in seeking knowledge, and not rush. Knowledge can be sought during free time.