The Application of Usul Al-Fiqh Methodology in Bahtsul Masail Practices at Mambaus Sholihin Islamic Boarding School Suci Manyar Gresik

Abstract

This study aims to examine how ushul fiqh methodology is practiced in bahtsul masail activities at Mambaus Sholihin Islamic Boarding School, Suci, Manyar, Gresik, and to explore its implications for Islamic legal education in the pesantren context. This research employed a qualitative field approach through direct observation of bahtsul masail sessions and in-depth interviews with teachers and students involved in the discussions. The findings indicate that bahtsul masail follows a flexible but recognizable procedural pattern, beginning with problem formulation, followed by the exploration of classical legal sources, argumentative exchange, and collective decision making. Legal reasoning in the forum is not limited to the reproduction of juristic opinions, but involves the practical use of ushul fiqh tools such as identifying legal causes, analogical reasoning, and the application of legal maxims, although these tools are rarely stated explicitly. The study also shows that bahtsul masail plays a central role in shaping students’ methodological understanding of Islamic law. However, junior students often experience difficulty in tracing the reasoning process behind legal conclusions. This study concludes that bahtsul masail provides an effective learning space for internalizing ushul fiqh, while stronger integration with formal instruction is needed to enhance conceptual clarity and broader participation