Principles of Islamic jurisprudence

Usul al-fiqh (Arabic: أصول الفقه, romanized: ʾUṣūl al-Fiqh) or Principles of Islamic jurisprudence are traditional methodological principles used in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) for deriving the rulings of Islamic law (sharia).^[1]

Traditional theory of Islamic jurisprudence elaborates how the scriptures (Quran and hadith) should be interpreted from the standpoint of linguistics and rhetoric.^[2] It also comprises methods for establishing authenticity of hadith and for determining when the legal force of a scriptural passage is abrogated by a passage revealed at a later date.^[2] In addition to the Quran and hadith, the classical theory of Sunni jurisprudence recognizes secondary sources of law: juristic consensus (ijmaʿ) and analogical reasoning (qiyas).^[3] It therefore studies the application and limits of analogy, as well as the value and limits of consensus, along with other methodological principles, some of which are accepted by only certain legal schools (madhahib).^[2] This interpretive apparatus is brought together under the rubric of ijtihad, which refers to a jurist's exertion in an attempt to arrive at a ruling on a particular question.^[2] The theory of Twelver Shia jurisprudence parallels that of Sunni schools with some differences, such as recognition of reason (ʿaql) as a source of law in place of qiyās and extension of the notions of hadith and sunnah to include traditions of the imams. ^[1]^[4]

Etymology[edit]

Uṣūl al-fiqh is a genitive construction with two Arabic terms, uṣūl and fiqh. Uṣūl means roots or basis. Some says, Uṣūl, the plural form of Aṣl, means Rājih (preponderant). Also means Qā’idah (rules) which the real application of the word. For example: "every sentence must contain a verb" is a rule of Grammar. Fiqh linguistically refers to knowledge, deep understanding or comprehension. In the context of Islamic law, it refers to traditional Islamic jurisprudence.

According to the view, the only sources of law are the Quran and the Hadith, and any case not explicitly covered by one of these must be regarded as not having been provided for.

Akhbari

According to the majority view, it is legitimate to seek general principles by induction, to provide for cases not expressly provided for. This process is known as ijtihad, and the intellect is recognised as a source of law. It differs from the Sunni qiyas in that it does not simply extend existing laws on a test of factual resemblance: it is necessary to formulate a general principle that can be rationally supported.

Usuli

Ja'far al-Sadiq

Abu Hanifa

Al-Shafi'i

Malik ibn Anas

Ahmad ibn Hanbal

Al-Amidi

Al-Ghazali

Al-Sarakhsi

Al-Isnawi

Abu Yusuf

Shaybani

Al-Qurtubi

Al-Layth ibn Sa'd

Sufyan ibn ʽUyaynah

Abdullah ibn Mubarak

Sufyan al-Thawri

Sheikh Abdur Rahman Nasir as sathi

Sheikh Adam Al ethiyopie

Sources of Islamic law

Fiqh

Seventy-three Sects (Hadith)

Brown, Jonathan A. C. (2009). . In John L. Esposito (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on October 11, 2017.

"Maṣlaḥah"

Calder, Norman (2009). . In John L. Esposito (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008.

"Law. Legal Thought and Jurisprudence"

Dahlén, Ashk (2003), , New York: Routledge, ISBN 9780415945295

Islamic Law, Epistemology and Modernity. Legal Philosophy in Contemporary Iran

Duderija, Adis (2014). Adis Duderija (ed.). Contemporary Muslim Reformist Thought and Maqāṣid cum Maṣlaḥa Approaches to Islamic Law: An Introduction. Vol. Maqasid al-Shari'a and Contemporary Reformist Muslim Thought: An Examination. Springer.

Gleave, R.M. (2012). "Maḳāṣid al-Sharīʿa". In P. Bearman; Th. Bianquis; C.E. Bosworth; E. van Donzel; W.P. Heinrichs (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd ed.). Brill. :10.1163/1573-3912_islam_SIM_8809.

doi

(2014). Legal Traditions of the World – Sustainable Diversity in Law (5th edition), Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0199669837.

Glenn, H. Patrick

(2009). An Introduction to Islamic Law. Cambridge University Press.

Hallaq, Wael B.

(2014). "Sunni Schools of Jurisprudence". In Emad El-Din Shahin (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam and Politics. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref:oiso/9780199739356.001.0001. ISBN 9780199739356.

Hussin, Iza

(1999). John Esposito (ed.). Law and Society. Vol. The Oxford History of Islam. Oxford University Press (Kindle edition).

Kamali, Mohammad Hashim

Opwis, Felicitas (2007). Abbas Amanat; Frank Griffel (eds.). Islamic Law and Legal Change: The Concept of Maslaha in Classical and Contemporary Legal Theory. Vol. Shari'a: Islamic Law in the Contemporary Context (Kindle ed.). Stanford University Press.

Rabb, Intisar A. (2009). . In John L. Esposito (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008.

"Law. Civil Law & Courts"

Rabb, Intisar A. (2009b). "Fiqh". In John L. Esposito (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. :10.1093/acref/9780195305135.001.0001. ISBN 9780195305135.

doi

Rabb, Intisar A. (2009c). "Ijtihād". In John L. Esposito (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. :10.1093/acref/9780195305135.001.0001. ISBN 9780195305135.

doi

Schneider, Irene (2014). "Fiqh". In Emad El-Din Shahin (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam and Politics. Oxford University Press. :10.1093/acref:oiso/9780199739356.001.0001. ISBN 9780199739356.

doi

Vikør, Knut S. (2014). . In Emad El-Din Shahin (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam and Politics. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2014.

"Sharīʿah"

Ziadeh, Farhat J. (2009). "Uṣūl al-fiqh". In John L. Esposito (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. :10.1093/acref/9780195305135.001.0001. ISBN 9780195305135.

doi

Ziadeh, Farhat J. (2009b). . In John L. Esposito (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008.

"Law. Sunnī Schools of Law"

by Shah Abdul Hannan