1. Sources of Islamic Law

Official Syllabus Focus

• Quran
• Sunnah
• Ijma
• Qiyas
• Ijtehad

Introduction and Scope

How the sources work together

The sources of Islamic law are not simply a list of authorities of equal type. The Qur’an and the Sunnah provide foundational revealed guidance. Ijma (juristic consensus), qiyas (analogical reasoning) and ijtihad (qualified juristic reasoning) are methods through which jurists identify, extend and apply legal rules when a question is not resolved by an explicit text. Different schools of law agree on the centrality of the Qur’an and Sunnah but may differ over the authority, conditions or scope of subsidiary methods.

A beginner should therefore ask two questions whenever a rule is discussed: what is the source of the rule, and by what method was the rule derived? This prevents a common mistake in which a later juristic conclusion is presented as though it were an express Qur’anic rule.

Qur’an and Sunnah as foundational authorities

The Qur’an contains legal principles and rules alongside its broader religious and ethical teaching. Legal interpretation requires attention to language, context, general and specific wording, and the relationship between verses. The Sunnah—known through reports concerning the Prophet’s words, acts and approvals—explains, supplements and applies Qur’anic guidance. In classical legal theory, the reliability and legal significance of a report are matters of hadith and usul al-fiqh, not mere quotation.

For examination purposes, it is enough to understand that the Sunnah can explain a general Qur’anic command, provide detail about its implementation, and establish rules within its recognized legal authority. A sound answer avoids unverified quotations and distinguishes a text from the juristic interpretation built upon it.

Ijma, qiyas and ijtihad

Ijma refers to consensus in a technical juristic sense; its exact definition and evidentiary conditions vary in legal theory. Qiyas extends a rule from an original case to a new case because both share a legally relevant effective cause (illah). The structure is: original case → established rule → effective cause → new case possessing that cause → extended rule.

Ijtihad is the disciplined effort of a qualified jurist to derive or apply law where direct and unambiguous textual resolution is unavailable. It is broader than qiyas. Depending on the school and question, jurists may also discuss methods such as istihsan, maslahah, custom (urf), or presumptions. These should be introduced as juristic tools, not as replacements for the primary sources.

Key Comparison

Core Concepts Explained

• The first task is to understand the function of each source. The Quran and Sunnah provide foundational revealed guidance; later juristic methods help derive or extend legal rules where direct textual guidance is not explicit.
• Ijma is discussed as authoritative juristic consensus in classical legal theory, but its definition, proof and scope must be presented carefully because juristic schools have detailed approaches.
• Qiyas is structured analogy: a known ruling is extended to a new case because both share a legally effective cause. The important part is not superficial similarity but the legally relevant reason for the rule.
• Ijtehad is disciplined reasoning by a qualified jurist using recognized sources and methods. It is not unrestricted personal preference and does not allow a jurist simply to ignore clear textual rules.
• For each source prepare meaning, authority, conditions of use and a simple illustration. Then show how the sources relate rather than memorizing them as disconnected definitions.

Preparation and Answer Use

• Prepare definition, authority, conditions and one simple example for each source.
• Learn the hierarchy/relationship without oversimplifying differences among schools.
• Differentiate Qiyas from general personal opinion.

Key Takeaways