The Sources of Islamic Law (Shariah)

The sources of Islamic law, also known as Shariah, are the primary texts and traditions of Islam that guide Muslims in their beliefs and practices. The two main sources of Islamic law are:

The Quran: The Quran is considered the primary and most important source of Islamic law. It is the holy book of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel. The Quran contains 114 chapters, or surahs, that provide guidance on a wide range of topics, including faith, morality, and daily life.

The Sunnah: The Sunnah refers to the actions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, as recorded in the Hadith literature. Hadith are collections of sayings and actions attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, and they provide guidance on how Muslims should live their lives. The Sunnah is considered the second most important source of Islamic law after the Quran, as it provides practical guidance on how to apply the Quran's teachings.

In addition to the Quran and the Sunnah, there are other sources of Islamic law, including:

Ijma: Ijma refers to the consensus of scholars on a particular issue. It is based on the principle that the community of scholars is more likely to arrive at the correct interpretation of Islamic law than an individual.

Qiyas: Qiyas refers to analogical reasoning, or the process of applying the principles of Islamic law to new situations based on analogy with established rulings.

Ijtihad: Ijtihad refers to independent reasoning and the exercise of personal judgment by scholars to arrive at a legal ruling on a particular issue.

Together, these sources of Islamic law provide guidance to Muslims on how to live their lives in accordance with the principles and teachings of Islam.

According to Quran

According to the Islamic belief, the Quran is considered the primary and most important source of Islamic law. The Quran is believed to be the word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel. The Quran contains guidance on a wide range of topics, including faith, morality, and daily life. Muslims believe that the Quran is a complete and perfect guide to life, and that it contains everything necessary for human beings to live in accordance with God's will.

Therefore, when Muslims seek guidance on matters of Islamic law, the Quran is often their first and most important point of reference. They will also refer to the Sunnah, which is the example and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as recorded in the Hadith literature, as a complementary source of guidance.

According to Hadith

Shariah, also known as Islamic law, is based on the primary sources of Islam, which are the Quran and the Sunnah. The Sunnah refers to the actions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, as recorded in the Hadith literature. Hadith are collections of sayings and actions attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, and they provide guidance on how Muslims should live their lives.

Islamic scholars and jurists have used the Hadith literature to derive principles and laws to govern various aspects of Muslim life. The Hadith literature is an essential source of Islamic law and has played a significant role in the development of Islamic jurisprudence. Islamic scholars have classified Hadith into categories based on their authenticity, and the most authentic Hadith are considered to be the most reliable sources of guidance on Islamic law.

Therefore, when Muslims seek guidance on matters of Islamic law, they refer to the Hadith literature, particularly the most authentic Hadith, to understand the Prophet's teachings and actions and apply them to their lives. The Hadith literature is a complementary source of guidance to the Quran and is used in conjunction with the Quran to derive Islamic law.

The Hadith collections of Bukhari and Muslim are considered the most authentic and widely used sources of Hadith. Their reference numbers are:

Sahih Bukhari: Hadith collection by Imam Bukhari, contains 7,275 Hadith. Each Hadith is identified by a number, and the reference format is: Sahih Bukhari Volume Number, Book Number, Hadith Number.

Sahih Muslim: Hadith collection by Imam Muslim, contains 7,190 Hadith. Each Hadith is identified by a number, and the reference format is: Sahih Muslim Book Number, Hadith Number.

Other important Hadith collections include:

Sunan Abu Dawud: Hadith collection by Imam Abu Dawud, contains 5,274 Hadith. Each Hadith is identified by a number, and the reference format is: Sunan Abu Dawud Book Number, Hadith Number.

Jami at-Tirmidhi: Hadith collection by Imam Tirmidhi, contains 3,956 Hadith. Each Hadith is identified by a number, and the reference format is: Jami at-Tirmidhi Book Number, Hadith Number.

Sunan Ibn Majah: Hadith collection by Imam Ibn Majah, contains 4,341 Hadith. Each Hadith is identified by a number, and the reference format is: Sunan Ibn Majah Book Number, Hadith Number.

Islamic scholars and jurists also use these Hadith collections as references for deriving Islamic law and developing Islamic jurisprudence.