SHARIAHThe Islamic Law. Literal meaning: Plain Way Technical meaning: The Divine Law

SHARI’AH—The Islamic Law

byDr. Sheikh

Muhammad Ishtiaq

Dr. Sheikh Muhammad IshtiaqBA [ A r a b i c ] , DAE [ E E ]

PG.D [ I s l a m i c F i n a n c e ]

MA [ I s l a m i c S t u d i e s ]

M.Phil [ D a ‘ w a h ]

Ph.D [ A n t h r o p o l o g y ]

DAPS O & A levelsVis it ing Faculty: PAF KIET, PIMSAT

& Bahria UniversityKarachi , Pakistan

i q o f p k@ yahoo . com


Literal meaning: Plain Way

Technical meaning: The Divine Law


�"م ر ر�يع"ة' م&ن" األ "اك" ع"ل"ى ش" 5م3 ج"ع"لن ث " 3ذ�ين" ال "ه و"اء ال �ع أ 3ب "ت " ت �ع ه"ا و"ال 3ب ف"ات

"م5ون" "ع ل ي

Then We have put you (O Prophet) on a plain way of (our) commandment. So follow it and do not follow the desires of those who do not know. (45:18)

SOURCES OF SHARI’AH—The Sources of Islamic Law

The Holy Qur’an

The Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w)

Ijma’ (consensus of the Ummah)

Qiyas (Anology)

THE HOLY QUR’AN

"ي ن" 5م" ب "ح ك �ت �الح"ق& ل "اب" ب �ت "ي ك" الك �ل "ا إ لن "نز" 3ا أ �ن إhه5 اك" الل ر"

" �م"ا أ 3اس� ب الن

Surely, We have sent down to you the Book (this Qur’an) in truth that you might judge between men. (4:105)

THE HOLY QUR’AN

Types of Divine Injunctions:

Express Injunctions:No room for any interpretation

Implied Injunctions:May be interpreted by way of inference

THE HOLY QUR’AN

Example:

Qur’an states: hه5 .. "ح"ل3 الل "ا و"أ ب "ي ع5 م�ث ل5 الر& 3م"ا الب �ن 5وا إ ق"ال

"ا ب م" الر& "ي ع" و"ح"ر3 ..الب...they say: Trade is just like usury ;

whereas Allah permits trading and forbids usury …(Surah Baqarah 2: 275)

SUNNAH—Second Primary Source of Islamic Law

Literal meaning: Way

Technical meaning: Way of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w)


DefinitionA word spoken or an act done or any action ratified by Holy Prophet ( ل7م5 ل7ى الل7ه ع5ل5ي=ه; و5س5 ( ص5


�ين" 5م م{ؤ م�ن 5نت �ن ك "ه5 إ ول س5 3ه" و"ر" "ط�يع5وا الل و"أ And obey Allah and His Messenger. If you are

believers. (Surah Anfal 8:1)

3ذ�ي 5م&ي& ال �ي& األ 3ب �ه� الن ول س5 hه� و"ر" �الل 5وا ب ف"آم�ن5م 3ك "ع"ل �ع5وه5 ل 3ب �ه� و"ات �م"ات "ل hه� و"ك �الل 5ؤ م�ن5 ب ي

"د5ون" "ه ت ت So, believe in Allah and His Messenger, the

unlettered Prophet who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him, so that you may be on the right path.(Surah A’raf 7:158)


Example:

Hadith states: ‘Gold is to be paid for gold, silver by silver, wheat

by wheat, barley by barley, dates by dates, salt by salt, like by like, payment being made hand to hand. He who made an addition to it, or asked for an addition, in fact dealt in usury.’

[Muslim:Book 10: Hadith 3854. The Book of Transactions (Kitab Al-Buyu`)]

IJMA’—Consensus Third Source of Islamic Law

Literal meaning: Consensus

Technical meaning: Unanimity of the learned people of Ummah of Muhammad on any religious issue


DefinitionUnanimous decision of Ulama’ of Ummah on a particular issue in any era.


"ط�يع5وا hه" و"أ "ط�يع5وا الل 5وا أ 3ذ�ين" آم"ن {ه"ا ال ي" "ا أ ي

5م "م ر� ...م�نك و ل�ي األ5 س5ول" و"أ الر3

O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those of you who are in authority...(Surah Nisa 4:59)


"ه5 3ن" ل "ي "ب "ع د� م"ا ت س5ول" م�ن ب اق�ق� الر3 5ش" و"م"ن ي �&ه 5و"ل �ين" ن �يل� الم5ؤ م�ن ب �ع غ"ي ر" س" 3ب "ت اله5د"ى و"ي� اءت م"ص�يرا 3م" و"س" �ه� ج"ه"ن 5ص ل "و"ل3ى و"ن م"ا ت

And whoever opposes the Messenger after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the way of Believers. We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination. (Surah Nisa 4:115)


Hadith:

My Ummah shall never be agreed upon error. (Tirmizi)


Examples:

Compilation of the Holy Qur’an

Translation of the Holy Qur’an

QIYAS—AnalogyFourth Source of Islamic Law

Literal meaning: To measure

Technical Meaning: To discover a ruling of Shari’ah in the light of the basic sources of Islamic law


DefinitionTo apply a recognized rule of Shari’ah expressly mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and/or Sunnah to a similar thing and/or situation.


م�ن "ف"ر" " ن "و ال "آف3ة� ف"ل وا ك "نف�ر5 �ي 5ون" ل "ان" الم5ؤ م�ن 5ل& و"م"ا ك ك �"ف"ق3ه5وا ف�ي الد&ين "ت &ي �ف"ة� ل ق"ة' م&ن ه5م ط"آئ ف�ر 3ه5م "ع"ل "ي ه�م ل �ل ج"ع5وا إ �ذ"ا ر" وا ق"و م"ه5م إ 5نذ�ر5 �ي و"لون" "ح ذ"ر5 ي

And it is not (proper) for the believers to go out to fight (Jihad) all together. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may get instructions in (Islamic) religion, and that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware (of evil). (Surah Tauba 9:122)


Hadith: When Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) intended

to send Mu’adh (r.a) to Yemen as a ruler and a Judge, he asked him: ‘How will you decide the issues when it comes to you?’ Mu’adh (r.a) replied: ‘I shall decide in the light of the Book of Allah (the Holy Qur’an).’ The Holy Prophet (s.a.w) asked: ‘If you do not find it in the Book of Allah (what will you do?)’ He replied: ‘Then, in the light of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.’ Prophet (s.a.w) asked: ‘If you do not find it even in my Sunnah.’...


…Mua’dh (r.a) replied: ‘I shall do Ijtihad on the basis of my understanding and shall not spare any effort (to reach to the truth).’On this Prophet (s.a.w) remarked: ‘Praise be to Allah, who has let the Messenger of the Messenger of Allah to do what pleases him.’ (Abu Dawud, Hadith#3592)


Example: Prohibition of wine drinking [Al-Maidah 5:90], if it is

to be extended to narcotic drugs, the requirement of analogy would be fulfilled in the following mannerAsl (original case) Wine DrinkingFar’ (new case) Taking Narcotic DrugsIllah (cause of ruling) Intoxicating EffectsHukm (ruling) Prohibition


Misconceptions:• Qiyas is based on

rational assessment.

• Qiyas can be exercised even against the explicit provisions of the Holy Qur’an and/or Sunnah.

• Qiyas is meant to find convenience in religion.

Corrections:• Qiyas is based on Qur’an

and/or Sunnah.

• Qiyas can not be exercised in those cases where explicit provisions are found in the Holy Qur’an and/or Sunnah.

• Qiyas is meant to discover Divine Law regardless to convenience and inconvenience.

by Dr. Sheikh Muhammad Ishtiaq

Documents

SHARIAHThe Islamic Law. Literal meaning: Plain Way Technical meaning: The Divine Law