Description

Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence (Second Revised Edition)

by Mohammad Hashim Kamali

This book offers the only detailed presentation available in English of the theory of Muslim law (usul al-fiqh). Often regarded as the most sophisticated of the traditional Islamic disciplines, Islamic jurisprudence is concerned with the way in which the rituals and laws of religion are derived from the Qur’an and the Sunna – the precedent of the Prophet. Revelation, which is given to man to restore unity and help him achieve a just and devout order in society as well as in the soul, must be interpreted so as to render it practicable in every culture, while not betraying its spirit and immutable provisions. To achieve this, additional sources of legal authority are recognised, including consensus (ijma’), analogical reasoning (qiyas), public interest (maslaha) and local customary precedent (‘urf). In employing these, the jurist guards the five principles which it is the purpose of Islamic law to uphold, namely, the right to life, sound mind, property, lineage, and religion.

Written as a university textbook, Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence avoids the use of unnecessary technical expressions and endeavors to use Western legal terms wherever these are appropriate, while remaining close to the Arabic sources. Distinguished by its clarity and readability, it is an essential reference work not only for students of Islamic law, but also for anyone with an interest in Muslim society or in issue of comparative jurisprudence.