Sources of Islamic Law

Islam has given the most comprehensive legal system to mankind. Islamic law covers all aspects of life. Islam has its own personal, civil, criminal, mercantile, evidence, constitutional and international law.

Islamic law has, therefore, not been given by any ruler, remains valid whether recognised by the State or not. The basic source of Islamic law is Divine Revelation:

1. The direct word of Allah, the Quran, is the primary source containing all the fundamental directives and instructions of Allah, is not only a book of law.

2. The Sunnah. The Prophet always acted according to the instructions of Allah. The Sunnah is an Arabic word which means "Method". The Quran says,

"For you the life of the Prophet is a model of behaviour" (Al-Quran 33:21)

Many of books of traditions were compiled by the companions of the Prophet. The Quran and Sunnah are complementary. The Sunnah explains the instructions of the Quran. The Quran and the Sunnah are the primary sources of Islamic law.

Ijma and Qiyas derive their value from the Quran and the Sunnah. Qiyas is the fourth important source of Islamic law, means analogy. The scholars have developed detailed principles of analogical deductions in the books of Islamic jurisprudence.

The Prophet has permitted Ijtihad which literally means 'to exert', is the Islamic method of facing the new situations and problems in the light of the general principles of the book of Allah, the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet.