Islamic law

Islamic law comprises doctrines, interpretive methods, and institutions developed by Muslim jurists and communities from Islamic sources. It includes both jurisprudence and historically varied legal practices.

Quran: The central scripture of Islam, regarded by Muslims as divine revelation conveyed to Muhammad. It is the primary textual source jurists interpret for legal guidance.
Fiqh: Human understanding and interpretation of Islamic legal norms, expressed in doctrines and rulings. It is the juristic body of doctrine distinguished from divine law itself.
Ottoman legal system: The institutions and legal practices through which the Ottoman Empire governed its diverse population. Ottoman governance combined juristic doctrine, sultanic regulations, and administrative practice.
Sharia: The divinely guided path in Islam, understood through revelation and human interpretation. Sharia is often used broadly, while Islamic law also names its juristic and institutional development.
Sunnah: The normative example of Muhammad, transmitted chiefly through reports of his words, actions, and approvals. Jurists use reports of the Prophet’s practice alongside Quranic passages.
Madhhab: A recognized school of Islamic jurisprudence with characteristic methods and accumulated doctrines. Schools preserve interpretive traditions and shape how rulings are formulated.
Sharia courts: Courts that adjudicate matters under Islamic legal doctrines, with forms varying across time and place. Their records reveal how juristic rules were applied in social and administrative life.
Secular law: Law whose authority and institutions are not grounded in religious doctrine. Its institutional basis contrasts with legal systems that draw authority from Islamic sources.
Hadith: A transmitted report describing something Muhammad said, did, or approved. Hadith reports preserve much of the Sunnah used in legal reasoning.
Qiyas: Analogical reasoning that extends a ruling from an established case to a new case sharing its effective cause. Analogy lets jurists address cases not named directly in foundational texts.

Linked from 12 pages