Theme 1: Religious Figures and Sacred Texts Sources of Shari’a and Hadith Flashcards
Sharia def?
translates literally as the straight path and is often referred to as Islamic law.
Hadith def?
sayings of the Prophet Muhammed
Sunnah def?
the actions of the Prophet Muhammad, which serve as an example for Muslims.
What is Shari’a?
Shari’a originally means “the straight path,” both literally (the shortest route to water) and metaphorically (making morally right decisions in life). Over time, various interpretations and applications of Shari’a emerged, depending on different rulers and contexts. For some Muslims, it serves as a guide for family matters, while for others, it provides a political system to govern society. There is no single, universally agreed-upon Shari’a system, but there is consensus that Islamic laws should be based on several sources.
Sunnah?
The Sunnah refers to the practices and actions of Muhammad, such as how he ate, dressed, and interacted with others, including how to pray and perform Hajj. Muhammad, while not divine, is considered the final messenger of Allah and the perfect example of a Muslim, embodying the teachings of the Quran. His sayings and actions became a model for Muslims to follow. While the Quran is the primary source of guidance, it doesn’t provide all the details of daily life, so the Sunnah is essential, as the Quran instructs Muslims to obey Muhammad (Quran 4:80).
The Quran?
The Quran is considered the direct, unquestionable word of God, providing answers to all matters. It holds a fundamental and paramount status in Islam, as it is viewed as the word of God. While some scholars have questioned its origins, such as the methods of recitation and early versions under Khalif Uthman, the majority of Muslims accept the Quran unconditionally as the ultimate source of knowledge.
Hadith?
The Hadith consists of sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad, shared by his companions (Sahabah) and passed down through generations. It is not considered the word of God like the Quran. After Muhammad’s death, concerns arose over the authenticity of some Hadith, leading scholars like Imam Bukhari and Muslim Ibn al-Hajjaj to collect and authenticate them. Sunni Muslims regard six major collections as the most reliable, while Shi’a Muslims have their own, with some variations. Unlike the Quran, no single version of the Hadith is universally accepted, and some Muslims, like Quranists, reject it altogether, relying solely on the Quran.
The different categories of Hadith
Hadith collections are categorized by reliability:
Sahih: Most reliable, verified as accurately transmitted.
Hassan: Good but may have minor uncertainties.
Daif: Weak, often doubted or fabricated.
Hadith Qudsi: Muhammad’s words inspired by Allah, distinct from the Quran.
Hadith are evaluated for their consistency with the Quran. If they contradict it, they are rejected. The reliability of the isnad (chain of narrators) is crucial for verifying a hadith. Scholars examine whether each narrator is trustworthy and whether the chain is unbroken. Over 200 years passed before hadith were written down, so multiple narrations and chains were used to confirm their authenticity.
Hadith about Umm Warraqh?
The hadith about Umm Warraqh is controversial because it suggests a woman led prayers, which may contradict other hadiths that say only men should lead. Some accept it as a hassan hadith, while others question the reliability of the narrator, Abdul Rahman. This debate highlights how scholars carefully verify hadith authenticity to follow the Prophet’s example.
When faced with issues not clearly addressed in the Quran or Hadith, scholars use Ijma (consensus) and Qiyas (analogy) to make decisions. Ijma refers to a collective agreement, often from the Prophet’s companions, on practices like prayer details. While some restrict it to early generations, others apply it to broader social issues. Both Ijma and Qiyas cannot override the Quran or Hadith.
Fatwa?
A fatwa is an opinion from an Islamic scholar on a matter, binding only on themselves and those who follow them.
There is debate about whether Ijma can apply today and if it requires global agreement among all scholars. Some Muslims view modern scholars’ consensus on issues like abortion and euthanasia as equivalent to Ijma, while others consider them personal opinions without broader authority. Shia Muslims give special status to imams from the Prophet’s family, believing they can interpret the Quran without error.
Qiyas?
Qiyas is a method of reasoning where an original teaching is applied to a new situation. In a hadith, the Prophet advised his companion, Mu’adh, to make decisions based on the Quran, Sunnah, and his own judgment if no clear answer was found. An example is when a woman asked about performing Hajj for her deceased father. The Prophet compared it to paying off a debt, illustrating Qiyas as reasoning by analogy. While Qiyas allows personal reasoning, Shia Muslims prefer the consensus of the Prophet’s family line for interpretations.
Fiqh is the interpretation and understanding of Islamic law, helping humans approach the divine laws of Shariah. While Shariah is God’s law, fiqh explores how it can be understood and applied. Various schools of thought exist, with Sunni Islam having four main ones: Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki, and Hanbali. Shia Islam has its own schools, including Jafari, Zaidiyyah, and Ismaili, while the Abadi school stands apart from both Sunni and Shia interpretations. Despite differences, there are shared principles across these schools.
Al Shafi?
Al-Shafi (767–820 CE), born in Gaza to a Yemeni mother, was a brilliant scholar who memorized the Quran by age 7. He studied in Baghdad and Mecca, engaging with scholars from the Hanafi school. Al-Shafi defined the sources of Islamic law in order of authority: first, the Quran (as the word of God), second, the Sunnah (the example of the Prophet), third, the Ijma (consensus of the Prophet’s companions), and fourth, Qiyas (analogy). He rejected local customs that deviated from the Prophet’s practice. His emphasis was on knowledge that benefits, not just memorized information.
Major law schools?
Major Law Schools in Islam:
The Quran is accepted as divine revelation, but some scholars use reasoning to interpret it, though this approach was once discouraged in Sunni Islam. During the 9th-century Minha inquisition, Khalif al-Mamun pushed a controversial belief that the Quran was written by humans, sparking debates over traditional Islam.
Abu Hanifa (Hanafi) believed in allowing local customs and traditions to influence Shariah interpretations.
Malik ibn Anas (Maliki) valued the traditions of Medina, seeing them as closest to the Prophet’s example.
Al-Shafi (Shafi) emphasized strict adherence to the Quran, Sunnah, and consensus, and limited the use of reasoning (Qiyas).
Shia law schools require scholars to be descendants of the Prophet’s family and emphasize the role of Imams in interpreting the Quran.
As Islam spread, these schools became geographically dominant:
Hanafi in Central Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan
Shafi in Malaysia, Indonesia, East Africa
Maliki in North Africa
Hanbali in Saudi Arabia and UAE
Salafi Muslims reject established schools, advocating for direct interpretation of original sources. This view is opposed by scholars like Abdul Hakim Murad, who argue that only qualified scholars should interpret Shariah.
