Introduction cont

The Two Methodologies

When it comes to usul al-fiqh there are two main approaches:

1. al-manhaj al-hanafiyyah also known as al-manhaj al-fuqaha - this approach was the deductive approach
2. al-manhaj al-shafi'iyyah also known as al-manhaj al-mutakallimin - this was the theoretical approach

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The al- adillah al-shar'iyyah

The sources of the shari'ah, whereby rulings (ahkam) are extracted are called al-adillah al-shar'iyyah. The sources of the shari'ah are extremely important to Islam, as this is where all the Islamic rules and regulations are derived from, without which there would be no rulings.

Dalil:

• Literally refers to a indication and evidence.
• Technically a dalil is an indication that leads to a ruling in shari'ah.

There are four agreed upon sources:

1. Kitab Allah - The book of Allah
2. Sunnah al-rasul - The tradition of the Messenger (Allah bless him & give him peace)
3. Ijma' - Consensus of the specialist 'ulama
4. Qiyas - legal reasoning/analogy