In this section, we will review all the terms we have come across so far. How many can you remember? Test yourself by covering the definitions on the right hand side.
TERMS | MEANING/EXPLANATION |
Generation of Sam’i | Generation of “listeners”, eyewitnesses, Companions |
Generation of Jam’i | Generation of “gatherers”, collectors (of hadith), Successors of the Companions |
Tabi’un | Followers of the Companions of the Prophet |
Tabi’u al-Tabi’in | Followers of the Successors of the Companions of the Prophet |
Fiqh | Literally, deep understanding; technically, Islamic Jurisprudence |
Usul al-Fiqh | Literally, the roots of Islamic Jurisprudence; technically, the study of the principles, proofs and methodologies through which Islamic rulings are inferred |
Ijtihad | Juristic reasoning, to deduce rulings that are not explicitly stated in the Qur’an and Sunnah |
Mujtahid | A distinguished jurist; one who is qualified to engage in ijtihad |
Madhhab | A school of juristic thought. School of legal theory or law |
Fatwa | A religious answer, verdict or ruling given by a mujtahid or a mufti |
Faqih | A specialist in Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) |
Mufti | A scholar authorised to give specific religious answers or verdicts (fatwas) for the people of a geographical area |
Bid’ah | Innovations, usually blameworthy innovations in religion, or heresy |
Ahkam al-Shar‘iyyah | Value-judgments or rulings of the Shari’ah |
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- List the 3 main historical phases in the evolution of Usul al-Fiqh and their main topics and contributions to the field.
- Which came first, Fiqh or Usul al-Fiqh, and why?
- Would it be correct to describe Imam Shafi’i as the founder of Usul al-Fiqh?
- List the 4 major Sunni Imams in their chronological order.