Shari’ah rulings, Ahkam al-Shar‘iyyah are usually grouped into 2 major categories or types. Those that deal with what is permitted or prohibited for a responsible adult Muslim (mukallif) are referred to as “defining law” (al-hukm al-taklifi), while those that deal with the factors and circumstances that make the permitted and prohibited correct and appropriate for their purposes are referred to as “Declaratory law” (al-hukm al-wad’i).
