CONTENTS: Foreword Preface Note on Transliteration . Introduction . Chapter I Meaning of the term Fiqh and other allied terms Chapter II -Origins of the Early Schools of Law Chapter III The Sources of Islamic Law Chapter IV The Theory of Naskh. Chapter V The Sunnah—its Early Concept and Development Chapter VI Early Modes of Ijtihad: Ray Qjyds and Istihsan Chapter VII Ijma in the Early Schools . Chapter VIII Al-Shafi's role in the development of Islamic Jurisprudence . Conclusion . Bibliography . Index .

The book attempts to survey the origin, development and application of the four well-known ‘roots’ of Islamic Law, namely the Qur’an, Sunnah, Ijma’,and Qiyas. As it is meant to be a piece of fundamental research in its field, greater attention has been paid in this study to intensive historical analysis rather than extensively covering authoritative opinions. This study is based mainly on the works of Malik, Abu Ysuf, al-Shaybani and al-Shaf‘i. The author has attempted a critical analysis of the legal problems discussed in the early manuals of Fiqh to trace the evolution of the four foundations of Islamic Law.

English