Usul al-Fiqh

In brief: Specialise in Usul al-Fiqh, the principles of Islamic jurisprudence: sources, rules of interpretation, analogy and juristic methodology, with emphasis on the Hanafi school.

Study how legal rulings are derived from the sources of Islam, with a particular focus on the methodology of the Hanafi school.

Sample research areas

• The sources of law and their ranking
• Language, command and prohibition, general and specific texts
• Qiyas, istihsan, ‘urf and other secondary sources
• Ijtihad, taqlid and the role of the mufti
• Maqasid al-Shari’ah (objectives of the law)

Key sources and texts

• Usul al-Shashi
• Usul al-Bazdawi and the commentary tradition
• Nur al-Anwar of Mulla Jiwan
• Usul al-Sarakhsi

Where graduates serve

• Teaching, fatwa support and research
• Islamic finance and compliance
• Community leadership

Available at: B.Litt (Hons) · M.Litt (Hons) · MPhil · D.Litt · Post-doctorate. Back to all fields.