On-demand course

Introduction to Islamic Legal Theory

"Introduction to Islamic Legal Theory" is an online course that examines the common elements used to derive legal rulings across various subject areas of jurisprudence.

Course curriculum

1. Course Notes: Print Edition (PDF)
1. Defining Islamic Legal Theory
2. Lesson 1 Notes (PDF)
1. The Linguistic Meaning of Fiqh
2. Lesson 2 Notes (PDF)
1. The Technical Meaning of Fiqh
2. Lesson 3 Notes (PDF)
1. Requirements for Ijtihad
2. Lesson 4 Notes (PDF)
1. Important Vocabulary
2. Lesson 5 Notes (PDF)
3. Go Deeper: Recommended Reading (Lessons 1–5)
4. Review Quiz: Lessons 1–5
1. The Sources of Islamic Law
2. Lesson 6 Notes (PDF)
1. The Quran
2. Lesson 7 Notes (PDF)
1. The Sunnah
2. Lesson 8 Notes (PDF)
1. Consensus
2. Lesson 9 Notes (PDF)
1. Reason
2. Lesson 10 Notes (PDF)
1. Brief History on the Development of Islamic Legal Theory
2. Lesson 11 Notes (PDF)
3. Go Deeper: Recommended Reading (Lessons 6–11)
4. Review Quiz: Lessons 6–11
1. The Subjects of Islamic Legal Theory
2. Lesson 12 Notes (PDF)
1. The Apparent Meanings of the Quran
2. Lesson 13 Notes (PDF)
1. Problems with the Sunnah
2. Lesson 14 Notes (PDF)
1. Conflicting Hadith
2. Lesson 15 Notes (PDF)
1. Issues Common to the Quran and Sunnah
2. Lesson 16 Notes (PDF)
1. Commands
2. Lesson 17 Notes (PDF)
1. Prohibitions
2. Lesson 18 Notes (PDF)
1. The General and the Particular
2. Lesson 19 Notes (PDF)
3. Go Deeper: Recommended Reading (Lessons 12–19)
1. The Absolute and the Conditional
2. Lesson 20 Notes (PDF)
1. Implicit Meanings
2. Lesson 21 Notes (PDF)
1. The Clear and the Ambiguous
2. Lesson 22 Notes (PDF)
1. The Abrogator and the Abrogated
2. Lesson 23 Notes (PDF)
3. Review Quiz: Lessons 12–23
1. Two Types of Consensus
2. Lesson 24 Notes (PDF)
1. Deriving Rulings Using Reason
2. Lesson 25 Notes (PDF)
1. Procedural Principles
2. Lesson 26 Notes (PDF)
3. Go Deeper: Recommended Reading (Lessons 20–26)
4. Review Quiz: Lessons 24–26

About this course

26 lessons
4.5 hours of video content

Introduction to Islamic Legal Theory

Course curriculum

Print-Ready Course Notes

Lesson 1: Defining Islamic Legal Theory

Lesson 2: The Linguistic Meaning of Fiqh

Lesson 3: The Technical Meaning of Fiqh

Lesson 4: Requirements for Ijtihad

Lesson 5: Important Vocabulary

Lesson 6: The Sources of Islamic Law

Lesson 7: The Quran

Lesson 8: The Sunnah

Lesson 9: Consensus

Lesson 10: Reason

Lesson 11: Brief History on the Development of Islamic Legal Theory

Lesson 12: The Subjects of Islamic Legal Theory

Lesson 13: The Apparent Meanings of the Quran

Lesson 14: Problems with the Sunnah

Lesson 15: Conflicting Hadith

Lesson 16: Issues Common to the Quran and Sunnah

Lesson 17: Commands

Lesson 18: Prohibitions

Lesson 19: The General and the Particular

Lesson 20: The Absolute and the Conditional

Lesson 21: Implicit Meanings

Lesson 22: The Clear and the Ambiguous

Lesson 23: The Abrogator and the Abrogated

Lesson 24: Two Types of Consensus

Lesson 25: Deriving Rulings Using Reason

Lesson 26: Procedural Principles

About this course