Instructions:
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Watch the video carefully and take clear, organized notes while watching.
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Review the concepts covered in the video and then attempt all the given exercises independently.
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If you feel stuck on any question, go back to your notes and re-watch the relevant part of the video before moving on.
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Do not skip difficult questions—use your notes to understand the method or concept step by step.
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Write down any questions or confusions in your notebook so you can ask the lecturer during the next class.
Good morning students. Today we’re going to talk about something very important in Islamiat: the relationship between the Qur’an, Hadith, Ijmāʿ, and Qiyās. These are the main sources of Shari‘ah, or Islamic law, and together they give Muslims complete guidance for life.
We know that the Qur’an is the first and most important source. But the Qur’an doesn’t go into detail about everything. For example, it commands us to “pray,” but it doesn’t explain how many rak‘ats, or the timings of the prayers. This is where Hadith comes in. Hadith are the sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and they show us how to actually practice the teachings of the Qur’an. Think of it this way: if the Qur’an says, “Build a house,” the Hadith shows you the step-by-step blueprint of how to build it. A good example is prayer—Hadith explains exactly how the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed, and that’s why we pray in the same way today.
Now, what happens when there’s no clear answer in the Qur’an or Hadith? That’s where Ijmāʿ, or consensus, comes in. This means the agreement of Islamic scholars on an issue. It’s based on the idea that if all qualified scholars agree on something, it must be correct. For instance, after the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away, Caliph Abu Bakr (RA) and the companions agreed to compile the Qur’an into one book. This wasn’t directly commanded in the Qur’an, but the scholars agreed it was necessary. Ijmāʿ helps Muslims stay united and keeps the law flexible for new situations.
Then comes Qiyās, which means analogy. This is when scholars take an existing ruling from the Qur’an or Hadith and apply it to something new by looking at the reasoning behind it. A simple example: the Qur’an forbids wine because it intoxicates and harms people. By using Qiyās, scholars extended that ruling to drugs like heroin or cocaine, because they have the same harmful effect. This makes Shari‘ah relevant even in modern times—for example, dealing with new financial systems or medical issues that didn’t exist 1,400 years ago.
So, how do all these work together? Think of it like a chain: the Qur’an is the foundation, the Hadith explains it, Ijmāʿ brings unity when direct answers aren’t available, and Qiyās helps apply the principles to new issues. Together, they make sure Islamic law is firm in its principles but also flexible enough to deal with new challenges.
To wrap up, let’s remember the key point: the Qur’an is the primary guide, Hadith explains it in practice, Ijmāʿ brings consensus, and Qiyās extends rulings to new situations. This system makes Shari‘ah both unchanging in its foundation and adaptable for every generation.
So, your learning outcome for today is simple: you should now understand how the four main sources of Shari‘ah—Qur’an, Hadith, Ijmāʿ, and Qiyās—work together to give Muslims complete guidance for life.
