This third edition of the best-selling title Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence has been completely revised and substantially enlarged. In this work, Prof Kamali offers us the first detailed presentation available in English of the theory of Muslim law (usul al-fiqh). Often regarded as the most sophisticated of the traditional Islamic disciplines, Islamic Jurisprudence is concerned with the way in which the rituals and laws of religion are derived from the Qur'an and the Sunnah—the precedent of the Prophet. Written as a university textbook, Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence is distinguished by its clarity and readability; it is an essential reference work not only for students of Islamic law, but also for anyone with an interest in Muslim society or in issues of comparative Jurisprudence.

This book deals with the sources of Islamic jurisprudence and their importance in deducing the religious rulings. It covers the concept of ijtihād (independent reasoning), its conditions and application and illustrates why it is a practice for experts rather than laymen. It also explains the differences in the levels of expertise of the mujtahids. In fact, there are seven distinct classifications of mujtahid. The book also covers the communication of God as Lawgiver with regard to the conduct of liable persons. It details the difference in probative value of communication based on the extent to which it binds an individual be it absolutely binding, a recommendation or mere permissibility. The reader will be able to understand the difference between fiqh (law) and Usūl al-Fiqh (methodology of law). Fiqh is the law itself whereas Usūl al-Fiqh is the methodology utilized to extract the law. The relationship between the two disciplines resembles that of the rules of grammar to a language, or of logic to philosophy. Usūl al-Fiqh in this sense provides the standard criteria for the correct deduction of the rulings of fiqh from the sources of Shari’ah (the Qur’an and Sunnah).

Usul Al-Fiqh is a science which is deeply embedded in the Islamic experience and one which, thanks to its methods and concerns, helped generate an empirical trend in Muslim culture, in turn benefiting western thinking. Itself a creation of influences from within and without, Al-Usul, often called “The Philosophy of Islam,” invites both reason and revelation to work for the harmony and well-being of human society. Although the science of Al-Usul is mainly concerned with legal matters, its range and the arsenal of tools it uses makes it attractive to students of Islamic Jurisprudence as well as to other scholars of Islamic Knowledge and culture. The difficulties it poses are inevitable. This book, however, attempts to simplify this “Most important method of research ever devised by Islamic thought” during its most creative period, and bring it to the understanding and appreciation of the modern learner, while underscoring its importance and relevance to the world of Islam today.

This book discusses the historical development of the legal methodology for the interpretation of the Shari’ah, and analyzes proposed reforms by modern Muslim scholars. This study has two goals: (1) to summarize usul al-fiqh’s rise and development from its rudimentary form to its advanced and mature phase by articulating the contributions of eminent jurists on key intellectual debates, and (2) to present a schema of reforms, new hermeneutics, and epistemology proposed by modernists to bring about foundational changes in Islamic legal methodology so that they can bypass the authority of the legal language. The critical distinction between the timeless Shari’ah and mutable jurisprudence allows for a mechanism that can review and revise juridical opinions in the light of new information.