Ethico-legal teachings

One of the most extensively studied areas of the Qur’an is the texts that are of an ethical or legal nature. These are intended to guide Muslims towards leading moral lives, underpinned by a belief in the One God. The Qur’an’s ethical and legal texts address both ritual worship and more worldly affairs, such as marriage and inheritance. Over the centuries, Muslim scholars have studied these texts in an effort to understand how they relate to the lives of ordinary Muslims in different times and contexts. Well-known scholars such as Malik ibn Anas (d.179/795), Abu Hanifa (d.150/767), al-Shafi‘i (d.204/820), and Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d.241/855) established schools of legal thought ( fiqh ) that later came to bear their names. Today, Muslims living in the modern world attempt to apply these teachings to a greater or lesser extent in their daily lives. Understanding some basic concepts related to the Qur’an’s ethical and legal prescriptions enables us to better analyse the relevance of its teachings for Muslims today.