Legal thought
Abstract
This chapter will explore Islamic law and the development of legal knowledge. It will begin by explaining key terms in Islamic law, namely Shari‘a and fiqh , and providing an outline of the development of law in the first three centuries of Islam. The chapter will then identify the main ‘bases’ of Islamic law as discussed in Muslim sources, point out some of the early debates in Islamic law and identify its established schools. It will conclude with a brief reference to ijtihad and to the current debates on reform of Islamic law.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Islamic Studies and History
Qur’anic Interpretation Studies
Islamic Thought and Society Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Routledge eBooks
- Pages
- 53–74
- Publication date
- 26 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter