June 9th: authority in Islam

Question 1

Sharia

Answer 1

Islamic law, refers to God’s immutable divine law

Question 2

Fiqh

Answer 2

Islamic jurisprudence, the human understanding of the divine Islamic law as revealed in the Qur’an and the Sunnah

Question 3

Fatwa

Answer 3

Implementations of the fiqh. considered opinion by a scholar on a certain subject

Question 4

Qadi

Answer 4

A Muslim judge who renders decisions according to the Shari’ah

Question 5

Three perspectives on the relationship of theology and law

Answer 5

1. orientalist: Islamic law at the heart of Islam, theology seen as a political weapon
2. revisionist: theology and law rose at the same time, jurisprudence took over
3. pragmatist: theology and law are inseparable, each has an influence on the other

Question 6

Schools of law in Sunni Islam

Answer 6

Maliki
Hanbali
Hanafi
Shafi’i

Question 7

Distinction between Dar al-Islam vs Dar al-Harb

Answer 7

Dar al-Islam: territories of Islam

Dar al-Harb: territories of war

Question 8

replacant of Dar al-Harb

Answer 8

Dar al-Da’wa, territories of invitation

Question 9

Elements of Fatwa

Answer 9

Fatwa: considered opinions

introductory words, answer, evidence, detailing argument, conclusion and/or few formula sentences

Question 10

Istifta

Answer 10

Question which will be answered by a fatwa

Question 11

Al-Ahkam al-Khamsa, five judgments

Answer 11

Sharia rulings fall into one of five categories
fard/wajib: obligatory
Mustahab/ mandub: recommended
halal/ mubah: neutral
makruh: disliked
haram/mahzur: forbidden