On the Sources of Islamic Law

Abstract

Is Islamic law organically linked to its primary sources, namely the Qur’an and the Sunnah, or is it manufactured by the ruling elite centuries after the time of the Prophet Muhammad? This is one of the central questions that a number of scholars of Islamic studies have been discussing since the end of the 19th century. This brief work is an attempt to contribute to this discussion by emphasizing the role and functions of orality in formulating, preserving, and transmitting Islamic law and practices during its formative period.