Studies in Islamic Legal Theory

This volume is unique as a collection of studies devoted entirely to topics and issues in the field of Islamic legal theory and authored by fourteen scholars known for their work in this field. The studies deal with such topics as early notions of charismatic authority, hermeneutic techniques in Sh?fic?'s "Ris?lah," uses of the term "sunnah" in the ninth century A.H., evidence for the emergence of "us?l al-fiqh" as a genre of legal literature in the ninth century, the function of "us?l al-fiqh" in relation to legal practice, theological ramifications of issues in "us?l al-fiqh," Sh?c? attitudes to "qiy?s," the structure of juristic authority within the "madhhab," "us?l al-fiqh" as an instrument of reform, the place of "qaw?cid" within Islamic legal theory. These studies are followed by a discussion among the authors.