Pages: 14-19

Abstract

Any domain of science in Islam derives its basic concepts, theories, methodology, and terminology within an Arabic language context. The language certainly benefited from Islamic science, particularly with respect to methodology. However, Arabic linguistics added more than it took from “Islamic law basics.” This article considers the correlation of Islamic law basics and Arabic language linguistics, alongside similarities in the study of the two fields. This analysis compares the scientific-methodological basics resulting from applying linguistic-semantic principles in Arabic language with shariat norms given by Muslim legal experts to resolve different real-world cases. Chief among the comparisons made are the differences noted between the Hanafi school of law, a very early understanding of Islamic law basics (usul al-fiqh), and principles of the majority of modern legal experts.