Oxford LibGuides: Islamic legal tradition: Sources

The Qurʾān (Holy Koran), Sunna & Hadith

In a religious legal system, the primary sources are the word of God and how the prophet(s) brought this into practice via their words, deeds etc.

Tanzil Project - Quran Navigator
Open Access. Includes audio and English translation

Encyclopaedia of the Qur'ān Online
Remote access requires Oxford SSO
Drawing upon a rich scholarly heritage, and with nearly 1000 entries in 5 volumes, Brill's EQ is an encyclopaedic dictionary of koranic terms, concepts, personalities, place names, cultural history and exegesis, extended with essays on the most important themes and subjects within koranic studies.

The Qur'ān concordance
Remote access requires Oxford SSO Finding aide issued alongside the Brill encyclopedia above
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The Qurʾān Concordance Online consists of a typeset version of the King Fuʾād I Edition (Cairo 1924) of the text of the Qurʾān, as well as a coded representation of the Arabic script skeleton based on the earliest manuscripts.

The Sunna and Hadith (sayings/teaching/practices/actions) are the legacy of the Prophet Muhammad. Hadith collections reflect the traditions of Sunni and Imami Shiʿite Islam.

Arabic is the liturgical language of Islam. Below are some works in English as starting points:

Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik ibn Anas : the first formulation of Islamic law by Mālik ibn Anas, -795; translated by Aisha Abdurrahman Bewley.
Call Number: Holders of an Oxford SSO can read this online via title link
ISBN: 9780710303615
Publication Date: 1989
A print copy can be requested from Closed Stacks if preferred
Hadith : Muhammad's legacy in the medieval and modern world by Jonathan A. C. Brown
Call Number: Holders of an Oxford SSO can read this online via title link
ISBN: 9781851686636
Publication Date: 2009
Print copy in Bodleian Philosophy and Theology Library: Ground Floor Reading Room Open Shelves - BP135.6.B7 BRO 2009 or a copy could be requested from Closed Stack

Bibliography

Islamic studies bibliography included in collection below offering "... peer-reviewed annotated bibliographies on the range of lived experiences and textual traditions of Muslims as they are articulated in various countries and regions throughout the world. Bibliographies are browseable by subject area and keyword searchable."

Oxford Bibliographies
Remote access requires Oxford SSO. Open browse by subject option and click on Islamic Studes
Alternative names: OBO ; Oxford Bibliographies Online

Oxford Bibliographies are comprehensive subject bibliographies, which provide an up-to-date overview of the most recent and authoritative scholarship in a given field. Oxford Bibliographies provides faculty and students alike with a seamless pathway to the most accurate and reliable resources for a variety of academic topics. Every article in the database is an authoritative guide to the current scholarship, written and reviewed by academic experts, with original commentary and annotations. The modules include:
African American Studies, African Studies, American Literature, Anthropology, Art History, Atlantic History, Biblical Studies, British and Irish Literature, Buddhism, Childhood Studies, Chinese Studies, Cinema and Media Studies, Classics, Communication, Criminology, Ecology, Education, Environmental Science, Evolutionary Biology, Geography, Hinduism, International Law, International Relations, Islamic Studies, Jewish Studies, Latin American Studies, Latino Studies, Linguistics, Literary and Critical Theory, Management, Medieval Studies, Military History, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health, Renaissance and Reformation, Social Work, Sociology, Victorian Literature.

Definition of Fatwa

"Authoritative legal opinion given by a mufti (legal scholar) in response to a question posed by an individual or a court of law. A fatwa is typically requested in cases not covered by the fiqh literature and is neither binding nor enforceable. Its authority is based on the mufti's education and status within the community. If the inquirer is not persuaded by the fatwa, he is free to go to another mufti and obtain another opinion; but once he finds a convincing opinion, he should obey it. Theoretically, muftis should be capable of exercising legal reasoning independently of schools of law (ijtihad), although followers of tradition (muqallids) are also allowed to issue fatwas. Historically, fatwas were independent of the judicial system, although some muftis were officially attached to various courts."
In Esposito, J. (Ed.), The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. : Oxford University Press. Retrieved 11 Jun. 2024, from https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195125580.001.0001/acref-9780195125580-e-646.