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O Level Islamiyat 2058
Paper 1 • History & Importance of the Qur’an

Qur’an, Hadith, Ijma‘ and Qiyas

These notes explain how the Qur’an works with the other sources of Islamic law: Hadith/Sunnah, ijma‘ and qiyas.

The aim is simple: students should understand the hierarchy of sources, the relationship between them, and how to write full-mark exam answers.

Go to Exam Answers Back to Paper 1

What You Must Master

  • Qur’an as the first and highest authority.
  • Hadith/Sunnah explaining and applying Qur’anic commands.
  • Ijma‘ as scholarly consensus based on primary sources.
  • Qiyas as analogy used for new issues.
  • Examples such as prayer, zakat, inheritance, drugs and IVF.
  • AO1 knowledge plus AO2 evaluation for 4-mark answers.
Quick Understanding

The Four Sources Work as a System

The Qur’an is not one source among equals. It is the foundation. The other sources serve, explain, apply or extend Qur’anic guidance without contradicting it.

1st Source

Qur’an

The word of Allah and the highest authority in Islamic law and guidance.

2nd Source

Hadith / Sunnah

The Prophet’s ﷺ sayings, actions and approvals; it explains and applies the Qur’an.

3rd Source

Ijma‘

Consensus of qualified scholars on matters not clearly solved by explicit texts.

4th Source

Qiyas

Analogy: applying an existing ruling to a new case because both share the same effective cause.

Exam-safe rule: No source may contradict the Qur’an. Hadith explains the Qur’an; ijma‘ and qiyas operate under the authority of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Visual Diagram

Hierarchy of Legal Sources

This is the easiest way to remember the order and relationship of the sources.

1

Qur’an — Supreme Foundation

It gives the core beliefs, moral principles and legal commands. It is the first point of reference in any Islamic ruling.

2

Hadith / Sunnah — Prophetic Explanation

It shows how the Prophet ﷺ understood, practised and explained Qur’anic guidance.

3

Ijma‘ — Scholarly Agreement

Qualified scholars agree on a ruling by applying Qur’an and Sunnah to a new matter.

4

Qiyas — Analogy for New Issues

A new case receives a ruling because it shares the same reason with an original case already covered by revelation.

How a New Legal Question Is Answered

Qur’anIs there a direct command or principle?
→
HadithDid the Prophet ﷺ explain or practise it?
→
Ijma‘Do qualified scholars agree on the ruling?
→
QiyasCan a similar known ruling be applied?
Interactive Notes

Detailed Bullet Notes

Open each section and revise the key points. These are written in exam-friendly language.

1. Why the Qur’an is the Primary Source

Core points

  • The Qur’an is the revealed word of Allah, so it has the highest authority for Muslims.
  • It gives the main teachings of Islam: belief in Allah, worship, morality, justice, family life, social conduct and accountability.
  • It is the first reference when Muslims need a ruling or guidance.
  • No other source can cancel, oppose or overrule a clear Qur’anic teaching.
  • The Qur’an often gives broad principles and commands, while the Sunnah gives practical details.
  • It provides legal principles such as prayer, fasting, zakat, hajj, inheritance, marriage, divorce, justice, honesty and prohibition of major sins.
A* line: The Qur’an is the foundation of Islamic law; the other sources are valid only because they operate under its authority and help Muslims apply its guidance.
2. Qur’an and Hadith / Sunnah

Relationship

  • The Sunnah is the Prophet’s ﷺ practical example; Hadith are reports that preserve his sayings, actions and approvals.
  • The Qur’an commands Muslims to obey Allah and the Messenger, so following authentic Sunnah is part of obeying the Qur’an.
  • The Qur’an gives many commands in general form; Hadith explains how they are performed.
  • The Qur’an commands prayer, but Hadith shows the timings, movements, units and method.
  • The Qur’an commands zakat, while Hadith helps explain rates, conditions and practical details.
  • The Qur’an commands hajj, while the Prophet’s ﷺ Sunnah shows the exact rituals.
  • Hadith may also give rulings where the Qur’an does not give full detail, provided the ruling does not contradict the Qur’an.

Evidence students can mention carefully

  • Qur’an 4:59 instructs believers to obey Allah, the Messenger and those in authority, and to refer disputes back to Allah and the Messenger.
  • Qur’an 16:44 says the Reminder was sent to the Prophet ﷺ so that he could explain what was revealed to people.
  • The Prophet ﷺ said, “Pray as you have seen me praying,” which shows that his Sunnah explains Qur’anic worship in practice.
Exam line: Qur’an and Hadith are the two primary sources. They are interlinked: the Qur’an gives the command; the Sunnah shows the living application.
3. Qur’an and Ijma‘

Meaning

  • Ijma‘ means the consensus or agreement of qualified Muslim scholars on a legal matter.
  • It is used when a new issue is not clearly solved by a direct Qur’anic verse or a specific Hadith.
  • It does not create a law independently of revelation; it applies Qur’an and Sunnah through scholarly agreement.
  • It protects the Muslim community from individual, careless or isolated opinions.
  • It helps preserve unity because Muslims can follow a settled scholarly view on new matters.

Important examples

  • The early Muslim community agreed on the compilation and preservation of the Qur’an after the Prophet’s ﷺ death.
  • In modern times, scholars may use ijma‘ to discuss questions such as medical ethics, IVF, organ donation, moon-sighting procedures or contemporary finance, while remaining within Qur’an and Sunnah.
  • Ijma‘ is strongest when it is based clearly on established Qur’anic and Prophetic principles.
A* caution: Do not write that ijma‘ is above the Qur’an. It is a secondary source and must remain faithful to the Qur’an and Sunnah.
4. Qur’an and Qiyas

Meaning

  • Qiyas means analogy: comparing a new case with an original case that already has a ruling in the Qur’an or Sunnah.
  • It is used when a new issue did not exist at the time of the Prophet ﷺ.
  • It depends on finding the shared effective cause, called the ‘illah.
  • The new ruling must not contradict the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah.

The four parts of qiyas

  • Asl: the original case already mentioned in Qur’an or Sunnah.
  • Far‘: the new case that needs a ruling.
  • ‘Illah: the common reason or effective cause.
  • Hukm: the ruling applied to the new case.

Example: Prohibition of intoxicating drugs

AslWine/intoxicants are prohibited in Islam.
Far‘Modern intoxicating drugs such as cocaine or similar substances.
‘IllahThey intoxicate, damage judgement and harm society.
HukmThey are also prohibited by analogy.
Exam line: Qiyas keeps Islamic law relevant to new problems while still rooted in Qur’an and Sunnah.
5. How the Sources Work Together
  • Muslims first look to the Qur’an because it is Allah’s direct revelation.
  • If the Qur’an gives a general command, the Sunnah explains its details.
  • If both Qur’an and Sunnah do not give a direct answer to a new issue, scholars may use ijma‘.
  • If a new issue is similar to an issue already covered by revelation, scholars may use qiyas.
  • All four sources are connected, but they do not have equal authority.
  • The Qur’an and Hadith are primary sources; ijma‘ and qiyas are secondary sources.
  • Secondary sources are useful because modern problems change, but Qur’anic principles remain permanent.
Best summary: The Qur’an gives the foundation, Hadith gives explanation, ijma‘ gives collective scholarly agreement, and qiyas gives reasoned extension to new cases.
Comparison Table

Difference Between the Four Sources

This table helps students write clear, organised answers instead of mixing all sources together.

Source Status Main Function Example Exam Sentence
Qur’an Primary and highest source Gives fundamental beliefs, commands, values and legal principles. Commands prayer, zakat, fasting, justice and obedience to Allah. The Qur’an is the basis of Islamic law and cannot be contradicted.
Hadith / Sunnah Primary source after Qur’an Explains, expands and applies Qur’anic teachings through the Prophet’s ﷺ example. Shows the method of prayer and rituals of hajj. Hadith makes Qur’anic commands practical for daily Muslim life.
Ijma‘ Secondary source Gives collective scholarly agreement on matters not explicitly covered. Scholarly agreement on new medical or social issues. Ijma‘ helps the ummah respond to new issues with unity.
Qiyas Secondary source Applies an existing ruling to a new case because of a shared cause. Modern drugs prohibited by analogy with intoxicants. Qiyas extends Qur’anic principles to new circumstances.
Example Bank

High-Value Examples for Answers

Use these examples to make your answer specific and mark-scheme friendly.

Worship

Prayer

  • Qur’an commands salah.
  • Hadith/Sunnah shows how the Prophet ﷺ prayed.
  • This proves that Qur’an and Hadith must be used together.
Charity

Zakat

  • Qur’an commands zakat.
  • Hadith and juristic discussion explain details, rates and categories.
  • This shows how general Qur’anic commands are made practical.
New Issue

Modern Drugs

  • Classical texts prohibit intoxicants.
  • Modern drugs share the same cause: intoxication and harm.
  • Qiyas applies the ruling to new substances.
Modern Ethics

IVF / Medical Questions

  • Such issues did not exist in the same form in early Islam.
  • Scholars refer to Qur’an, Sunnah and principles of lineage and family.
  • Ijma‘ may help establish an agreed position.
Family Law

Inheritance Details

  • The Qur’an gives major inheritance shares.
  • Hadith and juristic work help solve additional details.
  • Cambridge mark schemes often reward examples of sources working together.
Community

Compiling the Qur’an

  • Early Muslims agreed on collecting and preserving the Qur’an.
  • This is often used as an example of early community agreement.
  • It shows careful collective decision-making after the Prophet’s ﷺ death.
Exam Preparation

Past-Paper Style Questions and Answer Plans

These answer plans follow the Cambridge style: AO1 for knowledge and AO2 for understanding/evaluation.

10 Marks • AO1

Question 1

Write an account of how the Qur’an is used with Hadith, ijma‘ and qiyas in Islamic law.

Full-Mark Bullet Plan

  • Start by stating that the Qur’an is the first and highest source of Islamic law.
  • Explain that it is Allah’s word and cannot be contradicted by other sources.
  • Show how Hadith/Sunnah explains Qur’anic commands.
  • Give examples: prayer, zakat or hajj.
  • Explain that Hadith can give rulings/details where the Qur’an is general or silent.
  • Define ijma‘ as scholarly consensus.
  • Explain that ijma‘ is used for issues not directly settled by Qur’an and Sunnah.
  • Give examples: compilation of Qur’an, IVF, modern medical or social issues.
  • Define qiyas as analogy based on asl, far‘, ‘illah and hukm.
  • Give example: modern drugs prohibited because they intoxicate like wine/intoxicants.
  • End by saying all sources work together, but secondary sources must remain based on Qur’an and Sunnah.
4 Marks • AO2

Question 2

Why are ijma‘ and qiyas important for Muslims today?

Full-Mark Evaluation Plan

  • They help Muslims deal with issues that did not exist at the time of the Prophet ﷺ.
  • Ijma‘ gives unity because qualified scholars can reach an agreed ruling.
  • Qiyas makes Islamic law flexible by applying established principles to new cases.
  • They are important in modern issues such as drugs, IVF, organ donation, finance and technology.
  • However, they must remain controlled by Qur’an and Sunnah, otherwise opinions may become unreliable.
  • A balanced answer may say both are useful, but qiyas is often more directly used for new cases while ijma‘ gives authority and unity.
10 Marks • AO1

Question 3

Explain the relationship between the Qur’an and Hadith as sources of Islamic law.

Full-Mark Bullet Plan

  • Qur’an is Allah’s word and the main legal source.
  • Hadith records the Prophet’s ﷺ Sunnah.
  • The Qur’an commands Muslims to obey the Messenger.
  • The Prophet ﷺ explained revelation and demonstrated its practice.
  • Hadith explains general Qur’anic commands such as prayer, zakat and hajj.
  • Hadith can confirm, explain, specify or apply Qur’anic teachings.
  • Hadith never truly contradicts the Qur’an if authentic and correctly understood.
  • Together they form the two primary sources of Islamic law.
4 Marks • AO2

Question 4

Why is it important that Hadith should not contradict the Qur’an?

Full-Mark Evaluation Plan

  • The Qur’an is Allah’s direct revelation and therefore the highest authority.
  • If Hadith were allowed to contradict the Qur’an, Islamic law would lose consistency.
  • Authentic Hadith explains and supports the Qur’an, so both guide Muslims together.
  • This protects Muslims from false reports, weak arguments and unreliable rulings.
  • It also preserves unity because all legal thinking remains rooted in the Qur’an.
Examiner-friendly reminder: Do not merely list the four sources. Explain how they interact, give examples, and show that the Qur’an remains the foundation.
Mark Scheme Focus

What the Examiner Rewards

Use this checklist before writing your answer.

For 10-Mark Answers

  • Clear definitions of Qur’an, Hadith/Sunnah, ijma‘ and qiyas.
  • Correct order: primary sources first, then secondary sources.
  • Explanation of how Hadith expands and explains Qur’anic commands.
  • Examples from worship and modern life.
  • Clear statement that secondary sources do not contradict primary sources.
  • Use of terms: primary, secondary, consensus, analogy, asl, far‘, ‘illah, hukm.

For 4-Mark Answers

  • Give reasons, not only statements.
  • Use a modern example to support your opinion.
  • Show judgement: which source is more useful in which situation?
  • Explain why new issues require scholarly reasoning.
  • Balance usefulness with the need to remain faithful to Qur’an and Sunnah.
Avoid These Errors

Common Mistakes

These mistakes often reduce marks even when students know the topic.

Mistake 1

Listing only

Do not only write “Qur’an, Hadith, ijma‘, qiyas.” Explain how each source works with the Qur’an.

Mistake 2

No examples

Use examples like prayer, zakat, drugs, IVF or inheritance to make your answer concrete.

Mistake 3

Wrong hierarchy

Do not make ijma‘ or qiyas equal to the Qur’an. They are secondary sources.

Mistake 4

Weak evaluation

In 4-mark questions, explain why something matters today. Do not repeat the 10-mark answer.

Mistake 5

Careless quotations

Use verse references and meaning carefully. Do not invent translations or unverified quotations.

Mistake 6

Ignoring modern issues

Ijma‘ and qiyas are especially important because new medical, social and technological issues arise.

Source and Authenticity Notes

  • Cambridge syllabus point: Paper 1 includes the use of the Qur’an in legal thinking and its relationship with Hadith, ijma‘ and qiyas.
  • Cambridge mark schemes reward answers that distinguish primary sources from secondary sources and explain how they work together.
  • Qur’an 4:59 and 16:44 are useful references for obedience to Allah and the Messenger and the Prophet’s ﷺ role in explaining revelation.
  • Sahih al-Bukhari 631 is useful for showing that the Prophet’s ﷺ practice explains worship: “Pray as you have seen me praying.”
  • Translation caution: Use the translation printed in the Cambridge paper or a recognised translation approved by your teacher. These notes use meaning-guides, not personal translations.

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