Qiyas (Analogical Reasoning)
Legal analogy used to derive Islamic rules for new situations based on established rules.
Qiyas is the fourth source of Islamic jurisprudence after the Quran, the Sunnah, and ijma' (consensus). It is a method of analogical reasoning where a legal rule for a new situation is derived by identifying a common cause ('illah) with an already regulated situation.
In prayer legislation, qiyas is used, for example, to establish rules for situations not directly mentioned in the Quran or Sunnah. Imam Abu Hanifah was the most prominent advocate of qiyas. Imam al-Shafi'i formalized the qiyas methodology in his "al-Risalah" with strict conditions for its valid application.
Not all schools of law accept qiyas to the same degree. The Zahiri school rejected qiyas entirely, while the Hanbali school used it sparingly. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: "I do not use qiyas unless it is absolutely necessary." The discussion about the role of qiyas is fundamental to understanding why the different schools of law can reach different conclusions from the same sacred texts.
Related terms
Imam (Prayer Leader)
The person who leads the congregational prayer at the mosque.
Hajj (Pilgrimage)
The annual pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the five pillars of Islam, obligatory for every Muslim with the ability.
Wilayah (Divine Authority)
The concept of divine authority and leadership in Shia Islam.
Qunut (Supplication with Raised Hands)
A personal supplication (du'a) with raised hands, recited during the prayer.
Najasah (Ritual Impurity)
Impure substances that must be removed before prayer according to Islamic law.
Madhhab (School of Law)
An Islamic school of law with its own methodology for legal derivation from the sacred sources.