The book consists of five chapters. After the introductory first chapter, chapter two focuses on the Shari¢ah and explores issues concerning misconceptions about the term as well as the propensity towards legalism. Chapter three focuses on Hadith, examining certain vital issues, and concludes with the documentation of the problems concerning the misuse of Hadith in deriving or formulating laws. Chapter four deals with the subject of ijma¢, where most of the claims concerning it are demonstrated to be unfounded and untenable based on a consistent lack of consensus regarding almost all aspects of ijma¢ as a source of Islamic jurisprudence. Chapter five, on qiyas, deals with the many conceptual problems of the misapplication of this tool in Islamic legal promulgation. Finally, chapter six emphasizes that an empirical foundation is critically needed to render balance to Islamic law once again, by balance meaning that text-orientation be duly matched by life-orientation, in today’s sense. The author explains that the prevailing conditions of the Muslim world cannot change unless Muslim thought and understanding of the foundational sources of Islam first change.
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