CONTENTS

PART I

THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEGAL THEORY

CHAPTER 1. THE CLASSICAL THEORY OF MUHAMMADAN LAW. THE FUNCTION OF TRADITIONS . . . . 1

CHAPTER 2. THE ANCIENT SCHOOLS OF LAW. SHĀFI‘Ī'S

ATTITUDE TO THEM . . . . 6

CHAPTER 3. SHĀFI‘Ī AND LEGAL TRADITIONS . . . 11

CHAPTER 4. TRADITIONS IN THE ANCIENT SCHOOLS OF LAW . 21

A. The Medinese . . . . . 22

B. The Iraqians . . . . . 27

C. The Syrians . . . . . 34

CHAPTER 5. TECHNICAL CRITICISM OF TRADITIONS BY SHĀFI‘Ī AND HIS PREDECESSORS . . . . . 36

CHAPTER 6. ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST TRADITIONS . 40

A. Adversaries of traditions in general . . . 40

B. Arguments against traditions from the Prophet . . 44

C. Arguments in favour of traditions from the Prophet . . 53

D. Conclusions . . . . . 57

CHAPTER 7. SUNNA, ‘PRACTICE’, AND ‘LIVING TRADITION’ . 58

A. General . . . . . . 58

B. The Medinese . . . . . 61

C. The Syrians . . . . . 70

D. The Iraqians . . . . . 73

E. Shāfi‘Ī . . . . . . 77

F. Conclusions . . . . . 80