Islam
Fiqh, or "jurisprudence", is defined as the knowledge of the practical rules of the religion. The
method Islamic jurists use to derive rulings is known as usul alfiqh ("legal theory", or
"principles of jurisprudence"). According to Islamic legal theory, law has four fundamental
roots, which are given precedence in this order: the Qur'an, the Sunnah (actions and sayings
of Muhammad), the consensus of the Muslim jurists (ijma), and analogical reasoning (qiyas).
For early Islamic jurists, theory was less important than pragmatic application of the law. In
the 9th century, the jurist ashShafi'i provided a theoretical basis for Islamic law by codifying
the principles of jurisprudence (including the four fundamental roots) in his book arRislah.
Religion and state
Islamic law does not distinguish between "matters of church" and "matters of state"; the
ulema function as both jurists and theologians. In practice, Islamic rulers frequently bypassed
annaabi.ee 
