The Qur'anic Method of Presenting Legislative Rulings: An Analytical Study of ṣadaqa in Sūrat al-Baqara

Abstract

The Qur'an is considered a major theoretical source of law by the Islamic tradition. Moreover, Islamic sources are agreed that reliance on the Qur'an for legal resolutions to issues has been an established practice ever since its revelation. Yet, we find that some Western academics do not attribute any significant legislative role to the Qur'an, so much so that some of them claim that this is a contemporary phenomenon which runs contrary to early Islamic practice. As for those who do acknowledge the legal role of the Qur'an, they do not discuss in detail the Qur'anic methodology in presenting legal rulings. In light of these views, this study will commence with a brief indication to Western academic engagement with the Qur'an's legislative role. It will then focus on the Qur'an's approach to presenting legal rulings via an analytical study of the notion of ṣadaqa as expressed in Sūrat al-Baqara, so as to determine the Qur'an's methodological approach to presenting legal rulings to its audience.