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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Shiite Apologetics Question Twenty-eight What are the sources for the Shiite Jurisprudence ? Answer: In compliance with the Book of God and the Prophets Sunnah, the Shiites base their understanding of the Islamic law (the Shariah) on the following four basic sources: the Book of God the Prophets Sunnah consensus reason The Book of God and the Prophets Sunnah, concerning which a summary discussion will be given below, are the most basic ones.

The Book of Allah (The Quran) Those following the Shiites school of law have taken the Book of Allah as the most unwavering and normative source of jurisprudential issues and of religious tenets. Their religious leaders, the Imams, have announced it to be the loftiest source from which to derive juridical precepts, i.e. all views and statements should be accepted only after they are matched with and verified by the content of the Quran; if there is no correspondence, they should be rejected.

The sixth leader of the Shiites, Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq (a.s) says, Any statement not in conformity with the Quran is baseless.[1] Imam Sadiq (a.s) also quotes the Noble Prophet as having said, O people, if I am quoted as having said something that agrees with the Book of Allah, it is my words; if it contradicts the Book of Allah, then I have not said it.[2] These two traditions clearly show that the Book of Allah is, according to the Shiite Imams, the firmest source to derive religious precepts from.

The Prophets Sunnah The Prophets Sunnah, i.e. the words, the deeds and whatever the Messenger of God (a.s) has approved of, is the second clearest fountainhead of the Shiite jurisprudence. The Imams from the household of the Prophet (a.s) are believed to be the carriers of his Sunnah and the treasure - house of his knowledge. The words of the Prophet are also accepted even if they are handed down through other reliable sources.

The following discussions are deemed necessary here: Why Should the Prophets Sunnah be Resorted to ? The Imams of the Shiites have advised their followers not only to study the Quran but also to follow the Prophets Sunnah, thus praising both the Book of God and the Prophets Sunnah. Imam Sadiq (a.s) says, Accept a hadith [1] Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, chapter: Superiority of Knowledge; subdivision: al-Akhd bi'l-Sunnah wa Shawahid al-Kitab, hadith 3. [2] Ibid, hadith 5.