The Quran and Hadith are the core sources of Islamic law in Sharia.

Where the rules come from in Islamic law

If you’ve ever talked with someone about Islamic law, you may have heard that it comes from more than just rules in a book or from a judge’s decision. The reality is a bit more layered—and that’s what makes it feel alive, not rigid. In short, Islamic jurisprudence (Sharia) mainly derives its legal rulings from two core sources: the Qur’an and the Hadith. Put simply, the Qur’an gives the divine commands, and the Hadith supplies the guidance, context, and examples that help apply those commands in daily life.

The Qur’an: the foundation that holds everything up

Think of the Qur’an as the backbone of Islamic life. It’s not a cookbook of laws with every scenario spelled out; it’s a collection of revelations that cover core beliefs, worship, ethics, and many aspects of social life. The language is often broad, leaving room for interpretation in different contexts. Yet within those broad verses lie fundamental principles—justice, compassion, honesty, and accountability—that guide Muslim communities.

Because the Qur’an is believed to be the direct word of God, it has a special status. When a ruling is needed on a matter—say, questions about prayer, fasting, or how to treat others—the Qur’an provides the starting point. From there, scholars read the verses carefully, looking for clear commands and for principles that can be extended to situations not explicitly mentioned.

The Hadith: the practical companion to the Qur’an

This is where the Hadith comes into play. Hadiths are the recorded sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad. They aren’t considered divine revelations in the same way as the Qur’an, but they’re treated as crucial guidance that helps illuminate how the Qur’anic commands were understood and put into practice in real life.

Not every Hadith is treated equally. Scholars examine chains of transmission, the reliability of narrators, and the consistency of the reports with the Qur’an. The best, most trustworthy collections—like Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim—are held in high regard, but even there, context matters. A Hadith can tell us how a command was observed in a particular time and place, or how a principle should be interpreted when circumstances shift.

Sunnah: the example that makes it concrete

You’ll sometimes hear about the Sunnah, which refers to the practical example of the Prophet’s life—the way he worshipped, worshipped, dealt with people, and handled everyday challenges. The Sunnah guides Muslims on applying Qur’anic principles in new situations. In many circles, the Sunnah and the Hadith are closely linked: Hadith are the reports about the Prophet’s words and actions, and the Sunnah is the pattern those reports reveal in action.

Of course, there’s nuance here. Some discussions distinguish between the textual record (Hadith) and the lived example (Sunnah). For the purposes of jurisprudence, both work together to translate divine commands into workable rules.

How scholars turn sources into rules

There’s more to the story, though. The Qur’an and Hadith provide the raw material, but humans still have to reason about it. That’s where methods like ijma (consensus) and qiyas (analogy) come in. When a verse or a Hadith doesn’t cover a brand-new scenario, scholars look for a reasoned way to extend an existing ruling to the new case. They check for consistency with core values, examine how early communities understood similar issues, and consider the aims behind the commands.

A common way to think about it is this: the Qur’an gives the destination, the Hadith shows the route, and ijma and qiyas help map the route when the road isn’t painted on the map yet. It’s a collaborative, evolving process, not a rigid set of rules carved in stone.

Why other sources aren’t the primary foundation

You might wonder why legal codes from different countries or past rulings aren’t treated as the main skeleton of Sharia. The simple answer is that Sharia’s authority comes from the Qur’an and Hadith. Legal codes in specific countries reflect local history, culture, and political choices; they can influence how Muslims live out Sharia in particular places, but they don’t replace the core sources.

That doesn’t mean the outside world is irrelevant. Contemporary scholars consider current realities—technology, medicine, economics, and social change—when applying Qur’anic principles and Hadith guidance. But the anchor remains the two primary sources, supported by scholarly methods rather than by any single country’s legal system.

Common misunderstandings worth clarifying

• “Hadith and Sunnah only” isn’t quite right. The Hadith and Sunnah are essential, but they work in tandem with the Qur’an. Without the Qur’an, Hadith can become a collection of anecdotes without a shared divine frame.

• “Qur’an and past judicial rulings” sounds plausible, but the rulings alone don’t carry the same weight as the primary texts. They can guide interpretation, but they don’t replace the need to consult the Qur’an and Hadith.

• “Legal codes from various countries” might shape how Sharia is practiced locally, but they don’t form the core authority. They’re more like civil overlays on top of the main framework.

A practical lens: how this matters in real life

Take dietary laws as an example. The Qur’an contains verses that establish the concept of halal and haram. The Hadith then clarifies categories, habits, and norms—like what should and shouldn’t be eaten, how to handle food in markets, and the ethics of animals, cleanliness, and intent. When a Muslim encounters a new food product—perhaps a modern snack with unfamiliar ingredients—the ruling comes from combining Qur’anic guidance with Hadith-informed interpretation and then discussing it within the scholarly tradition. That blend helps ensure a consistent, thoughtful approach rather than a snap judgment.

Or consider business ethics. The Qur’an emphasizes fairness, honesty, and forbids exploitative practices. Hadith literature adds nuance—how to deal with debt, how to treat partners honestly, and how to conduct trade in ways that don’t mislead customers. Together, they lay a framework that can adapt to new kinds of commerce while staying true to core values.

A few thoughtful digressions that still tie back

• It’s natural to wonder how a living tradition handles change. The answer lies in dialogue within scholarly communities over centuries. Conversations across generations check assumptions, test new interpretations, and refine principles. It’s not about novelty for novelty’s sake; it’s about faithful application in changing circumstances.

• You might also notice that many students of religious studies enjoy comparing how different religious or legal traditions solve similar problems. The shared impulse—to ground rules in sacred texts while allowing thoughtful interpretation—highlights a common human impulse: to live with integrity in a complex world.

• And if you’re ever curious about the big picture, it helps to remember that these sources aren’t just “rules.” They’re a framework for reflection—asking what a command means for worship, for everyday behavior, and for how a community treats the vulnerable and the stranger.

What to carry with you as you study

• The Qur’an and Hadith are the core duo. They provide the authoritative material and the context that make sense of it.

• Scholarly tools like ijma and qiyas help apply the core ideas to new situations while staying faithful to the texts.

• Be mindful of nuance. Not every question has a single, simple answer, and different scholars can read the same text in slightly different ways.

• Recognize the human element. Interpretation happens in communities, across time, and through careful reasoning. That human touch doesn’t weaken the authority; it reinforces its relevance in real life.

A concise takeaway

If you’re trying to summarize the core idea in one line, it’s this: Islamic jurisprudence draws its primary authority from the Qur’an and the Hadith, with scholarly reasoning shaping how those divine words are lived out in new times and places. The Sunnah helps illustrate how the Prophet put those commands into practice, but the heart of Sharia remains the direct guidance of the Qur’an together with the attached, contextual wisdom of the Hadith.

Want to hear it in a characteristically clear, down-to-earth way? The Qur’an gives the map, the Hadith shows the path, and scholars help us navigate the road when the terrain gets tricky. That combination keeps the tradition faithful to its origins while allowing it to respond to changing life in thoughtful, guided ways.

If you’re exploring Studies of Religion, this interplay is a thread you’ll see across many topics. It’s a reminder that belief and practice aren’t locked in the past; they’re living conversations that keep evolving, century after century. And that ongoing conversation—rooted in two timeless sources and carried forward by careful interpretation—continues to shape how Muslim communities understand justice, ethics, and daily life today.