Applying the canon in Islam
the authorization and maintenance of interpretive reasoning in …
Brannon M. Wheeler
324 pages | ~9 hrs
Applying the canon in Islam
the authorization and maintenance of interpretive reasoning in Ḥanafī scholarship
By Brannon M. Wheeler
This scholarly exploration examines how religious communities establish and maintain interpretive authority through the concept of canon. Wheeler draws from diverse spiritual traditions, including Islamic jurisprudence, African divination practices, and indigenous Australian religious systems, to reveal the mechanisms by which sacred texts and interpretive frameworks gain legitimacy.
The heart of this work focuses on the Hanafi school of Islamic law, demonstrating how this influential legal tradition expanded its authority beyond the Quran itself. Wheeler shows how the school strategically extended canonical status to the prophetic traditions (sunnah), the wisdom of respected local scholars, and the accumulated knowledge of previous generations. This process created a comprehensive interpretive system that could address contemporary spiritual and legal questions while maintaining connection to foundational sources.
Rather than viewing canon as a limitation imposed by fixed texts, Wheeler presents a more dynamic understanding. He argues that canonical authority actually emerges from the careful management of multiple, flexible textual sources. This perspective offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to understand how spiritual communities navigate between tradition and adaptation.
Through detailed analysis spanning 324 pages, this work illuminates the sophisticated ways religious institutions balance reverence for sacred sources with the practical need for ongoing interpretation. The book provides a thoughtful examination of how spiritual authority develops and sustains itself across different cultural contexts.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Rechtsinterpretatie
- ✓ Explore 86.14 Islamic law
- ✓ Explore RELIGION
- ✓ Explore Islam
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects of Authority
- ✓ Explore Aspect religieux
- ✓ Explore Interpretation and construction
- ✓ Explore Interprétation
Topics
Details
- Published
- 1996
- Publisher
- State University of New York Press
- ISBN-10
- 0791429733
- Pages
- 324
- Language
- EN
- LC Classification
- LAW
