The 1000 Questions/Answers on religious practices in Islam:

Preliminary notions 1. What are the sources of law on which Imam Mâlik based his legal method (madhab)? These sources are seventeen in number: The Koran, to which five foundations are attached 1) Its statement (naçç); 2) the general character ('oumoûm) of its formulation (zhâhir); 3) the deduction of the opposite as a corollary (dalîlouh mafhoum al-mukhâlafa); 4) understanding it a fortiori (al-mafhoum bi'l-awla) 5) taking the motive into account (al-tanbîh 'ala'l-'illa). The Sunna to which five similar foundations are attached 6) Its utterance; 7) the general character of its formulation 8) the deduction of its opposite as a corollary 9) its understanding a fortiori 10) the taking into account of the motive. 11) Unanimity (ijma'). 12) The analogical rapprochement (qiyas). 13) The unanimity of the people of Medina. 14) The opinion of the Companion of the Prophet and. 15) Primacy (istihsan). 16) The prevention of the risk of prejudicial path (sadd al-dharâi'). 17) Consideration of divergent legal opinion (moura'at al-khilâf). 2. What is the definition of the statement (naçç)? The statement is what is carried, in its explanation, to its ends.