Qiyas
قياس
Pronunciation: kee-YAHS
Analogical reasoning: extending an established ruling to a new case that shares its effective cause.
Definition
The method of deriving a ruling for a new situation by analogy to a case addressed in the Qur'an or Sunnah, when both share the same underlying cause (illah). It is the fourth source of Sunni law and the main tool by which classical rulings reach modern finance: paper money is treated like gold and silver because it serves as money; corporations are analyzed through partnership rules; and derivatives are judged by analogy to classical sales with excessive uncertainty.
Scholars disagree about the correct illah in many cases, which produces different modern rulings from the same texts.
Related Terms
Ijma'إجماع
Scholarly consensus: a ruling on which qualified jurists of an era have all agreed, making it binding.
Ijtihadاجتهاد
Independent legal reasoning by a qualified scholar to derive a ruling where the texts are silent or unclear.
Madhhabمذهب
A school of Islamic law; the four main Sunni schools often rule differently on financial questions.
Riba al-Fadlربا الفضل
Riba of excess: unequal exchange of the same ribawi commodity, such as gold for gold or dollars for dollars.
AAOIFI
The primary international standard-setting body for Islamic finance.
IFSB
Global standard-setter that sets prudential and supervisory standards for Islamic finance regulators.
Further Reading
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Qiyas (قياس) - Analogical reasoning: extending an established ruling to a new case that shares its effective cause. The method of deriving a ruling for a new situation by analogy to a case addressed in the Qur'an or Sunnah, when both share the same underlying cause (illah). It is the fourth source of Sunni law and the main tool by which classical rulings reach modern finance: paper money is treated like gold and silver because it serves as money; corporations are analyzed through partnership rules; and derivatives are judged by analogy to classical sales with excessive uncertainty.
- Analogical reasoning: extending an established ruling to a new case that shares its effective cause.
- Category: Governance
- Related: Ijma', Ijtihad, Madhhab, Riba al-Fadl, AAOIFI, IFSB
Source: HalalWallet (halalwallet.ca)
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Reviewed by: HalalWallet Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 2026-10-01
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