This thesis is an attempt to study 'Abduh's methodological approach in Islamic legal theory, with particular reference to the concept of ijma'. Ijma' according to him, is not a matter of truth or falseness, as it has been viewed by the classical and medieval jurists, but rather it is a mechanism which must demonstrate a dynamic ability in dealing with new problems on the basis of the public interest (maslaha). In order to obtain a proper public interest in any matter, religious considerations alone are not sufficient, rather each matter must be considered from many different angles and disciplines such as sociology, the environment and politics. One should also take into consideration the fact that ijma' is not only an informal decision, as has the case after the Rashidun caliphate period, but that it has become part of the legal system of government and as such demands obedience from everybody. Not surprisingly, 'Abduh believed that ijma' should be carried out and regulated by the elected members of parliament. This thesis not only analyses the thoughts of Muhammad 'Abduh on this matter but also includes the thoughts of classical and medieval jurist, as well as the view of modern scholars such as Muhammad Iqbal, Kemal A. Faruki, Fazlur Rahman, Hasan Turabi.

This thesis is an attempt to analyze and compare the methods of exegesis of `Abduh and Rid&dotbelow;a. The analysis focuses on their works of Qur'anic exegesis, especially their joint project Tafsir al-Manar. Their school of exegesis and principles of exegesis are a reflection of the socio-political setting in which they found themselves. They provide an antithesis to the schools and principles of exegesis favoured by traditional exegetes. `Abduh and Rida accused traditional exegetes of deviating from the guidance of the Qur'an by allowing their exegesis to develop into an intellectual exercise in grammar, theology, jurisprudence or even philosophical dispute. In the views of `Abduh and Rid&dotbelow;a, traditional exegetes tended to treat the Qur'an as a justification of their position in debate, a tendency that should be reversed. Both men tried to reformulate the approach of Qur'anic hermeneutics which they regarded as being applicable to social issues. Due to the differences in their respective intellectual backgrounds, experiences and attitudes towards different schools of thought, they applied different methods of interpretation. `Abduh was consistent in his modernist call to go "back to the Qur'an," for which he extracted guidance from the Qur'an through his own perception. As a consequence he limited the use of the intertextual approach to h&dotbelow;adith and philological analysis in his commentaries. Rid&dotbelow;a, on the other hand, extended their use in his interpretation. Rid&dotbelow;a also favoured the use of scientific knowledge in exegesis which `Abduh rejected due to its relativity. Rid&dotbelow;a's interpretation was also characterized by the extensive use of the opinions of earlier exegetes, which `Abduh tended to neglect.

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Reason is an important focus-word in Abduh's world view and has a great influence on his theologioal system and views.

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This thesis examines Muhammad 'Abduh's ideas on Islamic Law, and the extent to which his writings influenced subsequent Muslim reformers in the sphere of law. The study focuses on 'Abduh's views on ijtihad and its application in modern society. / The principle of ijtihad, as practised by 'Abduh, was not dependent upon the opinions of previous scholars. A leading reformer of Islamic law (1849-1905), 'Abduh rejected taqlid which in nineteenth century Egypt was the rule of the day. Scholars in his day adhered to the books of their respective madhhabs to the extent of choosing to ignore the main sources of Islamic law, viz. the Qur'an and Hadith. For this reason, 'Abduh did not follow any particular madhhab in his ijtihad, but chose to be guided by whichever school of law he believed was best fit to deal with a particular contemporary problem. This practice has come to be known as talfiq. His use of it was the beginning of legal reform in Islamic law. / To facilitate legal reform, 'Abduh employed the Islamic legal principle of al-maslahah al-mursalah. This principle was an application of ijtihad which he invoked in order to deal with issues such as polygamy and bank interest. 'Abduh's fatwas were based on the sources of Islamic law, i.e. the Qur'an and the Hadith. Although his main concern was to rehabilitate the use of reason in law, he never strayed far from the traditional sources.

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