Usuli
/uːˈsuːli/noun
A term describing the Shi‘i Islamic legal tradition that emphasizes the use of foundational principles and independent legal reasoning.
Did you know?Usuli scholars defended ijtihad, allowing qualified living jurists to reason from foundational principles rather than relying only on inherited reports.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ʾaṣl
“Root, origin, foundation, or fundamental principle”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
uṣūl
“Foundations, principles; the plural of ʾaṣl”
Medieval Islamic scholarship
Arabic
uṣūl al-fiqh
“The foundational principles of Islamic jurisprudence”
18th Century
Arabic
uṣūlī
“A person or school associated with the use of legal principles and reasoning”
Modern English
English
Usuli
“Relating to, or belonging to, the Usuli Shi‘i legal tradition”