Men of Sharia Law

Mujtahid                

 One who exercises independent logic (ijtihad) in the interpretation of Islamic law. Qualifications include training in honored seminaries of Islamic law and expansive knowledge of the Quran, hadith and Usool al-fiqh.

 Mufti

The Muslim man who's knowledgeable about the Islamic Sharia Law, according to specific conditions which qualifies him to reach the degree of fatwa (Sharia ruling) and the legal judgement. The mufti and the judge are one degree. But the mufti is informed of the ruling, and the judge carries out/ tools the ruling. Usool al-fiqh is what explains the conditions of the judge, the mufti and the Mujtahid .

Qadi

 The judge who administers, judges by Sharia Law.

 Hakim (The Islamic Ruler)

 What's Fiqh?

In verbal terms, fiqh means understanding. It may be said that so-and- so has been given fiqh fi ’d-deen, meaning understanding of the religion. Another illustration is the du‘aa’of the Prophet ( blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) for Ibn‘Abbaas “ Allahumma faqqihhu fi ’d-deen (O Allah, give him understanding of the religion).” Recited by al-Bukhaari (143) and Muslim (2477).

Tahdheeb al-Lughah (5/263).

 In shar‘i ( legal) language, fiqh refers to knowledge of the practical, minor shar‘i rulings which are deduced from detailed substantiation and evidence. Al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah (1/13).