Qiyas

Qiyas

In Islamic jurisprudence, qiyās (Arabic قياس) is the process of deductive analogy in which the teachings of the Hadith are compared and contrasted with those of the Qur'an, in order to apply a known injunction (nass) to a new circumstance and create a new injunction. Here the ruling of the Sunnah and the Qur'an may be used as a means to solve or provide a response to a new problem that may arise. This, however, is only the case providing that the set precedent or paradigm and the new problem that has come about will share operative causes (illah). The illah is the specific set of circumstances that trigger a certain law into action.

Read more about Qiyas:  Interpretations of Qiyas, Historical Debate