This book investigates the foundational development of Islamic law by examining the relationship between the Qur'an, the Muwatta' of Malik ibn Anas, and the concept of Madinan 'amal. Author Yasin Dutton, a scholar of Islamic studies, utilizes a rigorous analytical framework to trace how early legal judgments were derived from primary religious texts. By focusing on the transition from theoretical scripture to practical jurisprudence, the work explores the historical evolution of the sunna and the living tradition of the Prophet. The study provides a detailed examination of how early legal scholars synthesized these sources to establish the framework of Islamic legal practice.

Scholars and students of Islamic jurisprudence frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the early history of the Maliki school of law. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a strong background in Islamic legal theory to fully appreciate the author's nuanced arguments.