Why was the Prophet Muhammad important in resolving legal questions in the Muslim community at Medina?

In the early Muslim community at Medina, the Prophet Muhammad served as the supreme judge and arbiter, playing a vital role in resolving legal questions as they arose. While the Qur'an provided foundational standards of conduct, it was not a comprehensive legal code, as only a small fraction of its verses addressed specific legal issues.12

Muhammad was essential to the development of sharia because he interpreted and expanded upon the general provisions of the Qur'an to address the practical needs of the community. He often utilized revelation to assist in his role as an arbiter for all residents of Medina, including non-Muslims who were involved in the community's fortunes. By resolving these problems during his lifetime, he established a legal tradition and a body of practice—the Sunnah—that became a primary source of Islamic law, guiding future generations of qadis and scholars in the science of fiqh.123