Al-Imam Al-Shafee Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 387 | Size: 62.5 MB
Imam Shafi on On Legal Knowledge Read Classical – Excerpt
Written in the second Islamic century by
al-Imam al-Shafi’i (d. 204AH/820AD), the founder of one of the four
Sunni schools of law.
This important work gives the fundamental
principles of Islamic jurisprudence and its influence continues to the
present day. During the early years of the spread of Islam, the
exponents of Islamic legal doctrine were faced with the problems raised
by ruling and administering a diverse and rapidly growing empire. In
Medina and Kufa, as well as other cities of early Muslim rule, schools
of law had to be developed, but it took the genius of Muhammad b. Idris
al-Shafi’i, born in the year 150AH/767AD, to establish the principles by
which the various legal doctrines could be synthesised into a coherent
system. In the Risala, which laid down the basis for such a synthesis,
al-Shafi’i established the overriding authority, next only to the
Qur’an, of the Sunna or example of the Prophet Muhammad as transmitted
in the traditions.
Professor Majid Khadduri has done an
admirable service in making this valuable work available in English, His
excellent translation uses not only the original manuscripts of Ibn
Jama’a and al-Rabi, found at Dar al-Kutub, the National Library in
Cairo, but also authoritative editions published earlier in this
century, namely the Bulaq and Shakir editions. In his introduction,
Professor Khadduri outlines the historical background of the Risala and
gives a biography of al-Imam al-Shafi’i as well as annotated, detailed
summaries of the composition, structure, substance and argument of the
text. He also includes a list of transmitters of traditions, a glossary
of the most important Islamic legal terms and a select bibliography. For
this new edition, the index has been expanded and a small corrigenda
added.
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Table of Contents:
1. The Historical Background of the Risala
2. The Composition and Structure of the Risala.
3. Substance and Argument of the Risala.
4. Significance of the Risala
5. The Text of the Risala.
6. Translation of Shafi’i’s Risala.
7. Transmitters of Traditions.
About Imam Shafi’i:
Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Idris al-
Shaf’ee was a descended from the Hashimi family of the Quaraish tribe to
which the Holy Prophet (SAW) belonged.
He was born in Gaza, Palestine, and was
raised in Makkah, his parents’ home town. He memorized the holy Qur’an
while he was still a young child. When he reached fifteen, his knowledge
was so thorough, Muslim Ibn Khalid Al-Zinji, the Mufti of Makkah, told
him: ‘O Abu Abdullah, give fatawa (religious rulings), for by Allah it
is time for you to do so!.
Imam Al-Shafi’i, Arabic jurist (150
AH/767 AD – 204 AH/820 AD). He was active in juridical matters and his
teaching eventually led to the school of fiqh named after him. He was a
man of vast knowledge and authority. Scholars gave him the honorific
title ‘Father of Usul Al-Fiqh” (The Patriarch of the Foundation of
Islamic Jurisprudence)
Imam Shafiee died in the Year 204 A.H./ 820 C.E. and was laid to rest in Egypt.
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