Source Methodology in Islamic Jurisprudence

by Taha Jabir Al-Alwani, Yusuf Tala DeLorenzo / Anas S. Al Shaikh-Ali (Editor)

This book is an attempt to simplify and introduce Usul al Fiqh to students of the social sciences and humanities who do not have the opportunity to study the details of the science considered to be the most important method of research produced by Islamic thought during its most creative period.

Genres: Islam, Religion

Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

Dr. Taha Jabir al Alwani was born in Iraq in 1354/1935. He received his primary and secondary education in his native land and then graduated with an Honors Degree from the College of Shariah and Law at Al Azhar University in Cairo in 1378/1959. From the same university he was awarded his Master's Degree in 1388/1968, and a Doctorate in Usul al Fiqh in 1392/1973. For ten years (from 1395/1975 to 1405/1985) Dr al 'Alwani was a Professor of Fiqh and Usul al Fiqh at Imam Muhammad b. Sa'ud University in Riyadh. Dr. al 'Alwani participated in the founding of the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) in the USA in 1401/1981, and is now the Institute's President and a member of its Board of Trustees. He is a founder-member of the Council of the Muslim World League in Makkah. A member of the OIC Islamic Fiqh Academy in Jeddah since 1407/1987. President of the Fiqh Council of North America 1408/1988.

Reviews

[Nuruddin Azri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent piece on the history and evolution of usul al-fiqh in Islamic tradition. Syeikh Taha Jabir starts the timeline from the age of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Companions until Imam al-Syafie, al-Ghazali, al-Zarkasyi and al-Syaukani.

Basically, as we all know, usul al-fiqh is founded and arranged by Imam al-Syafie to blend the ahl al-ra'y sect of Imam Abu Hanifah and ahl al-hadith sect of Imam Malik. Then, Imam al-Ghazali wrote al-Mustasfā and the other three books on usul. Of course Imam al-Ghazali extracts benefit a lot from Imam al-Juwayni and al-Baqillani before it.

From al-Mustasfā, Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi make an abdriged version of it, named al-Mahsūl. Here, few more abridge of al-Razi's al-Mahsūl flower. Few decades after that, the simplest abridged version come to us like Minhāj al-Wusūl by al-Baydhawi, Nihāyat al-Sūl by Isnawi and Raudhah al-Nāzhir by Ibn Qudamah. Also come Jam’ al-Jawāmi‘ by Imam Taj al-Din al-Subki in which it blossoms into other more commentary like commentary by Imam al-Mahalli.

From the facet of ijtihad, comes Imam al-Syatibi's al-Muwāfaqāt. Then, in the late period, a lot of usuliyyun just give a broad picture of usul fiqh like what is did by Abd al-Karim Zaydan, Syeikh Muhammad Abu Zahrah, Syeikh Abd al-Wahhab Khalaf, al-Syinqiti and so on. According to Syeikh Taha Jabir, there is no mujtahid mutlaq in the present day and the task is given to the academic council of a particular place.

If mantiq is the field of research and mind-sharpening place for usuluddin, usul al-fiqh is the field of research and mind-sharpening place for fiqh. This can be found on the commentary of al-Ghazali's al-Mustasfa.

[Yaqeen Sikander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Intellectual Book. Very essential read for beginners in Usul Fiqh. Dr Alwani is bold in his expression and quoting various Hadiths, Sahaba and Imams. A wonderful comparative analysis. Discusses Methodology as well as history of Usul Fiqh and prominent Madhabs.

[Abeer Arain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short book that explains the process of Ijtihaad well. It gets a little draggy at the end, but overall, a good read.

[trickgnosis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to Usul al-Fiqh, the roots of Islamic law.