Al-Shafi'i's Risala
Treatise on the Foundations of Islamic Jurisprudence
TRANSLATED BY MAJID KHADDURI
380 Pages, Hard Back
225 x 145 Reprints. Glossary. Bibliography.
IndexI
(First
published in 1961, repr.1987,1988)
ISBN: 0 946621 15
2
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.
Table of Contents
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1.
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The Historical Background of the Risala
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2.
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The Composition and Structure of the Risala.
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3.
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Substance and Argument of the Risala.
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4.
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Significance of the Risala
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5.
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The Text of the Risala.
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6.
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Translation of Shafi’i’s Risala.
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7.
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Transmitters of Traditions.
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