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Books of Authority in Shafii Madhhab and their preferance:

The BOOKS:

The main aspect in the foundation of the madhhab is the verdict of the al-Imm Shafii(d.204.AH). The Ulam and their books constitute the basis and source of strength of the

madhhab. The Ulam explain and elaborate the original verdict of the Imm and disseminate

them while in the books are preserved the authentic views of the madhhab , which are

transmitted to a later generation. (1)

Imm al-armain Abd al-Malik ibn Abdullah al-Juwayn(478 H) has gathered all four mainfiqh books ofal-qawl al-jadd(new verdict) ofal-Imm al-Shfi(204 H) namelyal-Umm, al-

Imla, al-Mukhtaar byal-Imm al-Buwai(231 H) andal-Mukhtaar byal-Imm al-Muzn

(264 H) in one book entitledNihyat al-Malab.This book ofImm al-armain has been abridged three times by his student,Hujjat al-Islm al-

Imm al-Ghazl(505 H). The first abridgement isal-Bast, al-Wast the second and finallyal-

Wajz.Al-Imm al-Rfi(623 H) summarized al-Wajz and entitled ital-Muarrar.Al-Imm al-Rfialso had writen a commentary ofal-Wajiz in two books namely Sharh al-kabirorFath al-

Aziz fi sharh al-Wajz and Sharh al-agh

r.

Al-Imm al-Nawaw(676 H) abridged Fath al-Aziz in his book,Rauat al-libn wa umdat al-muftiyyn. This was later abridged by Ibn al-Muqr (837 H) inRaual-alib and Shaykh al-Islm

Zakariyy al-Anr(925 H) compiled a commentary on it, naming itAsna al-malib sharhRaual-lib. Beside ar-Rau, Rauah al-libn also has been abridged by al-Imm Amad ibn

Umar al-Muzajjad(930 H) in the book entitled,al- Ubab and al-Imm Ibn ajar al-Makk

prepared a commentary namedal- b sharh al- Ubb.Al-Sharaf al-Muqrib al-Rauabridged it second time in a book entitledal-Irshd. A commentary on it was prepared by al-

Imm Ibn ajar al-MakknamedFath al-jawd sharh al-Irshd. Al-Imm al-Nawawhad

abridged al-Muharrarand entitled itMinhj al-libn. It was thereafter abridged by Shaykh al-

Islm Zakariyy al-Anrin his bookManhaj al-ullab and he authored a commentary on itnamelyFath al-Wahhb bi sharManhaj al-ullab. Al-Imm al-Jauharabridged al-Manhaj

and named ital-Nahj. (2)

Tarj(preference) in the madhhab:

It rests upon the verdicts of al-Shaykhayn; al-Imm al-Rfiand al-Imm al-Nawaw. This is the

unanimous view ofmuhaqqiqs (researchers) of the madhhab. If these two Imms have adifference opinion, the verdict ofal-Imm al-Nawawwill be given preference over the verdict of

al-Imm al-Rafi.

If the writings ofal-Imm al-Nawawdiffer, generally the the order of what will be given

preference to is (1) al-Tahqq, (2)al-Majm , (3) al-Tanq, (4) al-Rauah, (5) al-Minhj and

hisfatw(legal verdicts), (7) Sharh Muslim, and finally (8) Taal-Tanbh and its nukt(marginal note). The view on which of his books are unanimous will be given preference over the

view on which only a few of his books are unanimous. The view discused under its relevantchapter is given preference over that which is discussed in another chapter.Al-Imm al-Subk

(d.756 .AH) mentioned regarding al-Minhaj ofal-Imm al-Nawaw, In this era, this book is the

most excellent book for students and many scholars to understand the madhhab. There are

almost one hundred commentaries of the al-Minhj. It has been abridged, explained, annotated

and compiled in the form of poetry. The four main commentaries ofal-Minhaj are

(1) Tufat al-muhtj by al-Imm Amad ibn Al ibn ajar al-Haytamal-Makk(974 H),

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(2)Nihyat al-muhtj ilsharh al-Minhj by al-Imm Shams al-Dn Muammad ibn Amad ibnHamzah al-Raml(1004 H),

(3)Mughnal-muhtj ilmarifat al-mani alfsharh al-Minhj by al-Imm Shams al-DnMuammad ibn Amad al-Khib al-Shirbn(977 H) and

(4)Kanz al-rghibn sharh Minhj al-libn by al-Imm Jall al-Dn Muammad ibn Amad

al-Maall(864 H).The above mentioned books hold an authoritative position in the madhhab. However, if there is

difference opinion, preference is given toal-Tufah ofal-Imm Ibn ajar al-Haytamandal-Nihayah ofal-Imm Shams al-Dn al-Raml.

Thereafter, preference is given to Sharh al-aghr alal-Bahjah and then,Fath al-Wahhb bi

sharh Manhaj al-ullb both by Shaykh al-Islm Zakariyy al-Anr. Finally, preference is

given to Sharh al-Imm al-Khib al-Shirbnand Sharh al-Imm al-Maall.

Among the books ofal-Imm Ibn ajar, the order of merit is al-Tufah, Fatal-Jawd, al-Imdd, thefatw(legal opinions) and sharh al-Ubb have the same merit, however, giving

preference to the commentary is better.

The order of merit among the awsh(marginal notes) is shiyah al Sharh al-Manhaj by al-

ImmAlal-Ziyd(1024 H) thenIbn Qasim al-Abbd(994 H) on al-Tufah, then Shaykh

Umairah (957 H) marginal note on al-Maall, then the verdict ofShaykh Alal-Shabramillis(1087 H) on al-Nihyah. Thereafter, shiyah al-Halab, al-Shaubar, al-Ann. Their opinionsare taken if they do not differ with the original standpoint. (3)

(1),(2), (3)-Adapted from:Safnat al-naj: Arabic and English. Slim ibn Abdullah ibn Sad ibn Samr al-Haramal-Shfi.( The Ship of Salvation: A classic manual of Islmic Doctrine and Jurisprudence In Arabic with English text,

commentary and appendices. Edited and translated by: Abdullah Muammad al-Marbqal-Shfi.

Shah Alam, Selangor)