The Epistle on Legal Theory

A Translation of Al-Shafi'i's Risalah

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Middle East Religions, Koran, Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism
Cover of the book The Epistle on Legal Theory by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i, NYU Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i ISBN: 9781479809028
Publisher: NYU Press Publication: October 15, 2015
Imprint: NYU Press Language: English
Author: Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
ISBN: 9781479809028
Publisher: NYU Press
Publication: October 15, 2015
Imprint: NYU Press
Language: English

The Epistle on Legal Theory is the oldest surviving Arabic work on Islamic legal theory and the foundational document of Islamic jurisprudence. Its author, Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i (d. 204/820), was the eponym of the Shafi'i school of legal thought, one of the four rites in Sunni Islam. This fascinating work offers the first systematic treatment in Arabic of key issues in Islamic legal thought. These include a survey of the importance of Arabic as the language of revelation, principles of textual interpretation to be applied to the Qur'an and prophetic Traditions, techniques for harmonizing apparently contradictory precedents, legal epistemology, rules of inference, and discussions of when legal interpretation is required. The author illustrates his theoretical claims with numerous examples drawn from nearly all areas of Islamic law, including ritual law, commercial law, tort law, and criminal law. The text thus provides an important window into both Islamic law and legal thought in particular and early Islamic intellectual history in general.

This new translation by a leading scholar of Shafi'i and his thought makes available in lucid, modern English one of the earliest complete works on Islamic law—one that is centrally important for the formation of Islamic legal thought and the Islamic legal tradition.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The Epistle on Legal Theory is the oldest surviving Arabic work on Islamic legal theory and the foundational document of Islamic jurisprudence. Its author, Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i (d. 204/820), was the eponym of the Shafi'i school of legal thought, one of the four rites in Sunni Islam. This fascinating work offers the first systematic treatment in Arabic of key issues in Islamic legal thought. These include a survey of the importance of Arabic as the language of revelation, principles of textual interpretation to be applied to the Qur'an and prophetic Traditions, techniques for harmonizing apparently contradictory precedents, legal epistemology, rules of inference, and discussions of when legal interpretation is required. The author illustrates his theoretical claims with numerous examples drawn from nearly all areas of Islamic law, including ritual law, commercial law, tort law, and criminal law. The text thus provides an important window into both Islamic law and legal thought in particular and early Islamic intellectual history in general.

This new translation by a leading scholar of Shafi'i and his thought makes available in lucid, modern English one of the earliest complete works on Islamic law—one that is centrally important for the formation of Islamic legal thought and the Islamic legal tradition.

More books from NYU Press

Cover of the book Visualizing Atrocity by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
Cover of the book Surviving Poverty by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
Cover of the book The Passions of Law by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
Cover of the book Parenting Out of Control by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
Cover of the book Blood and Belief by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
Cover of the book The Maids Daughter by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
Cover of the book A. Philip Randolph by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
Cover of the book New York, Year by Year by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
Cover of the book Smoke and Mirrors by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
Cover of the book Shutting Down the Streets by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
Cover of the book Watch This! by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
Cover of the book Motherhood across Borders by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
Cover of the book The Television Will Be Revolutionized, Second Edition by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
Cover of the book The Synagogue in America by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
Cover of the book Citizenship Excess by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy