Imam Al-Shatibi's Theory of the Higher Objectives and Intents of Islamic Law (Paperback)

~ Ahmad Al-Raysuni (Author)
Key Phrases: usúl scholars, unrestricted interests, zakah funds, Islamic Law, God Almighty, Messenger of God (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

With the end of the early Islamic period, Muslim scholars came to sense that a rift had begun to emerge between the teachings and principles of Islam and Muslims daily reality and practices. The most important means by which scholars sought to restore the intimate contact between Muslims and the Quran was to study the objectives of Islam, the causes behind Islamic legal rulings and the intentions and goals underlying the Shariah, or Islamic Law. They made it clear that every legal ruling in Islam has a function which it performs, an aim which it realizes, a cause, be it explicit or implicit, and an intention which it seeks to fulfill, and all of this in order to realize benefit to human beings or to ward off harm or corruption. They showed how these intentions, and higher objectives might at times be contained explicitly in the texts of the Quran and the Sunnah, while at other times, scholars might bring them to light by means of independent reasoning based on their understanding of the Quran and the Sunnah within a framework of time and space.

About the Author

Al-Raysuni sheds light on al-Shatibi inductive method, demonstrating both its value and importance. Sound approaches to understanding the Quran and Sunnah are promoted in particular by the author discussion of the issue of talil, that is, the practice of identifying the causes underlying Islamic Law and its rulings.

Product Details

• Paperback: 478 pages
• Publisher: International Institute of Islamic Thought; 1st edition (December 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565644123
• ISBN-13: 978-1565644120
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,084,656 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Verbaige...Absolutely Verbiage!!, July 2, 2009

By	Hamza21 "The Dynamic Hamza 21" (Inland Empire, California) - See all my reviews

I think the first thing to know about this book is it's a book translated from Arabic to English. Secondly, the book is NOT meant to be taken as an overview of Imam Shatibi's ideas for laymen but more of book for academia. A professor in university setting I'm sure could use this book as textbook for a school year on Imam Shatibi's ideas.

To understand Imam Shatibi's ideas as a non-academic I highly suggest you NOT purchase this book and purchase other books on subject. I haven't read other books on Shatibi's ideas but they can't be any worst then this book. The information is indeed solid but not easily digestible. Like the title to my review states...Verbiage.

Another thing to add about this book is it's just as much about the author Dr. Raysouni's ideas ABOUT Shatibi than the Imam's ideas. Until the last chapter does the author actually present the Imam's ideas in more easily read (and understandable) format. He mostly deals with concepts taken from the Imam based upon certain questions the Imam asked of other scholars of his time.

However, two facts that the author mentions that may not be in other works are:

The five essentials (ad Daruriyyat al Khamsah) were first classified by Imam Juwayni and carried on by his student Imam Ghazzali before reaching Imam Shatibi's time

and The Maliki Madhhaab is actually more the school of Umar ibn Al Khattab than Imam Malik. As Imam Malik didn't invent or deviate from the establish practice of scholars of his time or those before him.

The author's explanation of these two facts alone make my purchase of book not a totally loss. Even though the book wasn't what I thought it turned out to be.