Reconciliation of the Fundamentals of Islamic Law: Al-Muwafaqat fi Usul al-Shari’a, Volume II

Now available in paperback, The Reconciliation of the Fundamentals of Islamic Law (or Al-Muwafaqat fi Usul al-Shari'), written by Ibrahim ibn Musa Abu Ishaaq al-Shatibi, was and remains an innovation in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), since, for the first time, the objectives of shari'a were addressed. The book is an authority in understanding the objectives of the shari'a. This was the first time that the codification of the maqasid, or objectives of the shari'a, was undertaken. It was first published in 1884 in Tunis, and since then it has been a source of inspiration, moderation, and renewal in fiqh. The book, however, deals with much more than the maqasid, and substantial research is needed to unravel its full contribution. This highly skilled, contemporary English translation of the work has been divided into five sections: the fundamental concepts of the discipline * the ahkam (rules) and related concepts * the legal objectives of the shari'a and the ahkam * the comprehensive treatment of the adilla (evidences) * the rules of ijtihad and taqlid. The previously published Volume I (2011) dealt with the first two key sections, and this current paperback edition of Volume II covers the third part, dealing with the objectives of shari'a.