Fiqh: Introduction to Al-Mukhtasar al-Quduri
Introduction to Mukhtasar Al Quduri
To be taught in the new Fiqh course for sisters.
Proposed times: Weekdays 10-12, 12-2 or Weekends 11-1, 1-3
Please contact 07944 226 066 to enrol
Name of Book: Mukhtasar of Al- Quduri
Birth Year: 362AH/973CE
Death: 428AH/1037CE
Chains to the Prophet: 14 Chains from Him to the Prophet. 8 chains from him to Imam Abu Hanifa
Teachers: Muhammed bin Yahya bin Mahdi al Jurjaani (398 A.H) who was the student of Imam Jasas.
Meaning of Mukhtasr: Concise Handbook of a treatise characterized by neatness and clarity. Originated from the Abbassid Period. Created as a facility for the quick training of lawyers without the use of lengthy volumes. It is a fundamental of Islamic Law for a layman.
Meaning of Quduri: Qidr means Pot in which the Plural is Quduri, either derived because of a family profession of selling pots or towards his home town called Qudurah.
The Mukhtasar of Al- Quduri is a foundational text in Hanafi Fiqh scholarship. It was designed as a textbook for the incipient legal curricula in Iraq and Syria. Many later Hanafi texts are in forms of commentary of the Mukhtasar. Some scholars would write commentary on the entire text or phrases from Quduri. As today, Quduri holds a important place in Hanafi Fiqh scholarship. It is used as a primary textbook in many Islamic institutions for students throughout the world including Egypt, Yemen, India, England and Morocco.
Qudoori contains the opinions of the three main authorities from the Hanafi school (Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammed) from the 7th/8th century. Upon occasion, Quduri mentions the three or four authorities and their respected opinions on a ruling.
Hidaya by Marginani(593/1197) is a commentary on the Mukhtasar and explains Al Quduri word for word. However, Marginani has changed the content of his book. For instance, he brings the chapter of marriage law and personal law before commercial law which is different to Al Quduri. By relaying the text of Marginani he makes the Quduri into a sort of canonical text.
Another different stance Marginani chose was to bring primary evidence (Quran & Ahaadith) and other authoritative views to prove rulings, something Al Quduri did not do. As proven in the chapter of purification, Al Quduri mentions only two primary evidences to prove a ruling. Moreover, Marginani would not only bring the source and opinions however, he shows the different way the text was interpreted by the authorities.
How the commentaries format has changed over years
The beginning of the sixth century mainly focused on explaining the reason for the choices represented by the earlier opinions. Seventh century onwards, several generations of commentaries on Muktasar Al Quduri and Hidaya can be found. However, there are many unpublished commentaries on the Muktasar of Al -Quduri, as Wheeler (2003) mentions. 10 commentaries written in the early generation which have not yet been published but can be found in libraries in Cairo, Tunis and Kairouan.
Brief points about the Book:
- Abridged
- Daily routine rules,
- Without citing evidence,
- Includes everything which scholars deem important
- 2,500 issues,
- 63 chapters
- 20 books,
- Taught for centuries across the world more than 1000 years,
- Considered a classic in Hanafi Fiqh,
- Main aim of book: is to provide a basic manual of do’s and don’ts to enable people to grasp the deen and remember it as easily as possible.
By Ebrahim Badat
