al-Sharh al-Kabir li-Mukhtasar al-Usul
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al-Sharh al-Kabir li-Mukhtasar al-Usul (The Large Commentary on the Abridgment of Usul al-Fiqh) is a contemporary work on Islamic legal theory (usul al-fiqh) by Abu al-Mundhir Mahmud ibn Muhammad al-Minyawi, written as an expanded commentary on an abridgment of the primer al-Usul min Ilm al-Usul by Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin .
Composition and Purpose
The book originated from lectures delivered by al-Minyawi in an educational course to students who had already studied legal theory and al-Uthaymin's original text, following his teaching of the logical introduction to Ibn Qudamah's Rawdat al-Nazir . Al-Minyawi completed the preface in al-Minya on 14 Shawwal 1429 AH (13 October 2008 CE), and the first edition was published in 1432 AH (2011 CE) .
In the introduction, al-Minyawi outlined several core objectives for the commentary:
- Applying logical rules to scholarly definitions (hudud) .
- Developing students' capacities for legal deduction (istinbat) and critical evaluation (naqd) .
- Clarifying the connection between legal theory and theology (usul al-din) by highlighting issues and specialized terminology introduced by scholastic theologians (al-mutakallimun) .
- Training instructors to teach the text to other students .
Method and Structure
Al-Minyawi's approach began by condensing the wording of al-Uthaymin's primer into an abridged text suitable for memorization, while preserving the author's original phraseology without paraphrasing . He then explained each condensed point, drawing explanations from al-Uthaymin's original treatise and his own audio and written commentary on it, as well as al-Uthaymin's other works to determine his positions . He supplemented these with transmissions from Hanbali authorities, scholars of other legal schools, and contemporary writers, while pointing out weaker opinions without excessive digression into legal disagreements .
Addressing his modification of some of al-Uthaymin's definitions, al-Minyawi stated that al-Uthaymin had intentionally formulated simplified expressions for beginning students rather than strictly comprehensive and exclusive logical definitions (jami' mani'), particularly given al-Uthaymin's view prohibiting the study of formal logic . Al-Minyawi noted that his adjustments were pedagogical exercises rather than criticisms of the author .
Related Works
Al-Minyawi subsequently prepared an abridged summary of this extensive commentary titled al-Tamhid: Sharh Mukhtasar al-Usul min Ilm al-Usul . He also authored al-Mu'tasar min Sharh Mukhtasar al-Usul min Ilm al-Usul based on the work .
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