Masa'il al-Imam Ibn Baz
- Author died
- 1420 AH
- Editions
- Dar al-Tadmuriyyah
Masa'il al-Imam Ibn Baz (Legal and Doctrinal Inquiries of Imam Ibn Baz) is a compilation of theological, juridical, and hadith-related questions posed to the Saudi scholar Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz (1330–1420 AH / 1912–1999 CE), recorded, compiled, and annotated by his student Abu Muhammad Abdullah ibn Mani' al-Ruqi .
Background and Compilation
Abdullah ibn Mani' al-Ruqi studied directly under Ibn Baz from 1406 AH until Ibn Baz's death in 1420 AH . During these lesson circles, al-Ruqi meticulously recorded his teacher's statements, extemporaneous fatwas, textual commentaries, and physical expressions verbatim . Beginning in 1409 AH, Ibn Baz also tasked al-Ruqi with researching specific jurisprudential and hadith queries that arose during lessons .
Al-Ruqi assembled Masa'il al-Imam Ibn Baz as part of an effort to systematize and preserve his teacher's rulings for students of Islamic knowledge . The work follows the classical genre of masa'il literature—modeled on works such as the Masa'il of Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal—by bringing together questions posed directly by the compiler during study sessions alongside questions asked by other attendees that al-Ruqi heard and verified .
Method and Content
The text presents questions followed by Ibn Baz's answers, recording dialogues, follow-up inquiries, and review sessions on specific hadiths . The compiler documented cases where Ibn Baz stated "I do not know" (لا أدري), noting the pedagogical importance of such restraint . On minor matters where al-Ruqi arrived at a different conclusion based on textual evidence, he recorded his own view while retaining his teacher's response .
The first installment of the work opens with inquiries into creed and theology (Masa'il fi al-'Aqidah wa-al-Tawhid), addressing topics such as doctrinal hypocrisy, interactions and treaties with non-Muslims, theological positions concerning the Kharijites, and specific questions regarding prophetic characteristics .
Publication
The first collection (al-Majmu'ah al-Ula) was published by Dar al-Tadmuriyyah in 1428 AH (2007 CE) . The edition includes an introductory biographical notice of the compiler written by Yasir ibn Abd al-Aziz al-Thumayri, dated Jumada al-Ula 1428 AH .
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