Sunday, September 18, 2011

Latest Publications (Dar al-Minhaj)

as Salamu alaikum,

For the past decade, Dar al-Minhaj Pub. in Jeddah has published an array of hi-quality Shafi'i fiqh works. Their publications of various mutun have been and are currently used by teachers and students in Tarim and other places. Dar al-Minhaj has edited and published works such as: al-Risalat al-Jami'ah, Nayl al-Raja, Bushra al-Karim, Abu Shuja'a, Kifayat al-Akhyar, al-Yaqut al-Nafis, Safwat al-Zubad, 'Umdat al-Salik and Minhaj al-Talibin. All of these mutun make up a traditional Shafi'i fiqh syllabus. Dar al-Minhaj has also published extraordinary encyclopedic-reference works such as: Nihayat al-Matlab, al-Bayan and al-Najm al-Wahhaj.

This year, Dar al-Minhaj printed a number of key reference works and study mutun. Below are some of these publications:

1. al-'Ubab al-Muhit bi-Mu'dham Nusus al-Shafi'i wa al-Ashab, by the judge, jurist and scholar of exacting verification Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Zabidi, famously known as al-Muzajjad(847-930)

al-Muzajjad described this work as, "a treasure drove that a faqih can carry in his sleeve, and a swelling wave condensing the major works..."

al-'Ubab is, in its very essence, a summary of Rawdhat al-Talibin by Imam al-Nawawi, and the author added additional furu' from the various works of the Ashab.

Ibn Hajar al-Haytami and Muhammad al-Ramli both wrote commentaries on al-'Ubab.

al-'Ubab was printed a number of times by Dar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyyah but none of these prints were critical editions.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Why do Hadramis prefer Imam Ibn Hajar?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

I submitted a question to the ifta department of Ribat Tarim regarding Hadramis inclination towards the views of Imam Ibn Hajar al-Haytami in cases where Ibn Hajar and Imam Muhammad al-Ramli differ. Below is a translation of my question and their answer:

It is well-known that the scholars of Hadramawt follow Ibn Hajar in formal-
legal verdict. Why do the scholars prefer Ibn Hajar over al-Ramli when al-Ramli was also a high-ranking faqih with an expansive breadth of knowledge?

In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate. All praise is due to Allah, lord of the entire universe. Blessings and peace on our master Muhammad, the noblest of all prophets and messengers, and on his family and companions, one and all.

To commence;

The questioner asks, "Why do the scholars of Hadramawt prefer Ibn Hajar over al-Ramli in formal legal verdict and what is the reason for their inclination towards Ibn Hajar?"

A 13th century scholar of Hadramawt by the name of Habib 'Abd Allah bin 'Umar bin Yahya was asked this very same question. Habib 'Abd Allah bin Yahya stated that there are four reasons why the Hadramis prefer Ibn Hajar over al-Ramli:

1. Ibn Hajar's knowledge of hadith sciences was extensive.

2. Ibn Hajar practiced tasawwuf and he did not oppose Sufis.

3. Ibn Hajar had extreme love for the Ahl al-Bayt.

4. Ibn Hajar possessed a firm understanding of usul al-fiqh, and because of that, his argument and evidence is usually strong.

It is for these four reasons that the scholars of Hadramawt favor Ibn Hajar; however, al-Ramli's position is followed in some issues.

(Conclusion of the answer)



I remember my teacher in Ribat stating a fifth reason: Ibn Hajar had an enormous amount of adab with Imam al-Nawawi. My teacher explained that some fuqaha dealt with al-Nawawi's inaccurate views in a harsh manner, but Ibn Hajar refrained from a stern tone in dealing with such issues.

Also, one should not deduce from Habib 'Abd Allah bin Yahya's statement that al-Ramli was weak in hadith, opposed Sufism, did not love the Ahl al-Bayt or was not well-versed in usul al-fiqh. Additionally, I have not al-Ramli harshly criticize any views of al-Nawawi in his central work, Nihayat al-Muhtaj.



Allah Most High knows best

Fath al-Mu'in (explained)

as Salamu alaikum,

Find below: Fath al-Mu'in Sharh Qurrat al-'Ayn of Imam Zayn al-Din al-Mallibari explained by the Syrian scholar Sheikh Rushdi al-Qalam.

http://www.archive.org/details/FathAlMo3en