Ahkam al-Qur'an (al-Jassas)

Further information: Ahkam al-Qur'an
Ahkam al-Qur'an
EditorAbdul Salam & Muhammad Ali Shahin
AuthorAbū Bakr al-Jaṣṣāṣ
Original titleأحكام القرآن
LanguageArabic
GenreTafsir
PublisherDar al-Kotob al-'Ilmiyya
Publication date
2020
Publication placeBeirut, Lebanon
Pages1952
ISBN978-2-7451-0246-1

Aḥkām al-Qurʾān (Arabic: أحكام القرآن, lit. 'Rulings of the Qur'an') by Abū Bakr al-Jaṣṣāṣ al-Rāzī (d. 370/981) is one of the earliest works in the field of legal Qur'anic exegesis and the most important within the Ḥanafī school. In this work, al-Jaṣṣāṣ focuses on verses containing legal rulings, interpreting them through the lens of Ḥanafī jurisprudence. His systematic approach and juristic analysis made the work a foundational reference for later scholars in both tafsīr and Islamic law.

Background

Al-Jaṣṣāṣ al-Rāzī authored his commentary and set forth his discussion of the legal rulings of the Qur'an in accordance with the principles and foundations of the Ḥanafī school. Al-Jaṣṣāṣ himself placed two introductions at the beginning of his book. One on the principles of Tawḥīd (monotheism) another on the principles of deduction and inference (istinbāṭ). He says:[1]

“We have prefaced this book with an introduction that clarifies, as briefly as possible, what must not be ignored concerning the fundamentals of Tawḥīd, and another introduction explaining the methods of deriving rulings from the Qurʾān, extracting its proofs and evidences, as well as the manner of reasoning and inference in matters of divine law, language, and philosophical terminology. For the science of Tawḥīd is the foundation of all sciences and disciplines, and every knowledge proceeds from its core and essence.”

Methodology

Aḥkâm al-Qur'ān is one of the earliest works focused on the legal injunctions (ahkâm) of the Qur'an and later influenced subsequent ahkâm-centered tafsirs. In the work, surahs are treated according to their Qur'anic order, but only verses containing legal injunctions are discussed; surahs without ahkâm verses are omitted. The verses are arranged under abwâb (chapters), similar to fiqh literature, according to the topics to which they pertain.[2]

In interpreting the ahkâm, al-Jaṣṣāṣ addresses both uṣûl and furûʿ matters, drawing on Prophetic traditions (hadith), the views of the Companions and Tabi'în, the differences among the legal schools, and the evidences cited by each party. He consistently defends the Hanafî position using both transmitted (naqlî) and rational (‘aqlî) evidence, while occasionally critiquing other schools with sharp precision. This comparative approach positions the work not only as a tafsîr but also as a reference in jurisprudential debate.[3]

The text also clarifies the circumstances of revelation (asbâb al-nuzûl), identifies abrogating and abrogated verses (nâsikh wa mansûkh), and occasionally engages in literary analysis, incorporating evidence from Arabic poetry. Owing to its comprehensive treatment of legal, textual, and linguistic aspects, Aḥkâm al-Qur'ān became a key reference for jurists, exegetes, and literary scholars in later centuries.[2]

Editions

The work exists in manuscript copies in many libraries. It was first published in three volumes by Kilisli Rifat and Kâmil Efendi (member of parliament from Karahisar, Miras), based on the manuscripts in Istanbul libraries (Istanbul, 1335–1338 AH / 1917–1920 CE), and was also printed in Cairo in 1347 AH / 1928 CE. A critical edition of the work was prepared by Muhammed Sâdık Kamhâvî (Cairo, n.d., I–V).[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Sardar Ali & Imdad Ullah 2023, p. 7
  2. ^ a b c YUNUS VEHBİ YAVUZ (998). "AHKÂMÜ’l-KUR’ÂN". Vol. 1. İslâm Ansiklopedisi. p. 553.
  3. ^ Sardar Ali & Imdad Ullah 2023, p. 9

Sources

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