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|b There is no doubt that the science of 'Usul al-Fiqh (Principles of Jurisprudence) is from among the most important of the sciences of Islamic law. This is because it is concerned with regulating thought, extracting rul¬ings and preponderating between [scholarly] opinions. Muslim scholars have made great efforts in this science and the efforts of Hanbali scholars are clear and distinct in their books. 'Ala' al-Din al-Mardawi (817-885 AH) is one of the prominent scholars of the Hanbali school of jurisprudence who has had a great influence in the his¬tory of this school. \ Allah the Almighty endowed 'Ala' al-Din al-Mardawi with profuse intelligence, expansive knowledge and etiquette in learning. His scholarly output on Usul al- Fiqh is conspicuous. He is the author of several books, the most important of which is Tahrir al-Manqul wa Tahdhib 'llm al-Usul, considered one of the most im¬portant works on Usul al-Fiqh in Hanbali jurisprudence, and likewise his meta-commentary Al-Tahrir Sharh Al- Tahrir. \ This study expounds the titles of both works and their attribution to their author, their import and value in re¬lation to Hanbali books on Usul al-Fiqh, the topics of the various chapters, the reason behind their author¬ship, methodology, sources, original manuscripts and printing. \ This study further discusses two other of al-Mardawi's books, Al-Tufi's Sharh Mukhtasar al-Rawdah which he left uncompleted and Fahrasat al-Qawa'id al-Usuliyyah. However, the information at hand was insufficient for a detailed exposition of the two books. \ This study concludes with a discussion of the general features of al-Mardawi's writings in Usul al-Fiqh which issued from a clear methodology: he delineated his methodology, explained the terminology used; cited his sources; divided the books into chapters; expound¬ed scholarly methodologies and opinions and revised, edited and refined his work. Moreover, he paid special attention to explicating the correct opinions of Imam Ahmed's school of jurisprudence as well as mentioning the opinions of the three imams of the other schools of jurisprudence and others. Moreover, he furnished evi¬dences and discussed them, and preponderated juristic applications related to issues of Usul al-Fiqh. \ His books, Tahrir Al-Manqul and At-Tahbir comprise the majority of matters related to Usul al-Fiqh, the opinions of its scholars, and their verification. For this reason, his books are considered a distinguishing mark in the his¬tory of Hanbali authorship on Usul al-Fiqh. Later schol¬ars who followed him drew upon his work.
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