Hanafi Fatwa
Ashraf Dockrat
Question:
1 - What are the most essential books of fatwa in the Hanafi school?
2 - I notice many Hanafi scholars using books of ulum al hadith that are in accordance with the other three schools of fiqh, could you please provide some sources of ulum al hadith that look at the science based on the Hanafi school?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salamu 'alaykum wa-rahmatullahi wa-barakatuh.
At the outset, we wish to clarify that the field of Ifta
is an incredibly delicate and complex field.[1] It requires for one to have a detailed understanding of Shari'ah to issue a Fatwa. More importantly, one must study the field of Ifta under an expert teacher.
'Allamah Ibn 'Abidin Rahimahullah (d.1252 AH) writes:
وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ فِيْ "فَتَاوَى الْعَلَّامَة ابْنِ حَجَر": سُئِلَ فِيْ شَخْصٍ يَقْرَأُ وَيُطَالِعُ الْكُتُبَ الْفِقْهِيَّةَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ شَيْخٌ وَيُفْتِيْ وَيَعْتَمِدُ عَلَى مُطَالَعَتِهِ فِي الْكُتُبِ فَهَلْ يَجُوْزُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ أَمْ لَا؟
فَأَجَابَ بِقَوْلِهِ لَا يَجُوْزُ لَهُ الْإِفْتَاءُ بِوَجْهٍ مِّنَ الْوُجُوْهِ لِأَنَّهُ عَامِيٌّ جَاهِلٌ لَا يَدْرِيْ مَا يَقُوْلُ
Translation:
"Indeed I saw in the Fatawa of 'Allamah Ibn Hajar that he was asked regarding a person who prays and studies the books of Fiqh on his own and does not have a teacher, he then gives a Fatwa relying upon his study of books, is this permissible for him?
He (Ibn Hajar) replied "it is not permissible for such a person to issue a Fatwa under any circumstance, for he is an ignorant layman who is unaware of what he is saying"
How is a Fatwa issued in accordance to the Hanafi Madhab?
Before presenting the essential books of Fatwa according to the Hanafi Madhab, it is important to understand an underlying principle which outlines how a Fatwa is given according to the Hanafi Madhab.
The fundamental rule for giving a Fatwa according to the Hanafi Madhab is[2]:"By default, Fatwa is given upon the rulings found in the books of Zahir Al Riwayah. However, if the Hanafi Fuqaha who were worthy of giving preference gave preference to a view that is contrary to what is found in the books of Zahir Al Riwayah, then Fatwa shall be given upon the view that the Hanafi Fuqaha who were worthy of giving preference have given preference to and not the view found in the books of Zahir Al Riwayah"
The Important Books Required for Issuing a Fatwa According to the Hanafi Madhab:
After understanding the fundamental rule mentioned above, it is understood that the important books for Fatwa according to the Hanafi Madhab are of four types:
1) The books of Zahir Al Riwayah
2) The books written by the Hanafi Madhab who were worthy of giving preference
3) The books of Al Mutun Al Mu'tabarah (The Reliable Texts)
4) The books written by the later scholars
We shall briefly list these 4 types of books.
The Books of Zahir Al Riwayah:
The books of Zahir Al Riwayah are the books written by Imam Muhammad (d.189 AH) with the purpose of presenting the rulings of the Hanafi Madhab. In these books, Imam Muhammad (d.189 AH) records the view of Imam Abu Hanifah (d.150 AH), Imam Abu Yusuf (d.182 AH), and his personal view.
The Zahir Al Riwayah are five books in total[3]:
1) Al Aṣl (in print)
2) Al Jami' Al Ṣaghir (in print)
3) Al Jami' Al Kabir (in print)
4) Ziyadat and Ziyadat Al Ziyadat (not in print)
5) Al Siyar Al Kabir (not in print)
The Books written by the Hanafi Fuqaha who were worthy of giving preference. These books include:
1) Al Kafi by Hakim Al Shahid (d.334 AH) (manuscript)
2) Mukhtaṣar Al Karkhi by Imam Al Karkhi (d.340 AH) (manuscript)
3) Mukhtaṣar Al ṬaHawi by Imam Abu Ja'far Al ṬaHawi (321 AH) (in print)
4) SharH Mukhtaṣar Al ṬaHawi by Abu Bakr Al Jasṣaṣ Al RaZi (d.370 AH) (in print)
5) 'Uyun Al Masail by Abu Layth Al Samarqandi (d.373 AH)[4] (in print)
6) Fatawa Al NawaZil by Abu Layth Al Samarqandi (d.373 AH) (manuscript)
7) KhiZanah Al Fiqh by Abu Layth Al Samarqandi (d.373 AH) (in print)
8) Mukhtalaf Al Riwayah by Abu Layth Al Samarqandi (d.373 AH) (in print)
9) SharH Al Jami' Al Kabir by Abu Layth Al Samarqandi (d.373 AH) (manuscript)
10) Al Tajrid by Imam Al Quduri (d.428 AH) (in print)
11) Mukhtaṣar Al Quduri by Imam Al Quduri (d.428 AH) (in print)
12) SharH Mukhtaṣar Al Karkhi by Imam Al Quduri (d.428 AH) (manuscript)
13) Al Ajnas by Imam Al Naṭifi (d.446 AH) (in print)
14) Kitab Jumal Al AHkam by Imam Al Naṭifi (d.446 AH) (in print)
15) Al Nutaf Fil Fatawa by 'Ali Al Saghdi (d.461 AH) (in print)
16) SharH Mukhtaṣar Al Quduri by AHmad Al Aqṭa' (d.474 AH) (manuscript)
17) SharH Mukhtaṣar Al ṬaHawiby Imam AHmad ibn Manṣur Al Isbijabi (d.480 AH) (manuscript)
18) SharH Al Jami' Al Saghir by Imam AHmad ibn Manṣur Al Isbijabi (d.480 AH) (manuscript)
19) SharH Al Jami' Al Saghir by Imam Al BaZdawi (d.482 AH) (manuscript)
20) SharH Al Jami' Al Kabir by Imam Al BaZdawi (d.482 AH) (manuscript)
21) Al Mabsuṭ by Shamsul A'immah Al Sarakhsi (d.483 AH) (in print)
22) SharH Al Siyar Al Kabirby Shamsul A'immah Al Sarakhsi (d.483 AH) (in print)
23) Al Nukat SharH Ziyadat Al Ziyadat by Shamsul A'immah Al Sarakhsi (d.483 AH) (in print)
24) SharH Al Jami' Al Saghir by Shamsul A'immah Al Sarakhsi (d.483 AH) (manuscript)
25) Sharh Mukhtasar Al Quduri by Abu Bakr Khwahir Zadah (d.483 AH) (manuscript)
26) Khizanatul Akmal by Yusuf ibn 'Ali Al Jurjani (d.522 AH) (in print)
27) SharH Al Jami' Al Saghir by 'Allamah Ṣadr Al Shahid (d.536 AH) (in print)
28) Al Manzumah Fil Khilafiyyat by Najm Al Din Al Nasafi (d.537 AH) (in print)
29) Tuhfah Al Fuqaha by 'Ala Al Din Al Samarqandi (d.539 AH) (in print)
30) Sharh Al Siyar Al Kabir by 'Ala Al Din Al Samarqandi (d.539 AH) (manuscript)
31) Al Fatawa Al Walwaljiyyah by 'Abdul Rashid Al Walwalji (d.540 AH) (in print)
32) Al Multaqaṭ Fil Fatawa Al Hanafiyyah by Naṣir Al Din Al Samarqandi (d.556 AH) (in print)
33) Al Fiqh Al Nafi' by Naṣir Al Din Al Samarqandi (d.556 AH) (in print)
34) Al Fatawa Al Sirajiyyah by Siraj Al Din Al Awshi (d.569 AH) (in print)
35) SharH Al Jami' Al Saghir by AHmad Al 'Attabi (d.586 AH) (manuscript)
36) Jawami' Al Fiqh by AHmad Al 'Attabi (d.586 AH) (manuscript)
37) SharH Al Ziyadat by AHmad Al 'Attabi (d.586 AH) (manuscript)
38) Badai' Al Ṣanai' by 'Ala Al Din Al Kasani (d.587 AH) (in print)
39) Zad Al Fuqaha SharH Mukhtaṣar Al Quduri by Imam MuHammad ibn AHmad Al Isbijabi (d.591 AH) (manuscript)
40) SharH Al Ziyadat by Imam Qadhi Khan (d.592 AH) (in print)
41) Fatawa Qadhi Khan by Imam Qadhi Khan (d.592 AH) (in print)
42) SharH Al Jami' Al Saghir by Imam Qadhi Khan (d.592 AH) (manuscript)
43) Al Hidayah SharH Bidayah Al Mubtadi by 'Allamah Abu Bakr Al Murghinani (d.593 AH) (in print)
44) Mukhtarat Al NawaZil by 'Allamah Abu Bakr Al Murghinani (d.593 AH) (in print)
45) Al Tajnis Wal MaZid by 'Allamah Abu Bakr Al Murghinani (d.593 AH) (in print)
46) Al Hawi Al Qudsi by AHmad ibn MaHmud Al GhaZnawi (d.593 AH) (in print)
47) Khulaṣah Al Dalail Fi TanqiH Al Masail by Husam Al Din Al RaZi (d.598 AH) (in print)
48) Al MuHiṭ Al Burhani by Burhan Al Din Al Bukhari (d.616 AH) (in print)
49) Khulaṣah Al Fatawa by Ṭahir ibn 'Abd Al Rashid Al Bukhari (d.post 600 AH) (in print)
50) Al Wiqayah by MaHmud ibn AHmad ibn 'Ubaydillah Al MaHbubi (d.673 AH) (in print)
51) Al Kafi SharH Al Wafi by Hafidh Al Din Al Nasafi (d.710 AH) (manuscript)
52) Al Mustaṣfa SharH Al Fiqh Al Nafi' by Hafidh Al Din Al Nasafi(d.710 AH) (manuscript)
53) FatH Al Qadir by Ibn Al Hummam (d.861 AH) (in print)
Al Mutun Al Mu'tabarah (The Reliable Texts)
The Al Mutun Al Mu'tabarah (Reliable Texts) are books written with the purpose of compiling the views of Zahir Al Riwayah.[5] They are six in total:
1) Mukhtaṣar Al Quduri by Imam Al Quduri (d.428 AH) (in print)
2) Al Mukhtar by 'Abdullah Al Mawṣili (d.683 AH) (in print)
3) Al Wiqayah by MaHmud ibn AHmad ibn 'Ubaydillah Al MaHbubi (d.673 AH) (in print)
4) KanZ Al Daqaiq by Hafidh Al Din Al Nasafi (d.710 AH) (in print)
5) Al Nuqayah by 'Ubaydullah ibn Mas'ud ibn MaHmud Al MaHbubi (d.747 AH) (in print)
6) Multaqa Al Abhur by Ibrahim Al Halabi (d.956 AH) (in print)
The Books written by the later Fuqaha:
These book include:
1) Al Fatawa Al Zahiriyyah by Zahir Al Din Al Bukhari (d.619 AH) (manuscript)
2) Jami' AHkam Al Ṣighar by MuHammad ibn MaHmud Al Asrushni (d.632 AH) (in print)
3) Al Mujtaba SharH Al Quduri by Najm Al Din Al Zahidi (d.658 AH) (manuscript)
4) Qunyah Al Munyah Li Tatmim Al Ghunyah by Najm Al Din Al Zahidi (d.658 AH) (in print)
5) TuHfah Al Muluk by Zayn Al Din Al RaZi (d.666 AH) (in print)
6) Al Ikhtiyar Li Ta'lil Al Mukhtar by 'Abdullah Al Mawṣili (d.683 AH) (in print)
7) Majma' Al BaHrain by AHmad ibn 'Ali Al Sa'ati (d.694 AH) (in print)
8) Niṣab Al IHtisab by 'Umar ibn MuHammad Al Sanami (ca.700 AH-725 AH) (in print)
9) Al Fatawa Al Ghiyathiyyah by Dawud ibn Yusuf Al Khatib (ca.700 AH - 800 AH) (in print)
10) Al Nihayah SharH Al Hidayah by Husain ibn 'Ali Al Saghnaqi (d.710 AH) (manuscript)
11) Tabyin Al Haqaiq by 'Uthman Al Zayla'i' (d.743 AH) (in print)
12) SharH Al Wiqayah by 'Ubaydullah ibn Mas'ud Al MaHbubi (d.747 AH) (in print)
13) Mi'raj Al Dirayah SharH Al Hidayah by Qiwam Al Din Al Kaki (d.749 AH) (manuscript)
14) Ghayah Al Bayan SharH Al Hidayah by Qiwam Al Din Al Itqani (d.758 AH) (manuscript)
15) Al Fatawa Al Ṭarsusiyyah by Najm Al Din Al Ṭarsusi (d.758 AH) (in print)
16) Al Fatawa Al Tatarkhaniyyah by Farid Al Din Al Andarpati (d.786 AH) (in print)
17) Al 'Inayah SharH Al Hidayah by Akmal Al Din Al Babarti (d.786 AH) (in print)
18) Al Jawharah Al Nayyirah by Abu Bakr Al Haddad (d.800 AH) (in print)
19) Al Tashil SharH Laṭaif Al Isharat by Imam Ibn Qadhi Samawinah (d.823 AH) (in print)
20) Jami' Al Fuṣulayn by Imam Ibn Qadhi Samawinah (d.823 AH) (in print)
21) Al Fatawa Al BaZaZiyyah by MuHammad Al Kurdi Al BaZaZi (d.827 AH) (in print)
22) Fatawa Qari Al Hidayah by Siraj Al Din Abu Hafs 'Umar (d.829 AH) (in print)
23) Al BaHr Al 'Amiq by Ibn Ḍiya Al Makki (d.854 AH) (in print)
24) Al Binayah SharH Al Hidayah by Badr Al Din Al 'Ayni (d.855 AH) (in print)
25) RumZ Al Haqaiq SharH KanZ Al Daqaiq by Badr Al Din Al 'Ayni (d.855 AH) (in print)
26) MinHah Al Suluk SharH Kitab TuHfah Al Muluk by Badr Al Din Al 'Ayni (d.855 AH) (in print)
27) Halbah Al Majalli SharH Munyah Al Muṣalli by Ibn Amir Al Haj (d.879 AH) (in print)
28) Al TaṣHiH Wal TarjiH by Qasim ibn Quṭlubugah (d.879 AH) (in print)
29) Durar Al Hukkam by Mulla Kusrow (d.885 AH) (in print)
30) SharH ManZumah ibn Wahban by Ibn ShaHnah (d.921 AH) (in print)
31) MafatiHh Al Jinan SharH Shir'ah Al Islam by (d.931 AH) (in print)
32) Jami' Al RumuZ by Al Quhistani (ca. 953 AH) (in print)
33) Ghunyah Al Mutamalli SharH Munyah Al Muṣalli by Ibrahim Al Halabi (d.956 AH) (in print)
34) Al BaHrur Raiq by Ibn Nujaym Al Miṣri (d.970 AH) (in print)
35) Al Nahrul Faiq by 'Umar Ibn Nujaym Al Miṣri (d.1005 AH) (in print)
36) Fatawa Al Tumurtashi by MuHammad Al Tumurtashi (d.1007 AH) (in print)
37) Mu'in Al Mufti 'An Jawab Al Mustafti by MuHammad Al Tumurtashi (d.1007 AH) (in print)
38) FatH Bab Al 'Inayah by Mulla 'Ali Al Qari (d.1014 AH) (in print)
39) Hashiyah Irshad Al Sari by Mulla 'Ali Al Qari (d.1014 AH) (in print)
40) Imdad Al FattaH by Hasan ibn 'Ammar Al Shurunbulali (d.1069 AH) (in print)
41) Taysir Al Maqaṣid by Hasan ibn 'Ammar Al Shurunbulali (d.1069 AH) (in print)
42) Maraqil FalaH by Hasan ibn 'Ammar Al Shurunbulali (d.1069 AH) (in print)
43) Hashiyah 'Ala Durar Al Hukkam by Hasan ibn 'Ammar Al Shurunbulali (d.1069 AH) (in print)
44) Majma' Al Anhur SharH Multaqa Al Abhur by Imam Shaykhi Zadah (d.1078 AH) (in print)
45) Al Fatawa Al Hindiyyah compiled between 1077 AH to 1086 AH (in print)
46) Al Durr Al Mukhtar by 'Ala Al Din Al Haṣkafi (d.1088 AH) (in print)
47) Al Dur Al Muntaqa by 'Ala Al Din Al Haṣkafi (d.1088 AH) (in print)
48) Nihayah Al Murad by 'Abdul Ghani Al Nablusi (d.1143 AH) (in print)
49) RashaHat Al Aqlam SharH Kifayah Al Ghulam by 'Abdul Ghani Al Nablusi (d.1143 AH) (in print)
50) Al Fatawa Al Iqna'iyyah by 'Abdul Hamid Al Siba'i' (d.1220 AH) (in print)
51) Hashiyah Al ṬaHṭawi 'Ala Maraqil FalaH by 'Allamah TaHtawi (d.1231 AH) (in print)
52) Hashiyah Al ṬaHṭawi 'Ala Dur Al Mukhtar by 'Allamah TaHtawi (d.1231 AH) (in print)
53) Radd Al MuHtar by Ibn 'Abidin Al Shami (d.1252 AH) (in print)
54) TanqiH Al Fatawa Al Hamidiyyah by Ibn 'Abidin Al Shami (d.1252 AH) (in print)
55) Al Lubab Fi SharH Al Kitab by 'Abdul Ghani Al Maydani (d.1298 AH) (in print)
56) 'Umdah Al Ri'ayah SharH SharH Al Wiqayah by 'Allamah 'Abdul Hayy Al Lucknawi (d.1304 AH) (in print)
57) Majallah Al AHkam Al 'Adliyyah by the scholars of the Ottoman Empire (in print)
58) SharH Majallah Al AHkam by Khalid Al Atasi (d.1326 AH) (in print)
59) Durar Al Hukkam by 'AliHaidar (d.1321 AH) (in print)
An Important Point to Remember:
When looking for the ruling of a Mas'alah according to the Hanafi Madhab, it is important for one to maintain the order mentioned above; starting with Zahir Al Riwayah and moving down to the books of the later Fuqaha.
After one has checked all of the above, he should refer to the books written by the Fuqaha of the Indian Sub-continent.
The purpose behind researching the books written by the Fuqaha of the Indian Sub-continent is to compare and analyse the manner in which one has understood the Mas'alah with how the Fuqaha of the Indian Sub-continent understood it.
The Books Written by the Scholars of the Indian Sub-continent:
1) Fatawa Rashidiyyah by Maulana Rashid AHmad Gangohi (d.1323 AH)
2) Imdadul Fatawa by Haḍrat Thanwi (d.1362 AH)
3) Kifayatul Mufti by Mufti Kifayatullah (d.1372 AH)
4) Fatawa Khayriyyah by Mufti Khair MuHammad Jalandhri (d.1391 AH)
5) Imdadul AHkam by MuftiZafar AHmad 'Uthmani (d.1394 AH)
6) Jawahir Al Fiqh by Mufti Muhammad Shafi' (d.1396 AH)
7) Fatawa MaHmudiyyah by Mufti MaHmud Hasan Gangohi (d.1417 AH)
8) Muntakabul Fatawa by Mufti NiZamud Din A'Zami (d.1420 AH)
9) Fatawa RaHimiyyah by Mufti 'Abdul RaHim Lajpuri (d.1422 AH)
10) AHsanul Fatawa by Mufti Rashid AHmad Ludhiyanwi (d.1422 AH)
11) Aap Kei Masail Aur UnkaHal by Maulana Yusuf Ludhiyanwi
12) Fatawa Darul 'Ulum Deoband
13) MaHmudul Fatawa by Mufti AHmad Khanpuri
14) Fatawa Diniyyah by Mufti Isma'il Kacholwi
Important Books on Hanafi Uṣul Al Hadith
The important books written on Hanafi Uṣul Al Hadith include:
1) Dirasatun Fi Uṣul Al Hadith 'Ala Manhaj Al Hanafiyyah by 'Abdul Majid Al Tarkamani
2) Taqwim Al Adillah Fi Usul Al Fiqh; section on Al Sunnah by Abu Zayd Al Dabusi (d.430 AH)
3) Uṣul Al Sarakhsi; section on Al Sunnah by Shamsul A'immah Al Sarakhsi (d.483 AH)
4) Kashf Al Asrar SharH Uṣul Al BaZdawi by 'Ala Al Din Al Bukhari (d.730 AH)
5) Al TalwiH SharH Al TawḍiH; section on Al Sunnah by Sa'd Al Din Al TaftaZani (d.792 AH)
6) Al Taqrir Wal TaHbir SharH Al TaHrir; section on Al Sunnah by Ibn Amir Al Haj (d.879 AH)
7) Nurul Anwar; section on Al Sunnah by Mulla Jiwan (d.1130 AH)
8) Al MuwaZanah Bayn Manhajil Hanafiyyah Wa Manhaj Al MuHaddithin Fi Qubul Al AHadith Wa Raddiha by 'Adnan 'Ali Al Khiḍr.
And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Mu'adh Chati
Student Darul Iftaa
Blackburn, England, UK
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.