Book Review

Imam Abu Hanifa's Al-Fiqh al-Akbar Explained
by Abu Hanifa / Maghnisawi / Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf

by Abu ’l-Muntaha al-Maghnisawi with Selections from 'Ali al-Qari’s Commentary, including Abu Hanifa’s Kitab al-Wasiyya

Hardback edition with two color text inside

Al-Fiqh al-Akbar is one of the earliest texts written on central Islamic theology, and one of the surviving works of Abu Hanifa, the Great Imam of jurisprudence and theology. Studied for centuries in the Muslim world, Al-Fiqh al-Akbar offers a layered understanding of divine oneness (tawhid), the underpinning of Islamic belief. It helps to refine one’s understanding of the Creator, messengers, and divine communication, and enables one, moreover, to gain insight into the realities of this life and the events of the life hereafter.

Al-Fiqh al-Akbar adds nuance to one’s understanding of 'aqida and deepens one’s appreciation of his or her beliefs, and addresses head-on questions that, if unanswered, could leave invidious doubt and cause communal division: "Where is Allah?" "Does Allah evolve?" "What constitutes true Islamic belief?" "Are prophets capable of sinning?"
"Is there creation beyond what we see?" “What comes after death?"

This translation of Al-Fiqh al-Akbar is an unprecedented contribution to a subject in English. A lucid rendering, unhampered by sterile literalism, it draws on a number of commentaries to unlock for the general English-speaking readership a subject that has been largely inaccessible to them, both because of the subject’s complexity and the lack of reliable works in English. This definitive edition, combining Maghnisawi’s basic commentary with numerous notes carefully selected from 'AlI al-Qari's super-commentary and the entire Kitab al-Wasiyya of Abu Hanifa, is the English reader’s essential guide on the intellectual and rewarding journey through Islamic creed.

Reviews

"Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf has rendered a valuable service to English speaking Muslims. The depth of his scholarship and the accessibility of his language combine to present the reader with a text that elucidates critical aspects of the orthodox Muslim creed, and sheds light on contentious historical and theological issues."
— Imam Zaid Shakir, New Islamic Directions, USA

"A substantial addition to the dismayingly small number of English translations of works of Islamic theology… It is well suited to provide a solid introduction to later Islamic theology, both Maturidi and Ash'ari, as it has been studied in traditional Sunni circles for centuries."
— Aron Zysow, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, USA

"A dire need of the hour fulfilled.... [A] sterling compilation of the explanation of Al Fiqh al-Akbar by Mufti Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf."
— Mufti Ebrahim Desai, Askimam.org, South Africa

"Al-Fiqh Al-Akbar (The Greater Science), authored by the Most Esteemed Imam (al-Imam al-'Azam), Abu Hanifa Nu’man ibn Thabit al-Kufi (may Allah show him mercy) is one of history’s oldest manuals on orthodox Islamic doctrine. Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf, as is customary, does an excellent job in translating the text along with contributions from the famous commentaries of Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari and Shaykh Maghnisawi into highly readable English. The introduction presents a strong argument, supported by the research of critical experts, for the valid ascription of this work to the Imam (Abu Hanifa), something many have disputed over time. The translation borrows from the more voluminous commentaries on the text while sparing readers from burdensome technical details that usually interest only those who are specialized in the religious sciences. The book also presents the reader a look at the methodology of Imam Abu Mansur al-Maturidi, Imam of the Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jam’a, in matters of creed, and acquaints the reader with the matters that distinguish the Sunni orthodoxy from the aberrant historical Islamic factions. This represents one of the most comprehensive works written in the English language representing the traditional, true, and authentic teachings of the early predecessors (Salaf) in matters of doctrine and tawhid (Islamic monotheism)."
— Shaykh Abdullah Ali, Lamppost Productions, USA

"[Abdur-Rahman] Ibn Yusuf’s work stands out as an outstanding example of scholarly reference and citation. A work suitable for both the general reader interested in Islamic doctrine and theology and as a critical and important addition to university libraries and classrooms."
— Ralph H. Salmi, Ph.D. Center for Islamic and Middle East Studies, California State University, San Bernardino, USA

"An excellent and highly-recommendable work. Shaykh Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf not only translated one of the great commentaries on Imam Abu Hanifa's Fiqh al-Akbar, but he also added extensive additional commentary from Mulla 'Ali al-Qari's lengthier work, as well as valuable and much-needed footnotes where needed."
— Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

"This book fills a real need, for there has been no rich and yet compressed text on the Islamic Creed ('Aqidah) in English language that serves that academic goals of education in the west. ... The translation is a careful work of Mufti Abdr-Rahman Ibn Yusuf whose knowledge, academic qualification, and practice in the legal school of Abu Hanifa made this authentic text readily accessible to scholars, students, and general readers."

— Mashhad Al-Allaf, Ph.D. Endowed Chair of Islamic Studies & Prof. of Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, University of Toledo, USA