Ruju' al-A'imma al-Mujtahidin Abi Hanifa wa-Sahibayhi 'an Ba'd Ara'ihim al-Fiqhiyya رجوع الأئمة المجتهدين أبي حنيفة وصاحبيه عن بعض آرائهم الفقهية

An Engaging Study on the Jurisprudential Retractions of Imam Abu Hanifah and His Two Companions

This book is a fascinating and meticulously researched study focusing on the legal retractions (taráju’) of the founding authorities of the Hanafi school of law: Imam Abu Hanifah and his two primary companions/disciples, Qadi Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Shaybani. The work highlights the intellectual dynamism, humility, and rigorous pursuit of truth within the Hanafi madhhab by documenting the specific instances where these great jurists changed their legal opinions (ijtihad) in light of new evidence or changing circumstances.

Structure and Methodology

The author adopts a highly systematic and classical approach to presenting each juristic issue:

1. Thematic Organization: The book is organized chronologically according to the standard chapters of Islamic jurisprudence (Abwab al-Fiqh), starting from purification and prayer to transactions and family law.

2. Analysis of Each Issue: For every legal issue discussed, the author extracts the following from authoritative Hanafi sources:

• The Initial Opinion: The original ruling that was subsequently retracted, along with its textual or rational evidence (dalil).

• The Retracted Opinion: The final, adopted ruling they transitioned to, along with its supporting evidence.

• Preponderance (Tarjih): A detailed comparative analysis weighing the strengths and proofs of both opinions.

• Comparative Fiqh: A comparison of these rulings with the viewpoints of the other major Islamic schools of jurisprudence (Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali).

3. Rich Documentation: The margins and footnotes are densely referenced with citations from classical Hanafi manuals, allowing researchers and students of knowledge to easily cross-reference and verify the original sources.