Al-Wajiz fi Usul al-Fiqh (Zaydan) الوجيز في اصول الفقه

One of the most widely taught and highly regarded contemporary introductions to Islamic legal theory (Uṣūl al-Fiqh), Al-Wajīz fī Uṣūl al-Fiqh has become a standard textbook in universities, Islamic seminaries, and institutes of higher learning throughout the Muslim world. Renowned for its clarity, logical organization, and balanced presentation, it provides students with a solid foundation in the principles that govern Islamic jurisprudence and legal reasoning.

The Author

Dr. ʿAbd al-Karīm Zaydān (1926–2014) was one of the leading jurists of the modern era, serving as Professor of Islamic Sharīʿah at the University of Baghdad and later at the International Islamic University Malaysia. His writings are distinguished by their precise language, systematic methodology, and ability to present classical scholarship in an accessible, contemporary style without sacrificing academic rigor.

The Book

First published in 1976, Al-Wajīz was specifically written as a comprehensive introductory textbook for students of Islamic law. It systematically introduces the foundational disciplines of Uṣūl al-Fiqh, beginning with the nature of the Sharīʿah and its legal rulings, including the concepts of the Lawgiver (al-Ḥākim), legal responsibility (al-Ḥukm al-Taklīfī), and declaratory rulings (al-Ḥukm al-Waḍʿī), such as causes, conditions, and impediments.

The book then examines the sources of Islamic law, explaining the authority and methodology of the Qur'an, Sunnah, Ijmāʿ, and Qiyās, before discussing the principal supplementary sources employed by jurists, including Istiḥsān, Maṣlaḥah Mursalah, ʿUrf (custom), Sadd al-Dharāʾiʿ, Sharʿu Man Qablanā, and the opinions of the Companions (Qawl al-Ṣaḥābī).

A substantial portion of the work is devoted to the linguistic principles that form the basis of legal interpretation. Dr. Zaydān explains the rules governing literal and figurative language, commands and prohibitions, general and specific expressions, unrestricted and qualified texts, and other interpretive principles that enable jurists to derive legal rulings from the Qur'an and Sunnah.

This edition follows the 2004 revision—the final edition approved by the author—which expands the chapter on "Ijtihād and Taqlīd" to include a substantial new discussion on scholarly disagreement (al-Khilāf) under the title "Ijtihād, Taqlīd, and al-Khilāf in Islamic Sharīʿah" (الاجتهاد والتقليد والخلاف في الشريعة الإسلامية).

The newly added section examines the nature and causes of legitimate juristic disagreement among scholars, exploring the linguistic, textual, and methodological factors that lead qualified jurists to different legal conclusions. It also highlights the ethics of disagreement (Adab al-Ikhtilāf), fostering an appreciation for the richness and diversity of the Islamic legal tradition while emphasizing mutual respect among scholars.

Clear, systematic, and academically rigorous, Al-Wajīz fī Uṣūl al-Fiqh remains one of the finest modern introductions to the principles of Islamic jurisprudence. Whether used as a university textbook, a seminary text, or for independent study, it equips students with the essential tools needed to understand how Islamic legal rulings are derived and applied.

Features

• One of the most widely adopted contemporary textbooks on Uṣūl al-Fiqh
• Written by the renowned jurist Dr. ʿAbd al-Karīm Zaydān
• Covers the complete foundations of Islamic legal theory
• Explains both the primary and secondary sources of Islamic law
• Detailed treatment of linguistic principles and legal interpretation
• Includes the author's expanded discussion on al-Khilāf from the final 2004 edition
• Full references for all quoted Qur'anic verses, hadith, and scholarly texts
• Suitable for universities, seminaries, and serious students of Islamic law
• Clear, systematic, and accessible presentation