Asas al-Qiyas - al-Ghazali أساس القياس - الغزالي

Asas al-Qiyas (أساس القياس) is an important classical treatise on Usul al-Fiqh (the principles of Islamic jurisprudence) by Hujjat al-Islam, Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (d. 505 AH / 1111 CE). Unlike his monumental Al-Mustasfa min 'Ilm al-Usul, which surveys the entire discipline of legal theory, this concise work is devoted almost entirely to the subject of qiyas (analogical reasoning), one of the principal sources of Islamic law recognized by the majority of Sunni jurists.

In Islamic jurisprudence, qiyas is the process of extending the ruling of an established case (asl) to a new case (far') because both share the same effective legal cause ('illah). Since the validity of analogical reasoning depends upon correctly identifying this underlying cause and applying it according to strict methodological principles, Imam al-Ghazali composed Asas al-Qiyas to explain its foundations, conditions, and proper limits.

Drawing upon his mastery of Shafi'i jurisprudence and legal theory, al-Ghazali examines the nature of legal causation, the requirements of valid analogy, the qualifications of the jurist, and the circumstances in which analogical reasoning may or may not be employed. His treatment combines precise legal analysis with logical rigor, making the work a valuable resource for advanced students of Usul al-Fiqh.

The Dar al-Minhaj edition presents this important treatise in a carefully edited and clearly typeset format, reflecting the publisher's commitment to producing reliable editions of the classical Islamic heritage. It is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and scholars seeking a deeper understanding of one of the central methodologies of Islamic legal reasoning.

For any serious student of Shafi’i jurisprudence or comparative legal theory (Usul al-Fiqh), Imam al-Ghazali’s Asas al-Qiyas printed by Dar al-Minhaj is an indispensable resource that showcases the depth, intellectual rigor, and systematic approach of classical Sunni legal philosophy.