Sharh Samt al-Wusul ila 'Ilm al-Usul (2 Volume Set) شرح سمت الوصول إلى علم الأصول

Sharh Samt al-Wusul ila 'Ilm al-Usul (شرح سمت الوصول إلى علم الأصول) is a distinguished Ottoman-era work on Hanafi legal theory by the Bosnian scholar Hasan Kafi al-Bosnavi (d. 1045 AH). In this work, the author expands upon his own concise primer, Samt al-Wusul, explaining the principles of Usul al-Fiqh with clarity while drawing upon the classical Hanafi tradition.

This two-volume edition from Maktaba Ghanim presents three layers of scholarship: the original matn, the author's own commentary, and the contemporary hashiyah Nayl al-Mamul by Dr. Lu'ay bin Abdul-Rauf al-Hanafi. Dr. Lu'ay's annotations clarify difficult passages, verify authoritative Hanafi positions, trace quotations to their original sources, and make this classical text far more accessible to today's students and researchers.

Closely aligned with foundational Hanafi works such as Al-Manar and Usul al-Bazdawi, this edition preserves an important contribution to Bosnia's rich Islamic scholarly heritage while serving as an excellent resource for advanced students of Hanafi Usul al-Fiqh.

The Author

The author is Hasan bin Tur Khan al-Bosnavi (d. 1045 AH / 1636 CE), also known as Hasan Kafi al-Aqhisari (or al-Bosnawi). He was a highly distinguished Bosnian scholar, judge (qadi), and intellectual of the Ottoman era. He hailed from the town of Prusac (Akhisar) in Bosnia. He was a prolific writer who contributed extensively to various Islamic sciences, including Aqidah (creed), Usul al-Fiqh (legal theory), logic, and political philosophy (most famously his treatise Usul al-Hikam fi Nizam al-Alam on governance).

The Author of the Hashiyah

Dr. Lu’ay bin Abdul-Rauf al-Khalili al-Hanafi is a highly respected contemporary Jordanian scholar specializing in the Hanafi school of jurisprudence.

• He is known for his deep expertise in Usul al-Fiqh and classical Hanafi texts.

• He has edited, annotated, and written commentaries on several foundational Hanafi manuals.

• His work is characterized by academic rigor, ensuring that classical rulings are accurately traced back to their original authoritative Hanafi sources (like Al-Hidayah, Usul al-Bazdawi, Kashf al-Asrar, etc.).

Significance of This Work

Written during the Ottoman scholastic peak, the text utilizes precise logical definitions (hadd) and divisions (taqsim) typical of late-era legal scholarship, making it an excellent resource for understanding how Hanafi legal theory was taught and applied in the Balkan and broader Ottoman lands.

Preservation of Bosnian Islamic Heritage

As a prominent Bosnian scholar writing in Arabic, al-Bosnavi’s work stands as a testament to the rich history of Islamic scholarship in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 11th century AH (17th century CE).

Who Is This Book For?

This work is intended for advanced students and specialists of Hanafi Usul al-Fiqh rather than beginners. It is especially recommended for students in traditional madrasah curricula, university Shariah programs, and postgraduate research who have already studied introductory works in legal theory.

It is also an invaluable resource for Hanafi scholars, muftis, and researchers seeking a deeper understanding of the principles by which the school derives legal rulings from the Quran and Sunnah.

Students of Ottoman intellectual history will appreciate its importance as a representative work of Bosnian Hanafi scholarship during the Ottoman period, while manuscript researchers and editors will benefit from Dr. Lu'ay al-Khalili's meticulous annotations, source verification, and model of modern critical editing.