The Ẓāhirīs: Their Doctrine and Their History. A Contribution to the History of Islamic Theology

Brill Classics in Islam #3

by Ignaz Goldziher

Ignaz Goldziher wrote his book Die Zahiriten in 1883. The English translation of this standard work on Islamic jurisprudence appeared in 1971. The book has been in print ever since. This new edition in the Brill Classics in Islam series shows that The hir's has not lost any of its actuality. The individual that adheres to the principles of madhhab al- hir, the Islamic legal school, is called hir?. Goldziher gives an extensive presentation of the hir?te school, its doctrine and the position of its representatives within orthodox Islam. hirism accepts only the facts clearly revealed by sensible, rational and linguistic intuitions, controlled and corroborated by Qur nic revelation. This history of Islamic theology sheds light on the hir?te legal interpretation vis-a-vis other legal schools and gives an interesting insight in questions like are all prescriptions and prohibitions in Islamic law commanded or forbidden? "

Genres: Islam

230 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1883

About the author

Ignác Goldziher was a Hungarian orientalist and scholar of Islam. Along with the German Theodore Nöldeke and the Dutch Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje, he is considered the founder of modern Islamic studies in Europe. He represented the Hungarian government and the Academy of Sciences at numerous international congresses, and in 1889 he received the large gold medal at the Stockholm Oriental Congress. His eminence in the sphere of scholarship was due primarily to his careful investigation of pre-Islamic and Islamic law, tradition, religion and poetry, in connection with which he published a large number of treatises, review articles and essays contributed to the collections of the Hungarian Academy. Most of his scholarly works are still considered relevant. And in addition to his scholarly works, Goldziher kept a relatively personal record of his reflections, travel records and daily records. This journal was later published in German as Tagebuch. In his numerous books and articles, he sought to find the origins of Islamic doctrines and rituals in the practices of other cultures. In doing so, he posited that Islam continuously developed as a civilization, importing and exporting ideas.

Reviews

[Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent historical and doctrinal introduction to the Zahiri school of fiqh. It is rather biased at times, but it does serve as one of the few books in english regarding this school of thought in Islam.

[Mohammed Saad · Rating 2 out of 5]

كتاب ثقيل لكاتب ثقيل، نازعت نفسي شهورا؛ أقرأ بضع صفحات ثم أغلقه عازما على تركه، لكني من الناس الذين لا يتركون كتابا مهما بدا لى _إذا قطعت فيه شوطا _ إلا مع قراءة آخر سطر فيه.
مال المستشرقين الأعاجم وهذه الكتابات الدقيقة في تاريخ المذاهب والشخصيات والمسائل؟!
وهذا الرجل الذي بالتأكيد لا يحسن أن ينطق بالعربية يقيم آراء علمائنا بل ويهاجمهم بكل وثوقية وكأنه ابن بجدتها الضارب بجذوره في قلب المشرق بين حلقها العلمية.
فائدة لمن يقرأ تعليقي هذا،ومهتم بكتابات المستشرقين مشاهدة هذه المحاضرة للدكتور أحمد وجيه.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMhzg...

[Ahmad · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book provide a fine analysis of Zahiris school. its one of the first and earliest western book which address this matter. the book is easily accessible and the provide some original texts in Arabic. the three stars is because the book was written before The Muhalla book was accessible to the author.

[Khalid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read into the madhab of the Ahl Zahir. I thought it would focus mostly on Ibn Hazm but I was mistaken, apparently there were many scholars who were upon the Zahir than I expected.