The Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence According to the Ḥanafī School (Usūl ash-Shāshī)

Unlock the Foundations of Ḥanafī Legal Reasoning—Now in Clear, Accessible English

The Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence According to the Ḥanafī School (Uṣūl ash-Shāshī), translated by respected scholar and translator Tahir Mahmood Kiani, is a definitive guide to understanding the science of Islamic legal theory (uṣūl al-fiqh) through the lens of the Ḥanafī madhhab. Revered for centuries and widely taught across South Asia in Dars-e-Nizāmī seminaries, this classical text is now transformed into a user-friendly educational resource.

Are you a student of Islamic law, an instructor, or simply seeking to deepen your grasp of the Sharīʿah’s legal foundations? This is the book your library needs.

What makes this edition stand out?

✔️ Clarity for Modern Readers: Each principle is accompanied by concise explanations and contextual footnotes, simplifying dense legal discussions without losing scholarly rigor.

✔️ Educationally Designed: With lesson break icons, “Points to Note” boxes, and end-of-chapter questions, this coursebook integrates seamlessly into structured learning environments.

✔️ Authentic and Timeless: Faithfully adapted from Uṣūl ash-Shāshī, a text over 800 years old, yet urgently relevant today in discussions of interpretation, reasoning, and ethics in Islamic law.

“The uṣūl is a framework wherein discussions take place around principles through which we derive rulings pertaining to the Sharīʿah for our everyday lives. It comprises of the following benefits:
i. It is an act of worship itself.
ii. Instills confidence in students of knowledge…
iii. Helps to minimise contradiction between evidences…
iv. Provides a methodological framework.”

—from Unit One, The Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence

Key Topics Covered Include:

• Farḍ, Wājib, Sunnah, Nafl, and their legal consequences

• Khāṣṣ (Specific) vs. ʿĀmm (General) injunctions in the Qur’an

• Qiyās (analogical reasoning) and its objections

• Literal vs. metaphorical interpretation: Ḥaqīqah and Majāz

• The legal authority of consensus (Ijmāʿ) and solitary reports (khabar al-āḥād)

• Conditions for Rukhṣah (legal dispensations) in hardship

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About the Translator:
Tahir Mahmood Kiani, a leading voice in Islamic education, brings decades of teaching experience and linguistic skill to this translation. A graduate in both Law and Islamic Law, his previous works include acclaimed English translations of Mukhtaṣar al-Qudūrī, The Easy Quran, and Al-Fawz al-Kabīr by Shah Waliyyullah.

Part of the Beacon Islamic Studies Series
This book is part of a growing curriculum that sets the standard for Islamic education in English. Whether you're a student in a seminary, an educator in Islamic studies, or a seeker of knowledge, this edition brings one of Islam's most important jurisprudential texts to life—faithfully, accessibly, and beautifully.

Begin your journey into Islamic legal thought—order your copy today.

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About the translator:

Tahir Mahmood Kiani, son of Haji Muhammad Taj Ali Kiani (1938 –1995), is a distinguished figure in the field of Islamic scholarship. Educated in both Law and Islamic Law, Kiani has dedicated much of his career to teaching the Islamic sciences and translating key Islamic texts from Urdu and classical Arabic into English. His notable translations include: The Easy Quran, Mukhtaṣar al-Qudūrī  and Al-Fawz al-Kabīr by Imam Shah Waliyyullah.

ISBN: 978-1-912356-92-8 Paperback
Pages: 186pp
Size: A4