Oaths and Vows in Fath al-Qarib al-Mujib fi Sharh Alfaz al-Taqrib by Imam Muhammad ibn Qasim al-Ghazi al-Shafi‘i (d. 918 AH)

A Critical Study and Edition

Abstract

This research involves the study and critical edition of two topics: Oaths and Vows, according to the jurisprudence of Imam Al-Shafi‘i. These topics were extracted from the manuscript Fath al-Qarib al-Mujib fi Sharh Alfaz al-Taqrib by Imam Muhammad ibn Qasim al-Ghazi al-Shafi‘i (859–918 AH). In preparing both the analytical and critical parts of this study, I followed the established academic methodology. I also aimed for brevity and conciseness in the analytical section, to maintain a balanced proportion with the edited manuscript text. For the critical edition section, I followed the methodology outlined below: I determined the method of dealing with the manuscript copies and chose to rely on the main (original) copy as the base text. I verified statements or rulings found in the manuscript and referenced them to their original sources—either explicitly or by indication—with full bibliographic details. I consulted several reliable Shafi‘i legal sources to support certain statements or rulings from the manuscript whenever necessary. The overall methodology adopted was inductive in general and analytical in certain parts wherever applicable. The study, both in its analytical and critical components, covers several topics and issues, according to the following structure: Analytical section: Includes an introduction and three main topics. Critical edition section: Focuses on editing the subject matter of this research, following the standard academic procedures for editing manuscripts. The study concludes with a number of findings I arrived at through the various stages of preparing this work.