The Direction of Readings According to Imam al-Mawardi (d. 450 AH) Through his Work Al-Hawi al-Kabir fi Fiqh Madhhab al-Imam al-Shafi'i

(A compilation and study)

Abstract

The idea behind this research is based on collecting the instances of Qur'anic readings in the Al-Hawi al-Kabir (The Great Compilation of Fiqh) by Imam al-Mawardi, may Allah have mercy on him, which is considered one of the most important commentaries on Mukhtasar al-Muzani, a work derived from Al-Um by Imam al-Shafi’i. The study aims to connect the science of Qur'anic recitations (qira'at) with the science of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), highlighting the relationship between the two in deriving meanings, the diversity of scholarly opinions, and clarifying the methodological approach followed by Imam al-Mawardi in his interpretation of the recitations. The research is divided into two chapters. Chapter One provides a brief introduction to Imam al-Mawardi and his Al-Hawi al-Kabir, comprising three sections:

Section One: A concise biography of Imam al-Mawardi.

Section Two: An overview of Al-Hawi al-Kabir and its scholarly value.

Section Three: The methods Imam al-Mawardi employed in presenting and interpreting the Qur'anic recitations. Chapter Two focuses on the instances of Qur'anic recitations in Al-Hawi al-Kabir. The research concludes with a summary of the key findings, including that Qur'anic recitations, especially the non-canonical ones, are a cause of disagreement among jurists. Those who acknowledge the validity of non-canonical recitations do not consider them part of the Qur'an but rather treat them as reports, or as additions to the text, or as interpretations. Furthermore, Imam al-Mawardi’s extensive expertise in various fields of knowledge is evident, as he frequently draws upon a range of sources to support his views, including parallel Qur’anic verses, the Sunnah, reasons for revelation, the sayings and actions of the Companions, and the rich linguistic tools of the Arabic language. Additionally, the research highlights Imam al-Mawardi’s strong ability to derive legal rulings from Qur'anic recitations across various areas of fiqh