This course covers a comprehensive commentary on the five acts of worship written by one of the authorities of the Hanafi school of law.
Allah Most High says, “I have not created jinn-kind nor mankind for any purpose other than to worship Me.” (Qur’an, 51:56) Take this course to increase your knowledge of the detailed rulings of prayer, fasting, zakat, and hajj.
In this course, we read an extensive commentary on the fiqh of worship, Imam Shurunbulali's Maraqi al-Falah. This course is intended for students of knowledge with solid previous study of the subject and ability to understand classical texts in Arabic. It discusses key legal details not found in shorter works, in addition to legal differences and reasoning, serving to improve the student's understanding of the subject and how to improve their worship of the Divine.
- Teacher: Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Maraqi al-Falah is Imam Shurunbulali’s shorter commentary on his own comprehensive primer on worship, Nur al-Idah. Maraqi al-Falah supplies key legal details and reasoning for the rulings of both prayer and fasting. In addition, it provides a summarized discussion on zakat and hajj. Its author, Imam Abu'l-Ikhlas al-Shurunbulali, was one of the foremost jurists of the Hanafi school as well as a scholar of deep spirituality, making this text an invaluable resource for anyone who wishes to deepen their knowledge of the Five Pillars of Islam.
- Master the detailed rulings of purification, prayer, and fasting
- Appreciate the rigor of the science of Sacred Law (fiqh)
- Gain an introduction to the legal reasoning underlying the legal rulings
- Gain a grounding in the method and application of the Hanafi school
Shaykh Abd al Ghani al Maydani’s commentary is one of the best written on the Mukhtasar of Imam Ahmad ibn Muhammad al Quduri. It is the perfect entry point to the more detailed texts of the Hanafi school and is taught as a Level Three SeekersGuidance course.
The author (d. 1298 AH) was a prominent Damascan scholar, and a close student of one of the greatest jurists of the later Hanafi school, Imam Muhammad Amin b. ‘Abidin. The text, al Lubab fi Sharh al Kitab is a commentary and expansion of Quduri’s work that has been praised and taught by scholars all over the Muslim world since it was penned.
The main purpose is to gain a thorough understanding of the text. This will, in turn, give the student a clear grasp of the core legal issues in Hanafi school, an insight into legal reasoning and its application beyond the text, and an introduction to the more detailed works of the school. It is an important connective point between the study of mutun such as the Mukhtasar and Mawsili’s Mukhtar and the more detailed commentaries like al Ikhtiyar.
The course will give a sound understanding of the framework of the Hanafi school. This includes developing the skills needed to answer questions accurately, and a fairly detailed analysis of the key practical legal questions one is faced with.
- Teacher: Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Al Lubab Fi Sharh al Kitab (The Essence; a Commentary of the Book), covers the main legal questions answered in the Hanafi school, with additional legal reasoning, explanation of the hierarchy of issues and scholars, and additional rulings.
It is a later work of the school, summarising many positions and discussions presented by scholars over the centuries. Presenting the dominant positions of the school, the text’s lower to a mid-tier level of detail is perfect as an entry point to the more expansive commentaries on Hanafi fiqh.
The text fits in at level three in our curriculum. There are no other commentaries on the text.
- It is a Level Three course. In order to successfully complete this course, students should take all the Level One and Two Hanafi law courses [Absolute Essentials of Islam (Hanafi): Getting Started With Your Belief and Practice, On Worship (Purification, Prayer, Fasting, Zakat, and Hajj): Shurunbulali’s Ascent to Felicity, Quduri's Mukhtasar or their equivalent].
- This course can be taken by anyone who is interested in learning more about Hanafi law at an advanced level.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Memorize the names and positions of important authorities of the school.
- Differentiate between the key legal positions of the Hanafi school.
- Understand the legal reasoning used to arrive at them.
This is a Level Three course in Islamic Law (fiqh) in which Shaykh Faraz Rabbani teaches Multaqa al-Abhur (The Meeting of the Oceans) by Imam Ibrahim al-Halabi (d. 956 AH).
This text is one of the most widely commented upon in the Hanafi school, and for good reason—it gathers, with remarkable clarity and precision, the main issues and detailed rulings of Hanafi jurisprudence.
Multaqa al-Abhur is an intermediate-level “meta-primer” (matn), synthesizing the content of four core primers in Hanafi fiqh: Quduri’s Mukhtasar, Mawsili’s Mukhtar, Nasafi’s Kanz al-Daqa’iq, and the Wiqaya.
It also incorporates key issues from Marghinani’s Hidaya and Ibn al-Sa’ati’s Majma` al-Bahrayn. This synthesis makes the text a comprehensive and invaluable resource for those seeking to deepen their understanding of Hanafi jurisprudence.
The text is written in a lucid style, with the author prioritizing the most relied-upon positions (mu‘tamad) on disputed issues, presenting them first for clarity and ease of reference.
Among the primary commentaries on Multaqa al-Abhur is Majma` al-Anhur by Shaykh Zada (d. 1078 AH). This commentary has had a lasting influence on Hanafi scholarship, including its frequent citation by the commentators of the late Ottoman legal code, the Majalla, due to its precise explanations, logical organization, and sound legal reasoning.
This Level Three Upper Intermediate course is part of the Seekers Islamic Studies Curriculum. It is specifically designed to deepen students’ understanding of legal details, nuanced issues, and the reasoning underlying Hanafi rulings.
Through this course, participants will gain a greater appreciation of the intricacies of Hanafi fiqh and develop the skills needed for advanced engagement with Islamic law.
- Teacher: Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
The Meeting of the Oceans (Multaqa al-Abhur) by Imam Ibrahim al-Halabi (d. 956 AH) is one of the most widely commented-upon texts in Islamic law (fiqh).
Its enduring significance lies in its ability to gather, with remarkable clarity and precision, the issues of the four primary primers (mutun) in Hanafi fiqh. This synthesis has made it an essential resource for students and scholars alike.
In addition to Multaqa al-Abhur, this course will actively refer to al-Durr al-Muntaqa by Imam Ala’ al-Din al-Haskafi (d. 1088 AH). Haskafi is recognized as one of the foremost late reference scholars (muhaqqiqin) of the Hanafi school. His other major legal work, al-Durr al-Mukhtar, serves as the basis for Ibn ‘Abidin’s Radd al-Muhtar (commonly known as Hashiya Ibn Abidin or simply “Shami”), which is considered the authoritative reference in Hanafi law.
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani will also draw from other significant commentaries on Multaqa al-Abhur, including Kamal al-Diraya by Imam Izmiri (d. 1165 AH) and Muhtada al-Anhur by Allama Wahdati (d. 1130 AH).
These works provide valuable insights and explanations, further enriching the study of Multaqa al-Abhur and deepening the participants’ understanding of Hanafi jurisprudence.
This rich array of classical sources ensures that students gain a comprehensive perspective on the methodology, reasoning, and application of Hanafi fiqh, while engaging with the legacy of its greatest scholars.
This is a Level Three Upper Intermediate course in the Islamic Studies Curriculum.
As such, it is highly recommended that students have completed Level Two or its equivalent prior to enrolling.
In terms of fiqh prerequisites, students should have completed a full study of at least Quduri’s Mukhtasar or Mawsili’s Mukhtar.
These foundational texts provide the necessary grounding in Hanafi jurisprudence to approach the intermediate-level material of Multaqa al-Abhur.
Upon completing this course, diligent students will be well-prepared to advance to studying more detailed texts, such as Tumurtashi’s Tanwir al-Absar, Mawsili’s Ikhtiyar, or Marghinani’s Hidaya.
This progression ensures a structured and thorough mastery of Hanafi fiqh, building the analytical skills required for advanced study and application.
- Understanding Foundational Issues in Islamic Law
Develop a nuanced understanding of the foundational issues of Islamic law (fiqh) within the Hanafi school, appreciating their details and practical application in worship, transactions, and everyday life. - Grasping the Hanafi Methodology and Reasoning
Gain clarity on the methodology and reasoning of the Hanafi school, learning how its key principles shape legal rulings and ensure consistency in deriving. - Identifying the Relied-Upon Positions
Learn how to navigate the diverse narrations and positions within the Hanafi school, and master the process of determining the mu‘tamad (relied-upon) views—essential for sound understanding. - Researching Hanafi Commentaries and Core References
Acquire the skills to research and analyze issues in the classical commentaries and core reference works of the Hanafi school, equipping yourself to engage meaningfully with the rich tradition of Islamic scholarship.
