Lesson Five - Development of Fiqh during Abbasid period

Development of Fiqh during the Abbasid Period

The next few generation took responsibility to preserve the Quran and Hadith by studying it extensively and teaching it to others.

• The Madhabs were evolved – Period of Imams was 750 – 850.

Why was this period known as the 'golden era'?

Ibn Rush (Avverros) 

Ibn Sina (Avisenna)

Ibn Khuldun

The British philosopher Robert Flint wrote the following on Ibn Khaldun: "...as a theorist of history he had no equal in any age or country until Vico appeared, more than three hundred years later. Plato, Aristotle, and Augustine were not his peers, and all others were unworthy of being even mentioned along with him"

Ibn Haytam (Al Hazen) He made significant contributions to the principles of optics, as well as to astronomy, mathematics, visual perception, and to the scientific method.

The Guinness World Records recognizes the University of Al Karaouine, founded in 859, as the world's oldest degree-granting university Architecture, art and calligraphy was subject specialized by Islamic scholars.

The first libraries were established at that time.

Conclusion

The scholars and Muslims at that time, alongside studying Islamic knowledge they also studied the sciences of this world. This made their belief in Allah stronger. Realising the process of the World and understanding beauty behind the start would make them realise the supreme might of Allah. Hence, alongside mastering Islamic sciences we should also study the traditional sciences and link them to Islam to prove Islam is the true religion. We should look to provide contribution to the society in different ways.

For more information read the A social history of Education in the Muslim World By Ajmal M. Hussain

In each city there was a specialist in fiqh.

1. In kufa there was Abu Hanifa 2) Syria was Awzai 3) Madianh was Malik ibn Anas 4) Makkah was ibn Jurayj 5) Eygpt was Layth ibn Sa'd.

During this period, the Madhabs and the prominent Imams was formed.

In chronological order (In CE):

1. Imam Abu Hanifa (703 – 767) - Kufa
2. Imam Al Awza'i (708 – 774) – Shaam (Syria etc)
3. Imam Malik (717 – 801) - Madinah
4. Imam Zayd (700 – 740) - Yemen
5. Imam Layth (716 – 791) – Eygpt
6. Imam Thawri (719 – 777) – Kufa
7. Imam Sha'fe (769 – 820) – Gaza, Egypt
8. Imam Ahmed ( 778 – 855) Baghadad
9. Imam Dawood (815 – 883) – Kufah, spread to Spain.
10. Imam At Tabari (839 – 923) Tabraistan

Scholars of Hadith

Imam Bukhari – (810 – 870)

Imam Muslim – (815 – 875)

Imam Tirmidhi – (824 -892)

Imam Abu Dawood (817 – 889)

Imam Nasai – (829 – 915)

Commentators on Fiqh & Hadith

Imam Ahmed Ibn Taymiyya – (1263 – 1328)

Imam Nawai (1233- 1277)

Imam Ibn Qayyim – (1292 – 1350)

Ibn Hajar – (1372 - 1448)

Next Week we will analyse the Madhabs in more detail, the madhabs of the scholars of Hadith & the madhabs of the commentators of Fiqh & Hadith.