شرح المنار لإبن ملك

‘I recommend students to read Sharh al-Manar by Ibn Malak’ – Shaykh Zuhair bin Nasir (researcher of Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

Many times students ask what should I read to understand the Uṣūl of the Ḥanafῑ Madhhab? My recommendation – and the recommendation of the respected Shaykh Zuhair – is that one reads Al-Manār of Ḥāfiẓ al-Dῑn al-Nasafῑ (d.710 AH) With the commentary of Ibn Malak.

From an Uṣūlῑ perspective, we know that there have been two famous schools in Uṣūl; the approach of the Fuqahā (famously known as the Ḥanafῑ approach) and the approach of the Mutakallimῑn (famously known as the Shāfiʽῑ approach).

The approach of the Fuqahā was further divided into the ‘Irāqῑ school with Abu’l Ḥasan al-Karkhῑ as its leading scholar and the Samarqandῑ school with Abū Manṣūr al-Māturidῑ as its leading scholar.

Al-Manār was essentially summarised from Uṣūl al-Bazdawῑ by Fakhr al-Islam al-Bazdawῑ and Uṣūl al-Sarakhsῑ. These two books relied upon Abū Zayd al-Dabūsῑ’s Taqwῑm al-Adillah, and Abū Zayd had combined the two schools of the Fuqahā approach to Uṣūl: the school of ‘Irāq and the school of Samarqand.

Accordingly, Al-Manār is the fruits of the labour of Abū Zayd al-Dabūsῑ. It is a fantastic book which became the most popular book in Ḥanafῑ Uṣūl. The author is a master of all fields, with his Kanz al-Daqā’iq well-known and his Madārik al-Tanzῑl known to all.

Among the best commentaries written on this primer is that of Ibn Malak (d.801 AH). In this book, he explains the sentences of Al-Manar using many of the comments of the scholars of Uṣūl before Al-Manār, such as Al-Sarakhsῑ, ‘Alā al-Dῑn al-Bukhārῑ, Ibn al-Saʽātῑ. Accordingly, the book provides not only a good glimpse at the Fuqahā approach to Uṣūl, but also the Mutakallimῑn approach to Uṣūl. He also presents numerous examples for the principles mentioned by Al-Nasafῑ.

Another unique feature is his discussions on any differences of opinion within Uṣūl that have occurred within the Fuqahā approach to Uṣūl, such as a difference of opinion between the two schools of ‘Irāq and Samarqand. At times, he gives preference to the position that he prefers.

The importance of this commentary is understood by the fact that many scholars such as Muḥammad ibn Ibrāhῑm al-Ḥalabῑ and Qāsim ibn Quṭlubugāh.

This book is perfect for a teacher going through Al-Manār with his students and extremely beneficial for someone studying Nūr al-Anwār in the traditional Darse Niẓāmῑ syllabus.

The researcher of this beautiful leather-bound 2 volume print relied upon three manuscripts; the earliest dating 959 AH. He has referenced the Qur’ānic verses and Aḥādῑth as well as sourcing the statements of the scholars quoted in the book from their original books.