Foundational Islamic Principles

Ibn Hazm (b. 994 CE, d. 1064 CE) of Cordoba, Spain lived at a time that is often characterised as being the golden age of Islamic civilization in Europe. A true polymath, the breadth of his works and overall contribution to knowledge is quite exceptional. For the first time in English, a complete translation of ‘Masa’il min al-Usul’ (issues or questions from Usul) is presented, taken from the second book of Ibn Hazm’s magnum opus of fiqh, Al-Muhalla bil’Athar. Together with the translated text, several explanatory footnotes have been added to provide, where appropriate, additional explanation and references. These key issues of Usul are utilised throughout that work and are a feature of Ibn Hazm’s unique legal method. Yet many of these foundational principles are significant in themselves, not least because they provide a lucid empowering framework with which to approach many of the intractable debates that currently beset contemporary Islamic discourse. The Renascence Foundation is an independent not-for-profit organisation dedicated to seeking to stimulate, revive and reinvigorate contemporary Islamic thought.