Jam' al-Jawami'

Jam' al-Jawami' fi Usul al-Fiqh (جمع الجوامع في أصول الفقه) is a major classical 14th-century treatise and compendium written by Taj al-Din al-Subki, the leading legal theoretician of his time. It is a highly revered work on the subject of Usul al-Fiqh and it continues to be the primary text on Shafi'i principal to this day, and many schools and madrasses (Islamic centres) around the world utilise it as a study book, including the esteemed Islamic university of al-Azhar.

Description
It is considered as one of the most greatest and comprehensive books in the principles of law among the Sunnis. It covers every single issue in details leaving no room without an explanation that are not properly covered by other legal theorists in their works. Jam 'al-Jawami', regarded as the most popular and widely read book does not only stop at Usul al-Fiqh but also combines Usul Ad-Din (principles of religion) and Adab. It is said that he congregated the methodology of the juristconsults and theologians from both the schools of Shafi'i and Hanafi, respectively.

Due to its scholarly recognition, Jam' al-Jawami', a significant classical work, was chosen as the most important choice for study. It uses the methodology of qualitative research. It also gains from previous research on the subject. The writer is from the illustrious Shafi'i-Ashʿari family, who flourished in the Mamluk dynasty in the eighth century A.H. He has produced numerous important books on a range of topics. One of his usuli works, Jam' al-Jawami', collects material from approximately a hundred sources and analyses all significant usuli themes in a rhetorically terse manner. It often adheres to the then-dominant structure while including problems of pure theology and morality, giving it a distinct character. Besides the sources of law and its applications, it also covers Usul al-Din related problems from kalam and fiqh. Through historical lessons, the author employs a unique methodology throughout the work. The current study lists seven such approaches and provides textual samples to support each one. In addition, it categorises and defines the terms the writer uses. The study notes that the greater number of works on the text—which mention over a hundred such works categorised under various headings—was probably caused by the book's broader reception among academics.

Authors unique approach to Hadith
Ibn al-Subki was more than just a legal theorist. He was highly proficient in many Islamic fields including Hadith science. In addition to being a legal thinker, he also served as a narrator, spokesperson, and critic. His interpretation of the hadiths and the methods by which he verified hadiths supporting or refuting the narrators in the line of transmission demonstrate this. Ibn al-Subki adhered to this methodology in all of his publications, even those on jurisprudential principles. Ibn al-Subki was a more eminent commentator than others who disregarded the authenticity and extraction of Hadith in their main writings. In contrast to the typical approach of legal theorists, Ibn al-Subki did not transcribe any Hadith without first verifying and offering commentary. As an accomplished jurist and linguist, he would extract the jurisprudential and linguistic benefits from the Hadiths.

Commentaries
Scholars have received an unprecedented interest in the book of Jam' al-Jawami'. They have studied it, taught it, and given it various explanations. Some of them explained it in a long way, some of them explained it briefly, some of them put footnotes and comments on it, and some of them summarized it in verse or prose, and provided explanations for that summary.

The following commentaries have been written on the Jam` al-Jawami`:


 * Tashnif al-Musami` bi?Jam` al-Jawami, by Badr al-Din al-Zarkashi (d. 794).
 * Al-Hadaf min al-Wusul 'Iilaa Sharh lil 'Usul al-'Asasia, by Zakariyya al-Ansari (d. 823).

Abridgment of this: al-Ghaith al-Hani, by Wali al-Din al-`Iraqi (d. 826).


 * Sharh Jam` al-Jawami, by Jalal al-Din al-Mahhalli (d. 864), written 827, one of the most famous commentaries on the author's work, printed in Cairo 1308 A.H., and used with the Jam` al-Jawami` itself as a text book at the University of Cairo.
 * al-Buruq al-Lawami` fi ma Urida `Ala Jam` al-Jawami, by Shams al-Din Muhammad al-Ghazzi (d. 808), a severe criticism on the Jam` al-Jawami`, put together into 32 questions. Taj al-Din wrote a new book in his own defence – Man` al-Mawani` – against this commentary.
 * `Izz al-Din Abu Bakr al-Kanani (d. 819).
 * Shihab al-Din al-Raula al-Muqaddasi (d. 844).
 * Burhan al-Din al-Kabakibi al-Kudsi (d. 850).
 * Ibn al-`Abbas al-`Adawi.
 * Shihab al-Din al-Ghazzi (d. 822).
 * Shihab al-Din al-Kurani (d. 893).
 * `Abd al-Barri al-Halabi, the Hanafite, (d. 921).

Taj al-Din himself wrote two books on the Jam` al-Jawami`:


 * Man` al-Mawani` `An Su’alat Jam` al-Jawami, about 400 pages, written as a reply to the criticism on the Jam` al-Jawami` by Shams al-Din Muhammad al-Ghazzi (d. 808) in a work called al-Buruq al-Lawami` fi ma Urida `Ala Jam` al-Jawami`. Taj al-Din takes up and answers 33 (Paris MS gives only 32) questions, stated at the beginning of the book.
 * Sharh Jam` al-Jawami, a commentary on his own legal work, completed in 770 A.H., or the year before Taj al-Din died.

Versifications
The Jam` al-Jawami` has been put into verse by following authors:


 * Shihab al-Din `Abd al-Rahman al-Tukhi (d. 893).
 * Rida al-Din al-Ghazzi (d. 925).

A commentary on this versification by the author’s son Badr al-Din al-Ghazzi (d. 984).


 * al-Kawkab al-Sati`, versification by Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 911).

A commentary by the author on his versification called Sharh al-Kawkab al-Sati`.