Transmitting al-Shatibi: Maqasid al-Shari'a, Maliki Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh in Early-Modern Mauritania
Principal Supervisor: Dr Hakan Coruh
Co-Supervisor: Dr Suleyman Sertkaya
Standard discussion of Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi (d. 1388) and his work on maqasid al-shari‘a (the objectives of Islamic law) in both English and Arabic tend to jump from noting the importance of his scholarly output in the field to the revival of his work by Muhammad ‘Abduh (d. 1905) at the turn of the twentieth century, before moving onto more contemporary scholarship. Little mention is made of the almost five-hundred-year time gap between al-Shatibi and his modern interlocutors, or how his work was received, engaged, and built upon during this unmentioned period.
The present research attempts to fill this time-gap and is based on analysis of knowledge networks, scholarly biographies, and Islamic texts across numerous disciplines. It shows that, contrary to this understanding, Muslim jurists across North and Northwest Africa were a) aware of al-Shatibi and his works, including his work on maqasid; b) that there is evidence his work was transmitted both directly and indirectly via commentaries; and that c) Mauritanian scholars abridged and commented on al-Shatibi’s works at the turn of the twentieth century, preceding and parallel to the revival efforts of ‘Abduh, though have received little attention to date.
I have known of the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation since its inception, through their tireless community work and outreach. I have known a number of staff members professionally for many years, so when the opportunity to undertake my PhD opened up, I decided to commence it in the supportive and collegial environment at the Centre.
