“The <i>Maqāṣid</i> Are the <i>Qibla</i> of the Jurists”: A Critical Analysis of Contemporary References to and Usages of Abū Ḥāmid Al-Ghazālī’s Dictum
Modernity reveals an intense preoccupation with the Intentions of the Sharia (<i>maqāṣid al-sharīʿa</i>) and reflections of premodern scholars on this legal concept. Within contemporary research in this field, the famous scholar Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī (d. 505/1111), who is counted among th...
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| author | Eva Kepplinger |
| author_facet | Eva Kepplinger |
| author_sort | Eva Kepplinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Modernity reveals an intense preoccupation with the Intentions of the Sharia (<i>maqāṣid al-sharīʿa</i>) and reflections of premodern scholars on this legal concept. Within contemporary research in this field, the famous scholar Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī (d. 505/1111), who is counted among the pioneers of premodern contributions to the <i>maqāṣid</i>, occupies a special position. In addition to his general treatment of the <i>maqāṣid</i>, one dictum of his in particular is often referred to in the modern literature on the <i>maqāṣid</i>. The quotation reads: “The <i>maqāṣid</i> are the <i>qibla</i> of the jurists”, which he mentioned in his book <i>Kitāb Ḥaqīqat al-qawlayn</i> and is indicative of the central position of the <i>maqāṣid</i> in al-Ghazālī’s (legal) thought. My investigation of the contemporary, primarily Arabic, literature on the <i>maqāṣid</i> which cites this popular dictum reveals that the quote is used for many reasons and in various contexts; however, a fuller engagement with the quote itself and in the context of al-Ghazālī’s thought, as well as in his book, takes place very rarely, if at all, and even then, it is cursory. In order to embed al-Ghazālī’s dictum in the wider frame of his thought, this article first presents his general <i>maqāṣid</i>-related thought and consequently expounds on it in the context of his book. To better understand the usage of the quote in modern scholarship, the current <i>maqāṣid</i> literature that refers to the dictum is analyzed and categorized, showing how authors deploy it and to what end. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:16:28Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:16:28Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-f9d5cc3a29d6430b89f23ede3c0032692024-02-23T15:32:37ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442024-01-0115216510.3390/rel15020165“The <i>Maqāṣid</i> Are the <i>Qibla</i> of the Jurists”: A Critical Analysis of Contemporary References to and Usages of Abū Ḥāmid Al-Ghazālī’s DictumEva Kepplinger0Department of Islamic-Religious Studies, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, GermanyModernity reveals an intense preoccupation with the Intentions of the Sharia (<i>maqāṣid al-sharīʿa</i>) and reflections of premodern scholars on this legal concept. Within contemporary research in this field, the famous scholar Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī (d. 505/1111), who is counted among the pioneers of premodern contributions to the <i>maqāṣid</i>, occupies a special position. In addition to his general treatment of the <i>maqāṣid</i>, one dictum of his in particular is often referred to in the modern literature on the <i>maqāṣid</i>. The quotation reads: “The <i>maqāṣid</i> are the <i>qibla</i> of the jurists”, which he mentioned in his book <i>Kitāb Ḥaqīqat al-qawlayn</i> and is indicative of the central position of the <i>maqāṣid</i> in al-Ghazālī’s (legal) thought. My investigation of the contemporary, primarily Arabic, literature on the <i>maqāṣid</i> which cites this popular dictum reveals that the quote is used for many reasons and in various contexts; however, a fuller engagement with the quote itself and in the context of al-Ghazālī’s thought, as well as in his book, takes place very rarely, if at all, and even then, it is cursory. In order to embed al-Ghazālī’s dictum in the wider frame of his thought, this article first presents his general <i>maqāṣid</i>-related thought and consequently expounds on it in the context of his book. To better understand the usage of the quote in modern scholarship, the current <i>maqāṣid</i> literature that refers to the dictum is analyzed and categorized, showing how authors deploy it and to what end.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/2/165Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī<i>maqāṣid</i><i>Kitāb Ḥaqīqat al-qawlayn</i>modern legal literaturemodern references to al-Ghazālī´s dictum |
| spellingShingle | Eva Kepplinger “The <i>Maqāṣid</i> Are the <i>Qibla</i> of the Jurists”: A Critical Analysis of Contemporary References to and Usages of Abū Ḥāmid Al-Ghazālī’s Dictum Religions Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī <i>maqāṣid</i> <i>Kitāb Ḥaqīqat al-qawlayn</i> modern legal literature modern references to al-Ghazālī´s dictum |
| title | “The <i>Maqāṣid</i> Are the <i>Qibla</i> of the Jurists”: A Critical Analysis of Contemporary References to and Usages of Abū Ḥāmid Al-Ghazālī’s Dictum |
| title_full | “The <i>Maqāṣid</i> Are the <i>Qibla</i> of the Jurists”: A Critical Analysis of Contemporary References to and Usages of Abū Ḥāmid Al-Ghazālī’s Dictum |
| title_fullStr | “The <i>Maqāṣid</i> Are the <i>Qibla</i> of the Jurists”: A Critical Analysis of Contemporary References to and Usages of Abū Ḥāmid Al-Ghazālī’s Dictum |
| title_full_unstemmed | “The <i>Maqāṣid</i> Are the <i>Qibla</i> of the Jurists”: A Critical Analysis of Contemporary References to and Usages of Abū Ḥāmid Al-Ghazālī’s Dictum |
| title_short | “The <i>Maqāṣid</i> Are the <i>Qibla</i> of the Jurists”: A Critical Analysis of Contemporary References to and Usages of Abū Ḥāmid Al-Ghazālī’s Dictum |
| title_sort | the i maqasid i are the i qibla i of the jurists a critical analysis of contemporary references to and usages of abu hamid al ghazali s dictum |
| topic | Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī <i>maqāṣid</i> <i>Kitāb Ḥaqīqat al-qawlayn</i> modern legal literature modern references to al-Ghazālī´s dictum |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/2/165 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT evakepplinger theimaqasidiaretheiqiblaiofthejuristsacriticalanalysisofcontemporaryreferencestoandusagesofabuhamidalghazalisdictum |