Kutub al-Zahir al-Riwayah: Introduction and Analytical Study

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive analytical introduction to Kutub-e-Zahir al-Riwayah, the foundational corpus of Hanafi jurisprudence compiled by Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Shaybani (d. 189 AH). These works, particularly al-Asl (al-Mabsut), al-Jami‘ al-Saghir, al-Jami‘ al-Kabir, al-Siyar al-Saghir, al-Siyar al-Kabir, and al-Ziyadat, constitute the principal textual sources of the Hanafi legal school. The research delineates the evolutionary trajectory of Hanafi fiqh through three historical phases Ancient, Classical, and Post-Classical highlighting how Imam Muhammad’s systematic compilation transformed early juridical discussions into a codified and structured legal framework. The study explores the methodological and stylistic features of al-Asl, such as the dialogical structure (qultu–qala style), argumentation techniques, and thematic organization, which established a model for later jurists. It also examines the intellectual influence of these texts on subsequent Islamic schools, including Maliki and Shafi‘i traditions, underscoring their cross-madhhab relevance. Furthermore, the paper evaluates how Kutub-e-Zahir al-Riwayah represent not only the essence of Hanafi legal reasoning but also the foundational principles upon which later canonical works were constructed. Ultimately, this research reaffirms Imam Muhammad’s seminal contribution to Islamic legal theory, demonstrating that Zahir al-Riwayah embodies the transition from individual juristic reasoning to a cohesive, textualzed legal heritage that shaped the doctrinal identity of the Hanafi School.

Keywords: Imam Muhammad al-Shaybani; Zahir al-Riwayah; Hanafi Fiqh; al-Asl; Islamic Jurisprudence; Legal Methodology; Early Islamic Law; Codification of Fiqh