A translation of the classic Maliki fiqh text with parallel Arabic can be found at the following link:

Click to access al-izziyyah.pdf

‘Abd ul-Waḥid ibn ‘Āshir (d. 1040 A.H.) was the author of the in the Maghrib well-known (700 year old) text al-Murshid al-Mu’īn (in short: “The Guiding Helper”) ‘ala al-Darûri min ‘Ulûm il-Dīn fī madhhab al-Imām Mālik.[1] This didactic text (and naẓm: poem) of 317 verses (in rajz) is about ‘aqīdah (Ash’ari), fiqh (Māliki) and tasawwuf (al-Junayd). In Morocco and elsewhere this text was (and still is) memorized from early on by children and also in the Darqāwi tarīqah, where all muridīn needed to memorize this text to ensure they possessed a minimum of religious knowledge. (Links to videos with audio’s of the text: http://www.google.nl/search?q=Ibn%20Ashir&hl=nl&tbm=vid)

On this book several commentaries (shurûḥ) and hāshiyyāt were written, of which some of the titles will follow below. The fact there are several commentaries tells us something about the wide acceptance of the text in the Maliki tradition (which has been forgotten and/or neglected by many Moroccans living in the West).

1.) al-Ḥabl al-Matīn ‘ala Naẓm al-Murshid al-Mu’īn

By Muhammad bin Muhammad ‘Abdallah bin al-Mubarak al-Fathi al-Marrakshi al-Maliki; this is the most well-known commentary and easily found in bookshops in Morocco. (Online here: http://fadakbooks.com/shibnasalaal.html)

2.) Mukhtasar al-Durar al-Thamin wa’l-Mawrid al-Mu’īn

By al-Mayyarah (d. 1072); al-Mayyarah was the student of Ibn ‘Āshir; this work can be found in several ‘Moroccan’ mosques everywhere (outside Morocco). On this work there is a hāshiyyah (gloss) by Ibn al-Hājj (d. 1273)[2] (Not to be confused with the famous Ibn al-Hajj al-Maliki -d.737- who authored al-Madkhal)

3.) al-‘Arfu’l-Nāshir fi Sharḥ wa Adillah fiqh Matn Ibn ‘Āshir fi’l-Fiqhi’l-Māliki

By al-Mukhtar ibn al-‘Arabi Mu’min al-Jaza’iri al-Shinqiti, this book is recommended by four contemporary scholars from mostly Mauritania- of which shuyûkh Muhammad bin Mahfuzh Mukhtar al-Shinqiti, Muhammad al-Hasan al-Didu al-Shinqiti and Salman al-‘Awdah (Saudi-Arabia); this book only treats the fiqh part of the matn. This work can be found on the internet as a PDF[3]. As the title says this book provides the student with all the proofs (dalaa’il) from the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

4.) The commentary by shaykh at-Tayyib ibn Kiran (d. 1812)[4]: there is not much known about him and his commentary. Known is that shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Habib (d. 1972 A.D.) studied this commentary, which is apparent from his biography.[5]

5.) al-Risālatu’l-‘Alawiyyah

By the known Algerian (Sufi) shaykh Ahmad al-‘Alawi (d. 1934). This is a treatise in 1000 verses of the matn by Ibn ‘Āshir in clear and simple language.

6.) al-Minah al-Quddusiyyah[6] [7]

By shaykh Ahmad al-‘Alawi

This work is an explanation of the matn fully focused on tasawwuf. This text has been translated to English and has the title: “Knowledge of God” (Madinah Press; foreword shaykh Abd ul-Qadir as-Sufi) and is widely avaible for sale on the net.

7.) al-Sabīl al-Ma’īn ‘ala’l-Murshid al-Mu’īn

Author unknown. This is a summary (mukhtasar) of the above mentioned commentary by al-Mayyarah and hails from 1823.[8]

8.) Mufīd al-‘Ibād Sawā’un al-‘Ākifu fihi wa’l-Bād

By shaykh Ahmad ibn al-Bashir al-Shinqiti[9]

See: http://ia700409.us.archive.org/11/items/mufid_ibad_bachir/mufid_ibad_bachir.pdf

9.) Sayl al-‘Ayn sharḥ Murshid al-Mu’īn

By shaykh ‘Abdullahi ibn Fodio (d. 1829)[10]

10.) Sharḥ Abi Azhari[11]

This text is taught for example in a traditional Māliki mahdarah in Nabbaghiyyah, Mauritania.

11.) Ziyādat al-Tabyīn ‘ala’l-Murshid al-Mu’īn

By Muhammad Salih b. ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Salim al-Awjali[12]

12.) al-Nûr al-Mubīn ‘ala’l-Murshid al-Mu’īn[13]

By shaykh Muhammad bin Yusuf al-Ma’ruf bi’l-Kafi (d. 1426)

13.) Tawdih ad-Din ‘ala Murshid al-Mu’īn

By Muhammad at-Tayyib Bu Sinnah (see here: http://www.arabicbookshop.net/main/details.asp?id=181-351)

14.) An online explanation / lessons (in Arabic) on the text by Hassan al-Kattani (http://www.hassankettani.info/) can be listened here: http://www.archive.org/details/Hassan_Al_Kettani

Suhaib Webb speaks of an abbreviated explanation of “The Guiding Helper” by a certain shaykh al-Fasi al-Maliki (see here: http://www.suhaibwebb.com/islam-studies/did-i-break-my-wudu/) but unclear is to who exactly he refers. I dropped a question on his website: to be continued!

Then there are also some English translations, including explanation/commentary, by several people, among which:

– ustadh Abdusshakur Brooks (http://themedinaway.com/online/) gave an online course with explanation a while ago on the text.

– ustadh ‘Abdullah bin Hamid ‘Ali, to be found on his website: http://www.lamppostproductions.com/; he relies on the commentary by al-Mayyarah. The only part which has not been translated yet by him is the part on tasawwuf. He also wrote a bio of Ibn ‘Āshir. (The audio of the matn and translation can be bought on his website as well.) More material on the text is to be expected from him so keep checking his website.

– In the E-books section of the website http://www.muwatta.com/e-books/ we can find 3 documents on the text:

1. The Arabic text with footnote translation and some appendices, from the rather obscure, so called “Guiding Helper Foundation”. Their website is offline.

2. “The Guiding Helper”, Main text with (extensive) Notes (353 pages); we can read in the introduction on which 3 books Ibn ‘Āshir based his text (the section on tasawwuf is taken from al-Qushayri).

3. “The Guiding Helper” with some footnotes, from a Boutshishi murid. (Completely in English)

Lastly an upcoming (unpublished) translation by Hamza Yusuf. (He gave a magnificent explanation on the part of tasawwuf years ago, see here: http://www.halaltube.com/hamza-yusuf-ihsan-science-of-curing-the-heart)

A Key to the Abbreviation System for Authorities’ Names According to the Muta’akhkhirin

One studying the works of the Shafi’i School’s later authorities will often find reference made to other scholars by a mere abbreviation. The following is a key to abbreviations commonly found:

عطية الله بن عطية البرهاني القاهري الأجهوري

أ ج Sh. Atiyyat Allah b. Atiyyah al-Burhani al-Qahiri al-Ujhuri (d. 1190) commented on Ibn al-Qasim al-Ghazzi. Also, he commented on Khatib’s Iqna’ under the title Fath al-Latif al-Mujib bi Ma Yata’allaqu bi Kitab Iqna’ al-Khatib. (Iqna’ is Khatib Shirbini’s commentary on Qadi Abu Shuja’s Ghayat al-Ikhtisar).

محمد بن منصور الإطفيحي

 أط or  أط فSh. Muhammad b. Mansur al-Itfihi (1032-1110) commented on Shaykh al-Islam’s Fath al-Wahhab.

برهان الدين إبراهيم بن محمد بن أحمد الباجوري أو البيجوري

با ج Sh. Burhan al-Din Ibrahim b. Muhammad b. Ahmad al-Bajuri or al-Bayjuri (1198-1277) was Shaykh al-Azhar and a Shafi’i faqih. He commented on Ibn al-Qasim al-Ghazzi.

سليمان بن محمد بن عمر البجيرمي

ب ج Sh. Sulayman b. Muhammad b. Umar al-Bujayrami (1131-1221) was an Egyptian faqih, born in the western Egyptian city of Bujayrm, he relocated to Cairo while still young. There, he studied at al-Azhar University. He authored al-Tajrid li Naf’ al-‘Abid which is a commentary on Fath al-Wahhab and Tuhfat al-Habib which is a commentary on Iqna’.

إبراهيم بن محمد البرماوي الأنصاري الأزهري

ب ر Sh. Ibrahim b. Muhammad al-Birmawi al-Ansari al-Azhari (d. 1106) commented on Ibn al-Qasim al-Ghazzi, which was published in 1287. It was published again in 1298, with the marginal notes of Muhammad al-Anbabi. Also, he commented on Fath al-Wahhab in two volumes, which has not been published. A manuscript of that work is located in Dar al-Kutub al-Misriyyah. He studied with Muhammad al-Shawbari and Sultan al-Mazzahi.

شهاب الدين أحمد بن محمد بن علي بن حجر الهيتمي الأنصاري

ح ج Sh. Shihab al-Din Ahmad b. Muhammad b. ‘Ali b. Hajar al-Haytami al-Ansari (909-974) wrote Tuhfat al-Muhtaj Sharh al-Minhaj, Fath al-Jawwad, al-Imdad Sharh al-Irshad, his Fatawa, al-I’ab Sharh al-‘Ubab, al-Minhaj al-Qawim, Ashraf al-Wasa’il, al-Fath al-Mubin, al-Minah al-Makkiyyah, al-Zawajir, and other valuable works. There are two collections of fatawa ascribed to Ibn Hajar, one under the title al-Fatawa al-Kubra al-Fiqhiyyah, published by Dar al-Fikr and others in four volumes. Also, there is one under the title al-Fatawa al-Hadithiyyah, published by Dar al-Fikr and others in a single volume.

شمس الدين محمد بن أحمد الشوبري

شوبري Sh. Shams al-Din Muhammad b. Ahmad al-Shawbari (977-1069) was born in the western Egyptian city of Shawbar. He studied at al-Azhar University and passed away in Cairo.

Khidar al-Shawbari is mentioned to feature with his name abbreviated by خ ض or خضر. He was one of Zayyadi’s students. He authored a commentary on Fath al-Wahhab and another on Sharh al-Tahrir.

محمد بن سالم الحفني أو الحفناوي

ح ف  Sh. Shams al-Din Muhammad b. Salim al-Hafni or al-Hafnawi (1101-1181) wrote a hashiyah on Suyuti’s al-Jami’ al-Saghir and Bulaq printed it in two volumes in 1290. Also, he wrote a hashiyah on Ibn Hajar’s Sharh al-Hamziyyah which was printed in the margins of al-Minah al-Makkiyyah. He studied at al-Azhar University and eventually became Shaykh al-Azhar.

نور الدين علي بن إبراهيم بن أحمد الحلبي ثم القاهري

ح ل Sh. Abu al-Faraj Nur al-Din ‘Ali b. Ibrahim b. Ahmad al-Halabi al-Qahiri (975-1044) commented on Fath al-Wahhab and on Mahalli’s Sharh al-Waraqat.

عبد الحميد الشرواني الداغستاني

حميد  or  عيد Sh. Abd al-Hamid b. Husayn al-Sharwani al-Daghastani al-Makki (d. 1301) commented on Ibn Hajar’s Tuhfat al-Muhtaj.

شمس الدين محمد بن محمد الخطيب الشربيني

خ ط Shams al-Din Muhammad b. Muhammad al-Khatib al-Shirbini (d. 977) commented on Ghayat al-Ikhtisar under the title al-Iqna’. Also, he commented on Shirazi’s Tanbih, and Imam Nawawi’s Minhaj al-Talibin under the title Mughni al-Muhtaj. He was a direct student of both Shaykh al-Islam Zakariyya al-Ansari and Shihab al-Dunya wa al-Din al-Ramli al-Kabir.

نور الدين علي بن يحيى الزيادي المصري

ز ي Sh. Nur al-Din Ali b. Yahya al-Zayyadi al-Misri (d. 1024) commented on both Fath al-Wahhab and Muharrar.

أبو العزائم سلطان بن أحمد بن سلامة بن إسماعيل المزاحي المصري

س ل Sh. Abu al-Aza’im Sultan b. Ahmad b. Salamah b. Ismail al-Mazzahi al-Misri (985-1075) commented on Fath al-Wahhab. Manuscript copies are lodged in the Dar al-Kutub al-Misriyyah.

شهاب الدين أحمد بن قاسم الصباغ العبادي المصري

سم Sh. Shihab al-Din Ahmad b. al-Qasim al-Sabbagh al-‘Abbadi al-Misri (d. 993) took from ‘Amirah. He authored al-Ayat al-Bayyinat which is a commentary on Sharh Jam’ al-Jawami’, a commentary on Imam al-Haramayn’s Waraqat, a commentary on Ibn Hajar’s Tuhfat al-Muhtaj, a commentary on Fath al-Wahhab, and Fath al-Ghaffar which is a commentary on Ghayat al-Ikhtisar. He passed away in Medina returning from Hajj.

عبد الله بن حجازي الشرقاوي الأزهري

ش ق Sh. Abd Allah b. Hijazi al-Sharqawi al-Azhari (1150-1227) memorized the Quran in his hometown before he set off to study at al-Azhar University. He became Shaykh al-Azhar in the year 1208. He wrote al-Tuhfat al-Bahiyyah fi Tabaqat al-Shafiyyah, a commentary on Sharh al-Tahrir, and Tuhfat al-Nazirin fi man Walla Misr min al-Wulat wa al-Salatin.

منصور الطبلاوي بن ناصر الدين محمد بن سالم الطبلاوي

طب Sh. Mansur b. (d. 1014) Sh. Nasir al-Din Muhammad b. Salim al-Tablawi (d. 966) authored Tajrid Hashiyat Ibn al-Qasim ala al-Tuhfah. He took fiqh from Ramli, sat in the company of Ibn al-Qasim al-‘Abbadi, and then Muhammad al-Shawbari took from him. And Nasir al-Din al-Tablawi authored a commentaries on al-Bahjat al-Wardiyyah, on ‘Abd al-Ghaffar al-Qazwini’s al-Hawi al-Saghir, and on Imam al-Haramayn’s Waraqat.

نور الدين علي بن علي الشبراملسي

ع ش Sh. Nur al-Din ‘Ali b. ‘Ali al-Shabramallisi (997-1087) hailed from the Egyptian city of Shabramallis. Even though he lost his eyesight as an infant, he still studied and taught at al-Azhar University. He authored commentaries on Ramli’s Nihayat al-Muhtaj, on Ibn Hajar’s Ashraf al-Wasa’il, on Ibn al-Qasim al-Ghazzi, and on Nihayat al-Sul.

شمس الدين محمد بن داود بن سليمان العناني

ع ن Sh. Shams al-Din Muhammad b. Dawud b. Sulayman al-‘Inani (d. 1098) authored Fath al-Karim al-Wahhab ala Sharh Tanqih al-Lubab and Hashiyat ala Umdat al-Rabih fi Marifat al-Tariq al-Wadih. Kattani mentioned that he took from ‘Ali al-Halabi who took from Ramli.

شهاب الدين أحمد بن أحمد بن سلامة القليوبي

ق ل Sh. Shihab al-Din Ahmad b. Ahmad b. Salamah al-Qalyubi (d. 1069) wrote commentaries on Sh. Jalal al-Din al-Mahalli’s Sharh Minhaj al-Talibin, on Sharh al-Tahrir, and on Ibn al-Qasim al-Ghazzi. Also, he authored a treatise under the title al-Hidayah min al-Dalalah on determining both the times and direction for prayers. He took both fiqh and hadith from Muhammad al-Ramli and sat in his company for three years. He also took from Zayyadi and ‘Ali al-Halabi. Ibrahim al-Birmawi took from him.

أبو الإقبال حسن بن علي بن أحمد المنطاوي الأزهري المدابغي

م د Sh. Abu al-Iqbal Hasan b. Ali b. Ahmad al-Mintawi al-Azhari al-Madabighi (d. 1170) wrote a commentary on Iqna’ under the title  Kifayat al-Labib, a commentary on Jam’ al-Jawami’, a commentary on Sharh al-Tahrir, a commentary on Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili’s Hizb al-Bahr, a commentary on Ibn Hajar’s al-Fath al-Mubin which was printed in Cairo in 1307, and other works. In Taj al-‘Urus, it is mentioned that he lived a very long life [mu’ammar] and was sought after for having a high chain of transmission [‘uluw al-isnad].

شمس الدين محمد بن أحمد بن حمزة الرملي الشهير بالشافعي الصغير

م ر Sh. Shams al-Din Muhammad b. Ahmad b. Hamzah al-Ramli (d. 1007) is also known as “al-Shafi’i al-Saghir.” In Shafi’i fiqh, he wrote Umdat al-Rabih, Ghayat al-Bayan Sharh Zubad Ibn Ruslan, and Nihayat al-Muhtaj Sharh al-Minhaj.

شهاب الدين أحمد بن حمز الرملي الكبير

الشهاب م ر Sh. Shihab al-Din Ahmad b. Hamzah al-Ramli al-Kabir (d. 973) commented on Ibn al-Imad’s Manzumah under the title Fath al-Jawwad and on Ibn Ruslan’s Zubad under the title Fath al-Rahman. There is also a compilation of his Fatawa related to have been transmitted by his son, Shams al-Din. In Shadharat al-Dhahab, Ibn al-‘Imad related that Khatib Shirbini compiled a collection of Shihab’s Fatawa. Perhaps, Shihab’s Fatawa was compiled by Khatib, and thereafter transmitted by Shams al-Din al-Ramli.

And Allah knows best.

Yaqub Abdurrahman

By Shaykh Musa Furber

The following is a list of Hanbali books limited to the subjects of fiqh and usul al-fiqh. The question keeps coming up of what books people should obtain if they want to have a decent Hanbali section in their reference library. What follows is just my personal preference, based on my own limited experience and knowledge. By Allah’s leave, I will explain the merits of some of the books. Books tend to be listed in order of importance for actual study of the mathab.

Fiqh
First, some basic books used for study:

Akhsar al-Mukhtasirat — most basic rulings in the mathab. The Dar Al-Basha’ir print includes marginal notes from Sheikh `Abd Al-Qadir Ibn Badran, which are quite useful.

Dalil Al-Talib — much more detailed than the above, while still being very easy to read. This is the basis for fatwa in Sham. This is one of the more important books for students, because of its two primary commentaries: Nail Al-Ma’arib and Manar Al-Sabil. The first commentary focuses on giving examples and more fiqh issues; the second gives basic commentary and evidence for almost all of the rulings. Both commentaries are very easy to read. There is a hashiya on Nail Al-Ma’arib titled Hashiyat Al-Lubadi, which is quite helpful. These commentaries are fairly late, and they are standard books for a Hanbali student.

Al-`Udda Sharh Al-`Umdat — the classical commentary on Al-Muwaffiq’s basic text for beginners. The commentary introduces the student to alternative positions in the mathab, their evidence (dalil), how the evidence works (wajh al-istidlal), and the underlying cause that is used for analogical reasoning (ta`lil). This is typically read after getting decent familiarity and mastery of Nail Al-Ma’arib.

Al-Raudh Al-Murbi` — the basic introductory, mufta bihi primer used in the Gulf. Quite excellent; there’s a lot more in it than you’d expect, given it’s small size. Not typically read in Sham.

Ghayat Al-Muntaha — the encyclopedia of rulings. Doesn’t include evidence of ta`lil; it’s just ruling, after ruling, after ruling. And unlike many other Hanbali books: it’s really, really concise and sometimes difficult reading. This isn’t necessarily basic, but this used to be part of the Hanbali syllabus here.

Reference books:

Al-Mughni — perhaps the most famous Hanbali book among non-Hanbalis. It includes opinions of the Four schools, in addition to the early mathabs that became extinct. The books gives the various opinions; the Companions, Tabi`in, and Imams (Allah be well pleased with them all) who took which opinions; the evidence; and a very brief discussion of the evidence. It’s easy to read, but you need some familiarity with usul and mustalih al-hadith.

Al-Insaf fi ma`rifat al-rajih min al-khilaf — one of the better references for knowing the various opinions within the mathab and which scholars took them. Includes evidence and lots of commentary. A must have, but unfortunately very difficult to get these days.

Kashshaf Al-Qina` — lots of commentary, lots of evidence, but not a lot of different opinions internal or external to the mathab.

Al-Furu` — Ibn Muflih weaves together the opinions of Ibn Taymiyyah and the mathab.

Al-Muharrar — for each issue it says whether there are multiple opinions, without saying with one is used for fatwa.

Usul al-fiqh
Sharh Al-Waraqat — the very basics. Expected reading.

Ghayat Al-Sul — much more detailed; gives differences of opinion among the scholars of usul, and gives the position of the late Hanbalis.

Al-Madhkhal ‘Ila Mathab Al-Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal — more than just usul al-fiqh: usul al-mathab. Yes: this book gets read.

Raudhat Al-Nathir — an abbriged and Hanbali-ized version of Imam Al-Ghazali’s classic work Al-Mustasfa. Al-Muwaffiq even included the introduction on mantiq. The late Sheikh `Abd Al-Qadir ibn Badran has a commentary on this book which is highly recommended. And, al-hamdu lillah, it is fairly easy to find. It still gets read.

Muswada ‘Ali Tayymiyah — notes dealing with usul written by three scholars from consecutive generations from the well known family. Unfortunately, there’s no index.

[Taken from http://mac.abc.se/home/onesr/h/33.html]