Al-Qāḍī Abū Ya‘lā: thoughts and influence on the development of legal theory of Islamic civilization and sciences of jurisprudence

Abstract

Al-Qāḍī Abū Ya‘lā ibn al-Farrā’ (380-458 A.H / 990-1065 C.E) is regarded as the most prominent Hanbali scholar and one of the early Muslim jurists who played dynamic roles in formulating a systematic legal framework and constitutional theory on Islamic system of government during the first half of the 5th/11th Century in Baghdad, and which are still found to be relevant in the modern day constitutional legal theories. Attempt would, therefore, be made in this paper to examine the contributions of this Leading Legal Luminary to the Legal theory of Islamic civilization and sciences of jurisprudence of the Ḥanbali Madhhab (Hanbali School of Law). Other areas of relevance critically examined in this paper are his education and legal background, contemporary pursuits of intellectuals and prominent fuqahā’ (jurists) of his time, as well as a detailed account of his notable students, works and influence in the development of the Ḥanbali Madhhab.