Radd al-Muhtar 'ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar

Radd al-Muhtar 'ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar is a comprehensive legal commentary in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) written by Ibn Abidin, a prominent 19th century Hanafi scholar from Damascus. The work serves as an extensive commentary on an earlier text called al-Durr al-Mukhtar by al-Haskafi. The book spans multiple volumes and systematically addresses topics in Islamic law including ritual worship, commercial transactions, marriage, divorce, criminal law, and inheritance. Ibn Abidin incorporates and analyzes views from various Hanafi jurists while also considering local customs and changing social conditions of his time. The commentary follows a structured format where each section begins with the original text from al-Durr al-Mukhtar, followed by Ibn Abidin's detailed analysis and discussion. The work frequently references earlier Hanafi texts and legal opinions to support its arguments. This text represents an important bridge between classical Islamic legal theory and its practical application in Ottoman-era Muslim society. Its enduring influence stems from its comprehensive treatment of legal issues and its method of balancing established doctrine with contemporary realities.

Readers value Ibn Abidin's detailed analysis and comprehensive coverage of Hanafi fiqh. The commentary is noted for clarifying complex legal issues and providing multiple scholarly perspectives. Likes: - Clear organization and systematic approach to legal topics - Citations and references to source texts - Practical examples and applications - Coverage of both established rulings and rare cases Dislikes: - Dense technical language requires advanced Arabic skills - Some find the length (multiple volumes) overwhelming - Limited discussion of contemporary issues - Assumes significant background knowledge No ratings available on Goodreads, Amazon or major book review sites. The work is primarily reviewed in Arabic scholarly forums and academic papers. Reader quote from IslamQA forum: "Ibn Abidin's explanations helped me understand the reasoning behind many Hanafi positions that previously seemed unclear." Quote from Arabic book review site Kutub: "The depth of research is impressive but newcomers to fiqh may struggle with the specialized terminology."

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🔸 Ibn Abidin wrote this masterwork over a period of 7 years, often working late into the night by candlelight, and completed it in 1836 CE. It remains one of the most comprehensive works of Hanafi jurisprudence ever compiled. 🔸 The book is actually a commentary on another commentary - Ibn Abidin wrote it as an explanation of Al-Haskafi's "Al-Durr al-Mukhtar," which itself was a commentary on "Tanwir al-Absar" by Al-Tumurtashi. 🔸 Known colloquially as "Hashiyat Ibn Abidin" among scholars, this work became so authoritative that it was used as a primary reference for civil law during the late Ottoman Empire's legal reforms. 🔸 The author, Ibn Abidin, was initially a shoemaker before dedicating his life to Islamic scholarship. He went on to become the leading Hanafi scholar in Damascus and was appointed as the Mufti of the city. 🔸 The work is particularly valued for addressing contemporary issues of its time, including novel commercial transactions and social customs, while connecting them to classical Islamic legal principles. This approach made it especially practical for both scholars and judges.