The Ultimate Conspectus: Matn al-Ghayat wa al-Taqrib

Translated by Musa Furber

Individual Muslims are required to learn the rulings for anything they do in their daily lives. Most Muslims today trace their understanding of law back to schools founded by well-known Imams, who themselves trace their understanding back to the Prophet ﷺ. This body of Islamic law allows one to carry out what one has been ordered to do while avoiding what one has been ordered to avoid, which results in happiness now and in the Afterlife. One of the first texts students of the Shafi’i school of law read is Abu Shuja’ah al-Asfahani’s introduction to classical Islamic law. This enduring classic covers the full range of basic topics within the Shafi’i school of law. The present work includes a complete translation of Abu Shuja’ah’s conspectus, along with the full Arabic text and notes to point out where later jurists have differed from the author, Imam al-Nawawi’s preferences, and minor clarifications and explanations.