Kitab al-Furuq by Abu al-Fadl al-Karabisi al-Hanafi (322H)

Uncover the pioneering legal distinctions that shaped Islamic jurisprudence!

"Kitab al-Furuq" (The Book of Distinctions) by Abu al-Fadl Muhammad ibn Salih al-Karabisi stands as a groundbreaking 4th century Hijri masterpiece that established a fundamental methodology in Islamic legal thought. This seminal work meticulously documents subtle distinctions between seemingly similar legal cases that actually warrant different rulings in Hanafi fiqh. As one of the earliest known texts dedicated to legal distinctions, al-Karabisi's work represents a watershed moment in Islamic juridical analysis that influenced generations of subsequent scholars across all legal schools.

The author, a distinguished Samarqandi Hanafi jurist who passed away in 322 AH, masterfully demonstrates how minor variations in circumstances can lead to completely different legal judgments. This critical edition, expertly verified by Abdullah Hamid al-'Afri and published by Dar al-Fath, offers modern readers access to an invaluable window into the sophisticated analytical methods of early Islamic legal thought. The book's enduring significance lies not only in its historical importance as one of the earliest works in the genre of legal distinctions (furuq), but also in its continued relevance for understanding the nuanced reasoning processes that characterize Islamic jurisprudence at its finest.