8vo. Vol. II: [1], 457-1068 pp., [6 index], of Arabic text, 6 b/w plates hors text, 46 pp of French text, publisher’s original wrappers, titles in French & Arabic, Uncut & unopened, lightly soiled spine, otherwise copy clean inside & in very good condition, Institut Français de Damas, 1965.

Synopsis

A very important text on Islamic law written by a leading Mu’tazilah scholar. The work was described by the Comte Léon Ostrorog in his study “ Roots of Law”, as one of the scientific juridically branches used for the first time in the Islamic World. According to Ostrorog also, no other text can be compared to this work in the Greek-Roman world, or the East and West alike. The Kitab of Usul Al-Fikh is edited and published with an introduction in French by Muhammad Hamidullah comparing several manuscripts of this work, and highlighting its importance as an early excellent text in Islamic Law.