The formation of jurisprudence schools

Since the book has a central importance in the Orientalist study, due to its tracing of the development of jurisprudential schools during their formation and shaping, and what those periods involve of ambiguity requiring clarification and problems awaiting resolution, and questions needing answers. The book aims to identify the historical point at which the jurisprudential schools among Ahl al-Sunnah were formed, following their historical path from their emergence through their development and fluctuations during various stages until they reached their classical forms that have persisted until the present day. It also addresses some doctrinal aspects among the Hanafi and Shafi’i schools as examples; discussing the Murji’a, Juhmiyya, and Mu’tazila, and touching on issues such as the creation of the Qur’an, as well as the creation of faith, and the disputes that arose from sharp disagreements between some scholars of opinion and some sects of doctrine on one side, and the Ahl al-Hadith on the other. The temporal boundaries of the book’s journey begin from the second Hijri century (or late) passing through the third, until the schools settled into their current form and the door to ijtihad was closed in the fourth Hijri century (ninth and tenth Gregorian centuries). The book is based on a doctoral thesis prepared by the author in 1992 and presented to the University of Pennsylvania, and was subsequently republished.