Welcome to Al-Furqan’s E-Database
The largest gateway of Islamic written heritage
‘Our Publications’ databank / collection
‘Our Publications’ collection is a bibliographic database of the Foundation's own publications. These works are the outcome of prominent research projects and events carried out by the three centres of the Foundation, i.e. the ‘Manuscripts Centre’, the ‘Mawsoa Centre’ and the ‘Maqasid Centre’.
This collection was added to the ‘Al-Furqan Digital Library’ to enrich the user research experience. The collection is continuously updated, and currently contains over 200 works in over 400 volumes. These cover both introductory and advanced topics discussed and presented by distinguished scholars in the field of Islamic written heritage.
It also includes many popular and heavily cited publications, as well as award winning works, such as the critical edition of al-Isfizāri’s book which deals with the field of mechanics, known as “the sciences of weights and mechanical devices” (‘Ilmay al-Athqāl wal-Ḥiyal). Other popular items include works by the late famous scholar Annemarie Schimmel, such as The Secrets of Creative Love (1998) and Islam and the Wonders of Creation(2003); and many other highly demanded references, including the unique Encyclopaedia of Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Al-Madīnah Al-Munawwarah.
The Objectives of Sharīʿah: Principles and Concepts (Research articles)
This book comprises sixteen studies revolving around the historical development of the discipline of maqāṣid traceable from the era of the Prophet’s Companions, until its foundations were firmly laid by al-Shāṭibī, and those following him, led most prominently by Shaykh Ibn ‘Āshūr. He also further highlighted the role of maqāṣid in the contemporary Islamic renewal. Some of these studies investigate the ways of discovering and identifying the objectives of Islamic law, which were listed as: explicit statement of the objectives in the Qurʾān and Sunnah, from fiqh principles (al-Qawāʿid al-Fiqhiyyah), or identified from what is known of the ways to effective cause (Masālik al-ʿIlla). Other studies discuss the misunderstandings in the relationship between legal theory (uṣūl al-fiqh) and universal objectives (al-maqāṣid al-kulliyyah), where each has its own topics and issues, yet both share the same role of serving jurisprudence (fiqh) and the process of derivation of legal rulings (Istinbāṭ). The book also includes a study on omission (al-tark) in legislation (tashrīʿ) and obligation (taklīf). It also addresses the principle of means (al-dharāiʿ) in terms of history of knowledge, critical analysis of its traditional examples and giving alternative and contemporary examples in opening (fatḥ) and closing (sadd), while explaining the consequences (al-maʾālāt) and their significant effect on public good. The reader will find many studies on the founding principles of the fiqh of priorities (al-awlawiyyāt) and the importance of weighing up between the objectives (maqāṣid), especially where there is no previous ruling based on juristic effort (ijtihād). One study addresses the areas and horizons of ijtihād based on the objectives, while other studies explore the concept of renewal (tajdīd), its horizons today and the obstacles to it. Some studies discuss maqāṣid principles in contemporary financial transactions, and the role of maqāṣid in modern contractual transactions, whereas other studies look into activating maqāṣid in the charity and daʿwah sectors.
Shared Knowledge
(3) Objectives of Islamic law in Light of the Noble Prophetic Sunnah
Objectives of Islamic law in Light of the Noble Prophetic Sunnah: Methodology of Understanding the Sunnah and its Objectives
Applying the Sharīʿah Objectives between Fear and Leniency (Research articles)