The Translator’s Introduction

Matn Abi Shujaa’ is one of the most popular treatises of the Shafi’i School of Law. It is an essential component of most Shafi’i Fiqh curriculums taught all over the world. This treatise is considered an introduction to the Shafi’i School of Law and is usually the first book that is taught to Shafi’i students.

The Many Names of this Treatise:

This treatise is known by many names the most popular of which is Matn Abi Shujaa’ (The Text of Abi Shujaa’) in reference to the author. It is also known as:

• Al Ghayah Wat Taqrib (The Objective and the Simplification)
• Ghayat Al Ikhtisar (The Peak of Brevity)
• Mukhtasar Abi Shujaa’ (The Concise Treatise of Abu Shujaa’)

The Author

The author of this book is Ahmed Ibn Al Husain Ibn Ahmad Al Asfahani known more popularly as Abu Shujaa’. The author was born in the year 533 AH and passed away in the year 593 AH. He was born in Basra. It is said that he lived for 160 years and Allah knows best.

The Explanations of Matn Abi Shujaa’:

Since Matn Abi Shujaa’ is a widely studied treatise, many Scholars of the past and the present have written explanations of it. From the most popular explanations of Matn Abi Shujaa’ are:

• Fat-hul Qareebul Mujeeb by Ibn Qasim Al Ghazzi (The Victory of the One Who is Near and Answers)
• Al Iqna’ Fi Hal Alfadh Matn Abi Shujaa’ by Khateeb Ash Shirbini (The Persuasion: An Explanation the Words of Matn Abi Shujaa’)