علمِ فرائض کی فضیلت اور السراجی کا تحقیقی و تنقیدی مطالعہ

The Virtue of the Science of Inheritance and a Critical-Analytical Study of al-Sirājiyyah

Abstract

This study explores the religious, juristic, historical, and analytical dimensions of the Islamic law of inheritance (ʿIlm al-Farāʾiḍ) with special focus on the classical text al-Sirājiyyah, its author Imām Sirāj al-Dīn al-Sajāwandī, and the extensive commentarial tradition that evolved around it. The paper begins by outlining the exceptional virtue, epistemic status, and scriptural foundations of the science of inheritance as articulated in the Qur’an, Hadith, and early juristic discourse, demonstrating why the Companions and early scholars regarded it as “half of knowledge.” It then examines the life, intellectual milieu, and works of al-Sajāwandī, tracing the historical ambiguities regarding his dates, scholarly affiliations, and geographical attributions. A detailed analytical overview of al-Sirājiyyah follows, including its structure, methodology, sources, and influence, alongside a critical appraisal of its numerous commentaries, translations, and global print history. The study also identifies key textual issues, methodological inconsistencies, and interpretive inaccuracies found in selective commentaries, especially regarding technical terms, numerical classifications, inheritance scenarios, and manuscript variants. Moreover, the paper contrasts the Islamic law of inheritance with socialist and capitalist economic models, arguing that the Qur’anic framework provides a balanced, ethical, and socially just alternative grounded in equity, responsibility, and moral accountability. Through historical exposition, comparative analysis, and textual criticism, this research highlights al-Sirājiyyah as one of the most authoritative and pedagogically influential works in the discipline of farāʾiḍ. The study ultimately affirms that the preservation, accurate teaching, and critical editing of this classical heritage remain essential for contemporary legal scholarship and the broader Islamic intellectual tradition.