Nur al Idah The Light of Clarification
By Imam Hasan Shurunbulali
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Nur al Idah is a Hanafi text which includes vast areas of jurisprudence, namely, the rulings pertaining to worship. It leaves the student or general reader well prepared to deal with the majority of matters ranging from purification, prayer, funerals, zakah to hajj. It reveals in a small way as to why the Hanafi Madhhab is held in such high esteem from scholars all over the world. It is practical, sensible and can be used as a reference book. This book is based on the teachings of Abu Hanifa and his students, namely Imam Muhammad, Abu Yusuf and Zufar; and will provide the reader with a brief look as to why the Hanafi Madhhab is the most widely embraced in the world today.
Ahmad Ibn Hanbal said, âIf in any matter there is agreement between three people, then one pays no attention to the verdict of anyone who disagrees with them.â Someone asked him, âWho are they?â He answered, âAbu Hanifa, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad Ibn al-Hasan.’
The Nur al-idah is a classical text on sacred law, and for generations has been one of the most widely taught texts used to transmit Hanafi fiqh. Generations of scholars and layman alike have been taught the Nur al-idah, which gives them sufficient grounding in the basic masaâil they encounter daily.
Introduction
Nur al-Idah is a broadly taught Hanafi text which entails vast areas of jurisprudence, namely the rulings pertaining to worship. It leaves the student well prepared to deal the entirety of issues from purification to hajj. It reveals in a small way as to why the Hanafi Madhhab is held in such high esteem from
scholars all over the world. It is practical, sensible and can be used as a reference. This book is based on the teachings of Abu Hanifa and his students, namely
Imam Muhammad, Abu Yusuf and Zufar; and provides the reader with an insight into one of the most widely embraced Madhhabs by judicial systems in the world today.
Format Of The Text
This text of Nur al-Idah presents the Arabic followed by its English translation in bold text. Usually, explanation follows the bold text or is found within the bold
text itself. This is because such explanation is from Maraky al-Falah, which is the explanation of Nur al-Idah. Both books are authored by the same person: Hasan Shurunbulali. It should be noted that such explanatory notes are not in bold text.
Moreover, it has been my attempt to translate the text of Nur al-Idah in a manner that can be read independently without reading the commentary or explanatory notes, although at times – interpretation is essential in understanding the meaning of the actual text. As previously stated, interpretation and comments are by and large from Maraky al-Falah and at times from other Hanafi sources, such
as Hashia ibn Abidin, al-Ikhtiyar and al-Hidaya. Indeed, a translation may simplify many things, though this will still require the complete and concentrated attention of the reader. Furthermore, the position of other schools, such as the Shafi’i Madhhab has been added in various places with the intent to give the reader a broader perspective on matters and demonstrate the similarity between the various schools of thought.
As any endeavour is undertaken in translating an Islamic law book, it is possible as with all things to overlook fine points. However, in stating this, the reader should keep in mind that every effort was exhausted in ensuring the translation is
an accurate one. Any scenario which posed any shade of grey was immediately referred to numerous scholars and thoroughly investigated from the main Hanafi sources, such as Hashia Ibn Abidin, Bahr ar-Ra’iq, Badai’ as-Sanai 4 , and alHidaya. At times, such sources are referenced even when the matter is clear on
the basis of providing greater clarity and aiding the student to view the laws in a different light enabling him to deal with legal rules in a practical way. Lastly, the rule that is displayed in bold is the law. The other opinions mentioned in the annotations and notes are not to be followed. They have been provided to teach the reader fiqh (i.e. legal reasoning). Therefore, the text in bold is the governing and primary text.
Comments
As salam alaikum!
Kindly post this Nur-al-idah in Urdu .I shall be highly oblique .Thanks