An Introductory Review of Fatawa Alamgiri and its Kitab Al Hiyal

Abstract

In terms of services in religious studies, Indo-pak subcontinent
have a distinguished status. One of these religious services,
is in the form of "Fatawa Alamgiri" which was compiled on the order
of Aurangzeb Alamgir (died: 1118 AH /1707AD). This book is known as
"Fatawa Alamgiri" in the Indo-pak subcontinent. This is an authentic book
of Hanafi jurisprudence after Hidayah. It has been compiled by a large group
of expert scholars of that time. The jurists of Islam have used Sharia tricks for
the sake of ease in interpreting the rulings of the people in many Sharia issues,
keeping in mind the purposes of the Sharia. Among them, the Hanafi school of
thought has gained more fame. For this reason, some scholars have made
this school of thought a target of criticism. A large part of this book consists
of these tricks which is named as Kitab Al Hiyal. In this article, the introduction of
Fatawa Alamgiri, the background of its compilation, its authors, its references and
sources and the contents of its Kitab Al Hiyal have been reviewed.