Badā’iʿ al-Ṣanā’iʿ fī Tartīb al-Sharā’iʿ: Its Preeminence and Distinctive Authority among Classical Ḥanafī Jurisprudential Texts

Abstract

Throughout the development of Islamic jurisprudence, each era has witnessed the emergence of juristic compendia that have played a foundational role in guiding the Ummah in legal, scholarly, and intellectual matters. Among the canonical works of the Ḥanafī school, Badā’iʿ al-Ṣanā’iʿ fī Tartīb al-Sharā’iʿ occupies a uniquely distinguished position. Its prominence stems not only from the rigor of its legal reasoning, methodological sophistication, and exegetical precision, but also from its systematic presentation of comparative analyses across diverse schools of thought. This article offers a critical and analytical examination of Badā’iʿ al-Ṣanā’iʿ, focusing on its scholarly significance, juristic methodology, organizational framework, and its comparative superiority over other major Ḥanafī works, including Al-Mabsūṭ, Al-Hidāyah, Al-Muḥīṭ al-Burhānī, Sharḥ al-Tahdhīb, and Al-Badā’iʿ. The research is conducted employing an objective and comparative methodology, in alignment with contemporary academic standards for jurisprudential studies. The findings underscore that Badā’iʿ al-Ṣanā’iʿ is not merely a foundational authority within the textual and commentary tradition of the Ḥanafī School; its methodological rigor and analytical depth confer upon it a distinct preeminence among classical fiqh sources. These features collectively establish its status as an eminent reference, rendering it indispensable for scholarly engagement, advanced research, and comparative legal analysis within Ḥanafī jurisprudence.