The Jurisprudential Reasoning of Sheikh Al-Tahir Al-Zawi as Evidenced in His Fatwas

Abstract

This research, titled "Legal Reasoning (Al-Ta'lil al-Fiqhi) according to Sheikh Al-Tahir Al-Zawi through his Fatwas," presents an analytical study of the methodology of legal reasoning in the fatwas of the former Mufti of Libya, Sheikh Al-Tahir Al-Zawi. By inductively examining applied models of his legal responses, the study aims to uncover the methodological foundations he adopted in constructing Sharia rulings and linking them to their underlying causes (Illah) and objectives (Maqasid). The research addresses a central problem: defining the concept of legal reasoning and the Maliki school's stance toward it, while illustrating its prevalence in Sheikh Al-Zawi's fatwas. It also explores his methods for deducing legal causes and employing them when applying rulings to contemporary events. The researcher highlights the significance of this subject, given that the "Illah" (legal cause) is the locus of the ruling and the axis around which it revolves in both existence and absence. Thus, understanding it is essential for sound Ijtihad and for connecting Sharia to reality.