Reception of Tāj al-Dīn al-Subkī’s Jamʿ al-Jawāmiʿ and Its Impact on Post-Classical Uṣūl al-Fiqh Literature

Abstract

This study meticulously examines the historical trajectory of post-classical uṣūl al-fiqh literature, unraveling the enduring legacy of Tāj al-Dīn al-Subkī’s (d. 771/1370) seminal work, Jamʿ al-jawāmiʿ. Authored by the distinguished Shāfiʿī jurist and historian in the 8th/14th century, this treatise has transcended temporal boundaries, evolving into a worldwide cornerstone of Islamic legal education. Using Bloom’s Taxonomy, this research analyses Jamʿ al-jawāmiʿ’s role in the uṣūl al-fiqh tradition. It illustrates how the work quickly gained recognition as a foundational textbook through its conciseness and comprehensiveness, sparking a surge of commentaries from scholars across multiple juristic schools. This investigation explores the key factors that contributed to its initial reception, establishment as a core textbook, and profound impact on subsequent uṣūl al-fiqh scholarship. Drawing on bio-bibliographical sources, the study illuminates the enduring influence of Jamʿ al-jawāmiʿ in shaping the discipline, emphasizing the interplay between base texts (matn) and their commentaries in evolving uṣūl al-fiqh scholarship. The findings challenge assumptions about the originality of commentary literature, encouraging further research into the intricate developments of this intellectual tradition and reinvigorating interest in its interpretive legacies