Muhibb al-Din al-Tabari and His Work Titled Ghayat al-Ihkam fi Usul al-Ahkam

Abstract

Hadith literature containing legal rulings has undergone a process of nomenclature throughout history, being referred to by terms such as "fiqh al-hadith," "āthār," "sunan," and "ahkām hadiths." While various names were employed for these reports during the first centuries of Islam, the term "ahkām" (legal rulings) began to be used to describe the works containing them from the 5th century onwards. Although this terminology remained in use until the 19th century, the term "fiqh al-hadith" gained prominence during that period. Nevertheless, the majority of scholarly work in this field has been shaped within the framework of the "ahkām" designation. The works produced in this genre are not merely collections of hadiths; each author followed a specific methodology in their selection process. Some created concise works intended for quick reference, while others authored books shaped by sectarian affiliation, the priorities of their specific geographical regions, the conditions of their time, and the authors' personal agendas. In this article, we will examine a prominent work and its author within the field of ahkām hadith literature: Muhibb al-Dīn al-Tabarī’s Ghāyat al-Ihkām. According to his own account, he aimed to create a collection consisting of authentic (sahīh) hadiths, achieving an unparalleled diversity in terms of sources. However, he has faced criticism for occasionally including weak (daʿīf) and fabricated (mawdūʿ) narrations, particularly in sections concerning virtues (fadāʾil).