Introduction to Jurisprudential Maxims

Jurisprudential maxims (al-qawa ‘id al-fiqhiyyah) play an important role in determining one’s legal duty in particular situations. When applied, these maxims – such as the ‘Maxim of Purity’, the ‘Maxim of No Harm’, and the ‘The Maxim of Averting Hardship’ – help define the course of action one should take in a given scenario. This book is an English translation of Durus Tamhidiyyah fl al-Qawa ‘id al­Fiqhiyyah, a popular textbook in Islamic seminaries. The work serves as an introductory textbook to the subject and investigates the meaning of sixteen commonly-used maxims, the evidence for their soundness, and the scope of their applicability in every-day situations.

Ayatollah Baqir al-Irawani was born in Najaf, Iraq in 1949. He joined the Islamic seminary there at a young age and quickly progressed to the advanced levels where he studied under some of the greatest jurists of his time, such as Grand Ayatollah Abu al-Qasim al-Khu‘i and Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr. Due to the difficult circumstances in Iraq during the Baathist regime, he was forced to migrate to Qum, Iran, where he continued his scholarly work. He then returned to Iraq and is currently a leading teacher, researcher, and author in the Najaf seminaries.