Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Ankara Universitesi Ilahiyat Fakultesi Dergisi, cilt.64, sa.2, ss.213-275, 2023 (Scopus)
The initial part of Abu Bakr Ahmad b. 'Ali al-Razi al-Jassās' (d. 370/981) al-Fusūl fi al-Usūl is presently missing. However, by drawing upon al-Jassās' statements in his Ahkam al-Qur'an and the extant portion of al-Fusūl fi al-Usūl, it becomes possible to infer certain conclusions regarding the content of this missing section. This article aims to elucidate the issues presumed to be present in the lost initial part of al-Fusūl fi al-Usūl and provide evaluations based on these findings. In the preliminary section, after exploring various possibilities and justifications, it is established that the segment written by al-Jassās as a preface to Ahkam al-Qur'an is indeed his work, which he referred to as Usūl al-Fiqh, known as al-Fusūl fi al-Usūl. Consequently, it is deduced that al-Jassās initiated al-Fusūl fi al-Usūl with the subject of usul al-tawhid. Based on al-Jassās' statements in Ahkam al-Qur'an, it is understood that he provided explanations about the concepts of muhkam (perspicuous) and mutashabih (obscure) in the continuation of the lost opening part. In this context, he clarified that both muhkam and mutashabih are divided into two different meanings - one suitable for characterizing the entirety of the Qur'an and the other only a part of it - and narrated various opinions of predecessors about muhkam and mutashabih. Additionally, he presented different examples of muhkam and mutashabih and discussed the distinction of aaqliyyat and sam'iyyat concerning these concepts. Subsequently, both the expressions in the existing part of al-Fusūl fi al-Usūl and the transmissions of al-Dabusi (d. 430/1039) and al-Sarakhsi (d. 483/1090?), as mentioned by 'Ucayl Jasim al-Nashami, one of the editors of the book, indicate that there were some discussions about 'umum (generality) in the missing initial part of al-Fusūl fi al-Usūl. In the context of 'umum, it is evident that al-Jassās provides a definition of 'umum, explaining that inclusiveness is a prerequisite for being 'umum, and he addresses the existence of words assigned for 'umum in language by providing examples and clarifications. Furthermore, he explains that the use of 'umum for meanings and judgments is haqiqa (literal meaning), supporting this assertion with linguistic examples. In light of these determinations, the subsequent final part of the article offers some evaluations on the lost initial part within the following contexts: the methodology described by Abu al-Husayn al-Basri (d. 436/1044) as the tradition of fuqaha in usul al-fiqh, the transition from the rational field ('aqliyyat) to the auditory field (sam'iyyat), a possible title regarding the Book (al-Qur'an), understanding obscure (mutashabih) words in the perspicuous (muhkam) meaning, and the relationship between 'umum (general) and zahir (apparent).