(U-2:) A HISTORICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE COMMENTARIES ON AL-MUWAṬṬAʾ OF IMĀM MĀLIK

موطا امام مالک کی شروحات کا تاریخی اور منهجی جائزہ

Abstract

Al-Muwaṭṭaʾ of Imām Mālik stands as one of the earliest and most authoritative sources of  Islamic jurisprudence and ḥadīth, uniquely combining Prophetic traditions, the rulings of the Companions, the legal opinions of the Successors, and the living practice of the scholars of Madinah. Owing to its profound scholarly depth and methodological precision, it has inspired extensive exegetical literature across centuries. These commentaries vary widely in their scope and approach: some focus primarily on chains of transmission, narrators, and ḥadīth criticism others concentrate on legal reasoning, principles of jurisprudence, and comparative fiqh while many adopt a comprehensive methodology integrating linguistic, juristic, and hadith-critical analysis. This paper presents a historical and analytical survey of the major commentaries on al-Muwaṭṭaʾ, tracing their development from the early Islamic period to the contemporary era. Special attention is given to the scholarly contributions of Andalusian, North African, Eastern, and South Asian scholars. Eminent works such as Ibn Abdul Barr’s al-Tamhid and Al Istidhkar, Al Qazi al-Baji al-Muntaqa and Zarqani’s celebrated commentary are examined in terms of their methodology, structure, and scholarly significance. The study demonstrates how these works illuminate various dimensions of al-Muwatta its legal framework, hadith methodology, linguistic precision, and the distinctive juristic principles of the Mālikī school. The findings underscore that the commentarial tradition on al-Muwaṭṭaʾ constitutes a vital part of the Islamic intellectual heritage. These commentaries remain indispensable for contemporary scholarship, not only in understanding the textual and juristic foundations of al-Muwaṭṭaʾ but also in appreciating its lasting influence on the development of Islamic law, hadith studies, and academic instruction in seminaries and universities around the world.