Kitab al-Fara’id, by Imam Abu Sa‘d ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Ma’mun al-Nisaburi, known as al-Mutawalli, died in 478 AH. From the beginning (Fasl fi al-Jaddat) to the end of the book. Edited and studied.

Abstract

All praise is due to Allah, who has the inheritance of the heavens and the earth, and He is capable of all things; the Originator and the Restorer, the Self-Sufficient, the Praiseworthy, who gives life and causes death, and to Him is the final return. May Allah bless Muhammad, His Prophet, the bearer of glad tidings and warner, sent with the illuminating Book, to warn of the Day of Gathering, about which there is no doubt—on which a group will be in Paradise and a group in the Fire.

To proceed:

The knowledge of al-fara’id (Islamic inheritance laws) is an honorable science, a noble and exalted discipline. Allah detailed its rulings in His Book, and the Chosen Prophet ﷺ encouraged both learning it and teaching it. The care of the righteous predecessors (salaf) for this knowledge has been immense, from the time of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and those who followed them. Many scholars wrote extensively and classified works on it.

Among these valuable works is a concise and highly esteemed treatise of great benefit, authored by the scholar Shaykh al-‘Allama Abu Sa‘d ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Ma’mun al-Nisaburi al-Shafi‘i, also known as al-Mutawalli.

By the grace of Allah, I was able to locate a complete manuscript of this work. I resolved to edit a portion of it, contributing to the dissemination of this noble knowledge and providing benefit to students and researchers.

I ask Allah to grant me success in presenting and bringing it closer to the hoped-for standard, for He is sufficient for me and the best trustee.

I have structured this study into two main sections:

• Section One: A scholarly study about the author and his book, comprising two subsections:

1. A brief biography of the author.
2. An introduction to the book of al-fara’id under study.

• Section Two: Presentation of the edited text.