Mukhtasar Al-Quduri is a primer Fiqh text in the Hanafi school. Mukhtasar means abridged and Al-Quduri refers to the author. The author’s name is Abu Hasan Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Ahmed Al-Quduri. Al-Quduri is his nisba, there are three opinions on the origins of this name, either, 1) His occupation as a Pot Maker, 2) Area in Baghdad, 3) Area in Baghdad in which pots were made. He was born in 362 AH so a very early Hanafi scholar. Between him and Imam Muhammad ibn Hasan al-Shaybani there are four teachers. He was the head Faqih in Iraq at the time.
When Imam Abu Hanifa and his school were formulating Fiqh rulings, his student Imam Muhammad wrote these down. It was more like notes wherever he could find some space. He compiled six books, known as Zaahir al-Riwaya, 1) al-Mabsūṭ (al-Aṣl), 2) al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr, 3) al-Jāmiʿ al-Kabīr, 4) al-Siyar al-Ṣaghīr, 5) al-Siyar al-Kabīr, and 6) al-Ziyādāt. Some of these are still available today. These six were taught throughout the Hanafi world especially the al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr however it was clear the knowledge within them was sporadic.
Imam al-Quduiri decided to bring them together to lay out the rulings and opinions in a systematic fashion. He aimed to present the knowledge in a presentable format, give the reader precise knowledge that is not confusing and also state the preferred opinion.1 This was a milestone across the world. None of the other schools had such book. His book was soon called al-Kitaab, the book. Every Hanafi knew al Kitab meant Mukhtasar Al-Quduri and every madrassa taught it.
This work continues to be taught to this day and is considered a key Hanafi text alongside Kanzul Daqaaiq, Sharhul Wiqaya and the Mukhtaar.
A famous commentary on Mukhtasar Al-Quduri is al Lubaab (the essence) by al-Maydani. He provides additional rulings, the preferred ruling (Mufta bihi) and some legal evidence.
His most popular works also include 1) Tajreed which is a comparative Fiqh manual between the Hanafi’s and Shafi’s in 10 volumes and 2) Taqreeb which mentions the different opinions between Imam Abu Hanifa and his students, the Saahibayn.
- Although there are instances where he doesn’t mention it. ↩︎