George Makdisi and his Theories on the Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence

Abstract George Makdisi (1920–2002) was a distinguished Western scholar who dedicated his life to studying Islam, significantly contributing to the history of Islamic thought. This article discusses Makdisi’s theories in the Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence ( uṣūl al-fiqh ), tracing his intellectual legacy and extensive contributions to the field. It looks at Makdisi’s theories regarding the contributions of al-Shāfiʿī, the sourcing of uṣūl al-fiqh and its relationship with the science of kalām , as well as reasons for deviation from al-Shāfiʿī’s methodology in the compilation of later uṣūl texts. In particular, the article shows that Makdisi suggested an additional theory for the compilation of al-Shāfiʿī’s Risāla , which was to counter the growing influence of the kalām school. Makdisi traced the changes undergone in the field of uṣūl to three key factors: a) the miḥna regarding the created nature of the Qurʿān, b) the turmoil caused by Abu al-Ḥasan al-Ashʿarī and his departure from the Muʿtazilites, leaning towards the people of ḥadīth , and c) the proclamation of the Qādirī school. Finally, the article demonstrates that Makdisi was detached from his cultural and religious backgrounds, evident in his significant works and his critique of major orientalists such as Ignaz Goldziher.