Evaluation of Ali al-Qari's Fath al-Mughatta Sharh al-Muwatta from the perspective of hadith commentary

This study presents a detailed analysis of Ali al-Qari's (d. 1014/1605) commentary on the Shaybani version of al-Muwatta', one of the earliest works compiled according to the chapters of Islamic jurisprudence. As the first commentary on this version, the work holds significant importance for the Hanafi school and stands out as the first Hanafi commentary on al-Muwatta', thus representing an original contribution. The study provides a general overview of Ali al-Qari's life, works, and his place in the scholarly world, with a particular focus on his Muwatta' commentary. It aims to explore the commentator's objectives in writing this work, the methodology he employed, and the unique perspectives he introduced. Ali al-Qari's methods and techniques in interpreting al-Muwatta' also shed light on contemporary studies in Islamic law. His commentary is not limited to the exegesis of hadith texts but also encompasses comprehensive insights into various Islamic disciplines such as jurisprudence (fiqh), legal theory (usul), and exegesis (tafsir). Another significant dimension of this study is tracing the sources from which al-Qari derived his knowledge and identifying the scholars whose opinions he cited in his work. Through this research, the commentary method and original contributions of Ali al-Qari are elucidated, contributing to a deeper understanding of both the scholar himself and the Shaybani narration of al-Muwatta'. Additionally, the study provides insights into the commentary methodology of the period, using Ali al-Qari as an example. It is evident that his work, through the transmitted opinions and original ideas it contains, offers valuable contributions to the fields of Islamic law and thought. The findings obtained from this study are presented in the conclusion section. Keywords: Hadith, Ali al-Qari, İmam Malik, al-Muwatta', Shaybani narration, Hanafi jurisprudence, Commentary methodology.