Imam al-Ghazali's work al-Wasit and its place in Shafi'i jurisprudence: The example of the book of prayer (Kitab al-Salat)

Imam al-Ghazālī had a broad influence in Islamic sciences, and his works in the field of jurisprudence significantly impacted the Shafi'i school. His book al-Wasīt in particular was taught in Shafi'i madrasas for centuries and served as an important source in the literature of the madhhab. Ghazālī's contributions to fiqh highlight not only his success in other fields of knowledge but also his productivity in jurisprudence. Having authored approximately twenty works in the field of fiqh, Ghazālī, through al-Wasīt, organized the complexity found in earlier Shafi'i texts and presented the topics in a more comprehensible manner. Moreover, the inclusion of the views of different madhhabs in the work distinguishes it as a comparative legal text. This study aims to examine the place and importance of Imam al-Ghazālī's al-Wasīt within Shafi'i jurisprudence, with a particular focus on the chapter "Kitāb al-Ṣalāh" (The Book of Prayer). Al-Wasīt holds a significant position in the later period of the Shafi'i school, having left a profound impact on the subsequent development of the madhhab. The objective of this research is to identify Ghazālī's contributions to the field of furū' al-fiqh and to reveal his influence on the school. This study consists of three chapters. The first chapter offers a general overview of Ghazālī's life and his works in the field of jurisprudence. The second chapter analyzes al-Wasīt in terms of methodology and compares it with other Shafi'i works. The third chapter evaluates the content of the book to determine its place and influence in Shafi'i jurisprudence. Ghazālī's works in the field of furū' al-fiqh have not been sufficiently studied in the modern era; this study aims to fill that gap and contribute to a better understanding of Ghazālī's contributions to Islamic jurisprudence. Keywords: Imam al-Ghazali,al-Wasît, Shafi'i fiqh, Furūʿ al-Fiqh, Kitāb al-Ṣalāt.