The general methods and preferences of Cessâs in his Ahkamu'l Kur'an related to Islamic Criminal Law

In this study, the life of Ebû Bekr el-Cessâs, Hanafi canonist and methodologist who lived in fouth century A.H. (After Hejira) and his interpretations and attitudes related to Islamic criminal law in his work of Ahkamu'l Kur'an are handled.Our thesis consists of two main parts. In the first section, in addition to political, social, economic and scientific conditions of fouth century A.H in which el-Cessâs was born, grown and died; information is given about the life, the upbringing, the scholarly personality, the location in Hanafi grades, theological views, instructors, students and his works. The second part, that constitutes the main part of the thesis, consists of two subtitle. In the first chapter, the methodology of el-Cessâs that he followed to adjudicate with respect to Islamic criminal law within the verses of Holy Qoran. In this sense, examples are given about his provision ability within Islamic evidences such as the verses of Qoran, the Sunnah, words of companions of prophet Muhammad, previous sharia laws and method principals. In the second subtitle, the examples, which are picked from the preferences of el-Cessâs that include the most important topics that forms Islamic criminal law and issues called reprisal and penalty rate in terms of classifications for required penalties, are presented. Key words: Cessâs, Ahkamu'l Kur'ân, Islamic criminal law, Preference.