The political philosophy of Izz al-Din Ibn Abd al-Salam and its reflections in his fatwas

Thanks to its recent momentum, studies in Islamic political thought have become the subject of numerous articles, books, and theses from various perspectives. This emerging field, which is closely related to Islamic jurisprudence holds significant importance in shedding light on the issues faced by contemporary Muslims. Comparative studies involving the past and present, especially those focusing scholar based political philosophy that has gained more attention in Western academia, are particularly important. This thesis investigates how a political theory can be derived from a fiqh book through Izz al-Din ibn Abd al-Salam and examines how this political theory manifests in real-life political and social issues. Therefore, the thesis centers on two main works. The first is Qawa'id al-Kubra. From Qawa'id al-Kubra the aim is to derive a coherent political philosophy from various political issues addressed throughout the text. Additionally, the thesis endeavors to show how a jurisprudential understanding centered on maslaha (public interest) and mafsada (harm) influences political theory. The second work is Kitab al-Fatawa. Through this collection of fatwas, the thesis explores the extent to which the political philosophy derived from Qawa'id al-Kubra is adhered to. The fatwas mentioned frequently in reputable historical sources are also examined within the thesis. Furthermore, the thesis addresses many contemporary issues, analyzing how past issues manifest today. Comparisons between Islamic law and other contemporary legal systems are also made, providing a broader perspective on the matters at hand.