Usuli exegesis: its concept, causes, and components: Nafa’is al-Usul by Al-Qarafi’s as a model

Abstract

This study endeavors to define the phenomenon of authoring the commentaries in the field of Usul Fiqh. It follows an inductive and applied approach to deduce the factors of the Usuli commentary and then traces its components through Imam al-Qarafi’s Nafais al-Usul, which explained (Al-Mahsul) of Imam al-Razi. The study tracks the texts of al-Qurafi and their applications to deduce from them the reasons for the Usuli commentary and its components. It concludes that the Usuli commentary is a scientific work revolving around a book, text, or an idea that deals with either entire or selected issues of Usul Fiqh. One of the reasons is to trace the Usuli texts and draw their orientation, by explaining their ambiguous issues, qualifying their absolute terms, editing what was distorted in the original text regarding the indexing of some of its issues, and answering the questions contained therein. The study also concludes that an Usuli commentary has three main components, namely: explaining the phrases, raising questions and setting observations. Therefore, the Usuli commentaries contributed to the renewal of the discipline of Usul al-Fiqh, in form of the corrections, editions, additions and critiques advanced.