A Treasury of Sacred Maxims

This inspiring collection of sacred maxims is drawn from the genre known in Arabic as al-qawa'id al-fiqhiyyah. These maxims are pithy sayings that Islamic scholars use as a guide for Islamic practice in a wide range of areas, from the rituals of worship to financial transactions. Though technically translated as "legal maxims", the array of topics these maxims cover encompass the core ethical principles at the heart of the Shariah.

Given its concision, each maxim is rich in meaning, and the commentary provided by Dr Shahrul Hussain gives us a glimpse into the maxim's significance. The commentaries, written by a Western Islamic scholar, bring out the relevance of each maxim to the English speaking reader.

This latest installment in Kube's Treasury Series in Islamic Thought and Civilisation, will help deepen the understanding of key aspects of Shariah in its legal and ethical dimensions.

Dr. Shahrul Hussain is a Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Markfield Institute of Higher Education. He studied Arabic and Islamic studies in the UK, before pursuing further study at the Azhar University where he graduated from the Faculty of Islamic Law and Jurisprudence in 2001. In 2010 he completed his PhD at the University of Aberdeen on the subject of Islamic law in Muslim minority contexts. He currently teaches students of the BA and MA in Islamic studies at the Markfield Institute.