المدونة الكبرى

Al-Mudawwana al-Kubra

Imam Sahnun · d. 240 AH · Maliki · Fiqh

4 large volumes · question-and-answer format

Introduction

The author

Sahnun ibn Sa'id al-Tanukhi (160–240 AH) of Qayrawan transmitted Maliki teaching to North Africa and served as its chief judge.

How it came about

It grew out of questions Asad ibn al-Furat put to Ibn al-Qasim, Malik's closest Egyptian student, which Sahnun then reordered and verified against Ibn al-Qasim directly.

Method and structure

Question-and-answer format: a case is put, Ibn al-Qasim reports Malik's answer, and where Malik gave none he reasons by extension from Malik's principles.

Standing in the school

After the Muwatta' it is the most authoritative source of Maliki doctrine and the basis of the school's later manuals.

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