Does Zaidi have jurisprudential principles? Searching for the Essence of the Principles of Zaidi Jurisprudence in the First Work: Al-Mujzi fi Usul al-Fiqh by Al-Natiq Bilhaq Abu Talib (340-424 AH/951-1033 AD)

Abstract

This study examines a recently discovered and published text, Al-Mujzi fi Usul al-Fiqh, which the Zaydis usually describe as the first written work of their school of jurisprudence. This book is written by Al-Natiq Bilhaq Abu Talib, who is said to have had close relations with the Mu'tazila scholars and is important for tracing the essence of the principles of Zaidi jurisprudence and the mutual relationship between Zaidis and Mu'tazila in the field of principles of jurisprudence. I believe that this work represents the principles of Mu'tazila jurisprudence, as opposed to Zaydism, and relies on it. A certain portion of Al-Mujzi was previously published, and its attribution to Abu Al-Husayn Al-Basri was part of his work Sharh Al-‘Umd. We have also discussed this attribution in this paper. This article consists of three main sections: a brief biography of Al-Natiq Bilhaq Abu Talib, a list of his scholarly heritage, the lineage of the text, and a diagram of the structure and methodology of Al-Mujzi and an attempt to identify the text by examining the voices adopted in it and their influence on the later Zaidi heritage and comparing some cases with those found in a text related to the principles of Mu’tazilite jurisprudence (Al-Mu’tamad) and a text related to the principles of Zaidi jurisprudence (Safwat Al-Ikhtiyar).