I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in (إعلام الموقعين عن رب العالمين): A work on the principles of fatwa and ijtihad and the conduct of the mufti, best known for its critique of legal stratagems (hiyal) and its account of the purposes behind rulings. It helps in understanding how rulings are built and texts interpreted.
Reviewed by: Khaled ElnaggarDirector of USUS Law FirmLast updated:
About the book
| Book | I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in (إعلام الموقعين عن رب العالمين) |
|---|---|
| Author | Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (d. 751H) |
| Free copy | Shamela's copy follows the four-volume Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyya edition |
Read it free
The book can be read free of charge on al-Maktaba al-Shamila, with a table of contents and full-text search. The text is in Arabic.
Read the book on al-Maktaba al-Shamila
Printed editions are available from bookshops for those who prefer a paper copy.
Chapters of legal interest
- Principles of legal reasoning
- Fatwa and the conduct of the mufti
- Analogy
- Legal stratagems
- The purposes of rulings
Why it matters today
Many questions before the Saudi courts, especially in family law, inheritance and crimes, go back to Islamic jurisprudence, and the Hanbali school is the one generally applied. Modern laws such as the Personal Status Law have codified many of these rules, so the classical works help in understanding where a rule comes from and why.
This page introduces the book as part of the Usus Law Firm library. It is not a substitute for asking qualified scholars on religious questions, or a lawyer on a case.
Legal review: the Usus Law Firm team
A select team of lawyers and legal advisers licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Justice, working from Riyadh and Tabuk, with experience before the general, commercial, labor, criminal, personal status and administrative courts. Every article is reviewed before publication and updated when laws or regulations change.
Last reviewed: 23 October 2026
This article is general legal information and is not a substitute for advice on your specific case. Court proceedings in Saudi Arabia are in Arabic; the official Arabic text of each law prevails.
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