Seerah Traditions Mentioned in Books on Amwaal (written) in Early Centuries (of Muslim Era): Jurisprudential Study and their Contemporary Applications

Abstract

Significance of the financial system is undoubtedly integral part of a state. It is, in fact, the backbone of the economy. There is a lot of literature on the financial and state orders of the Islamic State in the books written in the nascent years of Muslim State in Arab. The principles that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) laid down for all the leaders, officials, and subjects of the Islamic State deals with almost all the significant spheres of state craft. Among these books are Imām Abū Yusuf's Kitāb al-Kharāj, Yaḥya ibn Ādam's Kitāb al-Kharāj, Imām Abū Ubaid's Kitāb al Amwāl, Imām Ibn Zanjawah's Kitāb al-Amwāl. These books have also been used by many Sirah writers as sources of biography of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The financial system of the Islamic State, founded by the Holy Prophet (PBUH), includes interventions and expenditures of state revenue, distribution of wealth in wars and Ghazawāt, dealings with non-Muslims in financial matters, and the nature with the people of the conquered territories, and are the basic discourses of these books. This study aims at analyzing those instances and traditions of the holy prophet (PBUH) which have been narrated in these books written on financial matters and which are not found in other books. Also, this study will help to devise such policies in light of these financial traditions which will be an addition to the subject and feeble economies of the contemporary world. As well, this study will elaborate on how many narrations are there in the books of Amwāl in the early centuries, from which jurisprudential rulings are derived, and how can the economic system be improved by applying them to contemporary states and financial affairs? Also reviewing the historical evolution of books of Amwāl and determining their types and constitutional requirements, proving the Sirah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as a source of legislation in financial laws and presenting the precedent from these books, as well as formulation and expansion of financial laws of modern Islamic states. Thus the main purpose of research is to find parables and arguments from the books of Amwāl.