Abu Yusuf

Infobox_Philosopher
region = Muslim Jurist
era = Islamic Golden Age
color = #B0C4DE

image_caption =

name = Imam Abu Yusuf
birth =
death = 798
religion = Islam
citizenship =
nationality =
ethnicity =
school_tradition = Sunni Hanafi
alma_mater =
main_interests = Islamic Jurisprudence
influences = Abu Hanifa
influenced =
notable_ideas = Evolution of Islamic JurisprudenceYaqub ibn Ibrahim al-Ansari, better known as Abu Yusuf ( _ar. أبو يوسف) (d.798) was a student of legist Abu Hanifah (d.767) who helped spread the influence of the Hanafi school of Islamic law through his writings and the government positions he held.

Biography

He was appointed "Qadi" (judge) in Baghdad, Iraq, and later chief justice ("qadi al-qudat") under Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid (r.786-809) with authority to appoint judges in the empire. Some of his opinions differ from those of Abu Hanifah, probably on the basis of traditions not available to the earlier scholar.

Works

His most famous work is "Kitab al-Kharaj"John Esposito, The Oxford Dictionary of Islam, Oxford University Press, 2003]
*"Kitab al-Kharaj" is a treatise on taxation and fiscal problems of the state prepared for the caliph.
*Usul al-fiqh - the earliest known work of principles of Islamic jurisprudence. A portion of his works were devoted to international law.
*"Kitab al-Athar", a collection of traditions ("ahadith") he narrated
*"Kitab Ikhtilaf Abi Hanifa wa Ibn Abi Layla", one of the early works on comparative Fiqh
*"Kitab al-Radd ‘Ala Siyar al-Awza’i", a refutation of the famous Syrian jurist and tradition, al-Awza’i on the law of war.

ee also

*Islamic scholars

References