Fatawa 'Alamgiri
Islamic edict book
Fatawa 'Alamgiri, also known as Al-Fatawa al-'Alamgiriyya (Arabic: الفتاوى العالمكيرية) or Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya (Arabic: الفتاوى الهندية) is a sharia based compilation on statecraft, general ethics, military strategy, economic policy, justice and punishment, that served as the law and principal regulating body of the Mughal Empire, during the reign of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Muhiuddin Aurangzeb Alamgir. The compilation has been widely regarded to be one of the most well organised works in the field of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). The collection comprises verses from the Qur'an, supplemented by hadith narratives, including those of Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawood and Jami` at-Tirmidhi.
Quotes about Fatawa Alamgiri
edit- Besides the Hidāyah, Indian views about jurisprudence were summed up in the Fatāwā-e-‘Ālamgīrī.... Among other matters it also deals with jihad in Kitāb al-siyār. It defines jihad as ‘calling towards the true faith and fighting that person who does not accept it, or rebels against it or disobeys it (tamurrad), by wealth or life’. However, aggressive jihad is only allowed if Muslims are expected to gain power and glory but not otherwise.
- Tariq Rahman - Interpretations of Jihad in South Asia_ An Intellectual History-de Gruyter (2018)
- The fatāwā declares that when the enemy is about to attack and a general alarm is sounded, those who will be immediately affected must consider it a duty for themselves (farḍul ‘ayn). However, those who are far removed or not in imminent danger of attack will consider it a duty for some (farḍul kifāyah).... As for aggressive jihad, it is permitted with those who refuse to be converted to Islam or pay jizyah ‘even if they do not attack us first’. Moreover, rebels can be attacked if the Imām orders even if they have not initiated hostilities. The Muslim ruler is to be obeyed in jihad ‘if there are equal chances of gain and loss. But if the loss is certain, then he may be disobeyed in battle conditions only’. Jizyah can be taken from all non-Muslims—except the Arab polytheists who are no more—so the author(s) of the fatāwā also allow(s) it for Hindus though, without naming them. However, it is also mentioned that there is disagreement about this.412 Jizyah, however, is not the same for every type of dhimmī. Those who have accepted Muslim rule without fighting can come to agreement as to its amount with Muslims while those who were defeated after fighting do not have this privilege. Here the book suggests a sum of forty-eight dirhams for the affluent and twenty-four for the less affluent able-bodied men.413 As for the treatment of dhimmīs, it is based on repugnance for their religious views but neither cruelty nor injustice is permitted. Exhibition of repugnance for them, however, is not included in cruelty. For instance, it is suggested that ‘shaking hands with dhimmīs is not approved (makrūh) and if this is done while in a state of ablution, a Muslim should wash his hand’. However, the dhimmīs’ property, life, the honour of their women, etc., are to be safeguarded by law.
- Tariq Rahman - Interpretations of Jihad in South Asia_ An Intellectual History-de Gruyter (2018) ch 3
- Not long ago, Asaduddin Owaisi was asked why Indians Muslims always looked to foreign books, and whether there was anything Indian in Islam. Owaisi countered by saying that they have the Fatawa Alamgiri.
- Asaduddin Owaisi quoted by S. Dixit in interwiew in 2021 at Project to translate Fatawa Alamgiri raises more than half of targeted funds, this is why organisers think it is important
- This is a massive compilation of Indian Muslim practices and commandments on them. It was compiled during Aurangzeb’s rule in late 17th century under two Sufi scholars – Sheikh Nizam Burhanpuri, and Shah Abdul Rahim with more than 450 scholars participating. Fatawa Alamgiri was the Mohammedan Law during British times, and largely retains that standing even today. It is compulsory education in madrasa teaching.
