فتاویٰ رضویہ کی روشنی میں فقہ السیرۃ کا تجزیاتی مطالعہ

A CRITICAL STUDY OF FIQH AL-SĪRAH IN THE LIGHT OF FATĀWĀ RIZWIYYAH

Abstract

This study critically examines Fiqh al-Sīrah (Jurisprudence of the Prophetic Biography) in the light of Fatāwā Rizwiyyah, the monumental legal and theological compendium of Imām Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi (1856–1921). The research explores how the ethical, social, economic, political, and spiritual dimensions of the Prophetic life are interpreted and systematized within the framework of Islamic jurisprudence. Imām Ahmad Raza Khan emphasizes that the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ life is not only a historical record but also a living model of law, morality, and governance.In matters of ethics and da‘wah (propagation of Islam), Fatāwā Rizwiyyah highlights love, wisdom, and intellectual engagement rather than coercion or force. Regarding economics, it stresses justice, transparency, prohibition of interest, and the obligation of zakāt as foundations of an equitable society. In war and peace, Imām Ahmad Raza underlines the defensive nature of jihad, protection of innocents, humane treatment of prisoners, and the sanctity of treaties, in line with Prophetic precedent. For social relations, he insists on family rights, women’s dignity, and communal cooperation as essential components of a just Islamic society. In transactions, honesty, trust, and fidelity to agreements are declared central to Islamic legal and moral practice.

This analytical reading demonstrates that Fatāwā Rizwiyyah presents Fiqh al-Sīrah as a comprehensive framework where law, spirituality, and ethics converge. It establishes that the Prophetic model serves as a guide not only for ritual worship but also for social, political, and economic life. Thus, the study contributes to understanding how Imām Ahmad Raza Khan contextualized the Prophetic legacy in addressing contemporary challenges while remaining deeply rooted in classical jurisprudence.