Transmission and Canonization: The Role of Swahili Scholars in the Canonization of Minhāj al-Ṭālibīn

Swahili scholars played a pivotal role in the canonization of the Minhāj al-Ṭālibīn, a foundational Shāfiʿīte fiqh text, by deliberately selecting and validating it for teaching, circulation, and commentary. This process, occurring across Lamu Old Town and other Swahili coastal towns from the 19th to the 20th centuries, established its canonical status within Islamic legal practice. The study reveals how scholars operated within three interconnected communities—scholarly, cultural, and mercantile—to standardize knowledge transmission, despite political and economic disruptions, including colonial influences. By analyzing textual practices and scholarly interactions, the research highlights the dynamic relationship between texts and scholars in shaping Islamic legal traditions on the Swahili coast.

Noor, M. A. (2023). Transmission and Canonization: The Role of Swahili Scholars in the Canonization of Minhāj al-Ṭālibīn. Oxford Journal of Law and Religion, 12(3), 392–422. https://doi.org/10.1093/ojlr/rwae017