The Yemeni Zaydi school of law: a brief history of its textual tradition (third/tenth–tenth/sixteenth century)
Keywords:
Yemen, Zaydism , Zaydi fiqh, madhhab, Kitāb al‑AzhārAbstract
Scholarly interest in Zaydism began in the late nineteenth century, with most research concentrating on its political and social history. In contrast, Zaydi law (fiqh) remains comparatively underexplored, with many aspects still awaiting systematic analysis. This paper offers a brief history of the Yemeni Zaydi school of fiqh (the madhhab), focusing on the development and significance of the famous Zaydi legal text Kitāb al‑Azhār. It examines the processes of codification and canonization that shaped the text’s authority and influence, while also pointing out related areas that warrant further research.
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