The Spread of the Maliki Madhhab in Libya and its Role in Regulating Fatwas

Abstract

This research examines the historical roots and the scientific and social factors that contributed to the establishment of the Maliki Madhhab as a dominant jurisprudential authority in Libya. It highlights its fundamental impact on achieving fatwa discipline and societal stability. The significance of the research lies in shedding light on Libya's religious identity at a time when sources of religious knowledge are diverse, necessitating a return to a firm authority that unites rather than divides. The study's problem statement involves tracing how the Maliki Madhhab became the prevalent school of thought and the extent to which its spread contributed to regulating fatwas and curbing their instability amidst contemporary challenges. The research aims to elucidate the historical trajectory of the Madhhab's entry into Libya and to highlight the role of scholars and traditional educational institutions, such as Zawiyas and Kuttabs, in its dissemination. It also seeks to uncover the mechanisms of fatwa discipline through adherence to the Madhhab's principles and rules. The study adopted a historical and analytical approach to examine biographies and jurisprudential sources. The research concluded with several key findings, most notably that the spread of the Maliki Madhhab in Libya was not accidental but resulted from early scholarly efforts by Libyan scholars who directly connected with Imam Malik, such as Ali ibn Ziyad al-Absi. The findings also confirmed that adopting a unified jurisprudential authority effectively contributed to unifying the source of fatwas, reducing jurisprudential disputes, and achieving societal unity.