The Role Of The Biographer In Constructing Identity And Doctrine: Al-.Abbadi And His Kitab. Abaqat Al-Fuqaha. Al-Shafi.Iyya

Felicitas Opwis
Georgetown University

Abstract: This paper explores the role of the biographer in compiling a biographical dictionary, focusing on al-'Abbādī's (d. 458/1066) work on the Shāfi'ī 'school' of law. The paper argues that al-'Abbādī straddles a fine line of faithful transmission of school doctrines and artful arrangement of the materials in order to shape the identity, authority structures, and doctrines of the school according to his vision. To highlight al-'Abbādī's role in constructing the identity and authority structures of the school the paper focuses on three areas: first, how al-'Abbādī lays out his vision of the school in the entry of the eponym of the school by delineating the areas of law that distinguish al-Shāfi'ī from other founders of schools of law; second, how al-'Abbādī deals with contradictory positions held among members of the school; third, how he gives the school of law also a theological identity (Ash'arism) by discussing such topics as free will, the createdness of the Qur'ān, and the definition of faith (īmān). The paper details the author's range of editorial hints and techniques of presentation that guide his audience to the 'correct' Shāfi'ī doctrine. It presents reasons why al-'Abbādī takes recourse to these measures and points to the effects of his presentation of school doctrines.