The author of the document under analysis is IbnRushd, who was better-known in the Latin West as Averroes, and lived between 1126 and 1198. According to the introductory note to the excerpt, IbnRushd was a leading (distinguished) Muslim philosopher of the twelfth century. A confirmation of his greatness is that, he was well-known to the “thirteenth century western Europeans,” (220) as they enjoyed reading his philosophical interpretation of the accounts of Aristotle. In addition, IbnRushdof the Maliki tradition” (220). Further, he was a judge in Seville, Spain and his native Cordoba. Most of all, IbnRushd composed the “Distinguished Jurist’s Primer,” one of the well known and best books of Sharia Science. The book contains the views of the other schools of the Hanbari, Zahiri, Shafee and Hanifi

IbnRushdalso records that his role as a jurist of the Maliki tradition gave him the claim to fame within the Muslims. In that case, IbnRushd had proper knowledge of the subject.

IbnRushd wrote this excerpt as a result of the differences between the “four major schools of Rushd

by verses from the Quran can be easily trusted, while those that IbnRushd.

Part II:

According to the document, Jihad had a number of restrictions. The first restriction regards the issue of collectivism. For example, the author notes that: “prophtet never went to battle without leaving some people behind” (221). Additionally, the people who were to go to war were “free men who have the means at their disposal..”(221). The men were also supposed to be healthy. As such, there was a restriction to the blind, the lame, the sick and “those who found nothing to expend” (221). Secondly, the issue of permission brought some restrictions. Scholars could not agree whether a man needed permission from his parents in order to go to war. Additionally, scholars did not agree on the issue of debts as regards going to war. There were also restrictions about who should be killed. For example, the Malik were not allowed to kill the Ethiopians. Further, there were some grievances as some scholars taught that the captives “should never be slain” (222).

The author argues his points professionally by drawing from the traditions, the Quran and the observations by other Muslim scholars. He also reinforces the observations he gets from other sources through opinion. In order to reinforce the credibility of his points, the author compares and contrasts the views of different scholars on a particular issue in a professional manner, in order to reach an agreeable conclusion. For example, on the issues of the damage to be inflicted on the enemies, the author refers from the Quran (47:4) thus: “When you meet the unbelievers, smite their necks…” (222). In order to expound more on the same issue, the author has referred to the works of scholars like DawudIbnZayidIbnWahb as a “famous traditionist” (224). Similarly, the document refers to Khalid Ibn al-Walid as being “Early Islam greatest general” (224). These sources enhance the credibility of the document and reinforce the author’s argument.

The content of this document portrays fighting in Islamic societies as being acceptable, holyalludes to the Quran (8:39), as regards enemies, thus: “Fight them until there is no persecution, and the religion is God’s entirely.” In essence, their religious teachings justified fighting. In general, this document portrays war as an obligation, and that it should be guided by some rules, which should be applied consistently.

Work Cited

Rushd, Ibn, A. “Rules regarding jihad.” In Chapter 8: Faith, Devotion and Salvation (220-224).n.d. Web. 15^th September, 2014. <file:///C:/Users/adminpc/Downloads/jihad_doc.pdf>