SAHNUN IBN SAID AL-TANOKHI (D.855 AD), A SECTION FROM KITAB AL-MUDAWWANAH AL-KUBRA, ON ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE, NORTH AFRICA OR SPAIN, CIRCA 12TH CENTURY |

Arabic manuscript on vellum, 17 leaves, 24 lines to the page, written in Maghribi script in brown ink, titles and headings in bolder Maghribi, comments and annotations on the borders in different hands, f.1a with a bold title in bold Kufic script, unbound with some loose leaves

Christie's London, 7 October 2008, lot 96.

In fair condition, loose and unbound, stains, creases, holes and smudges, we would suggest to contact a professional restorer to ask advice on the condition of the lot. Please contact a member of the department to obtain addition images, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Due to the presence of several different judicial systems, the Abbasid caliph al-Mansour (d.775 AD) decided on a process of uniformity and asked the jurist from Medina Malik ibn Anas (d.795 AD) to create a system which would unify the different methods common to different areas. The Maliki School of jurisprudence was vastly accepted in North Africa and Spain, having its biggest centre in Tunisia (in the mosque of Uqba), and it was thanks to Yahya al-Laithi (d.848 AD) that it was introduced to the region of al-Andalus, influencing famous historical subjects as Ibn Rushd (Averroes), Ibn Battuta and Ibn Khaldun. The Kitab al-Mudawwanah is structured as a dialogue between ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Qasim al-Utaqi and Sahnun ibn Said al-Tanokhi, the author, who adds  relevant hadith to each answer provided by al-Utaqi.