Shatibi's Philosophy of Islamic Law

A welcome contributes to the small number of English language works on Islamic legal theory, and it is a work which all libraries that have an interest in Islamic Studies and cognate areas should acquire."
Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 1982
Dr.Masud has clearly put much thought and effort into the making of Islamic Legal Philosophy, and the result is a work of which serious students of both Islamic modernism and of the history and theory of Islamic law will have to take account. It is a work that must be taken into consideration in any future research into the question of maslaha, for on this point the author shows himself capable of keen observation and insights...
Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 1979
Throughout the centuries, there has been a basic question asked among Islamic jurists and Muslims: "Why did Allah issue the commandments that Allah did?"
While some schools of thought, such as the Ash'ari philosophers, think that this is an invalid question altogether (for if Allah had reasons for doing what Allah does or did, then He would be caused or compelled by some outside power, a theological impossibility) other schools have thought have gone to the other extreme, such as the Mutazilites, some of who have suggested Allah had to do what is best for humanity.
Muhammad Khalid Masud's detailed consideration of one philosopher, al-Shatibi, others a much more complex consideration of possible principles behind the injunctions of Islamic law, Shari'ah. Primarily, this book is a consideration of the concept of maslaha, or "the good," and the role it plays not only in the actual injunctions of Islamic law but also in reasoning about the law, making determinations in specific cases and what extent the concept of the good of humanity can provide insights into the law. Masud masterfully outlines the development of the concept of maslaha (his treatment of al-Razi being of particular importance) and sets the scene of al-Shatibi, during a time of great social change.