Maliki Heritage Through the Writings of Orientalists: A Study of Miklos Muranyi’s Studies on the Sources of Maliki Jurisprudence as a Model

Abstract

This study presents an academic introduction to the German orientalist Miklos Muranyi through an analytical reading of his work Studies on the Sources of Maliki Jurisprudence. The book is devoted to examining the textual foundations of Maliki fiqh within the broader discipline of Islamic jurisprudence and its methodological principles.
The study outlines Muranyi’s scholarly background, intellectual formation, academic orientation, and major contributions. The second section provides an analysis of the book’s structure, its methodological framework, the scholarly approach adopted by the author, and the principal sources discussed in the work. Given that the book exceeds three hundred pages, the present research highlights selected sources referenced by Muranyi, as comprehensive coverage falls beyond the scope of this study.
Muranyi is recognized as one of the leading German Orientalists engaged in the study of Maliki heritage. His extensive efforts in identifying and documenting authoritative Maliki sources demonstrate his wide-ranging familiarity with the works of Imam Mālik, Maliki jurists, and their commentaries. The book also reveals the richness and diversity of Maliki jurisprudence and the depth of scholarly contributions embedded within Islamic legal tradition—affirming the enduring academic value of Maliki fiqh and Islamic heritage at large.