The Methodology of the Scholar Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Abd al-Bari Al-Ahdal (d. 1298 AH / 1880 CE) in his Book of Jurisprudential Fatwas, "Al-Bawareq al-Yamaniyyah fi Masa'il al-Fiqh al-Marwwi'ah"

This study aims to examine the methodology of the scholar Muhammad bin Ahmed Al-Ahdal in presenting his jurisprudential fatwas in response to questions. His responses were notably diverse. He would either provide a comprehensive answer followed by jurists' citations or present the scholars' opinions directly before offering his own commentary. For controversial issues, he cited opinions from established schools of thought—Zaidi, Hanafi, Maliki, and Hanbali—discussing and deriving rulings from them. His citations were marked by precision and scholarly integrity, presented verbatim, as summaries, or as essential points. When questioned about a Quranic verse or hadith, he referenced specialized works in exegesis, hadith commentary, and source criticism. His frequent referencing of various juristic opinions demonstrates his extensive knowledge of Sharia, auxiliary sciences, and the works of preceding scholars. Al-Ahdal excelled in both ifta (issuing fatwas) and authorship, often reviewing, correcting, and refuting the fatwas of his contemporaries. This research underscores the importance of primary sources, offering a rigorous scholarly methodology for studying jurisprudential issues and highlighting Yemen's own rich legal heritage. The researcher illustrated each step of the methodology of Sheikh Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Ahdal in his fatwas with a practical example. This process included documenting the sources of Qur'anic verses and hadiths, attributing scholarly opinions to their respective authors, and explaining certain terms. Furthermore, the study aimed to provide a concise biography of Sheikh al-Ahdal, covering his birth, upbringing, most prominent teachers, students, and major works. The research concludes with the principal findings and recommendations.