AUTHORITIES OF MOSULMAN LAW. 499 



numerous commentaries ; among which several are quo- 

 ted in the Fit/dtva-i Auliwigeeree ; but are not now 

 known to be extant in Hindostan *. 



The other books in actual use for expounding the 

 Mohummudan law are of two descriptions. The first 

 consists of texts and comments, which, in a scientific 

 method, state the elements and principles of the law; 

 estabhsh them by proofs and reasoning ; and illustrate 

 the application of them by select cases, real or sup- 

 posed ; such as the Hiddyah^ Kun^^oo' dukdyah, Vikdyah, 

 Nik/iyak, and Ashbah o Nuzdyir, with their respective 

 commentaries. The second description is commonly, 

 but not always, distinguished by the title of Fuiuwd ; 

 and is, for the most j)art, a collection of law cases, ar- 

 ranged under proper heads, with a short recital of facts 

 and circumstances, without arguments, and with autho- 

 rities only for the cases as quoted; being intended 

 chiefly fur practical purposes ; whereas the elementary 



* The titles and authors of the principal commentaries are as fol- 

 lows. The ''Sirai-i \^ uhbnj," and " Jouhurah-i-nyyirah" (the 

 latter ab'idged from the former) by Aboo Bukr biii-i-A!ee, com- 

 monly called Hudadee (the blacksmith). Ahmud bin-i-Mohummud 

 also made an abridgement ni the " Siraj-i-Wuiihaj," which is quoted 

 by the title of " Bu lur-i-Zukhir." The " Mooltumus ool ikhvvaii" 

 by Aboo'l Ma; lee, o!" Ghuzjia. The "Kifayah," by Shums ool 

 aimninh Isniaee!, of Eyhuk. The"Biyan," by Mohummud bin-i- 

 rusool of Toukat. 'J he " Lohab" by Julal aboo Saeed Mootuhur, 

 of BuzJah. The " Yunabee" by Biidr oo' deen Mohumrriud, of 

 Ushbeeleeah. Tiie " Kholasut oo' du'aeel," by Hosam oo' deen 

 Alee, of Mukkc^h. The last mentioned commeutary is higliiy 

 praised, for its utility, in ibe '* Ru.sljt'oo' Zunoon," and is stated to 

 have been further improved by the annotations of Iba-i Subeeh oo* 

 deen Osman, a native of Tartary, Mr. Hamilton, (in his Prel. 

 Disc. p. 36, 37,) has erroneously mentioned the commentary of 

 Kudcoree, as quoted in the, " Hidayah," instead of his JNIokbtusur." 

 He appears to have made a further mistake in stating the corrimen- 

 tary ot Kudooree to be about the " Adub ool Kazee" of Aboo Yoo- 

 suf, wheresis no comment ol that work is noticed in the " Kushf co' 

 Zunoon ;" but Kudooree is specified as one of the commentaiors of 

 the " Adub oul Kazee" of Khusat, mentioned in a nrecediag note 



Kk 2 



