The Book of Revenue

The Book of Revenue : New,
Kitab Al-Amwal,
[A5+] Large Paperback - 609 pages
by Imam Abu 'Ubayd al-Qasim ibn Sallam [d.224h],
Transl. by Imran Ahsan Khan Nyazee,
Great Books of Islamic Civilisation Series.

Description : 

Kitab Al-Amwal (The Book of Revenue) is the work of a brilliant legal mind. Abu Ubayd al-Qasim ibn Sallam provides us with an accurate record of legal precedents laid down in the first two centuries of Islam, in particular those pertaining to the sources of revenue and the avenues of public expenditure.


The power of the book, however, lies in the method of the author and the analysis undertaken by him. He gathers together the traditions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the opinions of his Companions and the views of eminent jurists, and then subjects them to legal analysis that is unparalleled in Islamic legal literature.


The book is essential for every student of Islamic law, especially those who wish to master the art of interpreting and analyzing legal traditions and early precedents. In the discipline known as fiqh al-sunnah, there is no book or manual that can compete with this outstanding work. The present translation includes a translation of the notes by Muhammad Khalil Harras

About the Author :

Imam Abu 'Ubayd al-Qasim ibn Sallam (c. 154–224 AH / 770–838 CE) rahmatullahi ta'ala alayhi, was a distinguished 9th-century Arab philologist, jurist, and traditionist born in Herat. A leading authority in lexicography, Quranic sciences, and Hadith, he is best known for his foundational works on Islamic finance, Kitab Al-Amwal, and his studies on rare terms, Gharib al-Hadith. 

He was born to a Byzantine slave in Herat, he studied under major masters in Basra and Kufa, such as al-Asmaʿi and Abu ʿUbayda. He was considered an imam and "ocean of knowledge," contributing significantly to the standardisation of Arabic linguistics and Islamic law, holding a Sunni creed.

Major Works :

---Kitab al-Amwal: A seminal treatise on public finance, taxation, and state regulations.
---Gharib al-Hadith & Gharib al-Qur'an: Pioneering works focusing on rare or difficult words in Hadith and Quranic literature.
---Al-Nasikh wa-l-Mansukh: An early systematic study of abrogated verses in the Quran and Sunnah.

He was among the first to record the rules of tajwid (proper recitation) in his book, al-Qirā'āt. 

He passed away in Makkah in 838 C.E. [d.224h], leaving behind a profound impact on Islamic legal and linguistic scholarship.

The Translator :

Imran Ahsan Khan Nyazee is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Shariah and Law, Islamabad. He obtained his law degree (L.L.B) from Punjab University in 1969. In 1983, he was awarded a gold medal for his performance in the L.L.M (Shariah) at the International Islamic University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, USA.


His published works include: Theories of Islamic Law, The concept of Riba and Islamic Banking, and General Principles of Criminal Law. He has also published several research articles on Islamic Law and has also translated into English Ibn Rushd's well known book, Bidayat al-Mujtihid (The Distinguished Jurist's Primer) in two volumes.

More Economics & Finance.

Dimensions :  24 x 17 x 4.3cm.