NEW BOOK RELEASE FROM THE LAMPPOST EDUCATION INITIATIVE
"The book repudiates the common allegation of Islam possessing an inherently male bias to the detriment of women as a false stereotype promulgated by the enemies of Islam whose goal is to alienate Muslim women and others..."
The Definitive Response to Claims of Male Bias in Islamic Law: The Second Edition
The Lamppost Education Initiative is proud to present the highly anticipated second edition of ‘There is no male preference in Islamic Law’ by Shaykh Muhammad al-Ta’wil, translated by Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali. This book is a landmark scholarly work that directly addresses one of the most persistent and misunderstood topics in contemporary religious discourse.
This book goes beyond simple apologetics to provide a rigorous and evidence-based defense of Islamic law. It meticulously dismantles the notion that Islamic jurisprudence is inherently unfair to women and proves that claims of a male bias are based on misinformation and false assumptions. Shaykh al-Ta’wil’s original work offers a clear and reasoned explanation of the true principles of Sharia, providing a powerful counter-narrative for students, academics, and lay readers alike.
What’s New in the Second Edition: This revised edition is more critical than ever, with new content that addresses specific points of confusion. Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali has included a new, special appendix entitled ‘Women and Intelligence.’ This section meticulously examines hadiths that are often quoted out of context, providing thoughtful and scholarly explanations that help to resolve confusion and provide a deeper understanding of these complex texts.
Why This Book Is Essential:
Clarity on Complex Issues: Provides a definitive, scholarly response to a widely debated topic.
Authoritative Scholarship: Written by Shaykh Muhammad al-Ta’wil and translated by a respected expert in Islamic law.
Empowers with Knowledge: Equips readers to challenge misinformation with well-reasoned, textual evidence.
Read a Sample of the Book
Shaykh Muhammad Al-Ta'wil
1353-1436 AH
He is Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Qasim ibn Hasain At-Tawil Al-Maghribi Al-Maliki.
Birth and early life
The Imam was born in the year in the city of `Ein Baridah in the land of Morocco to a modest family. His first teacher was his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Qasim, who was a great Imam in the sciences of recitation of the Qur’an and other fields in the Revealed Law.
Imam Muhammad At-Tawil memorised the Qur’an while still a young boy and went on to study with another great scholar by the name of Shaikh Muhammad Al-`Arabi Al-Masari. The Imam learned from this teacher Al-Ajurumiyyah and the commentary Alfiyyah in Arabic grammar. In fiqh, the Imam concentrated on Al-Murshid ul-Mu`in, Al-Mukhtasar and At-Tuhfah.
Upon completion of these he focused his attention to inheritance and other sciences. Allah brought him success when Imam at-Tawil enrolled into the oldest university of Muslim Orthodoxy, Al-Qarawiyyin.
He next came into contact with Shaikhs Abu Bakr Jasus, Muhammad al-`Imrani Az-Zarhuni and `Abdul Karim Ad-Dawudi and studied fiqh with them and other affairs while in the area of commentary he studied with Shaikh Al-`Arabi Ash-Shami. He began his hadith studies under Shaikh `Abdul `Aziz Bil-Khait while in grammar he was tutored by Shaikh `Abdul Hadi Al-Ya`qubi Bakhubza.
Shaikh Habib al-Mahaji was his teacher in Usul ul-Fiqh and in logic and creed he was taught by Shaikh Ibn `Abdul Qadir Al-Baqali. He continued to study and completed his work in rhetoric, speech and history under Shaikhs Muhammad Al-`Imrani and `Abdul Karim Al-`Iraqi and Al-Faqih Al-Ghamri, respectively.
Knowledge and Notable Rulings
The Imam is the marja` of the land, head preacher and teacher for the Moroccans as well as North Africa. His forceful stance on issues immediately surrounding the Revealed Law has made him a hero and champion to all who love knowledge and the truth.
He categorically demonstrated that the benefits taken from banks and also the mortgages (whether they are claimed as Islamic or not) were impermissible and cannot be claimed as emergency or necessity for Muslims living in the lands of Kufr. [Source: Wa Akhiran Waqa`at il-Waqi`ah wa Abih ir-Riba: Al-Fawa’id al-Bankiyyah, pp. 34-45]
No secular court has the power to dissolve a marriage or declare one valid but rather only the maraji` can effect a faskh or dissolving. [Source: This was beautifully dealt with in his text, Shadharat udh-Dhahab: Fima Jadda fi Qaday an-Nikahi wat-Talaqi an-Nasab]
DNA tests are not definitive proof for establishing maternity or paternity unless weighed with other factors as well.[Source: Mawqaf ush-Shari`at il-Islamiyyati Man I`timad al-Khabarat at-Tibbiyyata wal-Basamat al-Warithiyyata fi Ithbat in-Nasabi wa Nafiyahu]
A Muslim woman according to Consensus is not allowed to marry any man that is not a Muslim; but there have of late been “love doctors” at work not only in the Muslim world but even among “spokesmen for Muslims in the West” who have distorted verses and made it seem as if there was a “gentleman’s disagreement” on the topic.
This Imam categorically shows the proof, history, evidence and continuous examples of Consensus on the topic. [Source: Shadharat udh-Dhahab: Fima Jadda fi Qaday an-Nikahi wat-Talaqi an-Nasab, pp. 81-123]
As the teacher of Fiqh and Usul from the University of Al-Qarawiyyin, the Imam has showed great courage in tackling some of the most thorny and controversial issues of this current time. After years of service and teaching, he died at the time of `Asr prayer on Monday 16 Jumada Al-Akhirah in the year 1436 AH. And may Allah reward him and give him the highest rewards of the Paradise.
Taken from: https://meeraath.wordpress.com/imam-muhammad-at-tawil/
Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali
He holds a Ph.D. in Cultural and Historical Studies in Religion (2016) and an M.A. in Ethics and Social Theory (2012) from the Graduate Theological Union. He obtained his B.A. (ijaza ‘ulya) in Islamic Law 
(Shariah) from the prestigious Al-Qarawiyin University of Fes, Morocco in 2001. He served as full time Islamic chaplain at the State Correctional Institute of Chester, PA from 2002-2007, and is the founding director of the Lamppost Education Initiative. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Islamic law and Prophetic Tradition at Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California. His research interests include the interconnection between law and identity formation, comparative Islamic law, and Islam’s role in the modern world.
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