Nureddin Zengi Döneminde Biladü'ş-Şam'da Fıkıh

This paper deals the life of the Just King, ‘al-Malik al-Adil ’ , Nur al-Din Mahmud Zengi and presents a short biography of his life. It also deals with his personality, upbringing, characteristics, asceticism, titles as well as his achievements. The paper deals additionally with his interest in developing scholarly centres for teaching jurisprudence, as he paid much attention to the restoration and construction of mosques, schools and libraries, and dedicating endowments (Awqaf) on them. Furthermore, the paper discusses the most important scholarly institutions of jurisprudence for the four Sunni madhhabs (legal schools of law) particularly in Aleppo and Damascus. Together with deliberating on the most prominent scholars of these schools and their works during this period. It is also noted that although Nur al-Din was adherent to the Hanafi madhhab he paid particular interest to the Shafi'i Madhhab and an explanation for the reasons behind that is presented. The study shows the interest of Nur al-Din in jurisprudence and jurists and its effect on eradicating Shi'ism from the region. It is also shown how he was successful, through his wise policies, in contributing to the unification of the Muslim Ummah.