A Study and Critical Edition of the Treatise “The Bride of Seclusion (Aroos Al-Khalwa) By the scholar Muhammad ibn Mahmud ibn Burhan al-Din al-Rumi A Jurisprudential Study on the Impediments to Valid Seclusion

Abstract

This research presents a study and critical edition of a concise jurisprudential article titled “Aroos Al Khalwa” (The Bride of Unchaperoned Seclusion) authored by Imam Muhammad Al-Rumi Al-Hanafi. The Article addresses the issue of valid seclusion (Al Khalwa) between spouses, clarifying Sharia impediments that impact its validity, as discussed in Al Mahr chapter (dowry) of Al-Hidayah book by Imam Al-Marghinani. It also surveys and analyzes the views of Hanafi scholars, weighing their opinions and identifying the most authoritative stance. The aim of this research is to contribute to the preservation of Islamic jurisprudential heritage and to make it more accessible to students and scholars. It further highlights the author’s precision in articulating the matter of (Al Khalwa) and its related jurisprudential branches. The researcher employed a descriptive-analytical approach in studying the content of this jurisprudential article, alongside a rigorous scholarly methodology for manuscript verification. This involved comparing manuscript copies, authenticating and annotating the text, providing biographical notes on key figures, referencing Quranic verses, and documenting relevant Hanafi sources. The study is divided into two parts; the first is a preliminary study introducing the author, analyzing the Article’s methodology, and outlining its subject and significance. The second is a critical edition of the Article, including vocalization, source verification, and scholarly commentary on its jurisprudential content. Key findings include confirmation of the title’s authenticity and attribution to its author, the author’s evident expertise in jurisprudential theory regarding the concept of (Al Khalwa), and his deep familiarity with Hanafi traditions and its authoritative opinions. The researcher concludes by recommending greater academic attention to editing and publishing jurisprudential manuscripts using rigorous scholarly methods, given their role in reviving the Islamic jurisprudential heritage, aiding researchers, and supporting the study of Islamic law.