The Juridical Role of Scholars in Building the Islamic State during the Early Abbasid Era (132–232 AH / 750–847 CE)

Abstract

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the pivotal role played by Islamic jurists in shaping and building the Islamic state during the early Abbasid era (132–232 AH / 750–847 CE). Their contribution extended far beyond religious or educational functions, encompassing the establishment of legal, administrative, and judicial foundations for the emerging state. Employing an analytical-historical methodology, the research demonstrates how these scholars founded major jurisprudential schools, organized judicial and fatwa institutions, and supervised religious education systems—thereby constructing a coherent Sharia-based framework. It also examines the dynamic relationship between jurists and Abbasid authorities, which oscillated between constructive cooperation and intellectual-political confrontation, most notably during the “Createdness of the Qur’an” crisis, revealing a profound struggle over interpretive authority and religious legitimacy. The study emphasizes that jurists were neither isolated theorists nor passive mosque dwellers; rather, they were active political and social agents who participated in forging Islamic identity and regulating the religion-state relationship while preserving their intellectual and jurisprudential autonomy. Their efforts contributed significantly to building an institutional state grounded in Sharia, capable of governing a vast and diverse society. Ultimately, the research highlights the jurists’ profound impact on achieving political and social stability through their codification of Islamic law and widespread dissemination of knowledge, which served as guarantees of justice and unified religious reference amid internal and external challenges.