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Risala

Risala (Arabic: رسالة) is a term meaning "message" or "epistle" and is widely used in Islamic literature as the title of concise treatises or letters. The word functions as a genre indicator rather than a single work, and works titled Risala appear across disciplines such as jurisprudence (fiqh), theology (kalam), grammar, and mysticism. In many cases a Risala is intended as an introduction or teaching tool, presenting core ideas in a compact form for students or communities.

The most famous instance is al-Risāla fī ʾUṣūl al-Fiqh, commonly attributed to Imam al-Shafiʿī (c. 767–820 CE).

Beyond al-Risāla, numerous other works bearing the same title circulated in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, and

This
early
tract
is
regarded
as
foundational
for
the
usul
al-fiqh
tradition—the
study
of
the
principles
and
sources
of
Islamic
law.
It
outlines
a
framework
for
legal
reasoning,
emphasizing
the
primary
sources
of
law
(the
Qurʾān
and
the
Sunnah),
and
discussing
the
roles
of
ijmā’
(consensus)
and
qiyās
(analogical
deduction).
The
treatise
helped
shape
subsequent
discussions
of
evidence,
method,
and
the
interpretation
of
texts
in
Islamic
jurisprudence.
other
literary
traditions.
These
Risalas
cover
a
range
of
topics,
from
grammatical
and
philological
topics
to
theological
argumentation
and
Sufi
guidance,
all
in
a
concise,
accessible
format.
The
use
of
Risala
as
a
title
reflects
a
historical
preference
for
compact,
teachable
expositions
intended
to
convey
essential
concepts
efficiently.