The Intellectual Legacy of Dr.Wahbah al. Zuhayli in Quranic Studies and Islamic Fiqh

Abstract

This research article presents a comprehensive and analytical study of the scholarly, exegetical, and juristic contributions of the contemporary Muslim scholar, exegete, and jurist Dr. Wahbah al-Zuhayli (رحمه الله). The study aims to examine how Dr. al-Zuhayli successfully engaged with the intellectual, legal, and social challenges of the modern era through a balanced application of the Qur’an and Sunnah, while remaining firmly rooted in the classical Islamic scholarly tradition. Special attention is given to his major Qur’anic works, including, al-Tafsir al-Munir, al-Tafsir al- Wasit and al- Tafsir al-Wajiz, highlighting his methodological synthesis of traditional exegetical principles with contemporary clarity, accessibility, and relevance, The article further analyzes his outstanding contributions to Islamic jurisprudence, particularly.al- Fiqh al- Islami wa Adillatuh, Athar al –Harb fi al-Fiqh al- Islami and Nazariyyat al-Darurah al-Shariyyah, which demonstrate his mastery of comparative fiqh, evidentiary rigor, and his firm rejection of sectarian bias. Through principled ijtihād, consideration of maqāṣid al-sharīʿah, and attention to contemporary realities, Dr. al-Zuhayli presented Islamic law as a dynamic, ethical, and universally applicable system. The study concludes that his intellectual legacy represents a significant model of religious renewal (tajdīd), providing enduring guidance for modern Islamic scholarship and future academic research.

Keyword: Wahbahal Zuhayli, Quranic Exegesis, Comparative Fiqh, Ijtihad, Maqaṣid al- Shariah, Contemporary Islamic Thought, Importance, Benefit, Islamic