Al-Kindī’s Bayān Al-Sharʿ as a Source for Sales Practices in Medieval Omani Economy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32350/jitc.162.07Keywords:
Bayān al-Shar, economic, jurisprudence, Oman, sales, tradeAbstract
The Bayān al-Sharʿ encyclopedia, authored by the Omani jurist Muḥammad ibn Ibrāhīm al-Kindī (d. 508 AH / 1115 CE), stands as one of the most comprehensive juridical compilations within the Ibāḍī intellectual heritage. Far from being a purely doctrinal and legal reference, this monumental work serves as a valuable reflection of Omani social and economic life during the Islamic Middle Ages. A critical reading of its contents reveals an exceptional wealth of material that extends well beyond jurisprudence, offering insights into the classification of sales, their spatial contexts, the agents involved, and the diverse forms of commercial transactions. Such dimensions render the text an indispensable source for reconstructing the economic structures of Oman at a time when it was deeply integrated into the commercial networks of the Indian Ocean and the Arabian-Persian Gulf. This study aims to reconsider Bayān al-Sharʿ as a historical source that unveils key aspects of Omani economic and social realities during its period of compilation. By focusing on the contractual formulas of sales and examining their implications, the research seeks to highlight the intersections between legal norms and economic practices, as well as their broader sociocultural significance. Ultimately, al-Kindī’s encyclopedia provides a remarkably detailed model of commercial activity in Oman, outlining sales contracts, ethical framework of trade, regulatory norms, and organizational structure. Moreover, it underscores the diversity of sales practices and the circulation of both local and imported goods, thereby testifying to the central role of Oman in the global trade system of the medieval Islamic era.
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