The Patani Fatāwā: a case study of the Kitāb al-Fatāwā al-Fatāniyyah of Shaykh Ahmad bin Muhammad Zain bin Mustafa al-Fatāni

This study is concerned wit hthe Patani Fatāwā: A Case Study of the Kitāb al-Fatāwā al-Fatāniyyah of Shaykh Ahmad bin Muhammad Zain bin Mustafa al-Fatāni.

The Introduction of the thesis provides a large discussion on the Fatāwā in Islam. The meaning of fatāwā and its development as well as the variation of the fatāwā in the four Islamic schools of thought are widely dealt with. The modern movement on this matter is also discussed.

In this work, the Patani historical background beginning from the founding of the Malay Kingdom of Patani in the 14th century to its final incorporation into the Kingdom of Thailand is clearly mentioned. The fall of Patani and the signing of the Anglo-Siamese treaty of 1909 is included. The arrival of Islam into Patani is also described.

The traditional Islamic institutions of two main streams are discussed. The Patani 'Ulamā' and their works as well as their biographies are considered. In this study, the Patani Pondok or religious school in Patani has been divided into three periods. Islamic education under Patani 'Ulamā' its writers is one focus. Patani's emergence as a centre of Islamic education in the Malay peninsula shows the Muslim world how important this region is in providing Islamic education to the people of Malay-speaking groups in particular and for interested people in general. The critical declination of the traditional Islamic education in Patani and the nearby area is treated.

A deep discussion is also paid to the author of Kitāb al-Fatāwā al-Fatāniyyah: the extent to which the period of his life, his family, his works, his role and his religio-political activities as well as his followers are important is discussed.

The final chapter of this work is devoted to an analysis of the Kitāb al-Fatāwā al-Fatāniyyah in several issues including his opinions on legal matters. It is important to mention that the Kitāb al-Fatāwā al-Fatāniyyah is the only well-known book on the classical fatāwā mainly in the Malay language to serve the Malay-speaking groups. Another interesting feature of this book is that its contents cover the problems involved not only of the Muslims in Patani but also those of its neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Cambodia.