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'Zahiri' is a school of thought in Islamic Jurisprudence. The founder of this school is Dawud ibn Ali al Isbahani al Baghdadi. He is better known as ''al Zahari'' because of his insistence on sticking to the manifest (''zahir'') or literal meaning of expressions in the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
''Zahir'' literally means, "the apparent," or "literal sense." The Zahirists, thus, use the literal sense when interpreting religious texts and do not seek hidden or inward interpolation. Followers of the school are ''Zahiriyah''.
Among the vast amounts of textual evidence for their claim, the Zahirists use verses similar to "''...this is a clear Arabic language''" (Quran 16:103) to back their view. Anyone, in their understanding, possessing knowledge of the Arabic language is able to understand the message of God inasmuch is necessary to fulfill his religious duties.
However, it should be known that the name Zahiri itself is not endorsed by the adherents of this method, using other textual proof to suggest that there is no name to be known by except what has been mentioned thereby in the religious texts. God said, "''He named you submitters (Ar. muslimeen) from before and in this.''" (Quran 22:76) Ibn Hazm, a well-known practitioner and teacher of this methodology, would refer to himself and those who followed this view as Ashab-uz-Zahir, or "the companions of the literal sense," defining, rather than labeling.
In history the Zahiri understanding has been persecuted by those preferring to interpret the texts by their inward meanings; this came to such an extent that many of the scholars of Sunni and Shi'ite religion have labeled the Zahiri school extinct. It is more likely that the school never became established by a name but only the idea, as the adherents thereof would only call themselves submitters (Ar. muslimeen). Thus, this "school," or understanding, is alive in anyone who believes in and follows said methodology.

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★ History of Usul ul-Fiqh (Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence)- including discussion about the Zahiri Usul

★ The Development of Fiqh - including discussion of the Zahiris