Epistemology of Islamic Family Law in Al Suyuthi Thought: Rainterpreting Sabil al-Muhtadi for Modern Socio Legal Relevance

ABSTRACT: This study examines the epistemology of Islamic family law in the thought of Jalaluddin al-Suyuti through an analysis of Sabil al-Muhtadin and explores its relevance to contemporary legal reform. Amid the growing complexity of issues faced by Muslim families such as gender inequality, shifting social dynamics, and tensions between religious and state law this research highlights the need to reconstruct methodological approaches within Islamic legal studies. Using a qualitative hermeneutic and socio-legal framework, the study finds that al-Suyuti’s legal epistemology is grounded in an integration of scriptural texts, rational inquiry, and social reality. His reasoning model does not rely solely on textual sources but also considers maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah, customary practice (ʿurf), and the social implications of legal rulings. This approach distinguishes him from both conservative jurisprudential traditions and modern legalistic readings such as Indonesia’s Compilation of Islamic Law (KHI). The findings demonstrate that al-Suyuti offers a moderate, adaptive, and humanistic interpretive framework that remains relevant to contemporary family issues, including gender equity, child protection, and household justice. This study underscores that recontextualizing al-Suyuti’s thought can provide a methodological foundation for equitable and socially responsive reform in Islamic family law. Key words: Islamic Legal Epistemology; Jalaluddin al-Suyuti; Sabil al-Muhtadin; Islamic Family Law; Socio-Legal Studies.