In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and may blessings and peace be upon the noblest of the prophets and messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions.
This is a summary of what was presented in this part of the explanation of Imam al-Shafi’i’s al-Risala, focusing on the important points and clarifications.
The chapter on the ‘ilal in hadiths (the meanings on which rulings are based):
- Introduction:
- What is meant by ‘ilal here is not the technical “hidden defects” of hadith science (weakness of the chain or the text); rather, it means the meanings on which rulings are based.
- It is important to study the terminology of each imam separately; the term “evidence” (dalil) in Ibn Hazm’s usage is broader than in others’, since for him it includes everything that is necessarily entailed, even rational indication.
- Categories of hadiths:
- Hadiths that have their like in the Qur’an, in text or by indication (in summary form).
- Hadiths that have no counterpart in the Qur’an.
- Abrogating and abrogated hadiths.
- Differing hadiths (that appear to conflict).
- Hadiths containing a prohibition; a prohibition entails unlawfulness, but there may be a contextual indicator (qarinah) that turns it away from unlawfulness.
- Hadiths containing a command, and a command may be a matter of choice rather than strict obligation.
- The term “nass” (explicit text) in al-Shafi’i’s usage:
- Al-Shafi’i was among the first to use the term “nass” to denote clarity and manifestness of meaning.
- The origin of the word in the language is from “nassat al-naqa,” meaning the she-camel cast out what was in her womb, so it carries the meaning of bringing into view.
- “Nass” is that which needs no interpretation for its meaning to be understood, as in the verse: “for the male, what is equal to the share of two females” (An-Nisa 4:11).
- Analogy (qiyas):
- Analogy requires:
- An agreed-upon original case (asl).
- A new case (far’) whose ruling is unknown.
- A suitable attribute (the effective cause, ‘illah) shared by the original case and the new case.
- Example: analogizing the drink “al-farah” to wine on the common ground of stupefying or removing the mind.
- The example of the foundling is mentioned, and that he is attached to the abode of Islam.
- The example of a child of a Muslim father and a disbelieving mother is mentioned, and that he is attached to the father.
- The example of a disbelieving mother who embraced Islam is mentioned, and that her children are attached to her if they are young and have not reached the age of discernment, because Islam is superior and nothing is superior to it.
- Analogy requires:
- Reconciling differing hadiths (mukhtalif al-hadith):
- The scholars reconciled hadiths that appear to conflict, and removed whatever might give the impression of inconsistency.
- Example: reconciling the hadith of ‘A’ishah, “Whoever tells you that Muhammad urinated standing, do not believe him,” with the hadith of Hudhayfah that he saw the Prophet ﷺ urinating standing: the default is urinating while seated, and urinating standing is permissible when needed.
- Example: reconciling the hadith of Abu Ayyub with the hadith of Ibn ‘Umar on facing the qiblah or turning one’s back to it when relieving oneself: the difference between relieving oneself in open space and inside buildings.
- The hadith of ‘A’ishah with Umm Mistah and the story of the slander (al-ifk) is mentioned.
- The hadith of al-Mughirah about the Prophet ﷺ being brought two stones and a piece of donkey dung is mentioned.
- The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was Arab in tongue and in homeland:
- This is an important matter in understanding his sayings ﷺ.
- The difference between an Arab by origin (‘arabi) and one who became Arabized (musta’rib).
- The custom of the Arabs of sending their children to the desert to acquire the language and toughness (hardiness and endurance).
- General and specific wording in the sayings of the Prophet ﷺ:
- He may make a general statement and intend it generally.
- He may make a general statement and intend something specific by it.
- Example: the hadith “Were it not for the women and children in the houses, I would order a man to lead the people in prayer, then go to men who do not attend the prayer and burn their houses down upon them.”
- An example from the Qur’an: “Those to whom people [i.e., hypocrites] said, ‘Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them’” (Al Imran 3:173).
- The Sunnah agrees with the Book:
- Every Sunnah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ established agrees with the Book of Allah, either in its text or in general terms, as an explanation on behalf of Allah.
- The Sunnah explains what Allah the Exalted intends in His Book.
- The Qur’an’s need for the Sunnah is greater than the Sunnah’s need for the Qur’an in terms of explanation and detail.
- What the Messenger of Allah ﷺ established for which there is no text in the Book of Allah:
- Following the Sunnah is obligatory by Allah the Exalted’s general command to obey the Messenger ﷺ.
- The abrogating and the abrogated in his hadith ﷺ:
- Just as Allah abrogated a ruling in His Book by another ruling from His Book, likewise the Sunnah is abrogated by the Sunnah.
- Al-Shafi’i’s position: the Book may not be abrogated by the Sunnah nor the Sunnah by the Book, nor may the Book or the Sunnah be abrogated by consensus (ijma’).
- The importance of al-Risala being written by Imam al-Shafi’i himself:
- This indicates that the attribution of the book to him is sound, and that no distortion or alteration entered it.
- The strongest way of establishing a book’s attribution to its author is that he wrote it himself, then dictation with review, then permission (ijazah) by hearing.
- The importance of the presence of audition notes (sama’at) on the copies.
Some important benefits:
- The meaning of ‘ilal in hadiths according to al-Shafi’i.
- The categories of hadiths.
- The term “nass” in al-Shafi’i’s usage.
- The conditions of analogy.
- How to reconcile differing hadiths.
- The importance of the Prophet ﷺ being Arab in tongue and homeland.
- The difference between general and specific wording in his sayings ﷺ.
- The standing of the Sunnah in relation to the Book.
- The importance of al-Risala being written by Imam al-Shafi’i himself.
We ask Allah the Exalted for acceptance and ease.
All parts of Summary of the Explanation of al-Risala by Shaykh Dr. Ahmad al-Naqeeb