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.
Continuing the discussion of the relationship between the Sunnah and the Book:
- Introduction:
- Encouragement to seek knowledge and to follow the example of the people of knowledge, such as Imam al-Shafi’i.
- Continuing the explanation of the relationship between the Sunnah and the Book, and between one Sunnah and another.
- Categories of the Sunnahs of the Prophet ﷺ:
- A Sunnah that matches the explicit meaning of the Book.
- A Sunnah that differs in meaning from another Sunnah and agrees with it in another meaning, because of differing circumstances.
- When the Sunnahs are brought together, some may assume there is difference and conflict, though there is no real difference.
- Definition of the Sunnah:
- Everything authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ of word, deed, or tacit approval.
- Some add “description” (sifah), and divide it into physical description (such as his physical form) and moral description (such as his character).
- What relates to description is called “Sunnahs of custom” (sunan al-‘adah) (such as his frequent use of perfume).
- What relates to word, deed, and tacit approval is the legislative Sunnah.
- Examples of the actions of the Prophet ﷺ:
- Actions related to custom (such as washing off musk, combing the hair, and walking briskly).
- Actions related to legislation (such as his actions in prayer and Hajj).
- Ordinary actions (such as his conversation with his wife).
- The example of ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, is mentioned, when she said to the Prophet ﷺ: “I see that your Lord hastens to fulfill your wishes.”
- The example of the Prophet ﷺ knowing when ‘A’ishah was pleased and when she was upset is mentioned.
- The example of the Prophet ﷺ declining to eat the lizard (dabb) while approving of Khalid ibn al-Walid eating it is mentioned.
- Reconciling hadiths that appear to conflict:
- Example: the prohibition of facing the qiblah or turning one’s back to it when urinating or defecating, and Ibn ‘Umar’s report of (the Prophet) facing Syria with his back to the Ka’bah: they are reconciled by saying that the prohibition applies in open space and the permission applies inside buildings.
- The prohibition is not one of strict unlawfulness, but of something lesser.
- Example: the hadith of ‘A’ishah, “Whoever tells you that the Prophet ﷺ urinated standing, do not believe him,” and the hadith of Hudhayfah that he saw the Prophet ﷺ urinating standing: they are reconciled by saying that the default is urinating while seated, and it is permissible standing when needed.
- Each narrator reported what he saw of the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
- The principle “Applying the texts is better than neglecting them,” because neglecting is abrogation, and abrogation is the last stage in examining the texts.
- Acting upon what has been abrogated after knowing it has been abrogated is disbelief.
- Examples of reconciling hadiths:
- The prohibition of drinking while standing and his ﷺ drinking Zamzam water while standing: it is better to drink while seated, and it is permissible standing when needed.
- The prohibition of mutilation and what he ﷺ did with the men of ‘Urayna: the prohibition stands in its own domain, the action stands in its own domain, and there is no conflict.
- The story is mentioned of some of the early generations objecting to Abu Hurayrah narrating the hadith of the ‘Uranis to al-Hajjaj, and that it contains an indication of the permissibility of withholding some knowledge for a benefit.
- Addressing people according to what their circumstances require is wisdom.
- The Sunnah is abrogated by the Sunnah:
- The Prophet ﷺ explained what was abrogated of his Sunnah.
- Some Companions may forget some Sunnahs, but a Sunnah is never absent from them as a whole.
- Example: the hadith of tayammum (dry ablution) and ‘Umar’s objection to ‘Ammar, then his recollecting it.
- Knowledge among the Companions lies in them collectively, not in any one of them.
- It is not permissible to blindly follow one particular imam in the entire religion.
- The story of Ibn Maz’un drinking wine on the basis of a mistaken interpretation, and ‘Umar’s correction of him, is mentioned.
- The disagreement between ‘Umar and Abu Bakr about fighting those who withheld zakah is mentioned.
- Examples are mentioned of some Sunnahs being unknown to some Companions (such as seeking permission to enter, and giving the grandfather one sixth).
- Bringing together things that differ and distinguishing between things that resemble one another:
- Obeying the Prophet ﷺ in his differentiation (distinguishing between rulings) is obligatory.
- If reconciling the texts proves impossible, it may well be that there is another aspect that has not been preserved.
- If reconciliation is not possible, the matter remains as it is (both are permissible).
- Example: placing the right hand on the left in prayer (grasping and resting).
- Using the whole to mean a part (such as saying “I kissed his head”).
- The modes of combining hadiths:
- Gathering the texts (gathering similar texts in one context).
- Reconciling the texts (exercising reasoning to reconcile texts that appear to conflict).
- Recording the date of the sessions:
- The importance of recording the date of scholarly sessions.
Some important benefits:
- The categories of the Sunnahs of the Prophet ﷺ.
- The definition of the Sunnah.
- Reconciling hadiths that appear to conflict.
- The principle “Applying the texts is better than neglecting them.”
- Examples of reconciling hadiths.
- The importance of the Prophet ﷺ being Arab in tongue and homeland.
- The importance of addressing people according to what their circumstances require.
- The Sunnah is abrogated by the Sunnah.
- Knowledge among the Companions lies in them collectively, not in any one of them.
- Bringing together things that differ and distinguishing between things that resemble one another.
- The modes of combining hadiths.
- The importance of recording the date of sessions.
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