The Meaning of the Phrase: Religious Matters Are Based on Conjecture

Question:
It is mentioned in some memorization aids and other works that “religious matters are based on conjecture.” What is the meaning of this phrase? Are there any means or arrangements that explain this phrase?

Answer:
It is not the case that all religious matters are based on conjecture. It is not the case that all religious matters are based on conjecture. Matters that are based on mass-transmitted texts or authentic texts from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) are to be built upon certainty. What is built upon conjecture is the independent legal reasoning (ijtihad) of the jurists. The independent legal reasoning of the jurists is what is built upon conjecture, because each jurist, each one of the jurists, seeks out what he has reached through the language of his ijtihad. This is what is built upon the preponderance of conjecture: what he is convinced is the intended meaning. This is what is built upon the preponderance of conjecture. This applies only to matters of ijtihad. As for matters that are not subject to ijtihad, these are built upon certainty, not conjecture. Matters of creed are built upon certainty. Likewise, matters concerning the soul, such as when it is said, “Carrion is forbidden to you,” is this based on conjecture? Is the prohibition of carrion based on conjecture? No. “Carrion is forbidden to you,” and blood, and the meat of swine, and that which is dedicated to other than Allah—this is based on certainty that Allah has prohibited these things. “And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse”—is this based on conjecture? Or is it based on certainty? Is the prohibition of unlawful sexual intercourse based on conjecture? No, it is based on certainty, because Allah the Exalted has established it.
, is the prohibition of all that is impure based on conjecture? No, it is based on certainty, because Allah has explicitly stated that they are impure, or He has permitted the good things. He permitted the good things. No, the point is that this statement is general. Now, if we go into detail, yes.