What is your opinion of Shaykh Shu'ayb al-Arna'ut's statement that Imam al-Bukhari is not considered a mujtahid in Islamic jurisprudence, but rather a follower of the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence?
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The questioner : I was with Shaykh Shu'ayb al-Arna'ut.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : He mentioned the imams who are mujtahids, so I quoted the statement of some of the imams that al-Bukhari is considered among the mujtahids regarding Islamic jurisprudence.
The Shaykh : He told me that al-Bukhari is a follower in Islamic jurisprudence who adheres to the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence. Is this correct?
The Shaykh : Absolutely not, it is not correct. The famous hadith scholars do not follow a specific school of jurisprudence. It may be predominant that their opinions and independent legal reasoning align with a school, but to abandon a hadith that is established with them because it contradicts the school of the imam they think they belong to? That is not what we know of al-Bukhari, Muslim, and other famous imams.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : It is not hidden from you that the nature of those who follow scholars without knowing their evidence is to abandon the explicit text from the Book of Allah and the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for the opinion of their imam. They make excuses that they are not scholars and that they do not understand the Book and the Sunnah as the imam understood them. Therefore, they submit to him completely and surrender to him entirely. But who says that Imam al-Bukhari is in this state? What is the evidence for this claim? Did he mention anything of that to you?
The questioner : No, he did not mention anything except that most of his jurisprudential categorizations in Sahih al-Bukhari align with the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence.
The Shaykh : Well, if I, for example, after Allah (Mighty and Majestic) saved me from following scholars without knowing their evidence, have most of my statements aligning with the school of Imam al-Shafi'i, this does not mean that I follow the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence. In reality, this is what makes the listener feel that the one who accuses Imam al-Bukhari of following scholars without knowing their evidence has something against the imams of hadith. In any case, it is said about such people: "And claims, unless you establish evidence for them, their children are illegitimate." So do not be deceived by such talk. As you know, from the statements of the commentators on his book, that his Islamic jurisprudence in its chapters...
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And this Islamic jurisprudence and precision are not found in those who follow scholars without knowing their evidence.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : This is my opinion. And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : He mentioned the imams who are mujtahids, so I quoted the statement of some of the imams that al-Bukhari is considered among the mujtahids regarding Islamic jurisprudence.
The Shaykh : He told me that al-Bukhari is a follower in Islamic jurisprudence who adheres to the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence. Is this correct?
The Shaykh : Absolutely not, it is not correct. The famous hadith scholars do not follow a specific school of jurisprudence. It may be predominant that their opinions and independent legal reasoning align with a school, but to abandon a hadith that is established with them because it contradicts the school of the imam they think they belong to? That is not what we know of al-Bukhari, Muslim, and other famous imams.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : It is not hidden from you that the nature of those who follow scholars without knowing their evidence is to abandon the explicit text from the Book of Allah and the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for the opinion of their imam. They make excuses that they are not scholars and that they do not understand the Book and the Sunnah as the imam understood them. Therefore, they submit to him completely and surrender to him entirely. But who says that Imam al-Bukhari is in this state? What is the evidence for this claim? Did he mention anything of that to you?
The questioner : No, he did not mention anything except that most of his jurisprudential categorizations in Sahih al-Bukhari align with the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence.
The Shaykh : Well, if I, for example, after Allah (Mighty and Majestic) saved me from following scholars without knowing their evidence, have most of my statements aligning with the school of Imam al-Shafi'i, this does not mean that I follow the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence. In reality, this is what makes the listener feel that the one who accuses Imam al-Bukhari of following scholars without knowing their evidence has something against the imams of hadith. In any case, it is said about such people: "And claims, unless you establish evidence for them, their children are illegitimate." So do not be deceived by such talk. As you know, from the statements of the commentators on his book, that his Islamic jurisprudence in its chapters...
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And this Islamic jurisprudence and precision are not found in those who follow scholars without knowing their evidence.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : This is my opinion. And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Source
www.al-albany.com
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