What is your opinion on adopting the principles of Ibn Hazm al-Zahiri in his book "Al-Ahkam fi Usul al-Ahkam"?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Regarding the adoption of the principles of Ibn Hazm al-Zahiri in his book "Al-Ihkam"; is there anything to it? I mean, adopting these principles...?
The Shaykh : This is, of course, if one adopts them with understanding and conviction, and not out of blind following (taqlid); there is no difference between adopting the principles of Ibn Hazm or the principles of al-Shafi'i in his "Risalah" or the principles of al-Shatibi or others; the important thing is that one adopts the scientific and jurisprudential principles he has adopted and is convinced of them. As for following Ibn Hazm blindly, we would not be pleased to be followers of someone who is of a higher rank and greater in knowledge than Ibn Hazm. So if one must follow blindly, we follow those who came before him. But we exercise discernment as our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) commanded in His saying:[Yusuf 12:108]. The one who studies the principles of Ibn Hazm is like the one who studies the branches of Ibn Hazm in his "Muhallad," for example; if it is out of conviction and following his evidence, then welcome to it. But if it is out of rigidity, blind following, and fanaticism; then... and the schools of the Muslims.
Please proceed.
The questioner : ...by the statement of a Companion... in these matters.
The Shaykh : It is necessary, okay; it is so; I do not believe that there is a book that is entirely free from criticism; Allah has decreed that nothing is perfect except His Book, as is narrated from al-Shafi'i. In my belief, you need "Usul al-Ahkam" by Ibn Hazm; it is the best book written on principles, despite its anomalies; and that is because it is truly a book of principles, whereas you find books of principles to be mere claims, mere principles they establish and proceed with, while...
The questioner : Theories.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : Theories, I think, theories, there are no...
The Shaykh : Yes, there is no evidence, while the principles upon which thousands of branch issues are derived must be supported by strong rules from the Book of Allah and the hadith of the Messenger of Allah until... and reliance upon them. I have not found, to my knowledge, a book that took the path of Ibn Hazm in establishing those principles with the evidence he sees, while avoiding his strictness and anomalies in some issues.
Please proceed.
The questioner : Abu Muhammad says: This book was composed according to the methodology of the scholars of hadith.
The Shaykh : No, that is not the case; the scholars of hadith do not deny analogical reasoning (qiyas).
Yes.
The Shaykh : This is, of course, if one adopts them with understanding and conviction, and not out of blind following (taqlid); there is no difference between adopting the principles of Ibn Hazm or the principles of al-Shafi'i in his "Risalah" or the principles of al-Shatibi or others; the important thing is that one adopts the scientific and jurisprudential principles he has adopted and is convinced of them. As for following Ibn Hazm blindly, we would not be pleased to be followers of someone who is of a higher rank and greater in knowledge than Ibn Hazm. So if one must follow blindly, we follow those who came before him. But we exercise discernment as our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) commanded in His saying:
Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allah; and I am not of those who associate others with Him."
قُلْ هَذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ المُشْرِكِينَPlease proceed.
The questioner : ...by the statement of a Companion... in these matters.
The Shaykh : It is necessary, okay; it is so; I do not believe that there is a book that is entirely free from criticism; Allah has decreed that nothing is perfect except His Book, as is narrated from al-Shafi'i. In my belief, you need "Usul al-Ahkam" by Ibn Hazm; it is the best book written on principles, despite its anomalies; and that is because it is truly a book of principles, whereas you find books of principles to be mere claims, mere principles they establish and proceed with, while...
The questioner : Theories.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : Theories, I think, theories, there are no...
The Shaykh : Yes, there is no evidence, while the principles upon which thousands of branch issues are derived must be supported by strong rules from the Book of Allah and the hadith of the Messenger of Allah until... and reliance upon them. I have not found, to my knowledge, a book that took the path of Ibn Hazm in establishing those principles with the evidence he sees, while avoiding his strictness and anomalies in some issues.
Please proceed.
The questioner : Abu Muhammad says: This book was composed according to the methodology of the scholars of hadith.
The Shaykh : No, that is not the case; the scholars of hadith do not deny analogical reasoning (qiyas).
Yes.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.