Discussion of the book *Fiqh al-Sunnah* by Sayyid Sabiq

The Shaykh : Finally, there is a book that contemporary youth circulate today because of its easy style, and that is *Fiqh al-Sunnah* by Sayyid Sabiq. In reality, he followed a middle path between narrow sectarianism and absolute independent legal reasoning (*ijtihad*), which is obligatory but which most scholars, especially in the present age, are unable to perform. This is because it requires knowledge of the hadith in both transmission and understanding. So he followed a middle path; he is neither sectarian nor an absolute *mujtahid*. But in truth, he opened a door that had been closed, and it is stated in the marginal notes of Ibn 'Abidin that the door of *ijtihad* was closed in the fourth century. This is what is stated in the marginal notes of Ibn 'Abidin. So Sayyid Sabiq, in his book *Fiqh al-Sunnah*, opened the door of *ijtihad*. This is because in this book he did not adhere to his own school of jurisprudence, which appears from some of its issues to be the Shafi'i school, nor did he adhere to the Hanafi school. Rather, he placed in this book whatever he believed to be correct. Although sometimes he mentions the schools of thought without clarifying which is correct, from this perspective he leaves the reader confused in these issues, not knowing which position to adopt. I noticed this in his book, and an opportunity presented itself to me, so I wrote a part on it which I named *Tamam al-Mannah* in commentary on *Fiqh al-Sunnah*. It is now printed in a part that, as I recall, reached the book of fasting. We ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to make it easy for us to complete it. This is all I have in my answer. Let's go, Professor. It is now eleven o'clock. May Allah reward you. It is eleven and a quarter.

The questioner : The basis is that the youth take time...

The Shaykh : I mean, at our expense, no problem, this is good for me.