What is the meaning of istihsan, what is the difference between it and istihbab, and what is the ruling on acting upon it?
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The Shaykh : He says: What is the meaning of istihsan, what is the difference between it and istihbab, and what is the ruling on acting upon istihsan?
As for istihsan, some of the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) made it one of the evidences of Islamic jurisprudence, and they said: whatever is good, it is prescribed. But this is not correct. Rather, it is said: "Whatever is prescribed is good, but not every good thing is prescribed, because understandings differ regarding what is good and what is ugly". A person may see a matter as prescribed and good, while another may see it as ugly. However, every prescribed matter is good, but not every good matter is prescribed. This is not because the Shari'ah does not seek goodness, but because understandings differ regarding what is considered good. For this reason, we see the ta'til sect, who deny the attributes and interpret the texts figuratively, saying: this is good.
As for istihsan, some of the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) made it one of the evidences of Islamic jurisprudence, and they said: whatever is good, it is prescribed. But this is not correct. Rather, it is said: "Whatever is prescribed is good, but not every good thing is prescribed, because understandings differ regarding what is good and what is ugly". A person may see a matter as prescribed and good, while another may see it as ugly. However, every prescribed matter is good, but not every good matter is prescribed. This is not because the Shari'ah does not seek goodness, but because understandings differ regarding what is considered good. For this reason, we see the ta'til sect, who deny the attributes and interpret the texts figuratively, saying: this is good.