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Give reasons to explain why al-Ash‘ari is regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of early Islam.
Imam Shafi’I (Most imp of all early legal experts):
Background:
·Towering figure in sciences of fiqh
·Giant among giants of the scholars of religion
·Linguist: adept in giving more insights to Quran and its interpretations
·Other sciences such as medicine, farasaah, geneology apart from fiqh
· Able to relate and analyze Quraan and Sunnah in different lights
· Broadminded
Knowledge:
·Citadels of knowledge: Makkah: Sufyan ibn Uyaynah and language of bedouins , Madina: Imam Malik(considered best student) , Iraq: Mohd ibn al Hasan ash Shaybani (Abdul Hanif’s(AH) student) Egypt: Layth ibn Sad
·Imam Malik’s Muwatta- memorised all of it
·Layth ibn Sad: more knowledgeable and better than Malik and Abdul Hanif
What makes it different?
·So, comprehensive school of thought due to his travel as Malik only focused on Madinah, Abdul Hanif from Kufa
·Consisted of the cream of all the Madhahibs (best and most authentic of all; formulated into own Madhab)
·Encompassed fiqh of other schools of thought from teachers (direct and indirect)
·Criticism: Valid Criticism of Abdul Hanif, debate with Shaybani and Al Umm, pointed out mistakes of Malik
·Sources of law straightforward and concise unlike the other schools of thought
Ar Risalah ( relationship between Quran and Sunnah):
oQuran : for supplying raw material for legislation, sole authority to consider anything halal and haram, more deeper insight, Quran clear although some parts more clearer than others, Explicit and implicit verses of Quran
oAbout 200 citations from Quran in Risalah
oSunnah : source of law: draws heavily on it in formulating his rules and maxims of law
oQuran can only abrogate Quran, likewise Sunnah abrogates Sunnah, Quran abrogates Sunnah only after a Sunnah itself first abrogates the Sunnah
oSunnah explains Quran
oQuran and Sunnah 3 basic relations:
§Specific legal provision in text of Quran like basic duties owed to God: Salat, Zakat, adultery, Ramadhaan, prohibited foods (Sunnah conforms with it)
§Ambiguous meanings: clarified and certain provisions whose mode of observances have been made clear by Prophet e.g. No of Rakat, timing, wudhu,
§Prophet’s Sunnah: no defined ruling from Quran or no supporting text but a general command to obey the Prophet. “So whoever obeys Messenger obeys Allah” another e.g. change of Qiblah, earlier face Jerusalem no verse
§Ijtihad
oQuran: chop of hands for theft but Sunnah limit of ¼ dinar worth of stolen good
oQuran: Inheritance after debts and bequests and Sunnah: only a 1/3rd of property and debt precedence
oSunnah : inspired and is part of revelation
o indivisual opinion of the sahaba: mentioned all opinions of all sahabas but gave his own personal opinion at the end
Other sources of law:
oIjma: Rare. To be recorded according to him as passed down, he doubted it but however recounted few cases of Ijmaa and thus gave it no 3 position
oIndividual opinion of Sahabah: if differences then closest to source and most fitting one chosen
oQiyaas is analogical deduction, however he placed it last in order of preference as Quran, Sunnah and Sahabah’s opinion
oIstishaab(seeking a link): rejected Malik’s Istislaah and Abdul Hanif’s Istihsaan as Bidaah however Istishaab based on linking a later set of circumstances with an earlier set was accepted.
(Fiqhi laws applicable to certain conditions remain valid so long there it is certain that these conditions have not changed)
Books:
- Al Madhab Al Jadid (called Al Umm , earlier it was Al Madhab Al Kadim, he wrote this book to remove mistakes of his teacher Imam Malik (in syria , people considered him to be greater than the prophet) , Ar Risalah (written in response to the allegation raised by hanifs)
Is it okay?
yea this is d perfect answer i feel...atleast we have learnt all this...n u have included all the points but make sure to compare him with other imams in a bit more detail like saying he learnt both d fiqhs i.e of imam malik as well as imam abu hanifa + imam layth bin sad (in egypt) whereas they only did theirs...so he had more knowledge...futher imam malik never travelled outside madinah except for hajj so he did have many hadiths etc n imam abu hanifa was from kufa from d ahl-ul-ray ppl n during his time there were a lot off ppl fabrigating ahadith so he was very strict in considering ahadith whereas imam shafi was'nt from there....
the question is why is he considered the greatest/best among d 4 so u have to also compare it n show a contrast as to what points of his makes him d best etc....