Lesson 13: The High Status of the Fiqh of the Companions

Question 1

How the Scholars Demonstrated the Rank and Virtues of the Companions

Answer 1

Many people neglect learning about the Fiqh of the Companions, focusing solely on the Madahib, not caring about the companion’s views on some issue

1. The Scholars of Hadith bring their verdicts, judgments, statements in their works (جوامع و مسانيد).
   - Musnad Ahmed, Jami Tirmidhi is beautiful as when he mentions a Hadith, he gives the Fiqh of the companions and the Salaf of their views regarding it

1. Scholars gave importance to what came from them
   - When it came to issues like lexicography, scholars like Ibn Faris (395) in Mu’jam Maqayees al Lughah for instance will mention the views of Ibn ‘Abbas, Ali etc.

1. Their Understanding of a Verse is evidence.
   - Judging the ruling of a Ayah based on what the Sahabi says of it

1. Importance given to them with regards to the ordering of evidences.
   - If there is an issue where one is strengthening a view, if one side as a tabi’ and another has a companion to support their view, then because the companion has a higher status, the view of the companions take precedence.
   
   • Some of the Scholars, when a companion mentions something that they were commanded or forbidden from doing, or something that can’t come from their own reasoning, raise it to the level of it being Marfu’, such as when it comes to the interpretation of a verse.

1. Some of the Statements of some of the companions became Principles that narrowed down Fiqhi issues
   - Such as the letter of ‘Umar (23 AH) wrote to Abu Musa al Ashari with regards to judgment

Others such as:

> مَقَاطِعُ الْحُقُوقِ عِنْدَ الشُّرُوطِRights decisively lean on provisions

• Statement of ‘Ali:

> مَنْ قَاسَمَ الرِّبْحَ فَلَا ضَمَانَ عَلَيْهِThere is no guarantee upon whom shares profits

1. They had clear statements
   - Such as the statement of ‘Umar

> مَقَاطِعُ الْحُقُوقِ عِنْدَ الشُّرُوطِRights decisively lean on provisions

Which became a principle for many issues. This was very brief in wording, yet comprehensive.

1. The Fiqh of the Companions was practical, not theoretical
   - By learning about their Fiqh, you will see how they didn’t busy themselves with hypotheticals and only focused on practicality.

Question 2

Reference Points for the Fiqh of the Sahaba Compilations/Books With Chains (المُصَنَّفَاتُ المُسْنَدَة)

Answer 2

Arabic Name | Transliteration | Translation |
| — | — | — |
| المُوَطَّأ | Al-Muwatta | Muwatta by Imam Malik |
| الأُمّ | Al-Umm | al Umm by Imam Shafi’i |
| الآثَار | Al-Athar | al Athar by Qadi Abu Yusuf |
| الأَصْلُ وَالآثَار | Al-Asl wal Athar | Asl wal Athar by Muhammad ash Shaybani |
| المُصَنَّفُ ابْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّزَّاق | Al-Musannaf ibn Abdurrazaq | Musanaf ibn Abdurrazaq (211 author death AH) |
| المُصَنَّفُ أَبِي شَيْبَة | Al-Musannaf Abi Shayba | Musanaf Abi Shayba |
| سُنَنُ سَعِيدِ ابْنِ مَنْصُور | Sunan Sa’eed ibn Mansoor | Sunan Sa’eed ibn Mansoor |
| المُدَوَّنَةُ السَّحْنُونِيَّة | Mudawala al Kubra of Sahnoon | Mudawala of Sahnoor |
| مَسَائِلُ الإِمَامِ أَحْمَد | Masa’il Imam Ahmad | Masa’il Imam Ahmad (students) |
| تَفْسِيرُ عَبْدِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ | Tafseer by ‘Abd Ibn Humaid | Tafseer by ‘Abd Ibn Humayd |
| سُنَنُ أَبِي دَاوُد | Sunan Abi Dawood | Sunan Abi Dawood |
| المَعْرِفَةُ وَالتَّارِيخ | Al-Ma’rifatu wat Tarikh | Al Ma’rifatu wat Tarikh by Ya’qoob bin Sufyan al Fasawi |
| جَامِعُ التِّرْمِذِي | Jami’ at Tirmidhi | Jami’ at Tirmidhi |
| تَفْسِيرُ الطَّبَرِي | Tafseer at Tabari | Tafseer at Tabari |
| تَهْذِيبُ الآثَارِ | Tahdhib al Athar by At-Tabari | Tahdhib al Athar by at Tabari |
| تَفْسِيرُ ابْنِ المُنْذِر | Tafseer Ibn al-Munthir | Tafsir Ibn al Munthir |
| الأَوْسَطُ ابْنُ المُنْذِر | Al-Awsat Ibnul Munthir | Al Awsat by Ibnul Munthir |
| شَرْحُ مَعَانِي الآثَارِ وَمُشْكِلُ الآثَارِ | Sharh Ma’any al Athar and Mushkil al Athar by Imam at-Tahawi | Sharhu Ma’any al Athar and Mushkil al Athar by Imam at-Tahawi |
| أحكام القرآن | Ahkam al Quran | Ahkam al Quran by Tahawi |
| المُحَلَّى | Al-Muhala | Muhala by Ibn Hazm |
| مُعْجَمُ الصَّحَابَةِ ابْنُ قَانِع | Mu’jam as Sahaba by Ibn Qani’ | Mu’jam as Sahaba by Ibn Qani’ |
| مُعْجَمُ الصَّحَابَةِ أَبُو لُعَيْم | Mu’jam as Sahaba by Abu Lu’aym | Mu’jam as Sahaba by Abu Lu’aym |
| مَعْرِفَةُ السُّنَّةِ وَالآثَار | Ma’rifatu Sunati wal Athar by Al-Bayhaqi | Ma’rifatu Sunati wal Athar by Al-Bayhaqi |
| سُنَنُ الكُبْرَى البَيْهَقِي | Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi | Sunan al Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi |
| الخِلَافِيَّاتُ البَيْهَقِي | Al-Khilafiyat by Al-Bayhaqi | Al Khilafyat by Al-Bayhaqi |
| مُعْجَمُ الصَّحَابَةِ البَغَوِي | Mu’jam as Sahaba by Al-Baghawi | Mu’jam as Sahaba by Al-Baghawi (latest one, from Malik to Baghawi in time range) |

Question 3

Reference Points for the Fiqh of the Sahaba Compilations/Books Without Chains (مُصَنَّفَات غَيْرُ المُسْنَدَةِ)

Answer 3

Arabic Name | Transliteration | Translation |
| — | — | — |
| كِتَابُ التَّمْهِيدِ | Kitab at-Tamhid | Kitab at Tamhid by Ibn Abdul Bar |
| شَرْحُ مُسْلِم | Sharh Muslim | Sharh Muslim by Imam Nawawi |
| الإشْرَاف عَلَى مَدَاهِبِ العُلَمَاء | Al-Ishraf Ala Madahib al-Ulama | Al Ishraf Ala Madahib al Ulamah by Ibn Mundhir |
| التَّمْهِيد والاستِدْهَار | At Tamheed wal Istidhkar | At Tamheed and the book Istidhkar by Ibn Abdul Barr |
| المُغْنِي بِن قُدَمَة | Mughni ibn Qudama | Mughni ibn Qudama |
| الْمَجْمُوع | Al Majmu’ | Al Majmu’ by Imam Nawawi |
| شَرْحُ الْعُمْدَة | Sharh al ‘Umudah | Sharh al ‘Umudah by Ibn Taymiyyah |
| فَتْحُ الْبَارِي | Fathul Bari | Fathul Bari by Ibn Rajab al Hanbali |
| فَتْحُ الْبَارِي | Fath al Bari | Fath al Bari by Ibn Hajar al Asqalani |
| عُمْدَةُ القَارِي شَرْحُ صَحِيحِ البُخَارِي | Umdatul Qari Sharh Sahih al Bukhari | Umdatul Qari explanation of Saheeh al Bukhari by بدر الدين العيني (Badr al-Dīn al-ʿAynī) |
| نَيْلُ الأَوْطَار | Naylul Awtar | Naylul Awtar by Shawkani |