Lesson 6: Methods of clarification by the Prophet ﷺ Flashcards
First way of clarification: How did the messenger ﷺ give comprehensive principles
He would say a statement that would be a comprehensive, detailed principle.
Such as:
عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَبِي حَفْصٍ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ: “ إنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ
It is narrated on the authority of Amirul Mu’minin, Abu Hafs ‘Umar bin al-Khattab (ra) who said:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Actions are (judged) by motives (niyyah), so each man will have what he intended….
So here, we have this powerful principle, that whatever you do depends on your intention behind, 2 people can do the same action like Jihad and because of their niyyah, one gets rewarded while the other does not.
Second way of clarification: How did the messenger ﷺ connect the ruling to its reason
مقروناً بعلته
By telling the ruling of a matter by connecting to the reason of it was permitted, prohibited
For example, when the Prophet ﷺ told the sahaba about the prohibition of the saliva of the dog, they asked about the cats as they mix with their plates utensils etc. And
عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ صَالِحِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ التَّمَّارِ، عَنْ أُمِّهِ، أَنَّ مَوْلاَتَهَا، أَرْسَلَتْهَا بِهَرِيسَةٍ إِلَى عَائِشَةَ رضى الله عنها فَوَجَدْتُهَا تُصَلِّي فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَىَّ أَنْ ضَعِيهَا فَجَاءَتْ هِرَّةٌ فَأَكَلَتْ مِنْهَا فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَتْ أَكَلَتْ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَكَلَتِ الْهِرَّةُ فَقَالَتْ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ
“ إِنَّهَا لَيْسَتْ بِنَجَسٍ إِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنَ الطَّوَّافِينَ عَلَيْكُمْ
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin:
Dawud ibn Salih ibn Dinar at-Tammar quoted his mother as saying that her mistress sent her with some pudding (harisah) to Aisha who was offering prayer. She made a sign to me to place it down. A cat came and ate some of it, but when Aisha finished her prayer, she ate from the place where the cat had eaten. She stated: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: It is not unclean: it is one of those who go round among you. She added: I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performing ablution from the water left over by the cat.
Here, the messenger tied the permissibility of it due to the fact that it would be difficult to avoid/they go around with us.
Third way of clarification: How did the messenger ﷺ do the action himself
Sunnatu fi’liyyah
Some people can’t retain information, but they can follow if they see something, and this was done the most.
For example, Wudu was learnt by how he did it, hajj and so on.
**حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَرْحٍ وَحَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى التُّجِيبِيُّ قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ عَطَاءَ بْنَ يَزِيدَ اللَّيْثِيَّ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ حُمْرَانَ مَوْلَى عُثْمَانَ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ عَفَّانَ - رضى الله عنه - دَعَا بِوَضُوءٍ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَغَسَلَ كَفَّيْهِ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ مَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْثَرَ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى إِلَى الْمِرْفَقِ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ يَدَهُ الْيُسْرَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ مَسَحَ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ رِجْلَهُ الْيُمْنَى إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ الْيُسْرَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَوَضَّأَ نَحْوَ وُضُوئِي هَذَا ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
“ مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ نَحْوَ وُضُوئِي هَذَا ثُمَّ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ لاَ يُحَدِّثُ فِيهِمَا نَفْسَهُ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ ”
. قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ وَكَانَ عُلَمَاؤُنَا يَقُولُونَ هَذَا الْوُضُوءُ أَسْبَغُ مَا يَتَوَضَّأُ بِهِ أَحَدٌ لِلصَّلاَةِ **
*Humran, the freed slave of ‘Uthman, said:**
Uthman b. ‘Affan called for ablution water and this is how he performed the ablution. He washed his hands thrice. He then rinsed his mouth and cleaned his nose with water (three times). He then washed his face three times, then washed his right arm up to the elbow three times, then washed his left arm like that, then wiped his head; then washed his right foot up to the ankle three times, then washed his left foot like that, and then said: I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) perform ablution like this ablution of mine. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: He who performs ablution like this ablution of mine and then stood up (for prayer) and offered two rak’ahs of prayer without allowing his thoughts to be distracted, all his previous sins are expiated. Ibn Shihab said: Our scholars remarked: This is the most complete of the ablutions performed for prayer.
How was Ijtihad like during the time of the messenger ﷺ
- Ijtihad was not a مصدر مستقل من مصادر التشريع في هذا العهد-an independent source of legislation in this era (of the messenger ﷺ. It wasn’t like the Quran and Sunnah that stood on its own
- It was divided into
- By the messenger ﷺ and this itself was divided into 2
- By the Sahaba
How was Ijtihad done by the messenger ﷺ
The Ijtihad of the messenger ﷺ was divided into 2
* Ijtihad which reaches his from Allah such as rules and legislations, and this is obligatory for us to follow.
He ﷺ could get this wrong at times, such as legislating something, but Allah corrects him.
such as:
وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَسُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَيَعْقُوبُ الدَّوْرَقِيُّ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ مَرْوَانَ الْفَزَارِيِّ، - قَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ حَدَّثَنَا الْفَزَارِيُّ، - عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الأَصَمِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ الأَصَمِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلٌ أَعْمَى فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِي قَائِدٌ يَقُودُنِي إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ . فَسَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يُرَخِّصَ لَهُ فَيُصَلِّيَ فِي بَيْتِهِ فَرَخَّصَ لَهُ فَلَمَّا وَلَّى دَعَاهُ فَقَالَ ” هَلْ تَسْمَعُ النِّدَاءَ بِالصَّلاَةِ ” . فَقَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ ” فَأَجِبْ ”
Abu Huraira reported:
There came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) a blind man and said: Messenger of Allah, I have no one to guide me to the mosque. He, therefore, asked. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) permission to say prayer in his house. He (tee Holy Prophet) granted him permission. Then when the man turned away he called him and said: Do you hear the call to prayer? He said: Yes. He (the Prophet then) said: Respond to it.
Another narrations clarify this noble companion was the one who Allah addressed in Surah Abas; Ibn Umm Makhtum.
The shaykh mentioned how another narration clarifies that Jibril told him this (can’t find it)
- Ijtihad not from his lord but from a worldly/political/person perspective (and we don’t consider this a legislating)
Examples include: - Placement of the companions near the well
- Planting of seeds
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، - قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَسْوَدُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ، - حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، وَعَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَرَّ بِقَوْمٍ يُلَقِّحُونَ فَقَالَ ” لَوْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا لَصَلُحَ ” . قَالَ فَخَرَجَ شِيصًا فَمَرَّ بِهِمْ فَقَالَ ” مَا لِنَخْلِكُمْ ” . قَالُوا قُلْتَ كَذَا وَكَذَا قَالَ ” أَنْتُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِأَمْرِ دُنْيَاكُمْ ” .
Anas reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) happened to pass by the people who had been busy in grafting the trees. Thereupon he said:
If you were not to do it, it might be good for you. (So they abandoned this practice) and there was a decline in the yield. He (the Holy Prophet) happened to pass by them (and said): What has gone wrong with your trees? They said: You said so and so. Thereupon he said: You have better knowledge (of a technical skill) in the affairs of the world.
On this issue of the messenger ﷺ saying that “You know better the affairs of your world.” is used by many of those who are modernist and liberals
The shaykh suggest reading the work ‘ilam al muwaqi’in ‘an rabbil alamin by Ibn Qayyim on this issue
How was Ijtihad done by the Sahaba during the life of the messenger ﷺ
- Sa’d Ibn Abi Muadh and his ruling on Banu Quraydah
- The sahaba who disagreed on the order of the messenger ﷺ to not pray until the reach Banu Quraydah
- Amr ibn al As and tayammum when it was very cold at night
Distinct qualities of the legislation at the time of the messenger ﷺ
Gradualism in the prohibition of Khamr
> وَمِن ثَمَرَٰتِ ٱلنَّخِيلِ وَٱلْأَعْنَـٰبِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْهُ سَكَرًۭا وَرِزْقًا حَسَنًا ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَعْقِلُونَ
And from the fruits of the palm trees and grapevines you take intoxicant and good provision.1Indeed in that is a sign for a people who reason
> ۞ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ ۖ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌۭ كَبِيرٌۭ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا ۗ وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ ٱلْعَفْوَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ ٢١٩
They ask you about wine1and gambling. Say, “In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit.” And they ask you what they should spend. Say, “The excess [beyond needs].” Thus Allāh makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought
Here, Allah didn’t fully outright prohibit it (explicitly but it did imply it)
After the people were firm and grounded, the ayah
> يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَـٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا۟ مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِى سَبِيلٍ حَتَّىٰ تَغْتَسِلُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَـٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا ٤٣
O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying1or in a state of janābah,2except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women [i.e., had sexual intercourse] and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allāh is ever Pardoning3and Forgiving.
Once the previous verse was solidifed, the 2 verses,
> يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.
> إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاءَ فِي الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَعَنِ الصَّلَاةِ ۖ فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّنتَهُونَ
Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist?
After this verse, the people spilled it in the street
Technical meaning of Naskh (abrogation)
والنسخ في الاصطلاح: هو إزالة ما استقر من الحكم الشرعي بخطاب وارد متراخيا لولاه لكان السابق ثابتا
In the technical sense, abrogation refers to the removal of a settled legal ruling by a subsequent address, where if it were not for this address, the previous ruling would have remained established
chose a different definition other than the one the Shaykh gave
