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FOUNDATIONS OF
RELIGION & GUIDANCE
Lesson Six
The Schools of Islamic Law: Methods of Interpretation

Faraz Rabbani

The Schools of Islamic Law

The Emergence and Need
for ‘Schools’ (Madhhabs)
of Islamic Law

“… in it are decisive verses that are the foundation

of the Book—and others not decisive…”
[Qur’an 3.7]

Foundations of Religion and Guidance - 06 - The Madhhabs.key - March 15, 2018

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The schools of Islamic law: how to interpret texts

—transmitted, like the texts they interpret.
The primary texts: many potential meanings—sound,
unsound
Coherence. Clarity.
Why? Test (ibtila’). Mercy.

The schools of Islamic law: how to interpret texts

—transmitted, like the texts they interpret.
The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬had Companions.
The Companions had Followers.
The Followers: Followers of the Followers.
Each known by their main teachers.

، ‫] إن اﻹﺳﻨﺎد ﻣﻦ اﻟﺪﻳﻦ‬ 6
[ ‫وﻟﻮﻻ اﻹﺳﻨﺎد ﻟﻘﺎل ﻣﻦ ﺷﺎء ﻣﺎ ﺷﺎء‬
“The chain of transmission is from the
religion: were it not for chains of
transmission, anyone could have said
anything.” - Ibn al-Mubarak
Religious understanding: needs method and
process of interpretation.
This, too, is transmi!ed.

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“Ask” and what that entails

“ Ask the People of Remembrance if you know not ” [Qur’an 16:43]

The implications of this:
(1) Two levels of believers
(2) Those who known (ahl al-dhikr) are known, clearly
(3) The duty of others: ask, and follow
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Those who can deduce

“ If they had referred it to the Messenger and to those of authority among them,
then those of them whose task it is to find it out would have known the
ma!er ” [Qur’an 4:83]
The implications of this:
(1) Two levels of believers
(2) Those who known (ahl al-dhikr) are known, clearly
(3) The duty of others: ask, and follow
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Many Hadiths
“The lawful is clear and the unlawful is clear. Between
them are unclear ma!ers that most do not know
about. So whoever avoids the unclear safeguards their
religion and their honour…” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Implications:
There are some who know.
To safeguard your religion, seek them.
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Foundations of Religion and Guidance - 06 - The Madhhabs.key - March 15, 2018

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The Schools of Islamic Law
Why follow?
Four reasons:
[1] The religious duty: ‘obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and
those in authority over you.”
[2] How to obey Allah and the Messenger: through those in
authority—‘ask those who know if you know not.’
[3] A trodden path, group, continual
[4] Purpose: reliable transmission of guidance—instilling taqwa,
upholding mercy, resulting in good, righteousness, virtue, closeness
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Seven Common Questions
[1] Whom can one follow?
[2] Who is a mujtahid?
[3] Caution: Ummatic implications of acceptance
[3] Is the ‘Door of Ijtihad’ closed?
[4] What about resolving new issues?
[5] Do I have to stick to one school?
[6] Isn’t following the Qur’an and Sunna more ‘authentic’?
[7] How do I choose?
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Essential reading: The articles on

madhhabs by Shaykh Nuh Keller and
Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad from
www.masud.co.uk
Recommended: Summarize

Foundations of Religion and Guidance - 06 - The Madhhabs.key - March 15, 2018