Argumentation with Ḥadīth, Ḥanbalī Fiqh, and the Methodology of the Imāms in Rulings

استدلال بالحدیث، فقہ حنبلی اور احکام میں ائمہ کا منہج

Abstract

This study explores the nuanced process of deriving legal rulings (aḥkām) from ḥadīth literature, focusing particularly on the methodological framework of the Ḥanbalī school of Islamic jurisprudence. The process of interpretation and inference from prophetic traditions is not monolithic; rather, it reflects a rich diversity that dates back to the era of the Ṣaḥābah (Companions of the Prophet ﷺ). Differences in understanding stem from multiple factors, including linguistic interpretation, the identification of operative causes (ʿillah), contextual knowledge, and prioritization of narrations. These variances are not only observable among the early generations but are also found among the founders of the four major Sunni legal schools (madhāhib), including Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. This article critically examines the tools, principles, and hermeneutical strategies employed by Ḥanbalī scholars in the derivation of legal rulings. Particular attention is given to how textual literalism, adherence to authenticated narrations (ṣaḥīḥ aḥādīth), and methodological gentleness (rifq) influence their legal reasoning. The study also considers the broader jurisprudential methodology of the Imāms, highlighting points of convergence and divergence among them in their interpretive approaches.

By analyzing the core features of Ḥanbalī fiqh in relation to ḥadīth-based rulings, this research sheds light on the sophisticated nature of Islamic legal theory and its capacity for interpretive plurality. It underscores the intellectual rigor and methodological discipline that underpin classical Islamic law, while advocating for respectful engagement with differing legal opinions within the Islamic tradition.