استدلال بالحدیث کا منہج اور شافعی مکتب فقہ

Methodology of Deriving Rulings from Hadith & the Perspective of the Shafi'i School of Jurisprudence

Abstract

This study examines the methodology of deriving legal rulings from hadith and the distinctive approach of the Shafi‘i school of jurisprudence in this regard. The process of istidlāl (deduction) from hadith has always involved a careful balance between textual interpretation and contextual understanding. From the earliest generations of Muslims, including the Companions, scholars differed in their methods of inference due to variations in comprehension, linguistic analysis, and recognition of underlying causes (‘ilal) within the prophetic traditions. These differences gradually developed into diverse jurisprudential methodologies among later scholars, particularly within the four established Sunni schools of thought. The present article focuses on the principles and usūl adopted by Imām al-Shāfi‘ī and his followers in deriving rulings from hadith, highlighting their emphasis on authenticity, textual precision, and consistency with the Qur’ān and Sunnah. The study aims to clarify how the Shafi‘i methodology contributes to a balanced and systematic framework for legal reasoning in Islamic jurisprudence.