Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib reported: Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Take knowledge wherever you find it and do not uncritically accept the opinion jurists have of one
Ibn Abbas on ‘Ilm: Learn from many sources, blindly follow no one Read More »
Al-Zarkashi reported: Malik ibn Anas, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Seeking the best option is nine tenths of knowledge.” Al-Baji said, “Istihsan, as applied by the Maliki scholars, means
Malik on Istihsan: Seeking best ruling is nine tenths of knowledge Read More »
Ibn al-Jawzi said, “If you find a prophetic narration disagreeing with sound reason, contradicting established revelation, or conflicting with the principles, know that it is inauthentic.” Al-Suyuti said, “The meaning
Ibn Jawzi on Hadith: How to recognize a Hadith is weak or fabricated Read More »
Al-Bayhaqi reported: Al-Shafi’i, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “You must acquire understanding in the religion before assuming leadership. If you assume leadership first, there will be no way
Shafi’i on Fiqh: You must understand religion before leadership Read More »
Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi reported: Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Three types of books have no basis: chronicles of military history, great battles at the end of
Ahmad on Apocrypha: Many books of history, exegesis are baseless Read More »
Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, writes, “As for knowing the condition of people, this is a tremendous principle required of the scholar and judge. For if he
Ibn Qayyim on Fatwa: Rulings may change by time, place, condition Read More »
Ibn al-Qayyim reported: Abdullah ibn Ahmad said, “I asked my father Ahmad ibn Hanbal about a man who has books, within which are the sayings of the Messenger of Allah,
Ahmad on Sunnah: Not act on hadith until authenticated, understood Read More »
Al-Dhahabi reported: Al-Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “If I had one supplication to be answered, I would make it for no one but the ruler.
Fudayl on Rulers: Supplicating for guidance of Muslim leaders Read More »
Ibn Abdul Barr reported: Malik ibn Anas, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “I am only a human being. I make mistakes and I am correct, so investigate my
Malik on Sunnah: If my opinion contradicts Sunnah, leave it Read More »
Abu Abdur Rahman reported: The companions would learn to recite ten verses from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. They would not take another ten verses
Hadith on Quran: Companions learn ten verses at a time Read More »
Al-Mada’ini reported: Mu’awiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “It is as if there is strand of hair between the people and myself for me to keep straight without
Mu’awiyah on Justice: Balance between the ruler and his subjects Read More »
Al-Dhahabi reported: Ibn Wahb, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Were it not for Malik and Al-Layth, I would have been ruined. I used to believe that everything narrated
Ibn Wahb on Fiqh: I would be led astray, if not for Imam Malik Read More »
Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Avoid applying legal punishments against the Muslims if you are able. If the criminal has a way out,
Hadith on Hudud: Better to mistake in forgiveness than punishment Read More »
Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, recited the verse, “It is He who revealed the Book to you in which are decisive verses that
Hadith on Tafsir: Beware deviants misusing unclear verses Read More »
Al-Suyuti reported: The judge Abu Sa’id responded comprehensively in regard to a question about the school of Al-Shafi’i with four rules (qawa’id); first, certainty does not remove doubt. The basis
Suyuti on Fiqh: Five principles of the school of Al-Shafi’i Read More »
Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “I have left you with two matters which will never lead you astray, as long as you
Hadith on Sunnah: I have left you with the Book, the Sunnah Read More »
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Convey from me, even a single verse. Narrate from the children of Israel, for there is no
Hadith on Ayat: Narrate traditions from me, even a single verse Read More »
Al-Fadl ibn Ziyad reported: I heard Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, respond to a question on the opinion that the Sunnah overrules the Quran. Ahmad said,
Ahmad on Tafsir: The Sunnah is exegesis, explanation of Quran Read More »
Ibn Hajar al-Haytami reported: Imam al-Nasafi, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “When we are asked about our way and the way of those who disagree with us in
Nasafi on Ikhtilaf: Our way is correct, but could be wrong Read More »
Al-Harith ibn ‘Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent Mu’adh to Yemen and he said, “How will you judge?” Mu’adh said, “I will judge
Hadith on Ijtihad: Judge with the Quran, Sunnah, then your opinion Read More »