Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 12 : Point 09
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]
The author Imam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said,
And know, may Allaah have mercy upon you, that there is no making analogies with regard to the Sunnah, nor reasoning with examples and desires are not to be followed regarding it. Rather it is just a case of affirming the narrations from Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam without asking how, or explaining it away and without saying, “Why is that?” or “How can that be?”
The Explanation (Transcription of above Audio):
What is meant by the Sunnah here is the `aqeedah (creed and belief) because this book is on the topic of `aqeedah, and the (correct) creed is the Sunnah. And this book is called Sharhus-Sunnah, an explanation of the Sunnah (the correct creed). It is called Sunnah because the Sunnah is the (correct) path. And the `aqeedah (creed and belief) is towqeefiyyah, dependent upon text. There is no scope at all for adding anything to it. It hinges upon what occurs from Allaah and from His Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. And whatever is contrary to what came from Allaah and His Messenger, then it is false and futile and it is misguidance. So this is the meaning of the saying of the scholars that `aqeedah is towqeefiyyah (depends upon text). Analogy does not enter into it because qiyaas (analogy) can only be in issues of fiqh. They are where analogy can enter, and they are the rulings of what is lawful and what is forbidden. As for the matters of `aqeedah, then there is no analogy in them. Rather it is just tasleem, submission, and inqiyaad, compliance, to that which came from Allaah and his Messenger without any interference. [03]
His saying, “And desires are not to be followed regarding it.” Meaning it is not to be said concerning the `aqeedah (creed and belief) “Whatever agrees to your desires can be accepted and whatever goes against your desires, you should reject it,” as is the way of the people of misguidance. And therefore they were called ahlul-ahwaa (the people of desires). He, the Most High, said,
So if they do not respond to you [04], then know that they are just following their desires. And who is more astray, than one who follows his desires without guidance from Allaah. (Sooratul-Qasas (28), aayah 50)
So whoever does not submit to the `aqeedah (creed and belief) that is established in the Book and the Sunnah, then he is just following his desires. And therefore the people of innovations in creed and belief are called ahlul-ahwaa, the people of desires, because they are just following their desires, as occurs in the aayah:
And who is more astray, than one who follows his desires without guidance from Allaah. (Sooratul-Qasas (28), aayah 50)
His saying, “Rather it is just a case of affirming the narrations from Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam without asking how and without explaining it away and without saying, “Why is that?” or “How can that be?” Meaning submission to the sayings of the Messenger of Allaah sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam with regard to the Names and Attributes of Allaah and the matters of creed and belief. “Without explaining” meaning, not giving an explanation which is contrary to its correct meaning. And it is an explanation which is contrary to what the texts indicate. And this became widespread amongst the Jahmiyyah, the Mu`tazilah and the Ash`arees. Such as their claiming that what is meant by al-Yad, Allaah’s Hand, is al-Qudrah, ability. And what is meant by al-Wajh, Allaah’s Face, is ath-Thaat, His Self. And what is meant by al-Istiwaa·, Allaah’s ascending is al-Isteelaa·, Allaah’s overcoming. This is a false and futile explanation. This is not the meaning of these texts. So his saying “without explanation” means without any false explanation. As for explaining them with the meaning of making clear/explaining their correct meaning, then this is true.
Footnotes:
[03] Translator’s side point: Shaykh Saalih ibn Sa`d as Suhaymee hafizahullaah said,
“What is meant by analogy is that which texts are rejected on account of. That is prohibited in the Sunnah. Indeed it is prohibited in all of the Islaamic rulings. As for the analogy which is well known with the people of Usool (people of fundamental of fiqh) and it is joining a matter for which we do not have a text, joining it to a matter which we do have a text for, based upon a ruling in that matter built upon a reason that is common to both of them, when there is no text to be found.
As for this matter here (analogy in this way) then this is a matter which is acted upon and is something which the Salaf stated. However, it is only resorted to when there is a dire need. So it is a supplementary principle and it is not a fundamental principle. It is resorted to, just in the same way that dead meat is resorted to, it is just like eating dead meat. When a text is not present or the text cannot be understood (or so on and so forth) then in that case analogy can be resorted to. And it is particular to the detailed rulings of legislation. But as for the Sunnah in general, then there is no analogy in the Sunnah. Because it is either a text from the Book of Allaah, or from the way of the Messenger, sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam.”
[04] referring to the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam
Transcribed by Fawad Abu Zaid Al Afghaani. Download PDF of Lesson 12
Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]
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