Usul al fiqh

Al-hukm al-shari'

Definition

Linguistically

The Arabic word "ḥukm", linguistically, means judgment. Technically, there is a controversy among Muslim Scholars concerning the actual meaning of al-ḥukm al-Sharʿī.

Acc/ to scholars

Defined as: "the speech of the lawgiver related to mukallafīn actions, which indicates demand, permissibility or the legal effects and the legal requirements of such actions."

The word “mukallafīn”

The word “mukallafīn” is a plural form to the word mukallaf. The mukallaf (the legally capable person) is the sane and adult individual to whom the lawgiver's speech is delivered in absence of impediments to obligations.

Characteristics

1- The speech shall be Allah's speech only, which is expressed, about in the legal evidences (al-ʾadilah al-shariyah).

2- The speech should be relevant to mukallafīn acts.

3- The speech should be directed to the sane and adult human being.

Categories

al-ḥukm al-taklīfī (the commissioning legal rule)

al-ḥukm al-waḍʿī (the circumstantial legal rule)

Difference

Def.

the speech of the lawgiver related to actions of the mukallafīn, which entails:

Demand to do

وأقيموا الصلاة

not to do

ولا تقربوا الزنا

Permissibility

فإذا حللتم فاصطادوا

the speech of the lawgiver indicating whether mukallafeen's acts are:

a cause

والسارق والسارقة فاقطعوا أيديهما

condition

impediment

القاتل لا يرث

valid

invalid

Other

Al-taklifi must be within performing ability of mukallaf

Al-wadi' May or may not be within performing ability of mukallaf

Example

The theft, which is a cause of the thief's hand to be cut, is a cause that comes within mukallaf's ability.

Kin relationship, which is a cause of inheritance, is an example of the cause that goes beyond the mukallaf's ability.

al-ḥukm al-taklīfī (the commissioning legal rule)

al-ḥukm al-waḍʿī (the circumstantial legal rule)

Controversy & classification

2- Ḥanafī School

seven-branch division

al-Karaha al-tanzīhia (the condemnation near to legitimation)

al-Karaha al-taḥrīmiah (the condemnation near to prohibition)

al-Farḍiah (irrevocable obligation)

Absolute demand to do, derived from definitive evidence

al-tahrīm (the prohibition – forbiddance)

al-nadb (the recommendation)

al-ijāb (the obligation)

Absolute demand to do, derived from speculative/ non-definitive evidence

al-ibaḥa (the permission – legitimation)

1- Mutakalimīn school

five-branch division

al-tahrīm (the prohibition – forbiddance)

Absolute demand not to do

al-karaha (the dislike – condemnation)

non-absolute demand, recommended not to do

al-ibaḥa (the permission – legitimation)

No demand, doing or not doing is fine

al-nadb (the recommendation)

non absolute demand, recommended to do

al-ijāb (the obligation)

Absolute demand to do

The speech of the lawgiver

Demand

To do

Not to do

Absolute

Non-absolute

Al-fard – al-wajib Obligatory

recommended

forbidden

disliked

No reference to demand

Permissible or mubah

Absolute demand not to do, proven by definitive evidence

non-absolute demand not to do, extracted from non-definitive evidence

Dif.

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