Sunan an-Nasā'ī Ḥadīth [5399] – Methodology in the issuance of fatāwā
26 March 2024 · 16 Ramaḍān 1445 AH
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنْ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ شُرَيْحٍ، أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَى عُمَرَ يَسْأَلُهُ، فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ: >أَنْ اقْضِ بِمَا فِي كِتَابِ اللّٰهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي كِتَابِ اللّٰهِ فَبِسُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي كِتَابِ اللّٰهِ، وَلَا فِي سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَاقْضِ بِمَا قَضَى بِهِ الصَّالِحُونَ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي كِتَابِ اللّٰهِ، وَلَا فِي سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَلَمْ يَقْضِ بِهِ الصَّالِحُونَ، فَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَتَقَدَّمْ، وَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَتَأَخَّرْ، وَلَا أَرَى التَّأَخُّرَ إِلَّا خَيْرًا لَكَ، وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ<
Reference
Book [49]: The book of the etiquette of judges
Chapter [11]: Ruling according to the consensus of the scholars
Translation
Ḥadīth [5399]: It was narrated from Shurayḥ [1] that he wrote to ‘Umar [d. 23H], to ask him (a question), and ‘Umar wrote back to him telling him: ‘Judge according to what is in the Book of Allāh. If it is not (mentioned) in the Book of Allāh, then (judge) according to the sunnah of the Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him). If it is not (mentioned) in the Book of Allāh or the sunnah of the Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him), then pass judgment according to the way the righteous passed judgment. If it is not (mentioned) in the Book of Allāh, or the sunnah of the Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him), and the righteous did not pass judgment concerning it, then if you wish, go ahead (and try to work it out by yourself) or if you wish, leave it. And I think that leaving it is better for you. And peace be upon you.’
[1] There is a disagreement in the year in which he passed away. Ibn al-Athīr [d. 630H] [Al-Kāmil fī-Tārīkh (4/79)] mentions his death in the year 97H; Imām adh-Dhahabī [d. 748H] [Al-Kashif (2265 (1/406-407))] mentions that he passed away in the year 78H/80H; and Imām ibn Ḥajr [d. 852H] [Taqrīb at-Tahzīb (2789 (1/434))] mentions that he passed away either before or after year 80H. And Allāh knows best.
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