In Defence of the Four Imams – Islamic Fiqh Book by bn Taymiyah

In Defence of the Four Imams – Islamic Fiqh Book by bn Taymiyah

In Defence of the Four Imams is an insightful Islamic fiqh book explaining the differences among the four major schools of Islamic law. This Islamic jurisprudence guide clarifies why scholars differed while remaining faithful to authentic teachings. A useful madhab reference book for students and readers seeking deeper understanding of Islamic scholarship.

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Page 01
IN DEFENCE OF THE FOUR IMAMS
IBN TAYMIYAH
Page 02
Contents
TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
THE FIRST CAUSE
He was unaware of the hadith
THE SECOND CAUSE
He was aware of the hadith, but it wasn't sound in his vie
THE THIRD CAUSE
He believes the hadith presented by those differing with him is weak
THE FOURTH CAUSE
He Stipulates Conditions for the Reports of Reliable Narrators that are different from other scholars
THE FIFTH CAUSE
He knew the hadith, considered it to be genuine, but forgot it
THE SIXTH CAUSE
He did not know what the hadith meant
THE SEVENTH CAUSE
He believes that his opponent misconstrues the hadith
Page 03
The First Cause
He was unaware of the hadith
Whomever the hadith hasn't reached isn't burdened to know what it necessitates. And if it hasn't reached him-while he has taken a view about that issue that accords with the out- ward meaning of a verse, [or] with another hadith, [or] in accord with legal analogy (qiyas), or in accord with the rule of presumption (istishab)—it (i.e. the view) might agree with that hadith at times, and it might contradict it at others. This cause is the major reason for most statements of the Salaf that conflicted with some of the hadiths. For surely none of the Imams encompassed knowledge of all of the hadiths of Allah's messenger.
And the Prophetused to relate [teachings], offer legal opinions (yufti), give legal verdicts (yaqdi), or he would do something and someone who was present would hear or see him, and then those-or one of them-would proclaim that [thing] to whoever they would run into [later]. Then the knowledge of that would reach whomever Allah willed of the scholars from the Sahabah, the Tabi'in, and those after them. Then in another sitting he might relate [a teaching], offer a
Page 04
IN DEFENCE OF THE FOUR IMAMS
IBN TAYMIYAH
I Why did the distinguished jurists, notably the Four Imams of early Muslim history differ?
Why do some of their views apparently contradict authentic scriptural texts?
And why do their followers seem to prefer their opinions even when they outwardly contradict sound prophetic traditions?
In this unique work of Ibn Taymiyah, his primary aim is to present cogent answers to these questions, as he displays humble deference towards his predecessors.
He begins his work by mentioning three excuses as to why the eponymous four Imams sometimes contravened the import of sound prophetic traditions. He then proceeds to explicate ten things prompting them to adopt one of the three aforementioned excuses.

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• Shaykh-Ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah

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Page 01
IN DEFENCE OF THE FOUR IMAMS
IBN TAYMIYAH
Page 02
Contents
TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
THE FIRST CAUSE
He was unaware of the hadith
THE SECOND CAUSE
He was aware of the hadith, but it wasn't sound in his vie
THE THIRD CAUSE
He believes the hadith presented by those differing with him is weak
THE FOURTH CAUSE
He Stipulates Conditions for the Reports of Reliable Narrators that are different from other scholars
THE FIFTH CAUSE
He knew the hadith, considered it to be genuine, but forgot it
THE SIXTH CAUSE
He did not know what the hadith meant
THE SEVENTH CAUSE
He believes that his opponent misconstrues the hadith
Page 03
The First Cause
He was unaware of the hadith
Whomever the hadith hasn't reached isn't burdened to know what it necessitates. And if it hasn't reached him-while he has taken a view about that issue that accords with the out- ward meaning of a verse, [or] with another hadith, [or] in accord with legal analogy (qiyas), or in accord with the rule of presumption (istishab)—it (i.e. the view) might agree with that hadith at times, and it might contradict it at others. This cause is the major reason for most statements of the Salaf that conflicted with some of the hadiths. For surely none of the Imams encompassed knowledge of all of the hadiths of Allah's messenger.
And the Prophetused to relate [teachings], offer legal opinions (yufti), give legal verdicts (yaqdi), or he would do something and someone who was present would hear or see him, and then those-or one of them-would proclaim that [thing] to whoever they would run into [later]. Then the knowledge of that would reach whomever Allah willed of the scholars from the Sahabah, the Tabi'in, and those after them. Then in another sitting he might relate [a teaching], offer a
Page 04
IN DEFENCE OF THE FOUR IMAMS
IBN TAYMIYAH
I Why did the distinguished jurists, notably the Four Imams of early Muslim history differ?
Why do some of their views apparently contradict authentic scriptural texts?
And why do their followers seem to prefer their opinions even when they outwardly contradict sound prophetic traditions?
In this unique work of Ibn Taymiyah, his primary aim is to present cogent answers to these questions, as he displays humble deference towards his predecessors.
He begins his work by mentioning three excuses as to why the eponymous four Imams sometimes contravened the import of sound prophetic traditions. He then proceeds to explicate ten things prompting them to adopt one of the three aforementioned excuses.