Muqaddimah
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the prophet Muhammad PBUH, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Under the topic of al-Qiyas, there is a chapter known as masaalik al-‘illah. To put it into words, this is the ways or methods used to identify illah (legal reason) for particular ruling. Among the most renown methods are through al-Nas, al-Ijma’ and al-Sabr wa al-Taqsim. If the illah for a certain ruling is not stated directly in the excerpts of Al-Quran and Hadith as well as ijma’, then a mujtahid shall use the method of al-sabr wa al-taqsim in identifying it. Hence, in this series, we would like to explain this by focusing on the third masalik al-illah (methods of identifying the ‘illah), which is al-sabru wa al-taqsim.
Definition of al-Sabru wa al-Taqsim
Al-sabru wa al-taqsim consists of two phrases, which are al-Sabru and al-Taqsim. Literally, al-sabr means: Ikhtibar or doing a test. While, al-taqsim literally means: Breaking into parts or dividing something into some divisions.
Technically, al-Imam Ibn al-Najjar Rahimahullah stated in defining al-Sabru wa al-Taqsim: Limiting the topographies of the original issue which is analogically deduced (qiyas) to a new issue as well as ruling out criteria which are not related. Refer: Syarah al-Kaukab al-Munir, Ibn al-Najjar (pg. 516).
In other words, Al-Sabru wa al-Taqsim means: A mujtahid rules out some criteria he found unrelated and unfit to be the illah for a particular ruling. Then he does an observation, test as well as research to withdraw some criteria which he feels unfit to remain.
The Application of Al-Sabru wa al-Taqsim
Here, we include some examples of the application of al-Sabru wa al-Taqsim in the process of identifying the illah for a particular ruling:
First: Illah for the Prohibition of Intoxicants
The nas (Qura’nic and prophetic evidence) clearly shows that the ruling for intoxicants is haram. This is in accordance with the saying of Allah SWT in the Quran:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful
Surah Al-Baqarah (90)
Based on this verse, the ruling for intoxicants is clearly haram (prohibited) because there is an imperative clause commanding to leave the act.
Some scholars state that the ‘illah for prohibition of intoxicants is the intoxication itself. Their saying is based on what is stated in the prophetic tradition:
كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ وَكُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ خَمْرٌ
Every intoxicant is unlawful and every intoxicant is Khamr
Sunan an-Nasa'i (5586)
The above hadith clearly states the evidence of prohibition of intoxicants as well as its ‘illah is intoxication. However, this narration did not reach to some scholars, where they did not know about it. In fact, even if it was narrated to them, it may be invalid (not sahih) according to them. Hence, they use this method of al-Sabru wa al-Taqsim in identifying the most accurate ‘illah for the prohibition of intoxicants.
By using the method of al-Sabru wa al-Taqsim, a mujtahid may gather criteria which may be the reasons for the prohibition. The examples are as follows:
- Criterion of it is produced from grapes
- Criterion of liquor in which it is flowing
- Criterion of intoxication
- Criterion of liquor which is impure
The process of filtering and dividing these criteria is named as al-Taqsim. Then, a mujtahid runs an inspection and analyzation as well as ruling out criteria which seem unfit to be the ‘illah and keeping only one reasonable criterion to be identified as ‘illah for the hukm. This process is named as al-Sabru.
Second: The Authority (Wilayah) of a Father to Marry Off His Daughter Without her Permission
Verily, the nas (Quranic and prophetic evidences) have already stated that the wilayah (authority) of a father to marry off his daughter who are young virgins. However, the ‘illah for this ruling is not stated neither in the nas, nor by ijma’. Hence, a mujtahid has to analyze the nas and limiting ‘illah to one of these two criteria; virginity or due to being young.
After analyzation, he then ruled out the criterion of ‘virginity’ because the syarak does not consider this as part of consideration (iktibar). Then, a mujtahid keeps the criterion of ‘being young’ because syarak considers it the ‘illah for the wilayah (authority) of children’s property on the hand of others. Hence, it is the dalil that syarak considers is only one criterion which is ‘being young’.
However, it is undeniable that the analyzation of the mujtahids may differs between one another in applying this method of al-Sabru wa al-Taqsim. A mujtahid may consider it as a reasonable criterion to be the ‘illah. While, other mujtahid may see it conversely.
As an example: The Hanafite view that ‘illah al-wilayah (‘illah for the authority) of a father marries off his young virgin daughter is the criterion of ‘being young’, and not the ‘virginity’. While, the Shafi’ite view the criterion of ‘virginity’ as the ‘illah, and not as ‘being young’.
Differences Between Al-Sabru Wa al-Taqsim and Tanqih al-Manath
On the last series, we already explain in detail regarding the method of Tanqih al-Manath. Briefly, it is a process to filter ‘illah from some seemingly related criteria and elements, but are not considered as the ‘illah.
Hence, what is the difference between Al-Sabru Wa al-Taqsim and Tanqih al-Manath?
We answer it briefly as follow:
- The process of al-Sabru wa al-Taqsim is used when there are contradicting dalils as well as ‘illah. It is also used as a verification of the ‘illah as well as in the method of Tahqiq al-Manath and Takhrij al-Manath.
- Tanqih al-Manath is a process to filter ‘illah from unrelated criteria and elements which are not considered as the ‘illah. At the same time, those criteria are mentioned in the same nas.
- According to some scholars, the process of al-Sabru wa al-Taqsim is specifically meant for ‘illah which is concluded through istinbat (extraction). While, the process of Tanqih al-Manath specifically meant for the ‘illah which is stated clearly in the nas (Quranic or prophetic evidences).
Conclusion
To close, as this process of al-Sabru wa al-Taqsim is a method to identify the ‘illah for particular ruling. So, it is a method that should be mastered perfectly by a mujtahid. It is because, there are indeed more contemporary issues nowadays which are in need of inference from the rulings. More often than not, the cases have never taken place before. Therefore, it is important to identify the ‘illah to make it easier to apply the Qiyas towards these contemporary issues. May Allah give us clear understanding regarding this issue. Ameen.