Using Qiyās (Analogy) When a Ṣaḥīḥ Hadith Exists
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on performing qiyās (analogy) in a matter where a ṣaḥīḥ Hadith exists?
❖ Answer:
It is not permissible to perform qiyās when a ṣaḥīḥ Hadith is present, especially when that qiyās contradicts the Hadith. Such an approach is the way of innovators. Qiyās is only valid when there is no text (naṣṣ) from the Qur’an, Hadith, Athār of the Companions, or consensus of the Ummah. When a naṣṣ is present, qiyās is invalid.
Evidence
❀ ʿAbd Khayr (رحمه الله) narrates:
رأيت على بن أبى طالب، يمسح ظهور قدميه، ويقول : لولا أني رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مسح على ظهورهما، لظننت أن بطونهما أحق .
“I saw ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (RA) wiping over the upper part of his feet, and he said: ‘Had I not seen the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wiping over the upper part of his feet, I would have thought that the underside was more deserving.’”
(Musnad al-Ḥumaydī: 1/26, ḥadīth 47, chain authentic)
This shows that Sayyidunā ʿAlī (RA) abandoned his personal reasoning and analogy in the presence of the Sunnah, giving preference to the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
Thus, in all religious matters, this principle applies: every action must be based on revelation. Personal reasoning and analogy are to be set aside whenever revelation exists.
Scholarly Statements
❀ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr (رحمه الله, d. 463H) said:
إن القياس لا يستعمل مع وجود الخبر وصحته وأن الر أى لا مدخل له فى العلم مع ثبوت السنة بخلافه .
“Qiyās is not to be used when a report exists and is authentic, and opinion has no place in religious knowledge when an authentic Sunnah exists in contradiction.”
(al-Tamhīd: 12/121)
❀ Imām Muḥammad ibn Sīrīn (رحمه الله) used to say:
أَوَّلُ مَنْ قَاسَ إِبْلِيسُ .
“The first one to perform qiyās (in opposition to revelation) was Iblīs.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: 14/86, chain ḥasan)
Conclusion:When a ṣaḥīḥ Hadith exists, performing qiyās is invalid. Revelation takes precedence, and analogy or personal reasoning must be abandoned in favor of the Sunnah.
