abuahmed
17-05-06, 08:09 AM
88. [Shafi`i said]: God said:
When God and His Apostle have decreed a matter, it is not for a believing man or a woman to exercise a choice in a matter affecting him; whoever opposes God and His Apostle has deviated into manifest error [Q. XXXIII, 36].
And He said:
O you who believe, obey God and obey the Apostle and those in authority among you. If you should quarrel about anything, refer it to God and the Apostle, if you believe in God and the Last Day. That is better and fairer in the issue [Q. IV, 62].
Some scholars have held that " those in authority " [means] the commanders of the Apostle's army. That is what more than one commentator has told us. But God knows best [Tabari adds that it may mean the leaders in matters of religion and law. See Tabari, Tafsir, Vol. VIII, pp. 495-504; Baydawi, p. 115.].
This is in accord with what [God] said, for the Arabs who had been around Makka knew nothing about command, and [the idea of] some submitting to the command of others was repugnant to them.
When, however, they submitted to [the authority of] the Apostle, they did not think that [such an authority] was fit to reside in any hands other than the Apostle's.
So they were commanded to obey "those in authority"- the ones whom the Apostle appointed, with conditional but not absolute obedience, concerning their rights and duties. However, [God] said: " If you should quarrel about anything, refer it to God," that is, in the event of disagreement.
89. Shafi`i said: [Bulaq ed., p 14.] This [i. e., the meaning implied in the latter command] is, if God will, as He said about " those in authority," namely, that " If you should quarrel " (but God knows best), they [the people] and the commander whom they were ordered to obey-should " refer it to God and the Apostle " for a settlement on the basis of what God and His Apostle said, if they know it. If you do not know what God's commands are, you should ask the Apostle, if you are able to reach him, [Tabari, Tafsir, Vol. VIII, pp. 504-505.] or any one of you who is able to do so. For this is an obligation concerning which there should be no disagreement, in accordance with God's saying:
When God and His Apostle have decreed a certain matter, it is not for a believing man or a woman to have a choice in a matter affecting him [Q. XXXIII, 36]. [See Baydawi, p. 558.
As to the disputes that happened after the Apostle's [death], the matter was decided in accordance with God's judgment [as laid down in the Quran] and then that of His Apostle [as laid down in the sunna]. But if a text were not applicable, the matter was decided by analogy on the strength of a precedent sought [either in the Qur'aan or the sunna] in the same manner as I have [already] explained concerning the qibla, [witnesses of] just character, equal compensation, and whatever God has prescribed in parallel cases. For He said:
Those who obey God and the Apostle are with the prophets and the veracious and the martyrs and the upright upon whom God has bestowed favor. Good company are these [Q. IV, 71].
And He said:
O you who have believed, obey God and His Apostle [Q. VIII, 20].
Imam Ash-Shaafi`ee
When God and His Apostle have decreed a matter, it is not for a believing man or a woman to exercise a choice in a matter affecting him; whoever opposes God and His Apostle has deviated into manifest error [Q. XXXIII, 36].
And He said:
O you who believe, obey God and obey the Apostle and those in authority among you. If you should quarrel about anything, refer it to God and the Apostle, if you believe in God and the Last Day. That is better and fairer in the issue [Q. IV, 62].
Some scholars have held that " those in authority " [means] the commanders of the Apostle's army. That is what more than one commentator has told us. But God knows best [Tabari adds that it may mean the leaders in matters of religion and law. See Tabari, Tafsir, Vol. VIII, pp. 495-504; Baydawi, p. 115.].
This is in accord with what [God] said, for the Arabs who had been around Makka knew nothing about command, and [the idea of] some submitting to the command of others was repugnant to them.
When, however, they submitted to [the authority of] the Apostle, they did not think that [such an authority] was fit to reside in any hands other than the Apostle's.
So they were commanded to obey "those in authority"- the ones whom the Apostle appointed, with conditional but not absolute obedience, concerning their rights and duties. However, [God] said: " If you should quarrel about anything, refer it to God," that is, in the event of disagreement.
89. Shafi`i said: [Bulaq ed., p 14.] This [i. e., the meaning implied in the latter command] is, if God will, as He said about " those in authority," namely, that " If you should quarrel " (but God knows best), they [the people] and the commander whom they were ordered to obey-should " refer it to God and the Apostle " for a settlement on the basis of what God and His Apostle said, if they know it. If you do not know what God's commands are, you should ask the Apostle, if you are able to reach him, [Tabari, Tafsir, Vol. VIII, pp. 504-505.] or any one of you who is able to do so. For this is an obligation concerning which there should be no disagreement, in accordance with God's saying:
When God and His Apostle have decreed a certain matter, it is not for a believing man or a woman to have a choice in a matter affecting him [Q. XXXIII, 36]. [See Baydawi, p. 558.
As to the disputes that happened after the Apostle's [death], the matter was decided in accordance with God's judgment [as laid down in the Quran] and then that of His Apostle [as laid down in the sunna]. But if a text were not applicable, the matter was decided by analogy on the strength of a precedent sought [either in the Qur'aan or the sunna] in the same manner as I have [already] explained concerning the qibla, [witnesses of] just character, equal compensation, and whatever God has prescribed in parallel cases. For He said:
Those who obey God and the Apostle are with the prophets and the veracious and the martyrs and the upright upon whom God has bestowed favor. Good company are these [Q. IV, 71].
And He said:
O you who have believed, obey God and His Apostle [Q. VIII, 20].
Imam Ash-Shaafi`ee