This is what we mean by ijtihad and qiyas...

This is what we mean by ijtihad and qiyas, which are synonymous with istinbat and istihsan. [^43] This statement appears to be strange, for ijtihad, istinbat, ray, qiyas and istihsan are terms which are different from one another regarding their meaning. How can they be considered synonymous and equivalent terms, and how can it be said that these words convey the same meaning when there is nothing common either between the words or their meanings?

It may be said in justification of the above-mentioned statement that the equating of ray with ijtihad is for the reason that the personal judgement of a mujtahid in the event of absence of any express text of the Quran and the Sunnah is synonymous with ijtihhd bi al-ray and hence this sort of istinbat has been named ray as well. But other practices like qiyas, istihsan, masalih mursalah, istislah, sadd al-dhara'i`, fath al-dhara'i`, madhhab al-Sahabi, Shari`at al-salaf, `urf, etc.

📌(which shall be discussed in detail) each one of them is considered an instance of ijtihad, but is not equivalent to or synonymous with ijtihad bi al-ra'y. The reason for the error in equating ijtihad with ijtihad bi al-ray is that the meaning of ijtihad has been confused with that of one of its elements. Notes: [^1] Al-Nihayah vol. 1, p. 219. [^2] Al-Nihayah vol. 1, p. 219. [^3] Lisan al-Arab, vol. 3, p. 133. [^4] 9:79 [^5] Lisan al-Arab, vol. 3, p. 133. [^6] Ibid.,p.135.

[^7] Aqrab al-mawarid, vol. 1, p. 144. [^8] Aqrab al-mawarid, vol. 1, p. 144. [^9] Al Misbah al-munir, vol. 1, p. 144. [^10] Al Misbah al-munir, vol. 1, p. 144. [^11] Majma' al-bahrayn, vol. 3, p. 32. [^12] Majma' al-bahrayn, vol. 3, p. 32. [^13] Majma' al-bahrayn, vol. 3, p. 32. [^14]. Sihah al-lughah, vol.1, p. 457. [^15]. Ma'alim al- usul, p. 232. [^16]. Kifayat al-'usul, vol. 2, p. 42. [^17].

Sunan al-Nasa’i, the chapter on the command to pronounce benedictions on the Prophet (S), vo1.1, p.90; see also the Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, vol. 1, p.199. [^18]. Sahih Muslim, kitab al-salat, hadith 207; Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, vol. 1, p.219. [^19]. Muqaddimah of Sunan al-Darimi, vol. 1, p.100. [^20]. Sahih Muslim, kitab al-itikaf, hadith 8;see also Sunan Ibn Majah„ kitab al-sawm, hadith 1767. [^21]. Sunan Ibn Majah, kitab al-ru'ya ; hadith 3925; Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, vol. 3, p.163. [^22].

Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, vol. 3, pp. 33,138. [^23]. Sahih al-Bukhari, vo1.3, p.136. [^24]. Sahih al-Bukhari, kitab al jihad, vo1.2, p. 93; Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, vol. 3, pp.

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