The Most Famous Work Of Imam Syafii And Its Application In Life

By imam syafi i (freepik)

YOGYAKARTA - Imam Syafi'i is a familiar name in the realm of Islamic science, which is a scholar who has a major influence in Islamic development. Did you know the most famous work of Imam Syafii?

This article will thoroughly explore Imam Syafi'i's best known books, thoughts and intellectual heritage and seek relevance in the context of modern life.

Reporting from the NU Online page, Ahmad Rifaldi, the Head of the Al-Awwabin Islamic Boarding School Alumni Depok explained that in the world of Islamic fiqh, Imam Syafi'i was recognized as one of the four absolute mujahids.

Imam Syafi'i is parallel to Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Malik bin Anas, and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal. The four of them are known as mujtahid absolutely because of their ability to independently jtihad, directly from the main source of Islamic law, namely the Qur'an and Sunnah.

Meanwhile, according to KH Achmad Siddiq in his work, Khittah Nahdliyyah (1980), an absolute mujahid or mujtahid mustaqil is a religious figure who is able to formulate Islamic law through ijtihad or istinbath directly from the Qur'an and Sunnah.

The hallmark of a mjtahid is the use of the methods they develop themselves, which other prominent scholars later recognized.

The uniqueness of the absolute mujahid lies in their original ijtihad method. This is what causes differences in the legal approach among the founders of the mazhab.

Also read the article that discusses whether Fi Amalah means Same as Bye?

In addition, it should be noted that the basic methods of Islamic law have not been systematically formulated by Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Malik.

Imam Syafi'i, on the other hand, managed to formulate the method into a new discipline known as ushul fiqh. Imam al-Fakhr al-Razi, in his book al-Imam al-Syafi'i Manaqibuhu wa 'Ilmuhu, emphasized that Imam Syafi'i is a pioneer in the writing of ushul fiqh science.

Imam Syafi'i not only compiled the basic framework of this science, but also classified its parts and explained the argument hierarchy, from the strongest to the weakest.

KH Ahmad Balauddin Nursalim or better known as Gus Baha, through the NU Online page wrote that "Ar-Risala," Imam Syafi'i's monumental work held a special position in the literature of Islamic law.

The book Ar-Risalah, which was born at the request of Abdurrahman bin Mahdi to formulate the principles of ushul fiqih, has become a comprehensive guide with a thickness of about 700 pages.

In this book, Imam Syafi'i formulates a deep methodology of Al-Qur'an and hadith analysis, providing a clear framework in understanding and implementing Islamic law.

More than just a collection of rules, Ar-Risalah opens the horizon of thought, which allows a dynamic interpretation of laws according to the needs of the times.

Examples of concepts contained in Ar-Risala in life, can be the basis for the permission of female police officers in certain situations, such as handling rape cases or crimes involving female perpetrators.

Inspiration for writing Ar-Risalah is rooted in Imam Syafi'i's intellectual interaction with Imam Hasan Assyaibani.

Then the debate over property ownership for a cleric opened Imam Syafi'i's eyes to the importance of contextual understanding in Islamic law. This experience forms the foundation for the systematic development of fiqih ushul, which is then immortalized in Ar-Risalah.

Ar-Risalah is not just a scientific work, but also a source of inspiration for Muslims. This book provides an inclusive view, where the benefits of Islamic law can be felt by all people, both rich and poor.

In addition, with studies that are widely spread, including through social media, the knowledge contained in Ar-Risalah becomes more accessible to the wider community.

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