Valid Rational Analogies According to Imam Al-Shafi‘i and His Prominent Followers

Using inductive, descriptive, analytical, and critical methodologies, this research aims to examine the position of Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi‘i—one of the eminent scholars and leading figures of this ummah—and that of his prominent followers on the authority of valid rational analogies. The study explores their views on the theoretical foundations, classification, and methodological application of such analogies.
The research is divided into an introduction and three main sections. The introduction provides a biographical overview of Imam al-Shafi‘i and his key followers. The first section defines "analogy" (qiyās) both linguistically and terminologically. The second discusses Imam al-Shafi‘i’s affirmation of the validity of sound rational analogies. The third elaborates on how his foremost followers confirmed the same.
The study reached several important findings, among which are: that qiyās and ijtihād are considered by Imam al-Shafi‘i to be two terms for the same concept, with qiyās representing the true form of ijtihād in his view. Both he and his major followers affirmed the authority of sound rational analogies and considered them a legitimate source in matters of creed, though not independently from transmitted (revealed) proofs. Instead, such analogies are seen as requiring guidance from revelation.
According to Imam al-Shafi‘i and his followers, qiyās holds a secondary rank after the Qur’an, Sunnah, and consensus (ijmā‘), and is only employed when necessary. They strongly rejected corrupt rational analogies—those that contradict textual evidence—and did not permit prioritizing reason over revelation in either subsidiary or fundamental matters