How belief is established

طريق ثبوت العقيدة

A question in the principles of religion: by what proof is belief established? Mahmud Shaltut, reporting the theologians and jurists, holds that the required faith needs a conclusive proof; rational proof ending in sense or necessity gives certainty, transmitted proof gives certainty when it is mutawatir in transmission and clear in meaning, and a single report (ahad) does not establish creed for the majority of the verifying scholars.

Summary

A question in the principles of religion: by what proof is belief established? Shaltut presents that the faith required needs a decisive proof; that a rational argument which ends in sense perception or necessary knowledge yields certainty; and that transmitted text yields certainty when its transmission is mass-attested (mutawatir) and its wording is explicit in meaning. ¹ ²

Solitary reports

The book notes that the majority of the careful scholars among the theologians and jurists, such as al-Bazdawi, al-Ghazali and al-Isnawi, hold that a solitary report (khabar al-ahad) yields probability, not certainty, so belief cannot be established by it; and that the lawgiver allowed probability in practical rulings. ³ ⁴

Consensus

The book cites al-Shafi'i and Ibn Hazm for the view that the consensus that counts is one with no dissent, and that in matters of belief it is what is known from the religion by necessity. ⁵ ⁶

Note

The book sets out the position of the careful scholars, and gives a differing view without naming all who hold it. This disagreement remains open in the Sunni tradition. ⁷

Opinions on the question

The question: Can a single report (khabar al-ahad) establish a creed, or does it yield only action and probability?

First opinion · Sunni tradition (the museum's frame)Main reference

A single report gives no certainty and so cannot establish creed; the binding consensus in creed is what is known from religion by necessity

Shaltut reports from al-Bazdawi, al-Ghazali, al-Isnawi and others that a single report yields only probability, and that the law allowed probability in practical branches but not in the principles of religion; from al-Shafi'i and Ibn Hazm he reports that the consensus which binds is one known without dispute and by mass transmission.

Basis: Islam, Creed and Law — Mahmud Shaltut Part two, how belief is established, PDF pp. 89 to 93, 100 to 102 and 112 to 113

More opinions (1)

Other viewOther opinion

A group holds that a single report yields knowledge or certainty; the book regards this as contrary to what the verifiers settled

Shaltut notes that some scholars, the footnote naming Ibn Hazm's al-Ihkam, held that a single report gives certainty, and then gives al-Bazdawi's rejoinder that the claim is refuted by explanation; the text does not name every holder, so this is the book's presentation, not the position's own text.

Basis: Islam, Creed and Law — Mahmud Shaltut PDF pp. 91 to 92 with footnote 21; the footnote names Ibn Hazm without quoting him here

Sources

Islam, Creed and Law — Mahmud Shaltut , p. 89

Islam, Creed and Law — Mahmud Shaltut , p. 90

Islam, Creed and Law — Mahmud Shaltut , p. 100

Islam, Creed and Law — Mahmud Shaltut , p. 101

Islam, Creed and Law — Mahmud Shaltut , p. 112

Islam, Creed and Law — Mahmud Shaltut , p. 113

Islam, Creed and Law — Mahmud Shaltut , p. 91

How belief is established

At a glance