Evolution of Jurisprudential Principles and the Doctrinal Differences in Historical Perspective

Abstract

The prime objective of Islamic jurisprudence is unity of Muslim ummah as it offers cogent evidence of Islamic Sharīʿah. The existence of differences of opinion as recognized branch of Islamic jurisprudence is natural indication of healthy climate of openness and tolerance, among ulēmā of Islam. The adoption of variant methodologies resulted in emergence of Ahl al-Ḥadīth and Ahl al-Ra’i. This study discusses that with advancement in Islamic jurisprudence, different religious sects and political factions appeared in the history of Islam. The study is qualitative in nature, with descriptive and analytical approach. It is also mentioned that due to variant knowledge, the aspects of politics, faith and jurisprudence became the leading cause of doctrinal differences. Rapprochement of madhāhib and the role of jurisprudential principles has been the focus of jurists and scholars since the formative period of Islam. The study also focuses on the differences of opinions during the prophetic era, the era of companions and in the later spans of time which has contributed for the jurists to lay down the jurisprudential principles. The role of politics, religion and jurisprudential areas in enhancing and limiting the doctrinal differences is discussed in detail. The research finding showed that even though a number of madhāhib emerged on the basis of doctrinal differences yet there are certain points of convergence in these madhāhib.