Ibn Taymiyyah’s Critiques of Certain Hanbali Scholars who Departed from the Methodology of the Salaf Regarding some Sources of Religious Authority: The Sunnah and Ijma 10.35781/1637-000-166-004

Abstract

Abstract

This study aims to examine the critiques of Ibn Taymiyyah regarding certain Hanbali's who departed from the methodology of the Salaf in some sources of legal and theological reasoning, particularly the Prophetic Sunnah and scholarly consensus (ijma). Some Hanbali's fell into theological errors that Ibn Taymiyyah critically addressed, such as their reliance on weak and fabricated hadiths as evidence. The study also explores Ibn Taymiyyah’s critiques of those Hanbali's who rejected the use of solitary reports (Ahad hadith's) despite their acceptance by the Muslim community, as evidence in foundational matters of faith (osul al-din). It further addresses his critiques of alleged consensuses transmitted by some Hanbali's concerning theological issues for which no sound consensus can be established.

The study adopts an inductive methodology, followed by analytical and critical approaches, through tracing Ibn Taymiyyah’s critiques of Hanbali doctrinal formulations and evaluating them.

The study concludes that some Hanbali's, like other theological orientations, diverged from the methodology of the Salaf in matters of creed, albeit to a lesser extent due to the status of Ahmad ibn Hanbal and their adherence to his legacy. Such divergence resulted from methodological errors in their use of weak and fabricated hadiths such as reports concerning the direct vision of God, as well as from the mistaken view held by some that solitary reports cannot be used as evidence in matters of foundational doctrine. The study also highlights their reliance on unverified theological claims of consensus.

Keywords: Critiques - Ibn Taymiyyah – Hanbalis - Salaf.