The Method of Ibn Yunus al-Siqilli (d. 451 AH) in Utilizing Prophetic Hadith in Jurisprudential Preference – An Applied Study on Matters of Purification.

Abstract

This research investigates the methodology of Imam Ibn Yunus al-Siqilli (d. 451 AH) in utilizing Prophetic Hadith for juristic preference (Tarjih) and legal reasoning, taking the "Book of Purification" (Kitab At-Taharah) from his encyclopedic work Al-Jami' li-Masai'l al-Mudawwanah as an applied case study. The study aims to highlight Ibn Yunus’s Hadith scholarship and demonstrate its impact on formulating legal arguments and weighting juristic opinions both within and outside the Maliki school. Employing an inductive, analytical, and critical methodology, the paper examines 224 Prophetic Hadiths referenced in the target text, analyzing his criteria for Hadith acceptance, textual criticism, and reconciliation of conflicting traditions. The findings reveal that Ibn Yunus possessed substantial Hadith expertise, employing traditions not only for juristic preference but also to clarify Quranic ambiguities, establish Sunnah practices, and refute abrogation claims through a synthesis of textual evidence and comparative juristic reasoning. Additionally, the study identifies occasional scholarly oversights, such as paraphrasing Hadiths, misattributions to primary source books, and referencing weak traditions despite the availability of authentic alternatives.