Jurisprudential Thematic Study Versus the Determination of the Effective Cause of the Ruling: A Critical Reconsideration of the Interpretative Analysis of Verbal Evidence

Document Type : Research (Fast Track Review)

Author

Assistant Professor, Shahid Beheshti University, Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, Department of Political Jurisprudence and Professor of advanced levels of Qom seminary

10.22034/jrj.2025.71263.2955

Abstract

One of the principal challenges in inferring religious rulings (ḥukm al-sharʿī) from textual proofs lies in uncertainty concerning the semantic scope and implication of such evidence. In particular, given the instrumental role of reason (ʿaql) in interpreting transmitted sources, it may at times appear that the verbal formulations employed do not fully disclose the true intent of the Lawgiver (al-Shāriʿ). In order to move beyond the literal wording of verbal evidence (dalīl al-lafẓī) and attain a precise understanding, two primary approaches have been advanced: first, identifying the effective cause (manāṭ) of the ruling; and second, determining the true subject of the ruling together with its qualifying conditions (quyūd).
Adopting a descriptive–analytical method, the present study examines the presuppositions and implications of the positions articulated by Uṣūlī scholars. It argues for reconsidering the role of thematic study, particularly in relation to the capacity to identify the restrictive aspect (ḥaythīyyah al-taqyīdīyyah) as distinct from the causal aspect (ḥaythīyyah al-taʿlīlīyyah) in the process of legal inference. The central aim is to clarify the methodological potential of thematic study within the practice of ijtihād.
The findings indicate that determining the effective cause of a ruling through its ḥaythīyyah al-taʿlilīyyah faces significant rational and customary challenges. By contrast, common understanding plays a foundational role in uncovering the ḥaythīyyah al-taqyīdīyyah of a ruling—whether in clarifying conceptual meaning or in identifying contextual indicators and assessing the sufficiency of apparent meaning. Accordingly, the identification of the thematic dimensions of a ruling in analysing the indication (dalālah) of verbal evidence demonstrates greater methodological capacity than the direct pursuit of the ruling’s effective cause.
This conclusion underscores the necessity of re-evaluating the function of thematic study within ijtihād in order to enhance the precision and quality of jurisprudential research.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Article Title [العربیة]

دراسة الموضوع فقهیًّا فی مقابل استکشاف مناط الحکم: إعادة نظر نقدیّة لدلالة الأدلّة اللفظیّة

Abstract [العربیة]

من الإشکالات التی تواجه عملیّة استنباط الحکم الشرعی من الأدلّة اللفظیة، هی الشکّ فی دلالة تلک الأدلّة؛ ولا سیّما مع الالتفات إلى الدور الأداتیّ للعقل فی فهم النقل، إذ یظهر أحیانًا أنّ الألفاظ المستعملة لا تُجسّد تمام مراد الشارع. ولتجاوز حدود العناوین الواردة فی الدلیل اللفظی والوصول إلى فهم أدقّ له، تُطرح مسلکان: استکشاف مناط الحکم، و استکشاف الموضوع الحقیقی بقیوده.
تسعى هذه الدراسة، بالاعتماد على المنهج الوصفی–التحلیلی، إلى دراسة الفرضیّات واللوازم المترتّبة على آراء الأصولیّین، وتبیین ضرورة إعادة النظر فی مکانة دراسة الموضوع ضمن عملیة الاجتهاد واستنباط الأحکام، استنادًا إلى ما یمتلکه هذا المسلک من قدرة على کشف الحیثیّة التقییدیّة مقارنةً بکشف الحیثیّة التعلیلیّة. والهدف الرئیس من هذا البحث هو إظهار إمکانات منهج دراسة الموضوع فی عملیّة الاجتهاد.
وتُظهر نتائج البحث أنّه، نظراً للإشکالات التی تواجه استکشاف مناط الحکم عبر الحیثیّة التعلیلیّة—سواءً بالتحلیل العقلی أو بالاستظهار العرفی—ومع الالتفات إلى کون الفهم العرفی هو المعیار فی کشف الحیثیّة التقییدیّة، سواء فی معرفة المفاهیم أو القرائن، وکفایة ظهور الکلام فی هذا الباب؛ یتبیّن أنّ لدراسة الموضوع قدرةً أکبر من دراسة مناط الحکم فی فهم دلالة الدلیل اللفظی. وهذا ما یبرز الحاجة إلى إعادة تقییم مکانة هذه المنهجیّة فی الاجتهاد، بما یسهم فی الارتقاء بمستوى الدراسات الفقهیّة.
الکلمات المفتاحیة: دراسة الموضوع، الدلالة، الدلیل اللفظی، الاجتهاد فی الموضوع، استکشاف مناط الحکم الشرعی، الحیثیّة التعلیلیّة، الحیثیّة التقییدیّة.

Keywords [العربیة]

  • دراسة الموضوع
  • الدلالة
  • الدلیل اللفظی
  • الاجتهاد فی الموضوع
  • استکشاف مناط الحکم الشرعی
  • الحیثیّة التعلیلیّة
  • الحیثیّة التقییدیّة

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