TERMINOLOGI AL-IKHTIYĀR DALAM MAZHAB SYAFIE DAN PENENTUAN PENDAPAT MUKTAMAD: ANALISIS IKHTIYĀRĀT FIQHIYYAH IMAM AL-GHAZALI DALAM KITAB BIDĀYAT AL-HIDĀYAH

THE TERMINOLOGY OF AL-IKHTIYĀR IN THE SHĀFI‘Ī  SCHOOL OF ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE AND THE DETERMINATION OF AUTHORITATIVE OPINIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF IKHTIYĀRĀT FIQHIYYAH BY IMAM AL-GHAZALI IN THE BOOK BIDĀYAT AL-HIDĀYAH

Abstract

This article explains the method of determining and selecting the authoritative opinions of the Shāfi‘ī madhhab as determined by the later jurists (al-mutaakhkhirīn) through understanding some of the main terminologies that have been agreed upon. A brief review and analysis were conducted on several opinions (al-ikhtiyārat) of Imam al-Ghazali in his work Bidāyat al-Hidāyah that differ from the conclusive view of the Shāfi‘ī school. This writing is qualitative and descriptive in nature, involving library research and content analysis of the Shāfi‘ites classical jurisprudence texts, the books of Imam al-Ghazali, especially Bidāyat al-Hidāyah, as well as the writings of relevant contemporary scholars. The results of this study show that a thorough and detailed knowledge and understanding of the procedure for determining the final or authoritative view of the madhhab is an important basis in interacting with the Shāfi‘ites classical texts. Al-ikhtiyār is an ijtihād (independent judgement) by a mujtahid which is not in line with the madhhab of his imam in some issues or contradicts the authoritative opinion of the madhhab due to the existence of evidence. Thus, this opinion cannot be attributed to the madhhab. Imam al-Ghazali belongs to the group of Aṣḥāb al-Wujūh, who lived before the time of taḥrīr (updating) of the madhhab. Therefore, in the book Bidāyat al-Hidāyah some fiqh issues are not conclusive according to the Shāfi‘ī school of thought. This problem is considered an al-ikhtiyārat of Imam al-Ghazali based on his ijtihād towards the Sharī‘ah texts. Al-ikhtiyārat of Imam al-Ghazali in this book is only found in seven fiqh issues related to the sunnah during ablution and prayer. As this book is more focused on the methods and manners for someone who wants to get closer to Allah SWT, the fiqh issues discussed by Imam al-Ghazali are considered faḍā’il al-a‘māl (the virtues of deeds) and personal daily practices, not intended for issuing fatwas and legal rulings in relation to it. Hence, it is permissible for us to follow such opinions.

Abstrak

Artikel ini menjelaskan kaedah penentuan dan pemilihan pendapat muktamad mazhab Syafie sepertimana yang telah ditetapkan oleh para fuqaha mazhab Syafie yang terkemudian (al-mutaakhkhirīn) melalui kefahaman terhadap beberapa terminologi utama yang telah disepakati. Tinjauan dan analisis ringkas dilakukan terhadap beberapa pendapat (al-ikhtiyārat) Imam al-Ghazali di dalam karya beliau Bidāyat al-Hidāyah yang berbeza dengan pandangan muktamad mazhab Syafie. Penulisan ini bersifat kualitatif deskriptif melibatkan kajian kepustakaan melalui analisis dokumen terhadap teks-teks turath fiqh Syafie, kitab-kitab Imam al-Ghazali khususnya kitab Bidāyat al-Hidāyah serta penulisan para ulama kontemporari yang berkaitan. Hasil penulisan ini menunjukkan bahawa pengetahuan dan kefahaman secara teliti dan terperinci tentang tatacara penentuan pandangan muktamad mazhab merupakan asas penting ketika berinteraksi dengan teks-teks turath mazhab Syafie. Al-ikhtiyār merupakan pendapat yang diijtihadkan oleh seseorang mujtahid yang menyalahi mazhab imamnya dalam sesetengah masalah atau menyalahi pendapat yang rajih daripada mazhab kerana adanya dalil, maka pendapat ini tidak boleh dinisbahkan kepada mazhab. Imam al-Ghazali tergolong di dalam kalangan Aṣḥāb al-Wujūh yang hidup sebelum zaman taḥrīr (pengemaskinian) mazhab. Oleh itu, di dalam kitab Bidāyat al-Hidāyah terdapat beberapa permasalahan fiqah yang tidak muktamad menurut mazhab Syafie. Permasalahan ini dikira sebagai al-ikhtiyārat daripada Imam al-Ghazali berdasarkan ijtihad beliau terhadap nas-nas syarak. Ikhtiyārāt Imam al-Ghazali di dalam kitab ini hanya didapati pada tujuh masalah fiqah yang berkaitan perkara sunat ketika berwuduk dan solat. Memandangkan kitab ini lebih tertumpu kepada kaedah dan adab bagi seseorang yang ingin mendekatkan diri kepada Allah, permasalahan fiqah yang dimuatkan oleh Imam al-Ghazali adalah bersifat faḍā’il al-a‘māl dan pengamalan harian bersifat peribadi, bukan untuk berfatwa dan pengeluaran hukum, maka tidaklah menjadi satu kesalahan bagi kita untuk mengikuti pendapat-pendapat tersebut.