Fiona’s Reviews > Sufis and Sharīʿa: The Forgotten School of Mercy > Status Update

For Ibn 'Arabi, the role of the scholars & muftis was simply to transmit evidence from the Qur'an, sunnah or consensus of the companions RA. People would not be questioned about additional rulings made by jurists derived by qiyas or other rational means on judgement day, as Allah SWT commands us to "ask the people of Remembrance" (21:7), and "Remembrance" is the Qur'an and sunnah.

"Ibn 'Arabi was aiming to create a legal methodology that was as loyal as possible not only to the outward prescriptions of the scripture, but also to what he believed was the spirit of the shari'a: mercy."

Baqi’s introduction of others’ works in Andalusia & his insistence on giving fatwas according to the opinions of Ahlul Hadith instead of the Maliki school aroused the anger of the latter’s scholars. He managed to leave a legacy of Hadith scholarship in spite of them, proudly stating:
“I have planted for them here in Andalusia a sapling which they will be unable to uproot.”

An Andalusian scholar of Hadith to note is Baqī ibn Makhlad, who travelled to the East and studied from Ibn Hanbal then returned to Al Andalus with the works of Al Shafi'i and the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shayba.
Baqi complied his own collection of Hadith & Qur'an commentary which scholars say had no equal of its kind, but is now lost.

Despite Ibn Arabi viewing the service of Shariah as central to his mission, his legal writings on jurisprudence have not received the attention they require, as he's become solely known as a Mystical figure whose writings about metaphysics, sainthood & love are studied more than anything else.

Unlike the Dawūdi Dhahiris whom he shared some principles with, at-Tirmidhi RH did not share their rejection of the notion that there is an underlying wisdom behind Allah's Shariah. On the contrary he dedicated important works to illuminating this wisdom in different acts of worship for example, which connected to a grander aim.
This aligned with the Sufis' understanding of Shariah as life-giving water.

On the other hand, at-Tirmidhi saw that the methodology of Rationalist ahlul ra'y which relied on them using their analogical abilities to reach conclusions about the Shariah and new fatwas which people came to them for as figures of authority could lead to them to developing pride. This was especially the case for jurists who competed for top positions and greater status amongst the people and political leaders.

At-Tirmidhi wrote a treatise outlining the differences between the Traditionalists and the Rationalists, in which he made his allegiance to the former clear; he explained how the Traditionalists' constant study and exposure to Hadith which included descriptions of Heaven and Hell, Prophetic teachings of love and reverence of God and examples of pious character & noble virtues softens and purifies their hearts.

Much of at-Tirmidhi RH's work uniquely fused theology, hadith, Arabic language, fiqh, jurisprudence & Qur'ānic exegesis together in an innovative manner.
"He was by far the most prolific author during the whole period of classical Islamic mysticism."