تعريف العِلّة عند الأصوليين الحنابلة

Abstract

This research is concerned with the definition of effective causes by Hanablite scholars, analyzing their statements, differences and their causes, as they have resulted in a difference in some basic and subsidiary religious issues, and thus the need to clarify the difference between effective causes and the other related terms in this school, and the different uses of each term has become necessary. This is done through analyzing the hanbalite writings concerned with the definition of the term ‘effective cause’, by investigating and deciphering all related texts, in addition to studying the other related terms and their definitions and interpretations; and finally comparing those with the writings of other schools of thought to look for evidence and inferences. It turns out that most Hanbalis define an effective cause as the sign or clue. Only a few of them defines it in terms of the wisdom or pros behind a certain religious order, and the bad consequences or cons resulting from not abiding to a certain religious refrainment. Moreover, we found that the hanbalis use the term effective cause in a more general sense in jurisprudence to the point that they do not differentiate between an effective cause and the frame of reference though certain uses of the two terms shows that for them the frame of reference is more general than effective causes. They also went on to differentiate between the wisdom behind an act and its effective causes, as they confined wisdom to uncontrollable effective causes, and made effective causes part of controllable situations. This shows how these two terms are different in light of this school of thought.

 Key Words: Effective causes, Hanbalite School, the fundamentals of jurisprudence.