Standards of Reasoning from the Tacit Approvals of the Prophet (ﷺ)

تقریرات ِرسول ﷺ سے استدلال کے معیارات

Abstract

The tacit approvals (taqrīrāt) of the Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) represent a significant source of Islamic law and jurisprudential reasoning, as they embody the Prophet’s silent endorsement of particular acts, sayings, or practices performed in his presence. This research explores the methodological and epistemological standards through which jurists infer legal and moral rulings from such tacit approvals. It examines the conditions under which a tacit approval attains evidentiary authority (ḥujjiyyah), such as the Prophet’s awareness of the act, absence of disapproval, and contextual relevance. The paper further analyzes the standards of reasoning (ma‘āyīr al-istidlāl) applied by classical jurists, including considerations of time, circumstance, and custom, and evaluates how these standards ensure the reliability of inferences drawn from silence or non-objection. Comparative discussions between the major schools of Islamic jurisprudence reveal nuanced differences in the scope and application of tacit approvals in deriving legal rulings. The study concludes that taqrīrāt nabawiyyah provide a profound epistemic foundation for understanding the Prophet’s normative guidance, emphasizing that reasoning from them must adhere to strict methodological standards that preserve both textual integrity and juristic precision.