Regarding Innovation and Analogical Reasoning

the commander of the faithful عليه السلام addressed the people and said: O people – verily the beginning of occurrence of strife is [due to] desires being followed and laws being innovated – in which the book of Allāh is opposed and in which men follow other men, if the falsehood were to be completely distinct it would not be hidden from anyone who possesses intellect, and if the truth were to be completely distinct there would not be any disagreement, but it is taken from this (falsehood) a handful and from that (truth) a handful and then mixed and presented together, this is whence the Satan overwhelms his allies whilst are saved those to whom had preceded grace from Allāh.

I said: may Allāh make you prosper – we do gather and discuss what we have (from you), nothing is referred to us (of questions) except that we have in it something (answer) recorded (on your authority), and that is from what Allāh has blessed us with through you, however a small thing may be referred to us in which we have nothing (from you), so we look at one another (in hopelessness), but we do have something similar to it (answers from you about parallel scenarios) – should we analogize it (the question asked) to the most suited (closest scenario)? he said: and what do you have to do with analogical reasoning? verily they were destroyed those who were destroyed before you because of analogical reasoning, then he said: if it comes to you that which you have knowledge of then – say, and if it comes to you that which you do not know then – and he pointed with his hand to his mouth, then he said: may Allāh curse Aba Hanifa he used to say: “Ali said but I say” and “the companions said but I say”, then he said: did you use to sit with him (in his teaching sessions)? I said: no – but these are his words, then I said: may Allāh make you prosper – the messenger of Allāh came with all that which would suffice them (the people) in his time? he said: yes, and even that which they will have need of up to the day of judgment, I said: has anything from that been lost? he said: no, it is with his family.

a man asked Aba Abdillah عليه السلام about an issue and he answered him in it – so the man said: suppose if it were so and so – what would the answer be in it then? So he said to him: keep silent, whatever I have answered regarding it – then it is on the authority of the messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه وآله, we have nothing to do with ‘suppose’ whatsoever.

I heard Aba Abdillah عليه السلام saying: the messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه وآله said: For every innovation that arises after me – by which is sought the weakening of the faith – there will be a guardian from the people of my house in charge of it (faith) who will defend it, he will speak by inspiration from Allāh and will proclaim the truth and illuminate it, he will repulse the plot of the plotters and speak out in defense of the weak ones, so pay heed O possessors of insight and rely upon Allāh.

I said to Abi Abdillah عليه السلام: things are referred to us of which we have no knowledge in the Book of Allāh nor the Sunnah- should we exercise reason in them? He said: no, for even if you were to get it right you will not be rewarded for it, and if you were to err in it then you have lied upon Allāh Mighty and Majestic.

the Sunnahcannot be derived by analogy, do you not see that a woman repays her fasts but does not repay her prayers, O Aban! If the Sunnahis analogized then the religion is destroyed.

the messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه واله said: Allāh Majestic is His Majesty said: he has not believed in Me the one who interprets My words based on his opinion, and he has not known Me the one who compares Me to My creation, and he is not upon My religion the one who uses analogical reasoning in it.

I said to Abi Abdillah عليه السلام: what is the least thing by which the slave becomes Kafir? he said: that he innovates something and associates solely on its basis and disassociates from the one who opposes him (in it).

I said to Abi Abdillah عليه السلام: what is the least thing by which the slave becomes Kafir? So he took a pebble from the ground and said: that he says about this pebble ‘it is a date-stone’ and goes on to disassociate from anyone who opposes him in that, and he worships Allāh by disassociating from the one who professes a belief other than his own, so this is a hostile opponent who has ascribed partners to Allāh and disbelieved without knowing.

I asked Aba Abdillah عليه السلام about the Halal and the Haram so he said: the Halal of Muhammad is Halal forever unto the day of judgment and his Haram is Haram forever unto the day of judgment, there will be nothing other than it and nothing apart from it will come, and he said: Ali عليه السلام said: no one has innovated a Bid’a except that he has abandoned a Sunnah(by doing so).