The Fundamental Disagreements Between Isa Ibn Aban and Abu Al-Hasan Al-Karkhi: an Applied Fundamental Study

Abstract

This research highlights the profound impact of ibn Aban and alKarkhi, on fundamental principles of jurisprudence, and how their methodological differences influenced Hanafi legal rulings. The study is divided into two sections: first, the scholarly status and contributions of both imams; second, the usul principles where alKarkhi differed from Ibn Aban.

The research employs a descriptive-inductive method by tracing the biographies of both scholars in classical biographical works, examining their lineage, scholarly formation, and influence on Hanafi usul. An analytical approach was applied to texts underpinning their disagreements, and a comparative approach was used to identify their methodological differences with practical applications.

The study found that both Ibn Aban and al-Karkhi played decisive roles in formulating Hanafi jurisprudential principles. Their ijtihad established foundational rules that shaped the school’s flexibility and adaptability. The research clarified the most significant principles on which al-Karkhi diverged from Ibn Aban and demonstrated how these divergences produced tangible effects on subsidiary rulings.

The study concludes that the methodological preferences of both scholars had lasting influence within the Hanafi school. It recommends further engagement with their usul debates, as understanding such differences enriches the jurisprudential heritage and provides tools for addressing contemporary issues.