نظرية عموم العلة عند الإمام الغزالي: دراسة أصولية تحليلية تطبيقية

Nidaa Khalid Walid Al-Badawi

doi:10.35516/Law.2026.12685

Authors

Nidaa Khalid Walid Al-Badawi Department of Islamic Jurisprudence and its Foundations, School of Sharia, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan, Maqasid Research Group: Sharia Objectives and the Foundations of Justice, Compassion, and Flourishing Civilization https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9020-524X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/Law.2026.12685

Keywords:

Generality of the Cause, al-Ghazālī, qiyās, disciplined cause, legal derivation

Abstract

Objectives: This study presents Imam al-Ghazali’s theory of the generality of the cause (ʿumūm al-ʿillah) through a structured analysis of its foundational principles and methodological criteria within analogical reasoning (qiyās). It further explores how this theory was applied in classical jurisprudence and engages contemporary examples to demonstrate its continued relevance. The study highlights the theory’s central role in shaping the process of ijtihād and refining modern approaches to legal deduction in Islamic jurisprudence.

Methods: The study employs a combined inductive, analytical, and applied methodology. Relevant texts from al-Ghazali’s works and other uṣūl al-fiqh sources are examined, their conceptual structures analyzed, and selected classical and contemporary jurisprudential cases applied to demonstrate the theory’s practical impact on legal reasoning and derivation.

Results: The findings show that al-Ghazali adopts a precise and disciplined conception of the generality of the cause, linking it to appropriateness, consistency, and the customary practice of the Lawgiver. He emphasizes maintaining coherence without undermining the underlying legal objective, an approach clearly reflected in his jurisprudential applications. His theory contributed significantly to the development of contemporary ijtihād, particularly in addressing legal novelties (nawāzil).

Conclusions: Imam al-Ghazali developed a distinctive and integrated theory of the generality of the cause, offering an effective framework for balancing textual evidence and rational analysis in analogical reasoning. This approach remains highly relevant for contemporary ijtihād, especially in responding to emerging legal issues.

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