The Influence of Īsā b. Abān on the Formation of the Khabar Theory in the Fiqh Methodology

Even in the early periods of his career, Īsā b. Abān (d. 221/836) who has an important place in the Hanafi school, was initially busy with the riwaya of hadiths, and remained aloof from the ahl al-ray, under the influence of the ahl al-hadith. However, having met with Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-Shaybanī who was one of the disciples of Abū Ḥanīfa, he decided to become a student after the answers he received from him about some hadiths. Later on, he adopted the views of the ahl al-ray and made great contributions to the systematization of the hadith the methodology. Although many works are attributed to him in the sources, none of them have survived to the present day or the existence of these works has not yet been determined. Although his views on the method of fiqh are mentioned in the method books of the Hanafi school, the most important source that comprehensively conveys them is al-Jaṣṣās’ work al-Fuṣūl. Moreover, in this book, Īsā b. Abān’s ideas regarding khabar concepts were expressed in detail. It is understood that he classified khabar in three different categories as khabar i.e report that is approved as absolutely true, absolutely false, and possibly true or possibly false khabar. It is seen that the three-categorized system of khabar issue was not only adopted by the Ḥanafī Scholar but also followed by other scholars of methodology. This tripartite division of the news was later adopted not only by Hanafi scholars of methodology, but also by other scholars; it is seen that the theory of khabar in the books of fiqh method is detailed under these headings put forward by him and the epistemological value of the khabar is discussed within this framework. It is thought that Īsā b. Abān influenced all the scholars of the methodology that came after him in the formation and maturation of the theory of khabar, which is among the main subjects of the fiqh’s methodology. Therefore, in this study, not only Īsā b. Abān’s influence on other scholars of methodology but also the dimensions of this influence will be discussed in the manner of khabar theory