The Authority of Individual Narrations in the Non-Traditionalist Sunnis and Ibn Taymiyyah: A Comparative Study

One important intellectual foundation leading to conflicts among Muslims and emergence of takfiri Daesh (apostate) groups seems to be their opinions about the authority of individual narrations concerning doctrinal issues. The foundational principles of majority of doctrinal beliefs and precepts are individual narrations. The reliability and authority of these narrations is nearly unanimously accepted by all the Muslims in secondary sources and Fiqh; however, their authority raises debate and discussion concerning religious tenets and principles. Authority or non-authority of such narrations will lead to acceptance or rejection of many beliefs and religious precepts. The current study addresses an investigation of the authority of individual narrations from the non-traditionalist Sunni's viewpoint proposing it by four theories; then, expressing Ibn Taymiyyah's views, takfiri's theoretician, and comparing his views with those of the Sunnis, it is concluded that the majority of Traditionalists (Salafis) such as Ibn Taymiyyaj consider individual narration to be a scientific and verifiable certainty in religious principles and beliefs. However, the majority of the Sunnis, typically Hanafi Maturidi, regard the individual narrations as conjecture-producing and therefore these narrations are held non-authoritative in the realm of beliefs.