The isolating of the effective cause between Imam Al-Baydawi and Al-Ghazali

Abstract

The research aims to explain the meaning of Probing and Division, or isolating of the effective cause according to Imams Al-Baydawi and Al-Ghazali, as they are among those who taught the principles of jurisprudence. And They are considered among the leaders of this matter and its chief among the later generations. Probing and Division, or isolating of the effective cause is considered one of the paths of reasoning, which is one of the pillars of analogy. The paths of reasoning are considered one of the most accurate topics of analogy. Therefore, this research took care to explain its concept and its divisions. The conditions for this path are to be a way to prove the cause, and the benefit of each section of the cause according to Imams Al-Baydawi and Al-Ghazali, and a balance between them, whether in presentation and explanation or in relying on each type of it, then the validity of the path and an explanation of the scholars who relied on it, while mentioning the reason for their reliance. The importance of the research lies in the fact that probing and dividing most theories revolve around it, and it is widely used in all aspects, and frequently used in rational inferences. The study employed an inductive approach by tracing and presenting scholars' views on the subject as originally articulated. Furthermore, itadopted an analytical approach to deconstruct, clarify, and rationalize these perspectives, as well as a comparative or dialogic approach to evaluate and contrast the different scholarly opinions. The research concluded that the method of isolating of the effective cause (al-sabr wa-al-taqsim) is integral to numerous theoretical and rational inferences. The study elucidated the definition of this method, its classifications, and the extent to which each category yields either certainty (qat’) or probabilistic knowledge (zann) regarding causality (‘illiyyah). Furthermore, it examined the distinctions between al-Baydawi and al-Ghazali concerning this methodology, its probative force (hujjiyyah), and the systematic modes of eliminating irrelevant attributes (tard) that do not qualify for causality.