and the Sunnah, and he diligently followed the hadiths he considered authentic. For this reason, ‘Abd Allāh ibn al-Hakam used to tell his son Muhammad:

“My son, remain close to this man, for he is a man of proofs. You need only leave Egypt to find yourself laughed at for saying, ‘Ibn al-Qāsim said.’”

Muhammad said:

“When I reached Iraq, I joined a study circle that included Ibn Abī Dāwūd. I said, ‘Ibn al-Qāsim said,’ and he asked, ‘Who is Ibn al-Qāsim?’ I replied, ‘A mufti whose pronouncements reach from Egypt to the farthest West.’”

I believe he also said: “I said, ‘May Allah have mercy on my father.’”

His father’s intention was: seek evidence for the positions of your companions, rather than merely following them. Appeals to authority are accepted only where that authority is held in esteem, whereas evidence is accepted everywhere. Allah has obliged every scholar qualified to exercise independent judgment to speak in accordance with the knowledge he possesses. Allah grants one person knowledge and understanding that He does not grant another. One may be distinguished by greater knowledge and understanding in a particular field, chapter, or question, while another is similarly distinguished in a different field.

Nevertheless, taken as a whole, the positions of the scholars of the Prophet’s Medina generally carry greater weight than those of the scholars of the western and eastern lands. This becomes clear through several comprehensive principles.

Among them is the principle governing what is lawful and unlawful concerning impurities in water. It is well known that Allah says in His Book:

“My mercy encompasses all things, so I shall ordain it