his people; that is why, when he died, the Throne of the Most Merciful shook with joy at the arrival of his soul. He ruled that their fighting men should be killed, their women and children taken captive, and their property divided. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘You have indeed judged them according to the judgment of the King.’” Another version reads:

“You have indeed judged them according to Allah’s judgment from above seven heavens.”

The scholars are the heirs of the prophets. Allah Most High says:

“And remember David and Solomon, when they judged concerning the field into which some people’s sheep had strayed by night. We witnessed their judgment. We gave Solomon understanding of the case, and to each We gave sound judgment and knowledge.”

These were two noble prophets judging a single case. Allah singled out one of them for understanding it, while praising both for having received sound judgment and knowledge. The same applies to scholars who exercise independent judgment—may Allah be pleased with them. Whoever reaches the correct conclusion receives two rewards, while the other receives one. Each obeys Allah to the best of his ability, and Allah does not require of him what he is unable to know. Nevertheless, the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, cannot be held responsible for another person’s opinion, nor can the law he brought be held responsible for newly introduced opinions, especially abhorrent ones. Thus, when the Companions spoke on the basis of their independent judgment, they dissociated the Messenger’s law from their own errors and those of others.

For example, concerning a woman whose dowry had not been stipulated, ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd said:

“I give my own opinion concerning her. If it is correct, it is from Allah; if it is mistaken, it is from me and Satan. Allah and His Messenger are free of it.”

The same was reported from al-Siddīq concerning kalālah inheritance, and from ‘Umar concerning certain matters. Yet they would reach correct conclusions when speaking in this manner, and a revealed text would subsequently be found to agree with their independent judgment, just as the revealed text agreed with the independent judgment of Ibn Mas‘ūd and others.