on the mother’s side, while giving the maternal aunt precedence over the paternal aunt, as in al-Shāfiʿī’s later position and the view of a group of Ahmad’s followers. They based their position on maternal aunts taking precedence over paternal aunts because they are related through the mother.

Yet, concerning paternal aunts, maternal aunts, and sisters, they said: “Those related through both parents take precedence, followed by those related through the father, then those related through the mother.” What they say here accords with the principles of Islamic law. But when it is considered alongside their position that maternal relatives take precedence, the contradiction becomes apparent. They also gave the mothers of the father and grandfather precedence over maternal aunts and maternal half-sisters. This accords with the principles of Islamic law, but contradicts their own principle. Accordingly, it is incompatible with the other view—that the maternal aunt and maternal half-sister take precedence over the paternal grandmother—as in al-Shāfiʿī’s earlier position. This latter view applies their principle more consistently, but is utterly at odds with the principles of Islamic law.

“Another group” applied its principle consistently, giving maternal half-sisters precedence over paternal half-sisters, in accordance with the position of Abū Hanīfah, al-Muzanī, and Ibn Surayj. Some of them pursued their analogy so far as to give the maternal aunt precedence over the paternal half-sister, as held by Zufar and reported in one narration from Abū Hanīfah; Ibn Surayj also agreed with it?

Abū Yūsuf, however, found this objectionable and gave the paternal half-sister precedence, reporting this position from Abū Hanīfah. It is also reported that Zufar pursued his analogy still further, saying: “The maternal aunt takes precedence over the paternal grandmother.”

They relate that Abū Hanīfah said: “Do not follow Zufar’s analogies, for if you follow his analogies, you will declare lawful things unlawful and unlawful things lawful.”

He would also say:

“Among analogies