Section

There are three views concerning what the term qiyās denotes:

The first is that it literally denotes analogical reasoning and figuratively denotes syllogistic reasoning. This is the view of al-Ghazālī and Abū Muhammad.

The second is the reverse. This is the view of Ibn Hazm.

The third is that it literally denotes both. This is the more correct view, held by the majority.

According to our scholars and the majority, qiyās is divided into rational reasoning, for which reason alone suffices, and reasoning based on revelation, which necessarily requires a foundation known through revelation.

Both rational reasoning and reasoning based on revelation—and everything termed qiyās—are divided into analogical reasoning and syllogistic reasoning. The former consists in treating something like its counterpart; the latter consists in bringing something under the rule of a general concept that encompasses it.

Each is connected to the other: two similar things must share a common feature that encompasses them both, while a concept encompassing two or more things necessarily entails treating any two of them alike with respect to that concept. Thus, qiyās is present in both: it consists in measuring, comparing, and reckoning.