knows all the opinions of the scholars who exercise independent judgment? Scriptural texts, by contrast, can readily be known.

They judged according to the Book first because the Sunnah does not abrogate the Book. Nothing in the Quran, therefore, is abrogated by the Sunnah; rather, if anything in it is abrogated, the text that abrogates it is also in the Quran. One therefore gives nothing else precedence over the Quran. If one does not find the ruling there, one then seeks it in the Sunnah. Nothing in the Sunnah is abrogated except by the Sunnah itself: neither consensus nor anything else abrogates the Sunnah, nor may consensus be set against it.

Most versions of these reports say, “If he does not find it.” A person seeking a ruling may not find it in the Sunnah even though it is there; the same applies to the Quran. Thus, if one does not find it in the Quran, one may seek it in the Sunnah. If it is in the Sunnah, what the Sunnah contains will not contradict what is in the Quran. Likewise, sound consensus contradicts neither the Book nor the Sunnah.

Completed, with praise to Allah and by His help. May His blessings and peace be upon the best of His creation, Muhammad, and his family.