were to declare things obligatory and forbidden without grounding them in the Prophet’s texts, he would be acting independently rather than following him; and only a prophet could do this. One who is merely the successor of a prophet cannot act independently of him.

Moreover, if analogical reasoning is an authoritative proof, people may be referred to it; and if it is not an authoritative proof, the Prophet must have expressly stated all the universal principles.

Allah Most High also said:

“Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and chosen Islam as your religion.”

[Surah al-Mā’idah: 3]

This explicitly establishes that the religion is complete and requires nothing beyond it.

People hold three views regarding this principle. Some say: “The revealed texts encompass all (1) the universal principles of the revealed law. There is therefore no need for analogical reasoning; indeed, analogical reasoning is impermissible.”

Others say: “Rather, many newly arising cases are not covered by the revealed texts, so analogical reasoning is needed.” Some of them even claim that this is true of most newly arising cases, but this is an excess on their part.

Still others say: “Rather, the revealed texts address newly arising cases through evident or subtle lines of reasoning. Some people do not understand those proofs (2), or the relevant text has not reached them, so they need analogical reasoning even though the revealed text does address those cases.”

Alternatively, they say: “Both the general import of a definitive text and meaning-based analogical reasoning are authoritative proofs and paths followed by the seeker”