Shatibi's understanding of bid‘at

The concept of bid‘ah (innovation) is defined in Islamic terminology as “a matter introduced into religion that has no precedent” (muhdath). Since the time of the Companions of the Prophet, various interpretations have been made about this concept, and its boundaries have been defined differently. While some scholars have kept these boundaries broad, others have significantly narrowed them. This diversity is due to the existence of various interpretations and approaches regarding the topic. This study aims to gather and evaluate the scattered views of Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Musa ibn Muhammad al-Lakhmi al-Shatibi al-Gharnati (d. 790/1388), who extensively addressed the issue of bid‘ah. The study consists of an introduction and two chapters. In the introduction, the scope and methodology of the study are explained, along with information on classical and contemporary works on bid‘ah in Islamic legal literature. The first chapter discusses the material and spiritual environment that shaped al-Shatibi, one of the most significant scholars of al-Andalus, as well as his personality, teachers, and students. It introduces his works, with particular focus on al-I‘tisam, which is especially relevant to the topic, as well as his other writings. Additionally, the linguistic and terminological meanings of bid‘ah, its origins and causes, and its classifications within the framework of Islamic law are examined. The second chapter, titled "Al-Shatibi’s Understanding of Bid‘ah", explores the definition and content of the concept of bid‘ah, the evidence supporting its condemnation, its classifications, the criteria for identifying someone as an innovator, the degrees of sinfulness attributed to innovators, and the sources that innovators use as the basis for their arguments. In the conclusion, a general evaluation of al-Shatibi’s views and methodologies is presented, followed by the author’s opinions and suggestions regarding the subject matter.