Epistemologi Ikhtilāf dalam Ushul Fiqh dan Implikasinya terhadap Perbedaan Istinbāṭ Hukum Islam

Abstract

Ikhtilāf in Islamic law is an intellectual phenomenon that emerges from differences in scholars’ methodologies in understanding and deriving legal rulings from the sources of Sharī‘ah. These differences are influenced not only by the textual aspects of the scriptural sources but also by the epistemological construction of uṣūl al-fiqh underlying the process of legal deduction (istinbāṭ al-aḥkām). This study aims to analyze the epistemology of ikhtilāf in uṣūl al-fiqh and its implications for differences in Islamic legal reasoning. This research is a library research employing a normative-philosophical approach. The data sources consist of classical and contemporary literature related to Islamic legal epistemology, uṣūl al-fiqh, ikhtilāf, and theories of legal deduction. The data were analyzed using descriptive-analytical methods through an epistemological approach to examine the factors contributing to the plurality of Islamic legal thought. The findings indicate that the epistemology of ikhtilāf is constructed upon differences in interpreting textual evidence, determining the validity of ḥadīth, employing methods of ijtihād, applying maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah, and considering socio-historical contexts in the process of legal formulation. These epistemological differences have led to the emergence of diverse schools of Islamic jurisprudence and legal products, reflecting the flexibility of Sharī‘ah in responding to changing social realities. This study concludes that ikhtilāf does not represent a contradiction within Islamic law, but rather constitutes a manifestation of intellectual dynamism within the tradition of uṣūl al-fiqh. Therefore, understanding the epistemology of ikhtilāf is essential for developing a moderate, inclusive, and adaptive paradigm of Islamic law in addressing contemporary challenges.