Qati' and Zanni

In search of certainty and authenticity of God's Revelation. The best understanding of it's meaning and maximum certainty of its authentication will help us appreciate the Wisdom and proper application behind each revelation.

Authenticity itself is insufficient for Truth, correct understanding and knowledge of the meaning (al-dilalah) of the revelation are equally important.

Qati' literally means Authenticated, Unambiguous, Definitive, Certain. While Zanni means Speculative, Ambiguous or Uncertain, Al Tsubut means the authenticity of it's narration (isnad) while al-dilalah means the texts has more than one meaning.

According to the Islamic Scholars, there are 4 categories of authentication in certainty (credibility) of the meaning and implication of revelation from the Quran and Hadith:

1) Qat'i al-tsubut and Qati al Dilalah - Authenticated and Certain in it's meaning.

- Issues related to Aqidah without which a person cannot be a believer must be proven through this type of text e.g. belief in Allah (tauhid), Angels, Holy Scriptures, Prophets, Afterlife, Pre-destiny and Pre Destination, etc.

Acts that are proven through the this type of text are classified as
fardh/wajib (obligatory), unless proven otherwise. Examples of this type: solat, zakah, hajj, fasting etc. Prohibitions that are proven through this type of text are classified as Haram (prohibited) and major sins, unless proven otherwise.

Examples: killing of innocents, robbery, lying, slandering, adultery, alcohol consumption etc.

2) Qati al-tsubut and Zanni al- Dilalah - Authenticated but not Certain in it's meaning.

- All verses of the Quran is Authentic because it's from a Mutawatir source but not all of the verses in the Quran are certain in meaning and they are ambiguous in its implication and explanation. For example:

"As for the thief, the male and the female, amputate their hands in recompense for what they committed as a deterrent from Allah..."(QS 5:38)

The instruction from this verse is to amputate the hands of the thief. But it did not specified who qualifies as a thief, i e: is the person who instruct another person to steal is consider a thief?

Is taking Rm1 from the pocket of our siblings consider a thief? And this verse did not say to amputate the left hand or right hand or both hands.

3) Zanni al tsubut and Qati al Dilalah - Not Authenticate but Certain in it's meaning.

Hadith that are not categorized as mutawatir like hadith ghorib, hadith aziz and hadith masyhur in the hadith ahad category are deem as Zanni al tsubut (not authenticated, speculative).

Some of hadith ahad which has unambiguous and certain in it's meaning are deem as Qati al Dilalah.

4) Zanni al tsubut and Zanni al Dilalah - Not Authenticate and not Certain in it's meaning.

- Hadith Ahad with shaky foundation (isnad) and speculative or more than one meaning or explanation are considered as Zanni al Dilalah and Zanni al- Dilalah - Not Authenticate and not Certain in it's meaning.

A hadith ahad does not create conviction about its contents even if the reporter is reliable; there is the chances of forgetting, misunderstanding or unintended misquotation on the part of the truthful, reliable reporter.


Wallahu'alam