and given him drink”: this is the Lawgiver’s saying concerning him. This is part of the mercy hidden within it, meaning forgetfulness.
Likewise there is what was forgotten of the Qurʾan and not recalled: its transmission to us would have added to our obligations. Through this He showed His servants mercy.
He, may God bless him and grant him peace, would say, “Leave me as long as I leave you.” To the one asking about Hajj every year, he said, “Had I said yes, it would have become obligatory.”
Rulings arose as questions arose concerning occurrences. Knowing this, the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, intended that people refrain from questioning and proceed with their nature until the Real Himself undertook to send down whatever rulings He willed.
Obligations and prohibitions would thus be few, and the greater number would remain among permissible things, to which neither reward nor burden of sin attaches.
(Assigning Rationales and Multiplying Rulings)
Selves refused to accept this and to stop at expressly stated rulings. They assigned rationales to them, made these the Lawgiver’s intention, extended them, and attached what was unspoken to what was spoken in its ruling through a shared rationale required by the consideration of the one exercising judgment who assigned it.
Had he not done this, what was unspoken would have remained upon its original permissibility and exemption. Rulings thus multiplied through assigning rationales, extending the rationale, analogy, opinion, and juristic preference. “Your Lord is not forgetful” [Maryam 19:64].
(Concessions and Following Those Who Exercise Judgment)
Praise be to God, God placed another mercy for us in this—had the jurists not restricted this mercy for the common people by binding them to the school of
