Tamthil — four components: Tamthil moves from one particular case to another particular case, based on a shared quality. It has four components: Asl (the original case, whose ruling is known), Far' (the new case, whose ruling is being sought), 'Illa (the shared quality or effective cause that links them), and Hukm (the ruling that is transferred from the Asl to the Far').
Wine, beer, and intoxication: Example: Asl — wine is Haram; Far' — beer; 'Illa — intoxication; Hukm — beer is Haram. The full comparison of Tamthil with Istiqra' and Qiyas is in Topic 8.1.
Mantiq accepts it, Fiqh rejects it: The crucial difference between Mantiq and Fiqh, stated in the roadmap (Slide 75), is that Shia scholars reject Qiyas Fiqhi (juristic analogy) but embrace Qiyas Mantiqi (logical syllogism). In Mantiq, Tamthil is useful but only probable (Zann), never certain (Yaqin).
The Shia position on analogy: In Fiqh, the Shia position is that analogy cannot be used to derive rulings, because the 'Illa is guessed, not proven — and the summary slide (52) states the Shia position on this point.
Example
Tamthil in everyday life: If a medicine has the same active ingredient and the same effect as a known medicine, a doctor may treat it the same way — that is Tamthil in everyday life. It is useful and usually right, but it is not proof: the new medicine might differ in a hidden way.
Key Terms
- Tamthil (التمثیل) — analogy
- Asl (الأصل) — original case
- Far' (الفرع) — new case
- 'Illa (العلة) — effective cause/shared quality
- Hukm (الحکم) — ruling
- Qiyas Fiqhi — juristic analogy (rejected in Shia Fiqh)
- Qiyas Mantiqi — logical syllogism (accepted)
Quran or Hadith
None known from the slide titles.
Fresh diagram to be drawn: A four-box diagram: Asl → 'Illa (shared) → Far' → Hukm transferred, with the wine/beer example. To be drawn in Project Desk colours.
Note: Slides 49–50 were not read; based on the filename and the roadmap/summary. Verify the examples and the Shia position wording against the slides before publication.
- Example: Asl — wine is Haram; Far' — beer; 'Illa — intoxication; Hukm — beer is Haram.
- If a medicine has the same active ingredient and the same effect as a known medicine, a doctor may treat it the same way — that is Tamthil in everyday life.