Many of the ‘Ulamaa’ adopted Al-Istihsaan and considered it to be a Daleel from amongst the Adillah of the Ahkaam whilst they have disagreed in respect to its definition.

Some of them like the Hanafiyah considered it to represent an outweighing of a Daleel over a Daleel and therefore it represents a Hukm that is established by the text and no Istihsaan.

For that reason, we see Abu Ishaq Ash-Sheeraaziy Ash-Shaafi’iy, after presenting some of the views of the Fuqahaa of the Ahnaaf in respect to the meaning of Al-Istihsaan, saying: “If it means specifying some of the sum of the whole with a Daleel that specifies it or by judging by the strongest of two evidences, then this is from that which nobody can reject” (Al-Lam’u p68).

And we see that As-Sam’aaniy and Al-Qaffaal said the meaning of:

“The explanation of Al-Istihsaan as being a departure from a Daleel to a Daleel that is stronger than it, is something that we say and do not reject” (Irshaad Al-Fuhool of Ash-Shawkaani, p241).

Those who upheld Al-Istihsaan included: The Hanafiyah, Al Imaam Maalik and his followers whilst Ibn ul-Haajib said in his ‘Mukhtasir’:

The Hanafiyah and Al-Hanaabilah upheld it whilst the others rejected it.