WHAT ARE THE LOGICAL RULINGS OF NECESSITY, IMPOSSIBILITY AND POSSIBILITY?

1. Questions & Answers in Islamic Theology by Shaykh Ramzy Ajem
WHAT ARE THE LOGICAL RULINGS OF NECESSITY, IMPOSSIBILITY AND POSSIBILITY?
Shaykh Ramzy Ajem answered:
Al-Imam Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Sanusi al-Hasani, may Allah have mercy on him, and bring us
benefit by him and his knowledge, says:
ِ ِ ‫ا‬ ِ َٰ ْ ‫ا‬ ِ ‫ا‬ ِ ْ ِ
.ِ ‫ا‬ ِ‫ل‬ ُ َ‫ر‬ َ َ ُ‫م‬َ ‫ا‬َ‫و‬ ُ‫ة‬َ ‫ا‬‫و‬ .ِ ُ ْ َ ‫ا‬
:‫م‬ َ ْ ‫ا‬ ِ َ َ ِ ُ ِ َ ْ َ ْ َ ‫ا‬ َ ْ ُ ْ ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ٔ‫ا‬ ْ َ ْ ‫ا‬
.ِ‫ز‬‫ا‬َ َ ‫ا‬َ‫و‬ ،ِ َ َ ِ ْ ِ ‫ا‬َ‫و‬ ، ِ
‫ب‬ ُ ُ ْ ‫ا‬
.ُ ُ َ َ ِ ْ َ ْ ‫ا‬ ِ ُ‫ر‬ َ َ ُ َ : ُ ِ ‫ا‬َ ْ َ
.ُ‫ه‬ُ‫د‬ ُ ُ‫و‬ ِ ْ َ ْ ‫ا‬ ِ ُ‫ر‬ َ َ ُ َ َ :ُ ِ َ ْ ُ ‫ا‬َ‫و‬
.ُ ُ َ َ َ‫و‬ ُ‫ه‬ُ‫د‬ ُ ُ‫و‬ ِ ْ َ ْ ‫ا‬ ِ ِ َ َ :ُ ِ َ ‫ا‬َ‫و‬
In the name of God the Compassionate, the Most
Merciful. All praise be to God, and prayers of
blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of God.
LOGICAL RULINGS
Know that the logical ruling (al-hukm al-`aqli) is
confined to three categories: Necessity, Impossibility
and Possibility.
(1) Necessary (wajib) is a that whose negation is not
rationally conceivable.
(2) Impossible (mustahil) is that whose affirmation is
not rationally conceivable.
(3) Possible (ja’iz) is that whose affirmation and
negation are rationally conceivable.
Explanation
Human reason (al-Aql) is able to assess rulings and place them within one of the three categories of the
Hukm-Aqli Classifications.
Necessary (Wajib) Classification
If the predication in a proposition is absolute, such that its denial would be logically absurd, then the
proposition is not merely true, but rather, Necessary (Wajib `Aqli), such as:
a. The whole is greater than its part.
b. The existence of the cosmos is caused by something beginningless.
c. Every effect has a cause.
d. Existing matter occupies space.
e. A beginningless entity is eternal.
Notes from the Sanusiya Course 2022 by Shaykh Ramzy Ajem

2. Questions & Answers in Islamic Theology by Shaykh Ramzy Ajem
Impossible (Mustahil) Classification
If the predication in a proposition is absolute, such that its acceptance would be logically absurd, then
the proposition is not merely false, but rather, Impossible (Mustahil `Aqli), such as:
a. Some things exist and not-exist (simeotaneously).
b. An infinite amount of things actually exist.
c. An effect arises without cause.
d. Existing matter does not occupy space.
e. A beginningless entity is temporal.
Possible (Ja’iz) Classification
If the predication in a proposition is not absolute, such that its denial and acceptance (asynchronously)
does not entail a logical absurdity, then the proposition is neither Necessary nor Impossible, but rather
Possible (Ja’iz Aqli), such as:
a. Vaccines prevent Covid-19.
b. Life for humans after death.
c. Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius).
d. Smoking causes cancer.
e. Placebos work.
f. Angels exist.
Note: Each classification above is further divided into Daruri (self-evident) or Nadhari (Inferential)
WHAT IS EMPIRICAL ABSOLUTISM?
Shaykh Ramzy Ajem answered:
Imam al-Sanusi in his Muqaddima lists ‫ا‬
‫دي‬ ‫ا‬ (empirical absolutism) as one of the seven foundations
of atheism. Empirical absolutism is the belief that the observed correlation between temporal causes and
effects is permanent and absolute (i.e. logically necessary), and hence, “unfalsifiable”. Some adherents
of this position also believe that temporal causes literally produce their associated effects.
Notes from the Sanusiya Course 2022 by Shaykh Ramzy Ajem